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1\input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2@c Copyright (C) 1988-2016 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* gdbserver: (gdb) Server. The GNU debugging server.
49@end direntry
50
51@copying
52@c man begin COPYRIGHT
53Copyright @copyright{} 1988-2016 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
54
55Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
56under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
57any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
58Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
59Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
60and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
61
62(a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
63this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
64developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
65@c man end
66@end copying
67
68@ifnottex
69This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
70
71This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
72@value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
73@ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
74@value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
75@end ifset
76Version @value{GDBVN}.
77
78@insertcopying
79@end ifnottex
80
81@titlepage
82@title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
83@subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
84@sp 1
85@subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
86@ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
87@sp 1
88@subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
89@end ifset
90@author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
91@page
92@tex
93{\parskip=0pt
94\hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
95\hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
96\hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
97}
98@end tex
99
100@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
101Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
10251 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
103Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
104ISBN 978-0-9831592-3-0 @*
105
106@insertcopying
107@end titlepage
108@page
109
110@ifnottex
111@node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
112
113@top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
114
115This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
116
117This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN}
118@ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
119@value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
120@end ifset
121Version @value{GDBVN}.
122
123Copyright (C) 1988-2016 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
124
125This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
126Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
127software in general. We will miss him.
128
129@menu
130* Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
131* Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
132
133* Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
134* Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
135* Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
136* Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
137* Reverse Execution:: Running programs backward
138* Process Record and Replay:: Recording inferior's execution and replaying it
139* Stack:: Examining the stack
140* Source:: Examining source files
141* Data:: Examining data
142* Optimized Code:: Debugging optimized code
143* Macros:: Preprocessor Macros
144* Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
145* Overlays:: Debugging programs that use overlays
146
147* Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
148
149* Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
150* Altering:: Altering execution
151* GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
152* Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
153* Remote Debugging:: Debugging remote programs
154* Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
155* Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
156* Extending GDB:: Extending @value{GDBN}
157* Interpreters:: Command Interpreters
158* TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
159* Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
160* GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
161* Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
162* JIT Interface:: Using the JIT debugging interface.
163* In-Process Agent:: In-Process Agent
164
165* GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
166
167@ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
168* Command Line Editing: (rluserman). Command Line Editing
169* Using History Interactively: (history). Using History Interactively
170@end ifset
171@ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
172* Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
173* Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
174@end ifclear
175* In Memoriam:: In Memoriam
176* Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
177* Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
178* Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
179* Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
180* Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
181* Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
182 @value{GDBN}
183* Operating System Information:: Getting additional information from
184 the operating system
185* Trace File Format:: GDB trace file format
186* Index Section Format:: .gdb_index section format
187* Man Pages:: Manual pages
188* Copying:: GNU General Public License says
189 how you can copy and share GDB
190* GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
191* Concept Index:: Index of @value{GDBN} concepts
192* Command and Variable Index:: Index of @value{GDBN} commands, variables,
193 functions, and Python data types
194@end menu
195
196@end ifnottex
197
198@contents
199
200@node Summary
201@unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
202
203The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
204going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
205program was doing at the moment it crashed.
206
207@value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
208these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
209
210@itemize @bullet
211@item
212Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
213
214@item
215Make your program stop on specified conditions.
216
217@item
218Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
219
220@item
221Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
222effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
223@end itemize
224
225You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
226For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
227For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
228
229Support for D is partial. For information on D, see
230@ref{D,,D}.
231
232@cindex Modula-2
233Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
234@ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
235
236Support for OpenCL C is partial. For information on OpenCL C, see
237@ref{OpenCL C,,OpenCL C}.
238
239@cindex Pascal
240Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
241nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
242entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
243syntax.
244
245@cindex Fortran
246@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
247it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
248underscore.
249
250@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
251using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
252
253@menu
254* Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
255* Free Documentation:: Free Software Needs Free Documentation
256* Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
257@end menu
258
259@node Free Software
260@unnumberedsec Free Software
261
262@value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
263General Public License
264(GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
265program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
266freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
267the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
268Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
269Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
270
271Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
272you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
273from anyone else.
274
275@node Free Documentation
276@unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
277
278The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
279the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
280include with the free software. Many of our most important
281programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
282texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
283when an important free software package does not come with a free
284manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
285gaps today.
286
287Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
288normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
289authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
290copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
291them from the free software world.
292
293That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
294from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
295manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
296only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
297contract to make it non-free.
298
299Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
300price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
301charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
302Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
303problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
304are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
305modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
306
307The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
308free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
309commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
310accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
311
312Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
313When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
314are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
315provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
316manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
317a changed version of the program is not really available to our
318community.
319
320Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
321acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
322author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
323authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
324to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
325may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
326with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
327are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
328of the manual.
329
330However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
331content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
332media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
333obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
334manual to replace it.
335
336Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
337lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
338free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
339the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
340realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
341the free software community.
342
343If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
344the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
345license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
346don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
347will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
348option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
349what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
350try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
351is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
352
353You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
354manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
355copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
356improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
357at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
358and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
359Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
360have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
361
362The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
363published by other publishers, at
364@url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
365
366@node Contributors
367@unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
368
369Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
370other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
371development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
372of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
373to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
374file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
375blow-by-blow account.
376
377Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
378
379@quotation
380@emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
381or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
382omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
383@end quotation
384
385So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
386particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
387releases:
388Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
389Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
390Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
391Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
392Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
393Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
394John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
395Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
396and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
397
398Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
399Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
400
401Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
402in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
403Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
404demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
405much general update work leading to release 3.0).
406
407@value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
408object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
409Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
410
411David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
412the original support for encapsulated COFF.
413
414Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
415
416Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
417Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
418support.
419Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
420Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
421Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
422David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
423Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
424Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
425Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
426Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
427Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
428Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
429Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
430Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
431Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
432Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
433Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
434Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
435
436Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
437
438Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
439libraries.
440
441Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
442about several machine instruction sets.
443
444Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
445remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
446contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
447and RDI targets, respectively.
448
449Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
450command-line editing and command history.
451
452Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
453Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
454
455Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
456He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
457symbols.
458
459Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
460H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
461
462NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
463
464Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
465processors.
466
467Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
468
469Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
470
471Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
472
473Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
474watchpoints.
475
476Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
477
478Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
479
480Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
481nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
482
483The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
484support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
485(narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
486compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
487Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
488Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
489provided HP-specific information in this manual.
490
491DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
492Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
493
494Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
495development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
496fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
497Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
498Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
499Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
500Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
501addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
502JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
503Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
504Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
505Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
506Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
507Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
508Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
509
510Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
511Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
512
513Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
514Hat.
515
516Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
517people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
518Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
519Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
520Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
521with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
522
523Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
524unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
525frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
526Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
527libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
528trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
529complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
530Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
531Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
532Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
533Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
534Weigand.
535
536Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
537Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
538who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
539Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
540
541Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
542Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
543
544@node Sample Session
545@chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
546
547You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
548However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
549debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
550
551@iftex
552In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
553to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
554@end iftex
555
556@c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
557@c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
558
559One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
560processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
561quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
562definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
563session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
564then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
565same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
566@code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
567procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
568
569@smallexample
570$ @b{cd gnu/m4}
571$ @b{./m4}
572@b{define(foo,0000)}
573
574@b{foo}
5750000
576@b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
577
578@b{bar}
5790000
580@b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
581
582@b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
583@b{baz}
584@b{Ctrl-d}
585m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
586@end smallexample
587
588@noindent
589Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
590
591@smallexample
592$ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
593@c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
594@c FIXME... format to come out better.
595@value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
596 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
597 the conditions.
598There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
599 for details.
600
601@value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
602(@value{GDBP})
603@end smallexample
604
605@noindent
606@value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
607rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
608We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
609that examples fit in this manual.
610
611@smallexample
612(@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
613@end smallexample
614
615@noindent
616We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
617Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
618@code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
619@code{break} command.
620
621@smallexample
622(@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
623Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
624@end smallexample
625
626@noindent
627Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
628control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
629subroutine, the program runs as usual:
630
631@smallexample
632(@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
633Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
634@b{define(foo,0000)}
635
636@b{foo}
6370000
638@end smallexample
639
640@noindent
641To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
642suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
643context where it stops.
644
645@smallexample
646@b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
647
648Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
649 at builtin.c:879
650879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
651@end smallexample
652
653@noindent
654Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
655the next line of the current function.
656
657@smallexample
658(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
659882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
660 : nil,
661@end smallexample
662
663@noindent
664@code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
665by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
666@code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
667subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
668
669@smallexample
670(@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
671set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
672 at input.c:530
673530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
674@end smallexample
675
676@noindent
677The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
678suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
679shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
680command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
681in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
682stack frame for each active subroutine.
683
684@smallexample
685(@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
686#0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
687 at input.c:530
688#1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
689 at builtin.c:882
690#2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
691#3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
692 at macro.c:71
693#4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
694#5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
695@end smallexample
696
697@noindent
698We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
699times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
700falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
701
702@smallexample
703(@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
7040x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
705(@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
7060x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
707def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
708(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
709536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
710 : xstrdup(rq);
711(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
712538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
713@end smallexample
714
715@noindent
716The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
717@code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
718and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
719(@code{print}) to see their values.
720
721@smallexample
722(@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
723$1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
724(@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
725$2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
726@end smallexample
727
728@noindent
729@code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
730To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
731surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
732
733@smallexample
734(@value{GDBP}) @b{l}
735533 xfree(rquote);
736534
737535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
738 : xstrdup (lq);
739536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
740 : xstrdup (rq);
741537
742538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
743539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
744540 @}
745541
746542 void
747@end smallexample
748
749@noindent
750Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
751@code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
752
753@smallexample
754(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
755539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
756(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
757540 @}
758(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
759$3 = 9
760(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
761$4 = 7
762@end smallexample
763
764@noindent
765That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
766@code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
767@code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
768the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
769any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
770assignments.
771
772@smallexample
773(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
774$5 = 7
775(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
776$6 = 9
777@end smallexample
778
779@noindent
780Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
781@code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
782executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
783example that caused trouble initially:
784
785@smallexample
786(@value{GDBP}) @b{c}
787Continuing.
788
789@b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
790
791baz
7920000
793@end smallexample
794
795@noindent
796Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
797problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
798lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
799
800@smallexample
801@b{Ctrl-d}
802Program exited normally.
803@end smallexample
804
805@noindent
806The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
807indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
808session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
809
810@smallexample
811(@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
812@end smallexample
813
814@node Invocation
815@chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
816
817This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
818The essentials are:
819@itemize @bullet
820@item
821type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
822@item
823type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
824@end itemize
825
826@menu
827* Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
828* Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
829* Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
830* Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
831@end menu
832
833@node Invoking GDB
834@section Invoking @value{GDBN}
835
836Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
837@value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
838
839You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
840to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
841
842The command-line options described here are designed
843to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
844options may effectively be unavailable.
845
846The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
847specifying an executable program:
848
849@smallexample
850@value{GDBP} @var{program}
851@end smallexample
852
853@noindent
854You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
855specified:
856
857@smallexample
858@value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
859@end smallexample
860
861You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
862to debug a running process:
863
864@smallexample
865@value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
866@end smallexample
867
868@noindent
869would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
870named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
871
872Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
873complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
874debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
875``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
876will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
877
878You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
879executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
880option processing.
881@smallexample
882@value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
883@end smallexample
884This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
885@code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
886
887You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
888@value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{--silent}
889(or @code{-q}/@code{--quiet}):
890
891@smallexample
892@value{GDBP} --silent
893@end smallexample
894
895@noindent
896You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
897options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
898
899@noindent
900Type
901
902@smallexample
903@value{GDBP} -help
904@end smallexample
905
906@noindent
907to display all available options and briefly describe their use
908(@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
909
910All options and command line arguments you give are processed
911in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
912@samp{-x} option is used.
913
914
915@menu
916* File Options:: Choosing files
917* Mode Options:: Choosing modes
918* Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
919@end menu
920
921@node File Options
922@subsection Choosing Files
923
924When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
925specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
926the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
927@samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
928first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
929equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
930second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
931equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
932If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
933first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
934to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
935a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
936prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
937
938If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
939such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
940argument and ignore it.
941
942Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
943following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
944them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
945(If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
946than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
947
948@c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
949@c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
950@c it.
951
952@table @code
953@item -symbols @var{file}
954@itemx -s @var{file}
955@cindex @code{--symbols}
956@cindex @code{-s}
957Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
958
959@item -exec @var{file}
960@itemx -e @var{file}
961@cindex @code{--exec}
962@cindex @code{-e}
963Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
964and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
965
966@item -se @var{file}
967@cindex @code{--se}
968Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
969file.
970
971@item -core @var{file}
972@itemx -c @var{file}
973@cindex @code{--core}
974@cindex @code{-c}
975Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
976
977@item -pid @var{number}
978@itemx -p @var{number}
979@cindex @code{--pid}
980@cindex @code{-p}
981Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
982
983@item -command @var{file}
984@itemx -x @var{file}
985@cindex @code{--command}
986@cindex @code{-x}
987Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
988evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
989@xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
990
991@item -eval-command @var{command}
992@itemx -ex @var{command}
993@cindex @code{--eval-command}
994@cindex @code{-ex}
995Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
996
997This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
998also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
999
1000@smallexample
1001@value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
1002 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
1003@end smallexample
1004
1005@item -init-command @var{file}
1006@itemx -ix @var{file}
1007@cindex @code{--init-command}
1008@cindex @code{-ix}
1009Execute commands from file @var{file} before loading the inferior (but
1010after loading gdbinit files).
1011@xref{Startup}.
1012
1013@item -init-eval-command @var{command}
1014@itemx -iex @var{command}
1015@cindex @code{--init-eval-command}
1016@cindex @code{-iex}
1017Execute a single @value{GDBN} command before loading the inferior (but
1018after loading gdbinit files).
1019@xref{Startup}.
1020
1021@item -directory @var{directory}
1022@itemx -d @var{directory}
1023@cindex @code{--directory}
1024@cindex @code{-d}
1025Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
1026
1027@item -r
1028@itemx -readnow
1029@cindex @code{--readnow}
1030@cindex @code{-r}
1031Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
1032the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
1033This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
1034
1035@end table
1036
1037@node Mode Options
1038@subsection Choosing Modes
1039
1040You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1041batch mode or quiet mode.
1042
1043@table @code
1044@anchor{-nx}
1045@item -nx
1046@itemx -n
1047@cindex @code{--nx}
1048@cindex @code{-n}
1049Do not execute commands found in any initialization file.
1050There are three init files, loaded in the following order:
1051
1052@table @code
1053@item @file{system.gdbinit}
1054This is the system-wide init file.
1055Its location is specified with the @code{--with-system-gdbinit}
1056configure option (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
1057It is loaded first when @value{GDBN} starts, before command line options
1058have been processed.
1059@item @file{~/.gdbinit}
1060This is the init file in your home directory.
1061It is loaded next, after @file{system.gdbinit}, and before
1062command options have been processed.
1063@item @file{./.gdbinit}
1064This is the init file in the current directory.
1065It is loaded last, after command line options other than @code{-x} and
1066@code{-ex} have been processed. Command line options @code{-x} and
1067@code{-ex} are processed last, after @file{./.gdbinit} has been loaded.
1068@end table
1069
1070For further documentation on startup processing, @xref{Startup}.
1071For documentation on how to write command files,
1072@xref{Command Files,,Command Files}.
1073
1074@anchor{-nh}
1075@item -nh
1076@cindex @code{--nh}
1077Do not execute commands found in @file{~/.gdbinit}, the init file
1078in your home directory.
1079@xref{Startup}.
1080
1081@item -quiet
1082@itemx -silent
1083@itemx -q
1084@cindex @code{--quiet}
1085@cindex @code{--silent}
1086@cindex @code{-q}
1087``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1088messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1089
1090@item -batch
1091@cindex @code{--batch}
1092Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1093command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1094initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1095nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1096in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination, sets unlimited
1097terminal width and height @pxref{Screen Size}, and acts as if @kbd{set confirm
1098off} were in effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1099
1100Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1101example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1102make this more useful, the message
1103
1104@smallexample
1105Program exited normally.
1106@end smallexample
1107
1108@noindent
1109(which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1110@value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1111mode.
1112
1113@item -batch-silent
1114@cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1115Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1116@value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1117unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1118for an interactive session.
1119
1120This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1121messages, for example.
1122
1123Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1124writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1125
1126@item -return-child-result
1127@cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1128The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1129process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1130
1131@itemize @bullet
1132@item
1133@value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1134internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1135without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1136@item
1137The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1138@item
1139The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1140the exit code will be -1.
1141@end itemize
1142
1143This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1144when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1145interface.
1146
1147@item -nowindows
1148@itemx -nw
1149@cindex @code{--nowindows}
1150@cindex @code{-nw}
1151``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1152(GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1153interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1154
1155@item -windows
1156@itemx -w
1157@cindex @code{--windows}
1158@cindex @code{-w}
1159If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1160used if possible.
1161
1162@item -cd @var{directory}
1163@cindex @code{--cd}
1164Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1165instead of the current directory.
1166
1167@item -data-directory @var{directory}
1168@itemx -D @var{directory}
1169@cindex @code{--data-directory}
1170@cindex @code{-D}
1171Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its data directory.
1172The data directory is where @value{GDBN} searches for its
1173auxiliary files. @xref{Data Files}.
1174
1175@item -fullname
1176@itemx -f
1177@cindex @code{--fullname}
1178@cindex @code{-f}
1179@sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1180subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1181number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1182displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1183recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1184the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1185and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1186@samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1187frame.
1188
1189@item -annotate @var{level}
1190@cindex @code{--annotate}
1191This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1192effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1193(@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1194information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1195expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1196normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1197@sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1198that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1199
1200The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1201(@pxref{GDB/MI}).
1202
1203@item --args
1204@cindex @code{--args}
1205Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1206executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1207This option stops option processing.
1208
1209@item -baud @var{bps}
1210@itemx -b @var{bps}
1211@cindex @code{--baud}
1212@cindex @code{-b}
1213Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1214interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1215
1216@item -l @var{timeout}
1217@cindex @code{-l}
1218Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1219for remote debugging.
1220
1221@item -tty @var{device}
1222@itemx -t @var{device}
1223@cindex @code{--tty}
1224@cindex @code{-t}
1225Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1226@c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1227
1228@c resolve the situation of these eventually
1229@item -tui
1230@cindex @code{--tui}
1231Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1232Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1233source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1234(@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Do not use this
1235option if you run @value{GDBN} from Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,
1236Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1237
1238@item -interpreter @var{interp}
1239@cindex @code{--interpreter}
1240Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1241program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1242communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1243@xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1244
1245@samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1246@value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1247The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1248previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1249selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1250@sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1251
1252@item -write
1253@cindex @code{--write}
1254Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1255is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1256(@pxref{Patching}).
1257
1258@item -statistics
1259@cindex @code{--statistics}
1260This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1261memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1262
1263@item -version
1264@cindex @code{--version}
1265This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1266no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1267
1268@item -configuration
1269@cindex @code{--configuration}
1270This option causes @value{GDBN} to print details about its build-time
1271configuration parameters, and then exit. These details can be
1272important when reporting @value{GDBN} bugs (@pxref{GDB Bugs}).
1273
1274@end table
1275
1276@node Startup
1277@subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1278@cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1279
1280Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1281
1282@enumerate
1283@item
1284Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1285(@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1286
1287@item
1288@cindex init file
1289Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1290used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1291 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1292that file.
1293
1294@anchor{Home Directory Init File}
1295@item
1296Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1297DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1298@code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1299that file.
1300
1301@anchor{Option -init-eval-command}
1302@item
1303Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-iex} and
1304@samp{-ix} options in their specified order. Usually you should use the
1305@samp{-ex} and @samp{-x} options instead, but this way you can apply
1306settings before @value{GDBN} init files get executed and before inferior
1307gets loaded.
1308
1309@item
1310Processes command line options and operands.
1311
1312@anchor{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}
1313@item
1314Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1315working directory as long as @samp{set auto-load local-gdbinit} is set to
1316@samp{on} (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory}).
1317This is only done if the current directory is
1318different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1319init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1320to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1321@value{GDBN}.
1322
1323@item
1324If the command line specified a program to debug, or a process to
1325attach to, or a core file, @value{GDBN} loads any auto-loaded
1326scripts provided for the program or for its loaded shared libraries.
1327@xref{Auto-loading}.
1328
1329If you wish to disable the auto-loading during startup,
1330you must do something like the following:
1331
1332@smallexample
1333$ gdb -iex "set auto-load python-scripts off" myprogram
1334@end smallexample
1335
1336Option @samp{-ex} does not work because the auto-loading is then turned
1337off too late.
1338
1339@item
1340Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-ex} and
1341@samp{-x} options in their specified order. @xref{Command Files}, for
1342more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1343
1344@item
1345Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1346@xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1347files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1348@end enumerate
1349
1350Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1351Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1352file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1353complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1354and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1355option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1356
1357To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1358can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1359
1360@cindex init file name
1361@cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1362@cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1363The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1364The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1365the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1366port of @value{GDBN} uses the standard name, but if it finds a
1367@file{gdb.ini} file in your home directory, it warns you about that
1368and suggests to rename the file to the standard name.
1369
1370
1371@node Quitting GDB
1372@section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1373@cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1374@cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1375
1376@table @code
1377@kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1378@kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1379@item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1380@itemx q
1381To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1382@code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1383do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1384otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1385error code.
1386@end table
1387
1388@cindex interrupt
1389An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1390terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1391returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1392character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1393until a time when it is safe.
1394
1395If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1396device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1397(@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1398
1399@node Shell Commands
1400@section Shell Commands
1401
1402If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1403debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1404just use the @code{shell} command.
1405
1406@table @code
1407@kindex shell
1408@kindex !
1409@cindex shell escape
1410@item shell @var{command-string}
1411@itemx !@var{command-string}
1412Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command-string}.
1413Note that no space is needed between @code{!} and @var{command-string}.
1414If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1415shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1416(@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1417@end table
1418
1419The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1420You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1421@value{GDBN}:
1422
1423@table @code
1424@kindex make
1425@cindex calling make
1426@item make @var{make-args}
1427Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1428arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1429@end table
1430
1431@node Logging Output
1432@section Logging Output
1433@cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1434@cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1435
1436You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1437There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1438
1439@table @code
1440@kindex set logging
1441@item set logging on
1442Enable logging.
1443@item set logging off
1444Disable logging.
1445@cindex logging file name
1446@item set logging file @var{file}
1447Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1448@item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1449By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1450you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1451@item set logging redirect [on|off]
1452By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1453Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1454@kindex show logging
1455@item show logging
1456Show the current values of the logging settings.
1457@end table
1458
1459@node Commands
1460@chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1461
1462You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1463name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1464@value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1465key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1466show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1467
1468@menu
1469* Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1470* Completion:: Command completion
1471* Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1472@end menu
1473
1474@node Command Syntax
1475@section Command Syntax
1476
1477A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1478how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1479arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1480command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1481step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1482with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1483
1484@cindex abbreviation
1485@value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1486unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1487documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1488abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1489equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1490names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1491arguments to the @code{help} command.
1492
1493@cindex repeating commands
1494@kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1495A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1496repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1497will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1498repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1499repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1500@ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1501
1502The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1503@key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1504exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1505
1506@value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1507output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1508(@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1509@key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1510repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1511
1512@kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1513@cindex comment
1514Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1515nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1516Files,,Command Files}).
1517
1518@cindex repeating command sequences
1519@kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1520The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1521commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1522then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1523for editing.
1524
1525@node Completion
1526@section Command Completion
1527
1528@cindex completion
1529@cindex word completion
1530@value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1531only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1532are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1533commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1534
1535Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1536of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1537word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1538enter it). For example, if you type
1539
1540@c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1541@c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1542@c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1543@c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1544@smallexample
1545(@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1546@end smallexample
1547
1548@noindent
1549@value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1550the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1551
1552@smallexample
1553(@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1554@end smallexample
1555
1556@noindent
1557You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1558breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1559@samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1560were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1561might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1562to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1563
1564If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1565@key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1566characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1567@value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1568example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1569begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1570just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1571function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1572example:
1573
1574@smallexample
1575(@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1576@exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1577make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1578make_abs_section make_function_type
1579make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1580make_cleanup make_reference_type
1581make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1582(@value{GDBP}) b make_
1583@end smallexample
1584
1585@noindent
1586After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1587partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1588command.
1589
1590If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1591can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1592means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1593key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1594one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1595
1596If the number of possible completions is large, @value{GDBN} will
1597print as much of the list as it has collected, as well as a message
1598indicating that the list may be truncated.
1599
1600@smallexample
1601(@value{GDBP}) b m@key{TAB}@key{TAB}
1602main
1603<... the rest of the possible completions ...>
1604*** List may be truncated, max-completions reached. ***
1605(@value{GDBP}) b m
1606@end smallexample
1607
1608@noindent
1609This behavior can be controlled with the following commands:
1610
1611@table @code
1612@kindex set max-completions
1613@item set max-completions @var{limit}
1614@itemx set max-completions unlimited
1615Set the maximum number of completion candidates. @value{GDBN} will
1616stop looking for more completions once it collects this many candidates.
1617This is useful when completing on things like function names as collecting
1618all the possible candidates can be time consuming.
1619The default value is 200. A value of zero disables tab-completion.
1620Note that setting either no limit or a very large limit can make
1621completion slow.
1622@kindex show max-completions
1623@item show max-completions
1624Show the maximum number of candidates that @value{GDBN} will collect and show
1625during completion.
1626@end table
1627
1628@cindex quotes in commands
1629@cindex completion of quoted strings
1630Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1631parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1632its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1633situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1634@value{GDBN} commands.
1635
1636The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1637name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1638overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1639by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1640may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1641that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1642that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1643word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1644@code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1645@value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1646when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1647
1648@smallexample
1649(@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1650bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1651(@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1652@end smallexample
1653
1654In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1655quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1656completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1657place:
1658
1659@smallexample
1660(@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1661@exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1662(@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1663@end smallexample
1664
1665@noindent
1666In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1667you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1668completion on an overloaded symbol.
1669
1670For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1671Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1672overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1673see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1674
1675@cindex completion of structure field names
1676@cindex structure field name completion
1677@cindex completion of union field names
1678@cindex union field name completion
1679When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1680structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1681confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1682examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1683limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1684left-hand-side:
1685
1686@smallexample
1687(@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1688magic to_fputs to_rewind
1689to_data to_isatty to_write
1690to_delete to_put to_write_async_safe
1691to_flush to_read
1692@end smallexample
1693
1694@noindent
1695This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1696@code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1697follows:
1698
1699@smallexample
1700struct ui_file
1701@{
1702 int *magic;
1703 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1704 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1705 ui_file_write_async_safe_ftype *to_write_async_safe;
1706 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1707 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1708 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1709 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1710 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1711 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1712 void *to_data;
1713@}
1714@end smallexample
1715
1716
1717@node Help
1718@section Getting Help
1719@cindex online documentation
1720@kindex help
1721
1722You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1723using the command @code{help}.
1724
1725@table @code
1726@kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1727@item help
1728@itemx h
1729You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1730display a short list of named classes of commands:
1731
1732@smallexample
1733(@value{GDBP}) help
1734List of classes of commands:
1735
1736aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1737breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1738data -- Examining data
1739files -- Specifying and examining files
1740internals -- Maintenance commands
1741obscure -- Obscure features
1742running -- Running the program
1743stack -- Examining the stack
1744status -- Status inquiries
1745support -- Support facilities
1746tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1747 stopping the program
1748user-defined -- User-defined commands
1749
1750Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1751commands in that class.
1752Type "help" followed by command name for full
1753documentation.
1754Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1755(@value{GDBP})
1756@end smallexample
1757@c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1758
1759@item help @var{class}
1760Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1761list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1762help display for the class @code{status}:
1763
1764@smallexample
1765(@value{GDBP}) help status
1766Status inquiries.
1767
1768List of commands:
1769
1770@c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1771@c to fit in smallbook page size.
1772info -- Generic command for showing things
1773 about the program being debugged
1774show -- Generic command for showing things
1775 about the debugger
1776
1777Type "help" followed by command name for full
1778documentation.
1779Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1780(@value{GDBP})
1781@end smallexample
1782
1783@item help @var{command}
1784With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1785short paragraph on how to use that command.
1786
1787@kindex apropos
1788@item apropos @var{args}
1789The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1790commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1791@var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1792
1793@smallexample
1794apropos alias
1795@end smallexample
1796
1797@noindent
1798results in:
1799
1800@smallexample
1801@c @group
1802alias -- Define a new command that is an alias of an existing command
1803aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1804d -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1805del -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1806delete -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1807@c @end group
1808@end smallexample
1809
1810@kindex complete
1811@item complete @var{args}
1812The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1813for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1814command you want completed. For example:
1815
1816@smallexample
1817complete i
1818@end smallexample
1819
1820@noindent results in:
1821
1822@smallexample
1823@group
1824if
1825ignore
1826info
1827inspect
1828@end group
1829@end smallexample
1830
1831@noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1832@end table
1833
1834In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1835and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1836of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1837manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1838under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Command, Variable, and
1839Function Index point to all the sub-commands. @xref{Command and Variable
1840Index}.
1841
1842@c @group
1843@table @code
1844@kindex info
1845@kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1846@item info
1847This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1848program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1849with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1850registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1851You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1852@w{@code{help info}}.
1853
1854@kindex set
1855@item set
1856You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1857@code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1858@code{set prompt $}.
1859
1860@kindex show
1861@item show
1862In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1863@value{GDBN} itself.
1864You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1865related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1866system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1867which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1868
1869@kindex info set
1870To display all the settable parameters and their current
1871values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1872@code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1873@c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1874@c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1875@c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1876@end table
1877@c @end group
1878
1879Here are several miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1880exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1881
1882@table @code
1883@kindex show version
1884@cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1885@item show version
1886Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1887information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1888@value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1889version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1890commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1891system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1892variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1893The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1894@value{GDBN}.
1895
1896@kindex show copying
1897@kindex info copying
1898@cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1899@item show copying
1900@itemx info copying
1901Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1902
1903@kindex show warranty
1904@kindex info warranty
1905@item show warranty
1906@itemx info warranty
1907Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1908if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1909
1910@kindex show configuration
1911@item show configuration
1912Display detailed information about the way @value{GDBN} was configured
1913when it was built. This displays the optional arguments passed to the
1914@file{configure} script and also configuration parameters detected
1915automatically by @command{configure}. When reporting a @value{GDBN}
1916bug (@pxref{GDB Bugs}), it is important to include this information in
1917your report.
1918
1919@end table
1920
1921@node Running
1922@chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1923
1924When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1925debugging information when you compile it.
1926
1927You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1928of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1929your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1930kill a child process.
1931
1932@menu
1933* Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1934* Starting:: Starting your program
1935* Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1936* Environment:: Your program's environment
1937
1938* Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1939* Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1940* Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1941* Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1942
1943* Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1944* Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1945* Forks:: Debugging forks
1946* Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1947@end menu
1948
1949@node Compilation
1950@section Compiling for Debugging
1951
1952In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1953debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1954is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1955variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1956and addresses in the executable code.
1957
1958To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1959the compiler.
1960
1961Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1962optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1963compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1964together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1965executables containing debugging information.
1966
1967@value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1968without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1969recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1970program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1971in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1972
1973Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1974@w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1975format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1976
1977@value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1978expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1979about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1980the @option{-g} flag alone. Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC},
1981the @sc{gnu} C compiler, provides macro information if you are using
1982the DWARF debugging format, and specify the option @option{-g3}.
1983
1984@xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
1985gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}, for more
1986information on @value{NGCC} options affecting debug information.
1987
1988You will have the best debugging experience if you use the latest
1989version of the DWARF debugging format that your compiler supports.
1990DWARF is currently the most expressive and best supported debugging
1991format in @value{GDBN}.
1992
1993@need 2000
1994@node Starting
1995@section Starting your Program
1996@cindex starting
1997@cindex running
1998
1999@table @code
2000@kindex run
2001@kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
2002@item run
2003@itemx r
2004Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
2005You must first specify the program name with an argument to
2006@value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
2007@value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file}
2008command (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
2009
2010@end table
2011
2012If you are running your program in an execution environment that
2013supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
2014that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
2015@code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
2016like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
2017message like this one:
2018
2019@smallexample
2020The "remote" target does not support "run".
2021Try "help target" or "continue".
2022@end smallexample
2023
2024@noindent
2025then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
2026first (@pxref{load}).
2027
2028The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
2029receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
2030information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
2031can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
2032your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
2033divided into four categories:
2034
2035@table @asis
2036@item The @emph{arguments.}
2037Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
2038@code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
2039is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
2040(such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
2041the arguments.
2042In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
2043@code{SHELL} environment variable. If you do not define @code{SHELL},
2044@value{GDBN} uses the default shell (@file{/bin/sh}). You can disable
2045use of any shell with the @code{set startup-with-shell} command (see
2046below for details).
2047
2048@item The @emph{environment.}
2049Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
2050use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
2051environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
2052your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
2053
2054@item The @emph{working directory.}
2055Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
2056the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
2057@xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
2058
2059@item The @emph{standard input and output.}
2060Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
2061standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
2062in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
2063set a different device for your program.
2064@xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
2065
2066@cindex pipes
2067@emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
2068pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
2069program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
2070wrong program.
2071@end table
2072
2073When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
2074immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
2075of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
2076stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
2077or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
2078
2079If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
2080time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
2081table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
2082your current breakpoints.
2083
2084@table @code
2085@kindex start
2086@item start
2087@cindex run to main procedure
2088The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
2089With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
2090other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
2091main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
2092execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
2093procedure, depending on the language used.
2094
2095The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
2096breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
2097the @samp{run} command.
2098
2099@cindex elaboration phase
2100Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
2101executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
2102languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
2103constructors for static and global objects are executed before
2104@code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
2105before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
2106will remain to halt execution.
2107
2108Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
2109@samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
2110underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
2111reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
2112@samp{start} or @samp{run}.
2113
2114It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
2115these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
2116your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
2117elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
2118elaboration code before running your program.
2119
2120@anchor{set exec-wrapper}
2121@kindex set exec-wrapper
2122@item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
2123@itemx show exec-wrapper
2124@itemx unset exec-wrapper
2125When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
2126launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
2127with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
2128@var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
2129arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
2130appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
2131your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
2132
2133You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
2134its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
2135this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
2136with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
2137
2138For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
2139the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
2140environment:
2141
2142@smallexample
2143(@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
2144(@value{GDBP}) run
2145@end smallexample
2146
2147This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2148@sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2149
2150@kindex set startup-with-shell
2151@item set startup-with-shell
2152@itemx set startup-with-shell on
2153@itemx set startup-with-shell off
2154@itemx show set startup-with-shell
2155On Unix systems, by default, if a shell is available on your target,
2156@value{GDBN}) uses it to start your program. Arguments of the
2157@code{run} command are passed to the shell, which does variable
2158substitution, expands wildcard characters and performs redirection of
2159I/O. In some circumstances, it may be useful to disable such use of a
2160shell, for example, when debugging the shell itself or diagnosing
2161startup failures such as:
2162
2163@smallexample
2164(@value{GDBP}) run
2165Starting program: ./a.out
2166During startup program terminated with signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
2167@end smallexample
2168
2169@noindent
2170which indicates the shell or the wrapper specified with
2171@samp{exec-wrapper} crashed, not your program. Most often, this is
2172caused by something odd in your shell's non-interactive mode
2173initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell,
2174$@file{.zshenv} for the Z shell, or the file specified in the
2175@samp{BASH_ENV} environment variable for BASH.
2176
2177@anchor{set auto-connect-native-target}
2178@kindex set auto-connect-native-target
2179@item set auto-connect-native-target
2180@itemx set auto-connect-native-target on
2181@itemx set auto-connect-native-target off
2182@itemx show auto-connect-native-target
2183
2184By default, if not connected to any target yet (e.g., with
2185@code{target remote}), the @code{run} command starts your program as a
2186native process under @value{GDBN}, on your local machine. If you're
2187sure you don't want to debug programs on your local machine, you can
2188tell @value{GDBN} to not connect to the native target automatically
2189with the @code{set auto-connect-native-target off} command.
2190
2191If @code{on}, which is the default, and if @value{GDBN} is not
2192connected to a target already, the @code{run} command automaticaly
2193connects to the native target, if one is available.
2194
2195If @code{off}, and if @value{GDBN} is not connected to a target
2196already, the @code{run} command fails with an error:
2197
2198@smallexample
2199(@value{GDBP}) run
2200Don't know how to run. Try "help target".
2201@end smallexample
2202
2203If @value{GDBN} is already connected to a target, @value{GDBN} always
2204uses it with the @code{run} command.
2205
2206In any case, you can explicitly connect to the native target with the
2207@code{target native} command. For example,
2208
2209@smallexample
2210(@value{GDBP}) set auto-connect-native-target off
2211(@value{GDBP}) run
2212Don't know how to run. Try "help target".
2213(@value{GDBP}) target native
2214(@value{GDBP}) run
2215Starting program: ./a.out
2216[Inferior 1 (process 10421) exited normally]
2217@end smallexample
2218
2219In case you connected explicitly to the @code{native} target,
2220@value{GDBN} remains connected even if all inferiors exit, ready for
2221the next @code{run} command. Use the @code{disconnect} command to
2222disconnect.
2223
2224Examples of other commands that likewise respect the
2225@code{auto-connect-native-target} setting: @code{attach}, @code{info
2226proc}, @code{info os}.
2227
2228@kindex set disable-randomization
2229@item set disable-randomization
2230@itemx set disable-randomization on
2231This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2232randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2233is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2234reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2235
2236This feature is implemented only on certain targets, including @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2237On @sc{gnu}/Linux you can get the same behavior using
2238
2239@smallexample
2240(@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2241@end smallexample
2242
2243@item set disable-randomization off
2244Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2245ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2246disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2247@value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2248as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2249disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2250
2251On targets where it is available, virtual address space randomization
2252protects the programs against certain kinds of security attacks. In these
2253cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2254code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2255a code at its expected addresses.
2256
2257Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2258makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2259having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2260library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2261misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2262random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2263startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2264a randomly chosen address.
2265
2266Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2267similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2268a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2269already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2270executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2271
2272Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2273(as long as the randomization is enabled).
2274
2275@item show disable-randomization
2276Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2277the virtual address space of the started program.
2278
2279@end table
2280
2281@node Arguments
2282@section Your Program's Arguments
2283
2284@cindex arguments (to your program)
2285The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2286@code{run} command.
2287They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2288performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2289@code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2290@value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2291the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2292
2293On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2294@value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2295calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2296the program, not by the shell.
2297
2298@code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2299@code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2300
2301@table @code
2302@kindex set args
2303@item set args
2304Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2305@code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2306with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2307using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2308it again without arguments.
2309
2310@kindex show args
2311@item show args
2312Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2313@end table
2314
2315@node Environment
2316@section Your Program's Environment
2317
2318@cindex environment (of your program)
2319The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2320their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2321your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2322path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2323the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2324debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2325environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2326
2327@table @code
2328@kindex path
2329@item path @var{directory}
2330Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2331(the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2332The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2333You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2334system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2335MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2336is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2337
2338You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2339working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2340use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2341@code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2342@var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2343@var{directory} to the search path.
2344@c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2345@c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2346
2347@kindex show paths
2348@item show paths
2349Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2350environment variable).
2351
2352@kindex show environment
2353@item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2354Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2355your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2356print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2357your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2358
2359@kindex set environment
2360@item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2361Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2362changes for your program (and the shell @value{GDBN} uses to launch
2363it), not for @value{GDBN} itself. The @var{value} may be any string; the
2364values of environment variables are just strings, and any
2365interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2366parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2367null value.
2368@c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2369@c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2370
2371For example, this command:
2372
2373@smallexample
2374set env USER = foo
2375@end smallexample
2376
2377@noindent
2378tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2379@samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2380are not actually required.)
2381
2382Note that on Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program via a shell,
2383which also inherits the environment set with @code{set environment}.
2384If necessary, you can avoid that by using the @samp{env} program as a
2385wrapper instead of using @code{set environment}. @xref{set
2386exec-wrapper}, for an example doing just that.
2387
2388@kindex unset environment
2389@item unset environment @var{varname}
2390Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2391program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2392@code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2393rather than assigning it an empty value.
2394@end table
2395
2396@emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2397the shell indicated by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it
2398exists (or @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable
2399names a shell that runs an initialization file when started
2400non-interactively---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, $@file{.zshenv}
2401for the Z shell, or the file specified in the @samp{BASH_ENV}
2402environment variable for BASH---any variables you set in that file
2403affect your program. You may wish to move setting of environment
2404variables to files that are only run when you sign on, such as
2405@file{.login} or @file{.profile}.
2406
2407@node Working Directory
2408@section Your Program's Working Directory
2409
2410@cindex working directory (of your program)
2411Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2412working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2413The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2414from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2415working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2416
2417The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2418that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2419Specify Files}.
2420
2421@table @code
2422@kindex cd
2423@cindex change working directory
2424@item cd @r{[}@var{directory}@r{]}
2425Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}. If not
2426given, @var{directory} uses @file{'~'}.
2427
2428@kindex pwd
2429@item pwd
2430Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2431@end table
2432
2433It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2434the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2435during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2436configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2437proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2438current working directory of the debuggee.
2439
2440@node Input/Output
2441@section Your Program's Input and Output
2442
2443@cindex redirection
2444@cindex i/o
2445@cindex terminal
2446By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2447the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2448to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2449modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2450running your program.
2451
2452@table @code
2453@kindex info terminal
2454@item info terminal
2455Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2456program is using.
2457@end table
2458
2459You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2460redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2461
2462@smallexample
2463run > outfile
2464@end smallexample
2465
2466@noindent
2467starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2468
2469@kindex tty
2470@cindex controlling terminal
2471Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2472with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2473argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2474commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2475process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2476
2477@smallexample
2478tty /dev/ttyb
2479@end smallexample
2480
2481@noindent
2482directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2483default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2484that as their controlling terminal.
2485
2486An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2487effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2488terminal.
2489
2490When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2491command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2492for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2493for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2494
2495@cindex inferior tty
2496@cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2497You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2498display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2499program.
2500
2501@table @code
2502@item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2503@kindex set inferior-tty
2504Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2505
2506@item show inferior-tty
2507@kindex show inferior-tty
2508Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2509@end table
2510
2511@node Attach
2512@section Debugging an Already-running Process
2513@kindex attach
2514@cindex attach
2515
2516@table @code
2517@item attach @var{process-id}
2518This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2519outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2520targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2521find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2522or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2523
2524@code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2525executing the command.
2526@end table
2527
2528To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2529which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2530programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2531also have permission to send the process a signal.
2532
2533When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2534the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2535the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2536(@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2537the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2538Specify Files}.
2539
2540The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2541process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2542with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2543you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2544can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2545process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2546attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2547
2548@table @code
2549@kindex detach
2550@item detach
2551When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2552@code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2553the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2554that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2555are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2556@code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2557executing the command.
2558@end table
2559
2560If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2561that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2562By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2563things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2564@code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2565Messages}).
2566
2567@node Kill Process
2568@section Killing the Child Process
2569
2570@table @code
2571@kindex kill
2572@item kill
2573Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2574@end table
2575
2576This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2577running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2578is running.
2579
2580On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2581while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2582@code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2583outside the debugger.
2584
2585The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2586relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2587executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2588next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2589reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2590breakpoint settings).
2591
2592@node Inferiors and Programs
2593@section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2594
2595@value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2596session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2597several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2598before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2599multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2600from multiple executables.
2601
2602@cindex inferior
2603@value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2604object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2605a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2606have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2607may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2608identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2609inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2610embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2611of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2612threads running in it.
2613
2614To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2615inferiors}}:
2616
2617@table @code
2618@kindex info inferiors
2619@item info inferiors
2620Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2621
2622@value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2623
2624@enumerate
2625@item
2626the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2627
2628@item
2629the target system's inferior identifier
2630
2631@item
2632the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2633
2634@end enumerate
2635
2636@noindent
2637An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2638indicates the current inferior.
2639
2640For example,
2641@end table
2642@c end table here to get a little more width for example
2643
2644@smallexample
2645(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2646 Num Description Executable
2647 2 process 2307 hello
2648* 1 process 3401 goodbye
2649@end smallexample
2650
2651To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2652
2653@table @code
2654@kindex inferior @var{infno}
2655@item inferior @var{infno}
2656Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2657@var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2658in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2659@end table
2660
2661@vindex $_inferior@r{, convenience variable}
2662The debugger convenience variable @samp{$_inferior} contains the
2663number of the current inferior. You may find this useful in writing
2664breakpoint conditional expressions, command scripts, and so forth.
2665@xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for general
2666information on convenience variables.
2667
2668You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2669@code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2670systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2671automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2672remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2673@w{@code{remove-inferiors}} command.
2674
2675@table @code
2676@kindex add-inferior
2677@item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2678Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2679executable; @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2680the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2681change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2682@code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2683
2684@kindex clone-inferior
2685@item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2686Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2687@var{infno}; @var{n} defaults to 1, and @var{infno} defaults to the
2688number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2689want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2690
2691@smallexample
2692(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2693 Num Description Executable
2694* 1 process 29964 helloworld
2695(@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2696Added inferior 2.
26971 inferiors added.
2698(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2699 Num Description Executable
2700 2 <null> helloworld
2701* 1 process 29964 helloworld
2702@end smallexample
2703
2704You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2705
2706@kindex remove-inferiors
2707@item remove-inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2708Removes the inferior or inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}. It is not
2709possible to remove an inferior that is running with this command. For
2710those, use the @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2711
2712@end table
2713
2714To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2715inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2716inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2717using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}} command:
2718
2719@table @code
2720@kindex detach inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2721@item detach inferior @var{infno}@dots{}
2722Detach from the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN}
2723inferior number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry
2724still stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors},
2725but its Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2726
2727@kindex kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2728@item kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2729Kill the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN} inferior
2730number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry still
2731stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its
2732Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2733@end table
2734
2735After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2736@code{detach inferiors}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferiors}, or after
2737a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2738@code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2739
2740
2741To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2742control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2743
2744@table @code
2745@kindex set print inferior-events
2746@cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2747@item set print inferior-events
2748@itemx set print inferior-events on
2749@itemx set print inferior-events off
2750The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2751disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2752inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2753detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2754
2755@kindex show print inferior-events
2756@item show print inferior-events
2757Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2758inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2759@end table
2760
2761Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2762single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2763value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2764
2765
2766Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2767get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2768spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2769info program-spaces}} command.
2770
2771@table @code
2772@kindex maint info program-spaces
2773@item maint info program-spaces
2774Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2775@value{GDBN}.
2776
2777@value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2778
2779@enumerate
2780@item
2781the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2782
2783@item
2784the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2785the @code{file} command.
2786
2787@end enumerate
2788
2789@noindent
2790An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2791indicates the current program space.
2792
2793In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2794information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2795example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2796
2797@smallexample
2798(@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2799 Id Executable
2800* 1 hello
2801 2 goodbye
2802 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2803@end smallexample
2804
2805Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2806while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2807some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2808same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2809the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2810
2811@smallexample
2812(@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2813 Id Executable
2814* 1 vfork-test
2815 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2816@end smallexample
2817
2818Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2819space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2820@end table
2821
2822@node Threads
2823@section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2824
2825@cindex threads of execution
2826@cindex multiple threads
2827@cindex switching threads
2828In some operating systems, such as GNU/Linux and Solaris, a single program
2829may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2830of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2831the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2832that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2833modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2834registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2835
2836@value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2837programs:
2838
2839@itemize @bullet
2840@item automatic notification of new threads
2841@item @samp{thread @var{thread-id}}, a command to switch among threads
2842@item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2843@item @samp{thread apply [@var{thread-id-list}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2844a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2845@item thread-specific breakpoints
2846@item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2847messages on thread start and exit.
2848@item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2849the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2850isn't compatible with the program.
2851@end itemize
2852
2853@cindex focus of debugging
2854@cindex current thread
2855The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2856threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2857control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2858This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2859program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2860
2861@cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2862@cindex thread identifier (system)
2863@c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2864@c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2865@c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2866Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2867the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2868form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}, where @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2869whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2870@sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2871
2872@smallexample
2873[New Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 25582)]
2874@end smallexample
2875
2876@noindent
2877when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on other systems,
2878the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2879further qualifier.
2880
2881@c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2882@c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2883@c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2884@c program?
2885@c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2886@c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2887@c threads ab initio?
2888
2889@anchor{thread numbers}
2890@cindex thread number, per inferior
2891@cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2892For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread number
2893---always a single integer---with each thread of an inferior. This
2894number is unique between all threads of an inferior, but not unique
2895between threads of different inferiors.
2896
2897@cindex qualified thread ID
2898You can refer to a given thread in an inferior using the qualified
2899@var{inferior-num}.@var{thread-num} syntax, also known as
2900@dfn{qualified thread ID}, with @var{inferior-num} being the inferior
2901number and @var{thread-num} being the thread number of the given
2902inferior. For example, thread @code{2.3} refers to thread number 3 of
2903inferior 2. If you omit @var{inferior-num} (e.g., @code{thread 3}),
2904then @value{GDBN} infers you're referring to a thread of the current
2905inferior.
2906
2907Until you create a second inferior, @value{GDBN} does not show the
2908@var{inferior-num} part of thread IDs, even though you can always use
2909the full @var{inferior-num}.@var{thread-num} form to refer to threads
2910of inferior 1, the initial inferior.
2911
2912@anchor{thread ID lists}
2913@cindex thread ID lists
2914Some commands accept a space-separated @dfn{thread ID list} as
2915argument. A list element can be:
2916
2917@enumerate
2918@item
2919A thread ID as shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads}
2920display, with or without an inferior qualifier. E.g., @samp{2.1} or
2921@samp{1}.
2922
2923@item
2924A range of thread numbers, again with or without an inferior
2925qualifier, as in @var{inf}.@var{thr1}-@var{thr2} or
2926@var{thr1}-@var{thr2}. E.g., @samp{1.2-4} or @samp{2-4}.
2927
2928@item
2929All threads of an inferior, specified with a star wildcard, with or
2930without an inferior qualifier, as in @var{inf}.@code{*} (e.g.,
2931@samp{1.*}) or @code{*}. The former refers to all threads of the
2932given inferior, and the latter form without an inferior qualifier
2933refers to all threads of the current inferior.
2934
2935@end enumerate
2936
2937For example, if the current inferior is 1, and inferior 7 has one
2938thread with ID 7.1, the thread list @samp{1 2-3 4.5 6.7-9 7.*}
2939includes threads 1 to 3 of inferior 1, thread 5 of inferior 4, threads
29407 to 9 of inferior 6 and all threads of inferior 7. That is, in
2941expanded qualified form, the same as @samp{1.1 1.2 1.3 4.5 6.7 6.8 6.9
29427.1}.
2943
2944
2945@anchor{global thread numbers}
2946@cindex global thread number
2947@cindex global thread identifier (GDB)
2948In addition to a @emph{per-inferior} number, each thread is also
2949assigned a unique @emph{global} number, also known as @dfn{global
2950thread ID}, a single integer. Unlike the thread number component of
2951the thread ID, no two threads have the same global ID, even when
2952you're debugging multiple inferiors.
2953
2954From @value{GDBN}'s perspective, a process always has at least one
2955thread. In other words, @value{GDBN} assigns a thread number to the
2956program's ``main thread'' even if the program is not multi-threaded.
2957
2958@vindex $_thread@r{, convenience variable}
2959@vindex $_gthread@r{, convenience variable}
2960The debugger convenience variables @samp{$_thread} and
2961@samp{$_gthread} contain, respectively, the per-inferior thread number
2962and the global thread number of the current thread. You may find this
2963useful in writing breakpoint conditional expressions, command scripts,
2964and so forth. @xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for
2965general information on convenience variables.
2966
2967If @value{GDBN} detects the program is multi-threaded, it augments the
2968usual message about stopping at a breakpoint with the ID and name of
2969the thread that hit the breakpoint.
2970
2971@smallexample
2972Thread 2 "client" hit Breakpoint 1, send_message () at client.c:68
2973@end smallexample
2974
2975Likewise when the program receives a signal:
2976
2977@smallexample
2978Thread 1 "main" received signal SIGINT, Interrupt.
2979@end smallexample
2980
2981@table @code
2982@kindex info threads
2983@item info threads @r{[}@var{thread-id-list}@r{]}
2984
2985Display information about one or more threads. With no arguments
2986displays information about all threads. You can specify the list of
2987threads that you want to display using the thread ID list syntax
2988(@pxref{thread ID lists}).
2989
2990@value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2991
2992@enumerate
2993@item
2994the per-inferior thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2995
2996@item
2997the global thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}, if the @samp{-gid}
2998option was specified
2999
3000@item
3001the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
3002
3003@item
3004the thread's name, if one is known. A thread can either be named by
3005the user (see @code{thread name}, below), or, in some cases, by the
3006program itself.
3007
3008@item
3009the current stack frame summary for that thread
3010@end enumerate
3011
3012@noindent
3013An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
3014indicates the current thread.
3015
3016For example,
3017@end table
3018@c end table here to get a little more width for example
3019
3020@smallexample
3021(@value{GDBP}) info threads
3022 Id Target Id Frame
3023* 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
3024 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
3025 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
3026 at threadtest.c:68
3027@end smallexample
3028
3029If you're debugging multiple inferiors, @value{GDBN} displays thread
3030IDs using the qualified @var{inferior-num}.@var{thread-num} format.
3031Otherwise, only @var{thread-num} is shown.
3032
3033If you specify the @samp{-gid} option, @value{GDBN} displays a column
3034indicating each thread's global thread ID:
3035
3036@smallexample
3037(@value{GDBP}) info threads
3038 Id GId Target Id Frame
3039 1.1 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
3040 1.2 3 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
3041 1.3 4 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
3042* 2.1 2 process 65 thread 1 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
3043@end smallexample
3044
3045On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
3046Solaris-specific command:
3047
3048@table @code
3049@item maint info sol-threads
3050@kindex maint info sol-threads
3051@cindex thread info (Solaris)
3052Display info on Solaris user threads.
3053@end table
3054
3055@table @code
3056@kindex thread @var{thread-id}
3057@item thread @var{thread-id}
3058Make thread ID @var{thread-id} the current thread. The command
3059argument @var{thread-id} is the @value{GDBN} thread ID, as shown in
3060the first field of the @samp{info threads} display, with or without an
3061inferior qualifier (e.g., @samp{2.1} or @samp{1}).
3062
3063@value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the
3064thread you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
3065
3066@smallexample
3067(@value{GDBP}) thread 2
3068[Switching to thread 2 (Thread 0xb7fdab70 (LWP 12747))]
3069#0 some_function (ignore=0x0) at example.c:8
30708 printf ("hello\n");
3071@end smallexample
3072
3073@noindent
3074As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
3075@samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
3076threads.
3077
3078@kindex thread apply
3079@cindex apply command to several threads
3080@item thread apply [@var{thread-id-list} | all [-ascending]] @var{command}
3081The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
3082@var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the threads that you
3083want affected using the thread ID list syntax (@pxref{thread ID
3084lists}), or specify @code{all} to apply to all threads. To apply a
3085command to all threads in descending order, type @kbd{thread apply all
3086@var{command}}. To apply a command to all threads in ascending order,
3087type @kbd{thread apply all -ascending @var{command}}.
3088
3089
3090@kindex thread name
3091@cindex name a thread
3092@item thread name [@var{name}]
3093This command assigns a name to the current thread. If no argument is
3094given, any existing user-specified name is removed. The thread name
3095appears in the @samp{info threads} display.
3096
3097On some systems, such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, @value{GDBN} is able to
3098determine the name of the thread as given by the OS. On these
3099systems, a name specified with @samp{thread name} will override the
3100system-give name, and removing the user-specified name will cause
3101@value{GDBN} to once again display the system-specified name.
3102
3103@kindex thread find
3104@cindex search for a thread
3105@item thread find [@var{regexp}]
3106Search for and display thread ids whose name or @var{systag}
3107matches the supplied regular expression.
3108
3109As well as being the complement to the @samp{thread name} command,
3110this command also allows you to identify a thread by its target
3111@var{systag}. For instance, on @sc{gnu}/Linux, the target @var{systag}
3112is the LWP id.
3113
3114@smallexample
3115(@value{GDBN}) thread find 26688
3116Thread 4 has target id 'Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688)'
3117(@value{GDBN}) info thread 4
3118 Id Target Id Frame
3119 4 Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688) 0x00000031ca6cd372 in select ()
3120@end smallexample
3121
3122@kindex set print thread-events
3123@cindex print messages on thread start and exit
3124@item set print thread-events
3125@itemx set print thread-events on
3126@itemx set print thread-events off
3127The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
3128disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
3129started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
3130be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
3131Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
3132
3133@kindex show print thread-events
3134@item show print thread-events
3135Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
3136have started and exited.
3137@end table
3138
3139@xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
3140more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
3141programs with multiple threads.
3142
3143@xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
3144watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
3145
3146@anchor{set libthread-db-search-path}
3147@table @code
3148@kindex set libthread-db-search-path
3149@cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
3150@item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
3151If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
3152directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
3153If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
3154its default value (@code{$sdir:$pdir} on @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems).
3155Internally, the default value comes from the @code{LIBTHREAD_DB_SEARCH_PATH}
3156macro.
3157
3158On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
3159@code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
3160inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
3161to find @code{libthread_db}. @value{GDBN} also consults first if inferior
3162specific thread debugging library loading is enabled
3163by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
3164
3165A special entry @samp{$sdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
3166refers to the default system directories that are
3167normally searched for loading shared libraries. The @samp{$sdir} entry
3168is the only kind not needing to be enabled by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db}
3169(@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
3170
3171A special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
3172refers to the directory from which @code{libpthread}
3173was loaded in the inferior process.
3174
3175For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
3176@value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
3177If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
3178mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
3179will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
3180If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
3181@value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
3182
3183Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
3184only on some platforms.
3185
3186@kindex show libthread-db-search-path
3187@item show libthread-db-search-path
3188Display current libthread_db search path.
3189
3190@kindex set debug libthread-db
3191@kindex show debug libthread-db
3192@cindex debugging @code{libthread_db}
3193@item set debug libthread-db
3194@itemx show debug libthread-db
3195Turns on or off display of @code{libthread_db}-related events.
3196Use @code{1} to enable, @code{0} to disable.
3197@end table
3198
3199@node Forks
3200@section Debugging Forks
3201
3202@cindex fork, debugging programs which call
3203@cindex multiple processes
3204@cindex processes, multiple
3205On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
3206programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
3207function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
3208parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
3209set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
3210will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
3211will cause it to terminate.
3212
3213However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
3214which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
3215the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
3216only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
3217so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
3218on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
3219get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
3220@value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
3221the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
3222the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
3223
3224On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs
3225that create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork}
3226functions. On @sc{gnu}/Linux platforms, this feature is supported
3227with kernel version 2.5.46 and later.
3228
3229The fork debugging commands are supported in native mode and when
3230connected to @code{gdbserver} in either @code{target remote} mode or
3231@code{target extended-remote} mode.
3232
3233By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
3234the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
3235
3236If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
3237use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
3238
3239@table @code
3240@kindex set follow-fork-mode
3241@item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
3242Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
3243@code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
3244process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
3245
3246@table @code
3247@item parent
3248The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
3249unimpeded. This is the default.
3250
3251@item child
3252The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
3253unimpeded.
3254
3255@end table
3256
3257@kindex show follow-fork-mode
3258@item show follow-fork-mode
3259Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
3260@end table
3261
3262@cindex debugging multiple processes
3263On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
3264command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
3265
3266@table @code
3267@kindex set detach-on-fork
3268@item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
3269Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
3270retain debugger control over them both.
3271
3272@table @code
3273@item on
3274The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
3275@code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
3276independently. This is the default.
3277
3278@item off
3279Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
3280One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
3281@code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
3282is held suspended.
3283
3284@end table
3285
3286@kindex show detach-on-fork
3287@item show detach-on-fork
3288Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
3289@end table
3290
3291If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
3292will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
3293You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
3294using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
3295to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
3296Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
3297
3298To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
3299from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferiors}} command (allowing it
3300to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}}
3301command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
3302and Programs}.
3303
3304If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
3305@code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
3306breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
3307@code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
3308the child process's @code{main}.
3309
3310On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
3311cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
3312
3313If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
3314call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
3315process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
3316as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
3317@value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
3318You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
3319command.
3320
3321@table @code
3322@kindex set follow-exec-mode
3323@item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
3324
3325Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
3326@code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
3327
3328@code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
3329
3330@table @code
3331@item new
3332@value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
3333new inferior. The program the process was running before the
3334@code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
3335original inferior.
3336
3337For example:
3338
3339@smallexample
3340(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3341(gdb) info inferior
3342 Id Description Executable
3343* 1 <null> prog1
3344(@value{GDBP}) run
3345process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3346Program exited normally.
3347(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3348 Id Description Executable
3349 1 <null> prog1
3350* 2 <null> prog2
3351@end smallexample
3352
3353@item same
3354@value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3355executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3356inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3357e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3358running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3359
3360For example:
3361
3362@smallexample
3363(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3364 Id Description Executable
3365* 1 <null> prog1
3366(@value{GDBP}) run
3367process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3368Program exited normally.
3369(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3370 Id Description Executable
3371* 1 <null> prog2
3372@end smallexample
3373
3374@end table
3375@end table
3376
3377@code{follow-exec-mode} is supported in native mode and
3378@code{target extended-remote} mode.
3379
3380You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3381a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3382Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3383
3384@node Checkpoint/Restart
3385@section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3386
3387@cindex checkpoint
3388@cindex restart
3389@cindex bookmark
3390@cindex snapshot of a process
3391@cindex rewind program state
3392
3393On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3394@sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3395program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3396later.
3397
3398Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3399happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3400includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3401system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3402moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3403
3404Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3405getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3406a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3407the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3408from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3409start again from there.
3410
3411This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3412steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3413
3414To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3415
3416@table @code
3417@kindex checkpoint
3418@item checkpoint
3419Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3420The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3421is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3422
3423@kindex info checkpoints
3424@item info checkpoints
3425List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3426session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3427listed:
3428
3429@table @code
3430@item Checkpoint ID
3431@item Process ID
3432@item Code Address
3433@item Source line, or label
3434@end table
3435
3436@kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3437@item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3438Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3439@var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3440etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3441was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3442in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3443
3444Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3445are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3446only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3447the debugger.
3448
3449@kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3450@item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3451Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3452
3453@end table
3454
3455Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3456of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3457(OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3458a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3459so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3460opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3461previously read data can be read again.
3462
3463Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3464external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3465from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3466but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3467be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3468been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3469
3470However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3471program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3472again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3473different execution path this time.
3474
3475@cindex checkpoints and process id
3476Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3477different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3478id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3479and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3480If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3481potentially pose a problem.
3482
3483@subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3484
3485On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3486is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3487difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3488absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3489absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3490next.
3491
3492A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3493Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3494and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3495process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3496your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3497
3498@node Stopping
3499@chapter Stopping and Continuing
3500
3501The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3502program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3503trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3504
3505Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3506such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3507@value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3508change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3509continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3510ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3511explicitly request this information at any time.
3512
3513@table @code
3514@kindex info program
3515@item info program
3516Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3517running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3518@end table
3519
3520@menu
3521* Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3522* Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3523* Skipping Over Functions and Files::
3524 Skipping over functions and files
3525* Signals:: Signals
3526* Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3527@end menu
3528
3529@node Breakpoints
3530@section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3531
3532@cindex breakpoints
3533A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3534the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3535control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3536breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3537Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3538should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3539program.
3540
3541On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3542the executable is run.
3543
3544@cindex watchpoints
3545@cindex data breakpoints
3546@cindex memory tracing
3547@cindex breakpoint on memory address
3548@cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3549A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3550when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3551of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3552combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3553@dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3554watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3555from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3556enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3557same commands.
3558
3559You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3560whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3561Automatic Display}.
3562
3563@cindex catchpoints
3564@cindex breakpoint on events
3565A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3566when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3567exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3568different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3569Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3570other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3571@code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3572
3573@cindex breakpoint numbers
3574@cindex numbers for breakpoints
3575@value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3576catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3577starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3578features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3579breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3580@dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3581enable it again.
3582
3583@cindex breakpoint ranges
3584@cindex ranges of breakpoints
3585Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3586operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3587@samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3588hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3589all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3590
3591@menu
3592* Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3593* Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3594* Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3595* Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3596* Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3597* Conditions:: Break conditions
3598* Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3599* Dynamic Printf:: Dynamic printf
3600* Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3601* Static Probe Points:: Listing static probe points
3602* Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3603* Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3604@end menu
3605
3606@node Set Breaks
3607@subsection Setting Breakpoints
3608
3609@c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3610@c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3611@c
3612@c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3613
3614@kindex break
3615@kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3616@vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3617@cindex latest breakpoint
3618Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3619@code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3620number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3621Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3622convenience variables.
3623
3624@table @code
3625@item break @var{location}
3626Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3627function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3628(@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3629specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3630before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3631
3632When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3633C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3634@xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3635that situation.
3636
3637It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3638only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3639or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3640
3641@item break
3642When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3643the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3644(@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3645innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3646returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3647@code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3648that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3649@code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3650the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3651inside loops.
3652
3653@value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3654least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3655would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3656breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3657existed when your program stopped.
3658
3659@item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3660Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3661@var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3662value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3663@samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3664above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3665,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3666
3667@kindex tbreak
3668@item tbreak @var{args}
3669Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. The @var{args} are the
3670same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3671way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3672program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3673
3674@kindex hbreak
3675@cindex hardware breakpoints
3676@item hbreak @var{args}
3677Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. The @var{args} are the same as for the
3678@code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3679breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3680have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3681debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3682changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3683provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3684will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3685address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3686breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3687example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3688@value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3689or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3690(@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3691@xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3692For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3693breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3694hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3695
3696@kindex thbreak
3697@item thbreak @var{args}
3698Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. The @var{args}
3699are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3700the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3701the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3702first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3703command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3704may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3705See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3706
3707@kindex rbreak
3708@cindex regular expression
3709@cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3710@cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3711@item rbreak @var{regex}
3712Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3713@var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3714matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3715breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3716the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3717them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3718
3719The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3720like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3721shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3722an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3723@code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3724match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3725
3726@cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3727When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3728breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3729classes.
3730
3731@cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3732The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3733@strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3734
3735@smallexample
3736(@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3737@end smallexample
3738
3739@item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3740If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3741the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3742specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3743every function in a given file:
3744
3745@smallexample
3746(@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3747@end smallexample
3748
3749The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3750optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3751
3752@kindex info breakpoints
3753@cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3754@item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3755@itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3756Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3757not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3758about the specified breakpoint(s) (or watchpoint(s) or catchpoint(s)).
3759For each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3760
3761@table @emph
3762@item Breakpoint Numbers
3763@item Type
3764Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3765@item Disposition
3766Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3767@item Enabled or Disabled
3768Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3769that are not enabled.
3770@item Address
3771Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3772pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3773contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3774library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3775See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3776have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3777@item What
3778Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3779line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3780the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3781the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3782@end table
3783
3784@noindent
3785If a breakpoint is conditional, there are two evaluation modes: ``host'' and
3786``target''. If mode is ``host'', breakpoint condition evaluation is done by
3787@value{GDBN} on the host's side. If it is ``target'', then the condition
3788is evaluated by the target. The @code{info break} command shows
3789the condition on the line following the affected breakpoint, together with
3790its condition evaluation mode in between parentheses.
3791
3792Breakpoint commands, if any, are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is
3793allowed to have a condition specified for it. The condition is not parsed for
3794validity until a shared library is loaded that allows the pending
3795breakpoint to resolve to a valid location.
3796
3797@noindent
3798@code{info break} with a breakpoint
3799number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3800convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3801the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3802listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3803
3804@noindent
3805@code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3806has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3807@code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3808hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3809was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3810will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3811
3812@noindent
3813For a breakpoints with an enable count (xref) greater than 1,
3814@code{info break} also displays that count.
3815
3816@end table
3817
3818@value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3819your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3820the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3821(@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3822
3823@cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3824@cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3825It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3826in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3827
3828@itemize @bullet
3829@item
3830Multiple functions in the program may have the same name.
3831
3832@item
3833For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3834instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3835
3836@item
3837For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3838correspond to any number of instantiations.
3839
3840@item
3841For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3842several places where that function is inlined.
3843@end itemize
3844
3845In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3846the relevant locations.
3847
3848A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3849table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3850each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3851address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3852addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3853locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3854@var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3855
3856For example:
3857
3858@smallexample
3859Num Type Disp Enb Address What
38601 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3861 stop only if i==1
3862 breakpoint already hit 1 time
38631.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
38641.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3865@end smallexample
3866
3867Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3868@var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3869@code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3870delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3871entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3872the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3873the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3874the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3875that belong to that breakpoint.
3876
3877@cindex pending breakpoints
3878It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3879Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3880and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3881this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3882any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3883set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3884debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3885symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3886breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3887a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3888is not yet resolved.
3889
3890After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3891@value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3892shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3893pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3894ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3895that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3896
3897This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3898example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3899a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3900a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3901
3902Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3903differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3904enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3905
3906@value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3907happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3908address specification to an address:
3909
3910@kindex set breakpoint pending
3911@kindex show breakpoint pending
3912@table @code
3913@item set breakpoint pending auto
3914This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3915location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3916
3917@item set breakpoint pending on
3918This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3919result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3920
3921@item set breakpoint pending off
3922This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3923unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3924not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3925
3926@item show breakpoint pending
3927Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3928@end table
3929
3930The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3931variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3932as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3933
3934@cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3935For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3936software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3937breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3938breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3939breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3940breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3941breakpoints.
3942
3943You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3944
3945@kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3946@kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3947@table @code
3948@item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3949This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3950will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3951breakpoint must be used.
3952
3953@item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3954This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3955type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3956trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3957@end table
3958
3959@value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3960at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3961executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3962code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3963the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3964behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3965target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3966targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3967This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3968
3969@kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3970@kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3971@table @code
3972@item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3973All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3974the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3975removed from the target when it stops. This is the default mode.
3976
3977@item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3978Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3979the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3980breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3981removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is deleted.
3982@end table
3983
3984@value{GDBN} handles conditional breakpoints by evaluating these conditions
3985when a breakpoint breaks. If the condition is true, then the process being
3986debugged stops, otherwise the process is resumed.
3987
3988If the target supports evaluating conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} may
3989download the breakpoint, together with its conditions, to it.
3990
3991This feature can be controlled via the following commands:
3992
3993@kindex set breakpoint condition-evaluation
3994@kindex show breakpoint condition-evaluation
3995@table @code
3996@item set breakpoint condition-evaluation host
3997This option commands @value{GDBN} to evaluate the breakpoint
3998conditions on the host's side. Unconditional breakpoints are sent to
3999the target which in turn receives the triggers and reports them back to GDB
4000for condition evaluation. This is the standard evaluation mode.
4001
4002@item set breakpoint condition-evaluation target
4003This option commands @value{GDBN} to download breakpoint conditions
4004to the target at the moment of their insertion. The target
4005is responsible for evaluating the conditional expression and reporting
4006breakpoint stop events back to @value{GDBN} whenever the condition
4007is true. Due to limitations of target-side evaluation, some conditions
4008cannot be evaluated there, e.g., conditions that depend on local data
4009that is only known to the host. Examples include
4010conditional expressions involving convenience variables, complex types
4011that cannot be handled by the agent expression parser and expressions
4012that are too long to be sent over to the target, specially when the
4013target is a remote system. In these cases, the conditions will be
4014evaluated by @value{GDBN}.
4015
4016@item set breakpoint condition-evaluation auto
4017This is the default mode. If the target supports evaluating breakpoint
4018conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} will download breakpoint conditions to
4019the target (limitations mentioned previously apply). If the target does
4020not support breakpoint condition evaluation, then @value{GDBN} will fallback
4021to evaluating all these conditions on the host's side.
4022@end table
4023
4024
4025@cindex negative breakpoint numbers
4026@cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
4027@value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
4028special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
4029programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
4030starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
4031You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
4032@samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
4033
4034
4035@node Set Watchpoints
4036@subsection Setting Watchpoints
4037
4038@cindex setting watchpoints
4039You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
4040expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
4041this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
4042The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
4043as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
4044
4045@itemize @bullet
4046@item
4047A reference to the value of a single variable.
4048
4049@item
4050An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
4051@samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
4052address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
4053
4054@item
4055An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
4056expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
4057language (@pxref{Languages}).
4058@end itemize
4059
4060You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
4061not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
4062@samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
4063@value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
4064the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
4065valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
4066pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
4067@code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
4068the expression changes.
4069
4070@cindex software watchpoints
4071@cindex hardware watchpoints
4072Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
4073hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
4074program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
4075times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
4076catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
4077culprit.)
4078
4079On some systems, such as most PowerPC or x86-based targets,
4080@value{GDBN} includes support for hardware watchpoints, which do not
4081slow down the running of your program.
4082
4083@table @code
4084@kindex watch
4085@item watch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{thread-id}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
4086Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
4087expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
4088changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
4089to watch the value of a single variable:
4090
4091@smallexample
4092(@value{GDBP}) watch foo
4093@end smallexample
4094
4095If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{thread-id}@r{]}}
4096argument, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
4097@var{thread-id} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
4098change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
4099that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
4100with Hardware Watchpoints.
4101
4102Ordinarily a watchpoint respects the scope of variables in @var{expr}
4103(see below). The @code{-location} argument tells @value{GDBN} to
4104instead watch the memory referred to by @var{expr}. In this case,
4105@value{GDBN} will evaluate @var{expr}, take the address of the result,
4106and watch the memory at that address. The type of the result is used
4107to determine the size of the watched memory. If the expression's
4108result does not have an address, then @value{GDBN} will print an
4109error.
4110
4111The @code{@r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}} argument allows creation
4112of masked watchpoints, if the current architecture supports this
4113feature (e.g., PowerPC Embedded architecture, see @ref{PowerPC
4114Embedded}.) A @dfn{masked watchpoint} specifies a mask in addition
4115to an address to watch. The mask specifies that some bits of an address
4116(the bits which are reset in the mask) should be ignored when matching
4117the address accessed by the inferior against the watchpoint address.
4118Thus, a masked watchpoint watches many addresses simultaneously---those
4119addresses whose unmasked bits are identical to the unmasked bits in the
4120watchpoint address. The @code{mask} argument implies @code{-location}.
4121Examples:
4122
4123@smallexample
4124(@value{GDBP}) watch foo mask 0xffff00ff
4125(@value{GDBP}) watch *0xdeadbeef mask 0xffffff00
4126@end smallexample
4127
4128@kindex rwatch
4129@item rwatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{thread-id}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
4130Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
4131by the program.
4132
4133@kindex awatch
4134@item awatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{thread-id}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
4135Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
4136or written into by the program.
4137
4138@kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
4139@item info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
4140This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
4141@code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
4142@end table
4143
4144If you watch for a change in a numerically entered address you need to
4145dereference it, as the address itself is just a constant number which will
4146never change. @value{GDBN} refuses to create a watchpoint that watches
4147a never-changing value:
4148
4149@smallexample
4150(@value{GDBP}) watch 0x600850
4151Cannot watch constant value 0x600850.
4152(@value{GDBP}) watch *(int *) 0x600850
4153Watchpoint 1: *(int *) 6293584
4154@end smallexample
4155
4156@value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
4157watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
4158value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
4159cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
4160executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
4161@emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
4162
4163@cindex use only software watchpoints
4164You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
4165@kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
4166zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
4167the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
4168watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
4169@code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
4170mechanism of watching expression values.)
4171
4172@table @code
4173@item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
4174@kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
4175Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
4176
4177@item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
4178@kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
4179Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
4180@end table
4181
4182For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
4183watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
4184hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
4185
4186When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
4187
4188@smallexample
4189Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
4190@end smallexample
4191
4192@noindent
4193if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
4194
4195Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
4196hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
4197value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
4198every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
4199that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
4200hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
4201will print a message like this:
4202
4203@smallexample
4204Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
4205@end smallexample
4206
4207Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
4208data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
4209watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
4210can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
4211cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
4212double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
4213wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
4214into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
4215
4216If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
4217to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
4218Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
4219time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
4220able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
4221warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
4222
4223@smallexample
4224Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
4225@end smallexample
4226
4227@noindent
4228If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
4229
4230Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
4231exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
4232That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
4233expression with separately allocated resources.
4234
4235If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
4236any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
4237kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
4238
4239@value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
4240(automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
4241they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
4242which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
4243being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
4244and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
4245rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
4246way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
4247@code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
4248
4249@cindex watchpoints and threads
4250@cindex threads and watchpoints
4251In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
4252watched expression from every thread.
4253
4254@quotation
4255@emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
4256have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
4257watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
4258single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
4259change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
4260confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
4261software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
4262when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
4263watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
4264@end quotation
4265
4266@xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
4267
4268@node Set Catchpoints
4269@subsection Setting Catchpoints
4270@cindex catchpoints, setting
4271@cindex exception handlers
4272@cindex event handling
4273
4274You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
4275kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
4276shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
4277
4278@table @code
4279@kindex catch
4280@item catch @var{event}
4281Stop when @var{event} occurs. The @var{event} can be any of the following:
4282
4283@table @code
4284@item throw @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4285@itemx rethrow @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4286@itemx catch @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4287@kindex catch throw
4288@kindex catch rethrow
4289@kindex catch catch
4290@cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
4291The throwing, re-throwing, or catching of a C@t{++} exception.
4292
4293If @var{regexp} is given, then only exceptions whose type matches the
4294regular expression will be caught.
4295
4296@vindex $_exception@r{, convenience variable}
4297The convenience variable @code{$_exception} is available at an
4298exception-related catchpoint, on some systems. This holds the
4299exception being thrown.
4300
4301There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling in
4302@value{GDBN}:
4303
4304@itemize @bullet
4305@item
4306The support for these commands is system-dependent. Currently, only
4307systems using the @samp{gnu-v3} C@t{++} ABI (@pxref{ABI}) are
4308supported.
4309
4310@item
4311The regular expression feature and the @code{$_exception} convenience
4312variable rely on the presence of some SDT probes in @code{libstdc++}.
4313If these probes are not present, then these features cannot be used.
4314These probes were first available in the GCC 4.8 release, but whether
4315or not they are available in your GCC also depends on how it was
4316built.
4317
4318@item
4319The @code{$_exception} convenience variable is only valid at the
4320instruction at which an exception-related catchpoint is set.
4321
4322@item
4323When an exception-related catchpoint is hit, @value{GDBN} stops at a
4324location in the system library which implements runtime exception
4325support for C@t{++}, usually @code{libstdc++}. You can use @code{up}
4326(@pxref{Selection}) to get to your code.
4327
4328@item
4329If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4330control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4331raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4332returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4333simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4334that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4335you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4336disabled within interactive calls. @xref{Calling}, for information on
4337controlling this with @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception}.
4338
4339@item
4340You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4341
4342@item
4343You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4344@end itemize
4345
4346@item exception
4347@kindex catch exception
4348@cindex Ada exception catching
4349@cindex catch Ada exceptions
4350An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
4351at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
4352the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
4353Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
4354
4355When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
4356name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
4357fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
4358@value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
4359rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
4360called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
4361the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
4362Pck.Constraint_Error}.
4363
4364@item exception unhandled
4365@kindex catch exception unhandled
4366An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
4367
4368@item assert
4369@kindex catch assert
4370A failed Ada assertion.
4371
4372@item exec
4373@kindex catch exec
4374@cindex break on fork/exec
4375A call to @code{exec}.
4376
4377@item syscall
4378@itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
4379@kindex catch syscall
4380@cindex break on a system call.
4381A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
4382syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
4383from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
4384@value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
4385debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
4386argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
4387will be caught.
4388
4389@var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
4390underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
4391GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
4392names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
4393
4394@c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
4395@c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
4396@c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
4397@c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
4398
4399Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
4400each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
4401facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
4402available choices.
4403
4404You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
4405number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
4406identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
4407name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
4408into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
4409may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
4410list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
4411behind the OS upgrades).
4412
4413The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
4414arguments to it:
4415
4416@smallexample
4417(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4418Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4419(@value{GDBP}) r
4420Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4421
4422Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
4423 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4424(@value{GDBP}) c
4425Continuing.
4426
4427Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
4428 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4429(@value{GDBP})
4430@end smallexample
4431
4432Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
4433
4434@smallexample
4435(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
4436Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
4437(@value{GDBP}) r
4438Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4439
4440Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
4441 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4442(@value{GDBP}) c
4443Continuing.
4444
4445Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
4446 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4447(@value{GDBP})
4448@end smallexample
4449
4450An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
4451below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
4452file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
4453
4454@smallexample
4455(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4456Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
4457(@value{GDBP}) r
4458Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4459
4460Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
4461 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4462(@value{GDBP}) c
4463Continuing.
4464
4465Program exited normally.
4466(@value{GDBP})
4467@end smallexample
4468
4469However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
4470in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
4471a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
4472but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
4473
4474@smallexample
4475(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
4476warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
4477Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
4478(@value{GDBP})
4479@end smallexample
4480
4481If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
4482it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
4483architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
4484you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
4485notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
4486name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
4487
4488@smallexample
4489(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4490warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4491warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4492GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4493Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4494(@value{GDBP})
4495@end smallexample
4496
4497Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4498
4499Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4500number. In this case, you would see something like:
4501
4502@smallexample
4503(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4504Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4505@end smallexample
4506
4507Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4508
4509@item fork
4510@kindex catch fork
4511A call to @code{fork}.
4512
4513@item vfork
4514@kindex catch vfork
4515A call to @code{vfork}.
4516
4517@item load @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4518@itemx unload @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4519@kindex catch load
4520@kindex catch unload
4521The loading or unloading of a shared library. If @var{regexp} is
4522given, then the catchpoint will stop only if the regular expression
4523matches one of the affected libraries.
4524
4525@item signal @r{[}@var{signal}@dots{} @r{|} @samp{all}@r{]}
4526@kindex catch signal
4527The delivery of a signal.
4528
4529With no arguments, this catchpoint will catch any signal that is not
4530used internally by @value{GDBN}, specifically, all signals except
4531@samp{SIGTRAP} and @samp{SIGINT}.
4532
4533With the argument @samp{all}, all signals, including those used by
4534@value{GDBN}, will be caught. This argument cannot be used with other
4535signal names.
4536
4537Otherwise, the arguments are a list of signal names as given to
4538@code{handle} (@pxref{Signals}). Only signals specified in this list
4539will be caught.
4540
4541One reason that @code{catch signal} can be more useful than
4542@code{handle} is that you can attach commands and conditions to the
4543catchpoint.
4544
4545When a signal is caught by a catchpoint, the signal's @code{stop} and
4546@code{print} settings, as specified by @code{handle}, are ignored.
4547However, whether the signal is still delivered to the inferior depends
4548on the @code{pass} setting; this can be changed in the catchpoint's
4549commands.
4550
4551@end table
4552
4553@item tcatch @var{event}
4554@kindex tcatch
4555Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4556automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4557
4558@end table
4559
4560Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4561
4562
4563@node Delete Breaks
4564@subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4565
4566@cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4567@cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4568It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4569catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4570to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4571breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4572
4573With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4574where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4575delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4576their breakpoint numbers.
4577
4578It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4579automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4580when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4581
4582@table @code
4583@kindex clear
4584@item clear
4585Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4586selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4587the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4588breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4589
4590@item clear @var{location}
4591Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4592@xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4593most useful ones are listed below:
4594
4595@table @code
4596@item clear @var{function}
4597@itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4598Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4599
4600@item clear @var{linenum}
4601@itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4602Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4603@var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4604@end table
4605
4606@cindex delete breakpoints
4607@kindex delete
4608@kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4609@item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4610Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4611ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4612breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4613confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4614@end table
4615
4616@node Disabling
4617@subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4618
4619@cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4620Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4621prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4622it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4623that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4624
4625You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4626the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4627one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4628print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4629do not know which numbers to use.
4630
4631Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4632affects all of its locations.
4633
4634A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of several
4635different states of enablement:
4636
4637@itemize @bullet
4638@item
4639Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4640with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4641@item
4642Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4643@item
4644Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4645disabled.
4646@item
4647Enabled for a count. The breakpoint stops your program for the next
4648N times, then becomes disabled.
4649@item
4650Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4651immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4652set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4653@end itemize
4654
4655You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4656watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4657
4658@table @code
4659@kindex disable
4660@kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4661@item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4662Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4663listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4664options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4665case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4666@code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4667
4668@kindex enable
4669@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4670Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4671become effective once again in stopping your program.
4672
4673@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4674Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4675of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4676
4677@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} count @var{count} @var{range}@dots{}
4678Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} records
4679@var{count} with each of the specified breakpoints, and decrements a
4680breakpoint's count when it is hit. When any count reaches 0,
4681@value{GDBN} disables that breakpoint. If a breakpoint has an ignore
4682count (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}), that will be
4683decremented to 0 before @var{count} is affected.
4684
4685@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4686Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4687deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4688Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4689@end table
4690
4691@c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4692@c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4693Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4694,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4695subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4696the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4697breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4698breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4699Stepping}.)
4700
4701@node Conditions
4702@subsection Break Conditions
4703@cindex conditional breakpoints
4704@cindex breakpoint conditions
4705
4706@c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4707@c in particular for a watchpoint?
4708The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4709specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4710breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4711programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4712a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4713and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4714
4715This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4716situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4717when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4718by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4719@samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4720
4721Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4722since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4723it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4724and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4725one.
4726
4727Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4728your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4729that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4730format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4731unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4732that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4733program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4734breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4735conditions for the
4736purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4737(@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4738
4739Breakpoint conditions can also be evaluated on the target's side if
4740the target supports it. Instead of evaluating the conditions locally,
4741@value{GDBN} encodes the expression into an agent expression
4742(@pxref{Agent Expressions}) suitable for execution on the target,
4743independently of @value{GDBN}. Global variables become raw memory
4744locations, locals become stack accesses, and so forth.
4745
4746In this case, @value{GDBN} will only be notified of a breakpoint trigger
4747when its condition evaluates to true. This mechanism may provide faster
4748response times depending on the performance characteristics of the target
4749since it does not need to keep @value{GDBN} informed about
4750every breakpoint trigger, even those with false conditions.
4751
4752Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4753@samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4754Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4755with the @code{condition} command.
4756
4757You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4758The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4759@code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4760catchpoint.
4761
4762@table @code
4763@kindex condition
4764@item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4765Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4766watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4767breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4768@var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4769@code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4770syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4771referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4772symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4773prints an error message:
4774
4775@smallexample
4776No symbol "foo" in current context.
4777@end smallexample
4778
4779@noindent
4780@value{GDBN} does
4781not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4782command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4783@code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4784
4785@item condition @var{bnum}
4786Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4787an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4788@end table
4789
4790@cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4791A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4792breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4793useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4794count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4795is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4796therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4797ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4798the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4799value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4800your program reaches it.
4801
4802@table @code
4803@kindex ignore
4804@item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4805Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4806The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4807execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4808takes no action.
4809
4810To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4811a count of zero.
4812
4813When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4814breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4815@code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4816Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4817
4818If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4819condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4820@value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4821
4822You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4823as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4824is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4825Variables}.
4826@end table
4827
4828Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4829
4830
4831@node Break Commands
4832@subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4833
4834@cindex breakpoint commands
4835You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4836commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4837example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4838enable other breakpoints.
4839
4840@table @code
4841@kindex commands
4842@kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4843@item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4844@itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4845@itemx end
4846Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4847themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4848@code{end} to terminate the commands.
4849
4850To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4851follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4852
4853With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4854watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4855encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4856command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4857set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4858@code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4859creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4860Expressions}).
4861@end table
4862
4863Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4864disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4865
4866You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4867use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4868that resumes execution.
4869
4870Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4871execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4872(even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4873another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4874ambiguities about which list to execute.
4875
4876@kindex silent
4877If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4878usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4879be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4880then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4881see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4882meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4883
4884The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4885print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4886breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4887
4888For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4889value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4890
4891@smallexample
4892break foo if x>0
4893commands
4894silent
4895printf "x is %d\n",x
4896cont
4897end
4898@end smallexample
4899
4900One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4901you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4902of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4903erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4904to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4905so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4906command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4907
4908@smallexample
4909break 403
4910commands
4911silent
4912set x = y + 4
4913cont
4914end
4915@end smallexample
4916
4917@node Dynamic Printf
4918@subsection Dynamic Printf
4919
4920@cindex dynamic printf
4921@cindex dprintf
4922The dynamic printf command @code{dprintf} combines a breakpoint with
4923formatted printing of your program's data to give you the effect of
4924inserting @code{printf} calls into your program on-the-fly, without
4925having to recompile it.
4926
4927In its most basic form, the output goes to the GDB console. However,
4928you can set the variable @code{dprintf-style} for alternate handling.
4929For instance, you can ask to format the output by calling your
4930program's @code{printf} function. This has the advantage that the
4931characters go to the program's output device, so they can recorded in
4932redirects to files and so forth.
4933
4934If you are doing remote debugging with a stub or agent, you can also
4935ask to have the printf handled by the remote agent. In addition to
4936ensuring that the output goes to the remote program's device along
4937with any other output the program might produce, you can also ask that
4938the dprintf remain active even after disconnecting from the remote
4939target. Using the stub/agent is also more efficient, as it can do
4940everything without needing to communicate with @value{GDBN}.
4941
4942@table @code
4943@kindex dprintf
4944@item dprintf @var{location},@var{template},@var{expression}[,@var{expression}@dots{}]
4945Whenever execution reaches @var{location}, print the values of one or
4946more @var{expressions} under the control of the string @var{template}.
4947To print several values, separate them with commas.
4948
4949@item set dprintf-style @var{style}
4950Set the dprintf output to be handled in one of several different
4951styles enumerated below. A change of style affects all existing
4952dynamic printfs immediately. (If you need individual control over the
4953print commands, simply define normal breakpoints with
4954explicitly-supplied command lists.)
4955
4956@item gdb
4957@kindex dprintf-style gdb
4958Handle the output using the @value{GDBN} @code{printf} command.
4959
4960@item call
4961@kindex dprintf-style call
4962Handle the output by calling a function in your program (normally
4963@code{printf}).
4964
4965@item agent
4966@kindex dprintf-style agent
4967Have the remote debugging agent (such as @code{gdbserver}) handle
4968the output itself. This style is only available for agents that
4969support running commands on the target.
4970
4971@item set dprintf-function @var{function}
4972Set the function to call if the dprintf style is @code{call}. By
4973default its value is @code{printf}. You may set it to any expression.
4974that @value{GDBN} can evaluate to a function, as per the @code{call}
4975command.
4976
4977@item set dprintf-channel @var{channel}
4978Set a ``channel'' for dprintf. If set to a non-empty value,
4979@value{GDBN} will evaluate it as an expression and pass the result as
4980a first argument to the @code{dprintf-function}, in the manner of
4981@code{fprintf} and similar functions. Otherwise, the dprintf format
4982string will be the first argument, in the manner of @code{printf}.
4983
4984As an example, if you wanted @code{dprintf} output to go to a logfile
4985that is a standard I/O stream assigned to the variable @code{mylog},
4986you could do the following:
4987
4988@example
4989(gdb) set dprintf-style call
4990(gdb) set dprintf-function fprintf
4991(gdb) set dprintf-channel mylog
4992(gdb) dprintf 25,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob
4993Dprintf 1 at 0x123456: file main.c, line 25.
4994(gdb) info break
49951 dprintf keep y 0x00123456 in main at main.c:25
4996 call (void) fprintf (mylog,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob)
4997 continue
4998(gdb)
4999@end example
5000
5001Note that the @code{info break} displays the dynamic printf commands
5002as normal breakpoint commands; you can thus easily see the effect of
5003the variable settings.
5004
5005@item set disconnected-dprintf on
5006@itemx set disconnected-dprintf off
5007@kindex set disconnected-dprintf
5008Choose whether @code{dprintf} commands should continue to run if
5009@value{GDBN} has disconnected from the target. This only applies
5010if the @code{dprintf-style} is @code{agent}.
5011
5012@item show disconnected-dprintf off
5013@kindex show disconnected-dprintf
5014Show the current choice for disconnected @code{dprintf}.
5015
5016@end table
5017
5018@value{GDBN} does not check the validity of function and channel,
5019relying on you to supply values that are meaningful for the contexts
5020in which they are being used. For instance, the function and channel
5021may be the values of local variables, but if that is the case, then
5022all enabled dynamic prints must be at locations within the scope of
5023those locals. If evaluation fails, @value{GDBN} will report an error.
5024
5025@node Save Breakpoints
5026@subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
5027
5028To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
5029breakpoints}} command.
5030
5031@table @code
5032@kindex save breakpoints
5033@cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
5034@item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
5035This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
5036their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
5037suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
5038types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
5039tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
5040@code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
5041with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
5042because it may not be possible to access the context where the
5043watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
5044are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
5045breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
5046and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
5047that can no longer be recreated.
5048@end table
5049
5050@node Static Probe Points
5051@subsection Static Probe Points
5052
5053@cindex static probe point, SystemTap
5054@cindex static probe point, DTrace
5055@value{GDBN} supports @dfn{SDT} probes in the code. @acronym{SDT} stands
5056for Statically Defined Tracing, and the probes are designed to have a tiny
5057runtime code and data footprint, and no dynamic relocations.
5058
5059Currently, the following types of probes are supported on
5060ELF-compatible systems:
5061
5062@itemize @bullet
5063
5064@item @code{SystemTap} (@uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/})
5065@acronym{SDT} probes@footnote{See
5066@uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/AddingUserSpaceProbingToApps}
5067for more information on how to add @code{SystemTap} @acronym{SDT}
5068probes in your applications.}. @code{SystemTap} probes are usable
5069from assembly, C and C@t{++} languages@footnote{See
5070@uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/UserSpaceProbeImplementation}
5071for a good reference on how the @acronym{SDT} probes are implemented.}.
5072
5073@item @code{DTrace} (@uref{http://oss.oracle.com/projects/DTrace})
5074@acronym{USDT} probes. @code{DTrace} probes are usable from C and
5075C@t{++} languages.
5076@end itemize
5077
5078@cindex semaphores on static probe points
5079Some @code{SystemTap} probes have an associated semaphore variable;
5080for instance, this happens automatically if you defined your probe
5081using a DTrace-style @file{.d} file. If your probe has a semaphore,
5082@value{GDBN} will automatically enable it when you specify a
5083breakpoint using the @samp{-probe-stap} notation. But, if you put a
5084breakpoint at a probe's location by some other method (e.g.,
5085@code{break file:line}), then @value{GDBN} will not automatically set
5086the semaphore. @code{DTrace} probes do not support semaphores.
5087
5088You can examine the available static static probes using @code{info
5089probes}, with optional arguments:
5090
5091@table @code
5092@kindex info probes
5093@item info probes @r{[}@var{type}@r{]} @r{[}@var{provider} @r{[}@var{name} @r{[}@var{objfile}@r{]}@r{]}@r{]}
5094If given, @var{type} is either @code{stap} for listing
5095@code{SystemTap} probes or @code{dtrace} for listing @code{DTrace}
5096probes. If omitted all probes are listed regardless of their types.
5097
5098If given, @var{provider} is a regular expression used to match against provider
5099names when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probes by all
5100probes from all providers are listed.
5101
5102If given, @var{name} is a regular expression to match against probe names
5103when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probe names are not
5104considered when deciding whether to display them.
5105
5106If given, @var{objfile} is a regular expression used to select which
5107object files (executable or shared libraries) to examine. If not
5108given, all object files are considered.
5109
5110@item info probes all
5111List the available static probes, from all types.
5112@end table
5113
5114@cindex enabling and disabling probes
5115Some probe points can be enabled and/or disabled. The effect of
5116enabling or disabling a probe depends on the type of probe being
5117handled. Some @code{DTrace} probes can be enabled or
5118disabled, but @code{SystemTap} probes cannot be disabled.
5119
5120You can enable (or disable) one or more probes using the following
5121commands, with optional arguments:
5122
5123@table @code
5124@kindex enable probes
5125@item enable probes @r{[}@var{provider} @r{[}@var{name} @r{[}@var{objfile}@r{]}@r{]}@r{]}
5126If given, @var{provider} is a regular expression used to match against
5127provider names when selecting which probes to enable. If omitted,
5128all probes from all providers are enabled.
5129
5130If given, @var{name} is a regular expression to match against probe
5131names when selecting which probes to enable. If omitted, probe names
5132are not considered when deciding whether to enable them.
5133
5134If given, @var{objfile} is a regular expression used to select which
5135object files (executable or shared libraries) to examine. If not
5136given, all object files are considered.
5137
5138@kindex disable probes
5139@item disable probes @r{[}@var{provider} @r{[}@var{name} @r{[}@var{objfile}@r{]}@r{]}@r{]}
5140See the @code{enable probes} command above for a description of the
5141optional arguments accepted by this command.
5142@end table
5143
5144@vindex $_probe_arg@r{, convenience variable}
5145A probe may specify up to twelve arguments. These are available at the
5146point at which the probe is defined---that is, when the current PC is
5147at the probe's location. The arguments are available using the
5148convenience variables (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
5149@code{$_probe_arg0}@dots{}@code{$_probe_arg11}. In @code{SystemTap}
5150probes each probe argument is an integer of the appropriate size;
5151types are not preserved. In @code{DTrace} probes types are preserved
5152provided that they are recognized as such by @value{GDBN}; otherwise
5153the value of the probe argument will be a long integer. The
5154convenience variable @code{$_probe_argc} holds the number of arguments
5155at the current probe point.
5156
5157These variables are always available, but attempts to access them at
5158any location other than a probe point will cause @value{GDBN} to give
5159an error message.
5160
5161
5162@c @ifclear BARETARGET
5163@node Error in Breakpoints
5164@subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
5165
5166If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
5167watchpoints, you will see this error message:
5168
5169@c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
5170@c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
5171@smallexample
5172Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
5173You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
5174@end smallexample
5175
5176@noindent
5177This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
5178only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
5179watchpoints it needs to insert.
5180
5181When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
5182hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
5183
5184@node Breakpoint-related Warnings
5185@subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
5186@cindex breakpoint address adjusted
5187
5188Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
5189which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
5190@value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
5191with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
5192
5193One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
5194a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
5195bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
5196constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
5197bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
5198honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
5199first in the bundle.
5200
5201It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
5202instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
5203a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
5204another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
5205breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
5206printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
5207is hit.
5208
5209A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
5210that's been subject to address adjustment:
5211
5212@smallexample
5213warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
5214@end smallexample
5215
5216Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
5217internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
5218verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
5219desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
5220other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
5221E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
5222instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
5223cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
5224
5225@value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
5226adjusted breakpoints:
5227
5228@smallexample
5229warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
5230to 0x00010410.
5231@end smallexample
5232
5233When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
5234action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
5235frequently than expected.
5236
5237@node Continuing and Stepping
5238@section Continuing and Stepping
5239
5240@cindex stepping
5241@cindex continuing
5242@cindex resuming execution
5243@dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
5244completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
5245one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
5246line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
5247particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
5248your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
5249it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
5250@samp{signal 0} to resume execution (@pxref{Signals, ,Signals}),
5251or you may step into the signal's handler (@pxref{stepping and signal
5252handlers}).)
5253
5254@table @code
5255@kindex continue
5256@kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
5257@kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
5258@item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5259@itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5260@itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5261Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
5262any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
5263@var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
5264ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
5265@code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
5266
5267The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
5268stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
5269@code{continue} is ignored.
5270
5271The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
5272debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
5273purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
5274@code{continue}.
5275@end table
5276
5277To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
5278(@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
5279calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
5280Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
5281
5282A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
5283(@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
5284beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
5285is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
5286and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
5287interesting, until you see the problem happen.
5288
5289@table @code
5290@kindex step
5291@kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
5292@item step
5293Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
5294line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
5295abbreviated @code{s}.
5296
5297@quotation
5298@c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
5299@c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
5300@c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
5301@c distinction here.
5302@emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
5303within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
5304execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
5305debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
5306is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
5307without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
5308below.
5309@end quotation
5310
5311The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
5312line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5313@code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
5314to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
5315the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
5316called within the line.
5317
5318Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
5319number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
5320@code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
5321on @acronym{MIPS} machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
5322was any debugging information about the routine.
5323
5324@item step @var{count}
5325Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
5326breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
5327@var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
5328
5329@kindex next
5330@kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
5331@item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5332Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
5333This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
5334the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
5335control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
5336that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
5337is abbreviated @code{n}.
5338
5339An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
5340
5341
5342@c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
5343@c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
5344@c
5345@c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
5346@c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
5347@c function are executed without stopping.
5348
5349The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
5350source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5351@code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
5352
5353@kindex set step-mode
5354@item set step-mode
5355@cindex functions without line info, and stepping
5356@cindex stepping into functions with no line info
5357@itemx set step-mode on
5358The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
5359stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
5360information rather than stepping over it.
5361
5362This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
5363machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
5364want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
5365
5366@item set step-mode off
5367Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
5368debug information. This is the default.
5369
5370@item show step-mode
5371Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
5372source line debug information.
5373
5374@kindex finish
5375@kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
5376@item finish
5377Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
5378returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
5379abbreviated as @code{fin}.
5380
5381Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
5382,Returning from a Function}).
5383
5384@kindex until
5385@kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
5386@cindex run until specified location
5387@item until
5388@itemx u
5389Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
5390current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
5391stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
5392command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
5393automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
5394than the address of the jump.
5395
5396This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
5397though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
5398exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
5399simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
5400through the next iteration.
5401
5402@code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
5403stack frame.
5404
5405@code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
5406of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
5407example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
5408(@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
5409@code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
5410
5411@smallexample
5412(@value{GDBP}) f
5413#0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
5414206 expand_input();
5415(@value{GDBP}) until
5416195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
5417@end smallexample
5418
5419This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
5420generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
5421start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
5422written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
5423to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
5424expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
5425statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
5426
5427@code{until} with no argument works by means of single
5428instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
5429argument.
5430
5431@item until @var{location}
5432@itemx u @var{location}
5433Continue running your program until either the specified @var{location} is
5434reached, or the current stack frame returns. The location is any of
5435the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
5436This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
5437hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
5438location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
5439implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
5440invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
5441line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
5442line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
5443invocations have returned.
5444
5445@smallexample
544694 int factorial (int value)
544795 @{
544896 if (value > 1) @{
544997 value *= factorial (value - 1);
545098 @}
545199 return (value);
5452100 @}
5453@end smallexample
5454
5455
5456@kindex advance @var{location}
5457@item advance @var{location}
5458Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
5459required, which should be of one of the forms described in
5460@ref{Specify Location}.
5461Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
5462frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
5463not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
5464have to be in the same frame as the current one.
5465
5466
5467@kindex stepi
5468@kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
5469@item stepi
5470@itemx stepi @var{arg}
5471@itemx si
5472Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
5473
5474It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
5475instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
5476instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
5477Display,, Automatic Display}.
5478
5479An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
5480
5481@need 750
5482@kindex nexti
5483@kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
5484@item nexti
5485@itemx nexti @var{arg}
5486@itemx ni
5487Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
5488proceed until the function returns.
5489
5490An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
5491
5492@end table
5493
5494@anchor{range stepping}
5495@cindex range stepping
5496@cindex target-assisted range stepping
5497By default, and if available, @value{GDBN} makes use of
5498target-assisted @dfn{range stepping}. In other words, whenever you
5499use a stepping command (e.g., @code{step}, @code{next}), @value{GDBN}
5500tells the target to step the corresponding range of instruction
5501addresses instead of issuing multiple single-steps. This speeds up
5502line stepping, particularly for remote targets. Ideally, there should
5503be no reason you would want to turn range stepping off. However, it's
5504possible that a bug in the debug info, a bug in the remote stub (for
5505remote targets), or even a bug in @value{GDBN} could make line
5506stepping behave incorrectly when target-assisted range stepping is
5507enabled. You can use the following command to turn off range stepping
5508if necessary:
5509
5510@table @code
5511@kindex set range-stepping
5512@kindex show range-stepping
5513@item set range-stepping
5514@itemx show range-stepping
5515Control whether range stepping is enabled.
5516
5517If @code{on}, and the target supports it, @value{GDBN} tells the
5518target to step a range of addresses itself, instead of issuing
5519multiple single-steps. If @code{off}, @value{GDBN} always issues
5520single-steps, even if range stepping is supported by the target. The
5521default is @code{on}.
5522
5523@end table
5524
5525@node Skipping Over Functions and Files
5526@section Skipping Over Functions and Files
5527@cindex skipping over functions and files
5528
5529The program you are debugging may contain some functions which are
5530uninteresting to debug. The @code{skip} command lets you tell @value{GDBN} to
5531skip a function, all functions in a file or a particular function in
5532a particular file when stepping.
5533
5534For example, consider the following C function:
5535
5536@smallexample
5537101 int func()
5538102 @{
5539103 foo(boring());
5540104 bar(boring());
5541105 @}
5542@end smallexample
5543
5544@noindent
5545Suppose you wish to step into the functions @code{foo} and @code{bar}, but you
5546are not interested in stepping through @code{boring}. If you run @code{step}
5547at line 103, you'll enter @code{boring()}, but if you run @code{next}, you'll
5548step over both @code{foo} and @code{boring}!
5549
5550One solution is to @code{step} into @code{boring} and use the @code{finish}
5551command to immediately exit it. But this can become tedious if @code{boring}
5552is called from many places.
5553
5554A more flexible solution is to execute @kbd{skip boring}. This instructs
5555@value{GDBN} never to step into @code{boring}. Now when you execute
5556@code{step} at line 103, you'll step over @code{boring} and directly into
5557@code{foo}.
5558
5559Functions may be skipped by providing either a function name, linespec
5560(@pxref{Specify Location}), regular expression that matches the function's
5561name, file name or a @code{glob}-style pattern that matches the file name.
5562
5563On Posix systems the form of the regular expression is
5564``Extended Regular Expressions''. See for example @samp{man 7 regex}
5565on @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. On non-Posix systems the form of the regular
5566expression is whatever is provided by the @code{regcomp} function of
5567the underlying system.
5568See for example @samp{man 7 glob} on @sc{gnu}/Linux systems for a
5569description of @code{glob}-style patterns.
5570
5571@table @code
5572@kindex skip
5573@item skip @r{[}@var{options}@r{]}
5574The basic form of the @code{skip} command takes zero or more options
5575that specify what to skip.
5576The @var{options} argument is any useful combination of the following:
5577
5578@table @code
5579@item -file @var{file}
5580@itemx -fi @var{file}
5581Functions in @var{file} will be skipped over when stepping.
5582
5583@item -gfile @var{file-glob-pattern}
5584@itemx -gfi @var{file-glob-pattern}
5585@cindex skipping over files via glob-style patterns
5586Functions in files matching @var{file-glob-pattern} will be skipped
5587over when stepping.
5588
5589@smallexample
5590(gdb) skip -gfi utils/*.c
5591@end smallexample
5592
5593@item -function @var{linespec}
5594@itemx -fu @var{linespec}
5595Functions named by @var{linespec} or the function containing the line
5596named by @var{linespec} will be skipped over when stepping.
5597@xref{Specify Location}.
5598
5599@item -rfunction @var{regexp}
5600@itemx -rfu @var{regexp}
5601@cindex skipping over functions via regular expressions
5602Functions whose name matches @var{regexp} will be skipped over when stepping.
5603
5604This form is useful for complex function names.
5605For example, there is generally no need to step into C@t{++} @code{std::string}
5606constructors or destructors. Plus with C@t{++} templates it can be hard to
5607write out the full name of the function, and often it doesn't matter what
5608the template arguments are. Specifying the function to be skipped as a
5609regular expression makes this easier.
5610
5611@smallexample
5612(gdb) skip -rfu ^std::(allocator|basic_string)<.*>::~?\1 *\(
5613@end smallexample
5614
5615If you want to skip every templated C@t{++} constructor and destructor
5616in the @code{std} namespace you can do:
5617
5618@smallexample
5619(gdb) skip -rfu ^std::([a-zA-z0-9_]+)<.*>::~?\1 *\(
5620@end smallexample
5621@end table
5622
5623If no options are specified, the function you're currently debugging
5624will be skipped.
5625
5626@kindex skip function
5627@item skip function @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5628After running this command, the function named by @var{linespec} or the
5629function containing the line named by @var{linespec} will be skipped over when
5630stepping. @xref{Specify Location}.
5631
5632If you do not specify @var{linespec}, the function you're currently debugging
5633will be skipped.
5634
5635(If you have a function called @code{file} that you want to skip, use
5636@kbd{skip function file}.)
5637
5638@kindex skip file
5639@item skip file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
5640After running this command, any function whose source lives in @var{filename}
5641will be skipped over when stepping.
5642
5643@smallexample
5644(gdb) skip file boring.c
5645File boring.c will be skipped when stepping.
5646@end smallexample
5647
5648If you do not specify @var{filename}, functions whose source lives in the file
5649you're currently debugging will be skipped.
5650@end table
5651
5652Skips can be listed, deleted, disabled, and enabled, much like breakpoints.
5653These are the commands for managing your list of skips:
5654
5655@table @code
5656@kindex info skip
5657@item info skip @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5658Print details about the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified,
5659print a table with details about all functions and files marked for skipping.
5660@code{info skip} prints the following information about each skip:
5661
5662@table @emph
5663@item Identifier
5664A number identifying this skip.
5665@item Enabled or Disabled
5666Enabled skips are marked with @samp{y}.
5667Disabled skips are marked with @samp{n}.
5668@item Glob
5669If the file name is a @samp{glob} pattern this is @samp{y}.
5670Otherwise it is @samp{n}.
5671@item File
5672The name or @samp{glob} pattern of the file to be skipped.
5673If no file is specified this is @samp{<none>}.
5674@item RE
5675If the function name is a @samp{regular expression} this is @samp{y}.
5676Otherwise it is @samp{n}.
5677@item Function
5678The name or regular expression of the function to skip.
5679If no function is specified this is @samp{<none>}.
5680@end table
5681
5682@kindex skip delete
5683@item skip delete @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5684Delete the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, delete all
5685skips.
5686
5687@kindex skip enable
5688@item skip enable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5689Enable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, enable all
5690skips.
5691
5692@kindex skip disable
5693@item skip disable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5694Disable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, disable all
5695skips.
5696
5697@end table
5698
5699@node Signals
5700@section Signals
5701@cindex signals
5702
5703A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
5704operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
5705kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
5706signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
5707@code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
5708memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
5709the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
5710requested an alarm).
5711
5712@cindex fatal signals
5713Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
5714functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
5715errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
5716program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
5717@code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
5718fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
5719
5720@value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
5721program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
5722signal.
5723
5724@cindex handling signals
5725Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
5726@code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
5727(so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
5728but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
5729You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
5730
5731@table @code
5732@kindex info signals
5733@kindex info handle
5734@item info signals
5735@itemx info handle
5736Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
5737handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
5738the defined types of signals.
5739
5740@item info signals @var{sig}
5741Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
5742
5743@code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
5744
5745@item catch signal @r{[}@var{signal}@dots{} @r{|} @samp{all}@r{]}
5746Set a catchpoint for the indicated signals. @xref{Set Catchpoints},
5747for details about this command.
5748
5749@kindex handle
5750@item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
5751Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. The @var{signal}
5752can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
5753@samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
5754@samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
5755known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
5756say what change to make.
5757@end table
5758
5759@c @group
5760The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
5761Their full names are:
5762
5763@table @code
5764@item nostop
5765@value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
5766still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
5767
5768@item stop
5769@value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
5770the @code{print} keyword as well.
5771
5772@item print
5773@value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
5774
5775@item noprint
5776@value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
5777implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
5778
5779@item pass
5780@itemx noignore
5781@value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
5782can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
5783and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
5784
5785@item nopass
5786@itemx ignore
5787@value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
5788@code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
5789@end table
5790@c @end group
5791
5792When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
5793program until you
5794continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
5795effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
5796after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
5797command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
5798program sees that signal when you continue.
5799
5800The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
5801non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
5802@code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
5803erroneous signals.
5804
5805You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
5806seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
5807or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
5808due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
5809values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
5810execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
5811a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
5812you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
5813Program a Signal}.
5814
5815@cindex stepping and signal handlers
5816@anchor{stepping and signal handlers}
5817
5818@value{GDBN} optimizes for stepping the mainline code. If a signal
5819that has @code{handle nostop} and @code{handle pass} set arrives while
5820a stepping command (e.g., @code{stepi}, @code{step}, @code{next}) is
5821in progress, @value{GDBN} lets the signal handler run and then resumes
5822stepping the mainline code once the signal handler returns. In other
5823words, @value{GDBN} steps over the signal handler. This prevents
5824signals that you've specified as not interesting (with @code{handle
5825nostop}) from changing the focus of debugging unexpectedly. Note that
5826the signal handler itself may still hit a breakpoint, stop for another
5827signal that has @code{handle stop} in effect, or for any other event
5828that normally results in stopping the stepping command sooner. Also
5829note that @value{GDBN} still informs you that the program received a
5830signal if @code{handle print} is set.
5831
5832@anchor{stepping into signal handlers}
5833
5834If you set @code{handle pass} for a signal, and your program sets up a
5835handler for it, then issuing a stepping command, such as @code{step}
5836or @code{stepi}, when your program is stopped due to the signal will
5837step @emph{into} the signal handler (if the target supports that).
5838
5839Likewise, if you use the @code{queue-signal} command to queue a signal
5840to be delivered to the current thread when execution of the thread
5841resumes (@pxref{Signaling, ,Giving your Program a Signal}), then a
5842stepping command will step into the signal handler.
5843
5844Here's an example, using @code{stepi} to step to the first instruction
5845of @code{SIGUSR1}'s handler:
5846
5847@smallexample
5848(@value{GDBP}) handle SIGUSR1
5849Signal Stop Print Pass to program Description
5850SIGUSR1 Yes Yes Yes User defined signal 1
5851(@value{GDBP}) c
5852Continuing.
5853
5854Program received signal SIGUSR1, User defined signal 1.
5855main () sigusr1.c:28
585628 p = 0;
5857(@value{GDBP}) si
5858sigusr1_handler () at sigusr1.c:9
58599 @{
5860@end smallexample
5861
5862The same, but using @code{queue-signal} instead of waiting for the
5863program to receive the signal first:
5864
5865@smallexample
5866(@value{GDBP}) n
586728 p = 0;
5868(@value{GDBP}) queue-signal SIGUSR1
5869(@value{GDBP}) si
5870sigusr1_handler () at sigusr1.c:9
58719 @{
5872(@value{GDBP})
5873@end smallexample
5874
5875@cindex extra signal information
5876@anchor{extra signal information}
5877
5878On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
5879associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
5880delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
5881by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
5882that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
5883receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
5884target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
5885$_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
5886standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
5887system header.
5888
5889Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
5890referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
5891
5892@smallexample
5893@group
5894(@value{GDBP}) continue
5895Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
58960x0000000000400766 in main ()
589769 *(int *)p = 0;
5898(@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
5899type = struct @{
5900 int si_signo;
5901 int si_errno;
5902 int si_code;
5903 union @{
5904 int _pad[28];
5905 struct @{...@} _kill;
5906 struct @{...@} _timer;
5907 struct @{...@} _rt;
5908 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
5909 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
5910 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
5911 @} _sifields;
5912@}
5913(@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
5914type = struct @{
5915 void *si_addr;
5916@}
5917(@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
5918$1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
5919@end group
5920@end smallexample
5921
5922Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
5923
5924@cindex Intel MPX boundary violations
5925@cindex boundary violations, Intel MPX
5926On some targets, a @code{SIGSEGV} can be caused by a boundary
5927violation, i.e., accessing an address outside of the allowed range.
5928In those cases @value{GDBN} may displays additional information,
5929depending on how @value{GDBN} has been told to handle the signal.
5930With @code{handle stop SIGSEGV}, @value{GDBN} displays the violation
5931kind: "Upper" or "Lower", the memory address accessed and the
5932bounds, while with @code{handle nostop SIGSEGV} no additional
5933information is displayed.
5934
5935The usual output of a segfault is:
5936@smallexample
5937Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault
59380x0000000000400d7c in upper () at i386-mpx-sigsegv.c:68
593968 value = *(p + len);
5940@end smallexample
5941
5942While a bound violation is presented as:
5943@smallexample
5944Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault
5945Upper bound violation while accessing address 0x7fffffffc3b3
5946Bounds: [lower = 0x7fffffffc390, upper = 0x7fffffffc3a3]
59470x0000000000400d7c in upper () at i386-mpx-sigsegv.c:68
594868 value = *(p + len);
5949@end smallexample
5950
5951@node Thread Stops
5952@section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
5953
5954@cindex stopped threads
5955@cindex threads, stopped
5956
5957@cindex continuing threads
5958@cindex threads, continuing
5959
5960@value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
5961(@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
5962are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
5963debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
5964when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
5965or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
5966@value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
5967@dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
5968you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
5969
5970@menu
5971* All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
5972* Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
5973* Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
5974* Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
5975* Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
5976* Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
5977@end menu
5978
5979@node All-Stop Mode
5980@subsection All-Stop Mode
5981
5982@cindex all-stop mode
5983
5984In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
5985@emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
5986allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
5987switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
5988underfoot.
5989
5990Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
5991executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
5992like @code{step} or @code{next}.
5993
5994In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
5995Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
5996system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
5997execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
5998single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
5999statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
6000stops.
6001
6002You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
6003continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
6004thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
6005first thread completes whatever you requested.
6006
6007@cindex automatic thread selection
6008@cindex switching threads automatically
6009@cindex threads, automatic switching
6010Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
6011signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
6012signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
6013message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
6014thread.
6015
6016On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
6017locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
6018
6019@table @code
6020@item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
6021@cindex scheduler locking mode
6022@cindex lock scheduler
6023Set the scheduler locking mode. It applies to normal execution,
6024record mode, and replay mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
6025locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only
6026the current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The
6027@code{step} mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other
6028threads from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so
6029that the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly. Other
6030threads never get a chance to run when you step, and they are
6031completely free to run when you use commands like @samp{continue},
6032@samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another thread hits a
6033breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change the
6034current thread away from the thread that you are debugging. The
6035@code{replay} mode behaves like @code{off} in record mode and like
6036@code{on} in replay mode.
6037
6038@item show scheduler-locking
6039Display the current scheduler locking mode.
6040@end table
6041
6042@cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
6043By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
6044@code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
6045threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
6046is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
6047@code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
6048inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
6049forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
6050it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
6051situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
6052of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
6053to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
6054you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
6055inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
6056
6057@table @code
6058@kindex set schedule-multiple
6059@item set schedule-multiple
6060Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
6061when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
6062all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
6063of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
6064@code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
6065or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
6066
6067@item show schedule-multiple
6068Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
6069multiple processes.
6070@end table
6071
6072@node Non-Stop Mode
6073@subsection Non-Stop Mode
6074
6075@cindex non-stop mode
6076
6077@c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
6078@c with more details.
6079
6080For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
6081mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
6082the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
6083minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
6084where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
6085respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
6086
6087In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
6088@emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
6089threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
6090execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
6091only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
6092in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
6093ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
6094one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
6095one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
6096independently and simultaneously.
6097
6098To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
6099or attach to your program:
6100
6101@smallexample
6102# If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
6103set pagination off
6104
6105# Finally, turn it on!
6106set non-stop on
6107@end smallexample
6108
6109You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
6110
6111@table @code
6112@kindex set non-stop
6113@item set non-stop on
6114Enable selection of non-stop mode.
6115@item set non-stop off
6116Disable selection of non-stop mode.
6117@kindex show non-stop
6118@item show non-stop
6119Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
6120@end table
6121
6122Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
6123not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
6124In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
6125@value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
6126not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
6127since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
6128non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
6129default.
6130
6131In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
6132by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
6133To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
6134
6135You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
6136(@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
6137while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
6138The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
6139always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
6140
6141Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
6142running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
6143In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
6144but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
6145To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
6146
6147Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
6148
6149In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
6150that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
6151thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
6152command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
6153changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
6154previously current thread.
6155
6156@node Background Execution
6157@subsection Background Execution
6158
6159@cindex foreground execution
6160@cindex background execution
6161@cindex asynchronous execution
6162@cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
6163
6164@value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
6165foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
6166(asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
6167the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
6168another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
6169a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
6170
6171If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
6172message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
6173
6174To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
6175the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
6176just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
6177are:
6178
6179@table @code
6180@kindex run&
6181@item run
6182@xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
6183
6184@item attach
6185@kindex attach&
6186@xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
6187
6188@item step
6189@kindex step&
6190@xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
6191
6192@item stepi
6193@kindex stepi&
6194@xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
6195
6196@item next
6197@kindex next&
6198@xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
6199
6200@item nexti
6201@kindex nexti&
6202@xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
6203
6204@item continue
6205@kindex continue&
6206@xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
6207
6208@item finish
6209@kindex finish&
6210@xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
6211
6212@item until
6213@kindex until&
6214@xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
6215
6216@end table
6217
6218Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
6219mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
6220However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
6221the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
6222previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
6223mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
6224
6225You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
6226using the @code{interrupt} command.
6227
6228@table @code
6229@kindex interrupt
6230@item interrupt
6231@itemx interrupt -a
6232
6233Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
6234@code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
6235only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
6236use @code{interrupt -a}.
6237@end table
6238
6239@node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
6240@subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
6241
6242When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
6243Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
6244breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
6245
6246@table @code
6247@cindex breakpoints and threads
6248@cindex thread breakpoints
6249@kindex break @dots{} thread @var{thread-id}
6250@item break @var{location} thread @var{thread-id}
6251@itemx break @var{location} thread @var{thread-id} if @dots{}
6252@var{location} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
6253writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
6254specify some source line.
6255
6256Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{thread-id}} with a breakpoint command
6257to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
6258particular thread reaches this breakpoint. The @var{thread-id} specifier
6259is one of the thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown
6260in the first column of the @samp{info threads} display.
6261
6262If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{thread-id}} when you set a
6263breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
6264program.
6265
6266You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
6267well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{thread-id}} before or
6268after the breakpoint condition, like this:
6269
6270@smallexample
6271(@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
6272@end smallexample
6273
6274@end table
6275
6276Thread-specific breakpoints are automatically deleted when
6277@value{GDBN} detects the corresponding thread is no longer in the
6278thread list. For example:
6279
6280@smallexample
6281(@value{GDBP}) c
6282Thread-specific breakpoint 3 deleted - thread 28 no longer in the thread list.
6283@end smallexample
6284
6285There are several ways for a thread to disappear, such as a regular
6286thread exit, but also when you detach from the process with the
6287@code{detach} command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running
6288Process}), or if @value{GDBN} loses the remote connection
6289(@pxref{Remote Debugging}), etc. Note that with some targets,
6290@value{GDBN} is only able to detect a thread has exited when the user
6291explictly asks for the thread list with the @code{info threads}
6292command.
6293
6294@node Interrupted System Calls
6295@subsection Interrupted System Calls
6296
6297@cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
6298@cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
6299@cindex premature return from system calls
6300There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
6301multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
6302breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
6303system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
6304consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
6305that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
6306stop execution.
6307
6308To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
6309each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
6310style anyways.
6311
6312For example, do not write code like this:
6313
6314@smallexample
6315 sleep (10);
6316@end smallexample
6317
6318The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
6319at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
6320
6321Instead, write this:
6322
6323@smallexample
6324 int unslept = 10;
6325 while (unslept > 0)
6326 unslept = sleep (unslept);
6327@end smallexample
6328
6329A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
6330conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
6331multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
6332@value{GDBN}.
6333
6334Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
6335monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
6336When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
6337prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
6338
6339@node Observer Mode
6340@subsection Observer Mode
6341
6342If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
6343without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
6344variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
6345whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
6346at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
6347
6348When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
6349be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
6350@code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
6351mode.
6352
6353Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
6354combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
6355@code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
6356then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
6357stream will still not be able to be placed.
6358
6359@table @code
6360
6361@kindex observer
6362@item set observer on
6363@itemx set observer off
6364When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
6365below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
6366non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
6367normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
6368
6369@item show observer
6370Show whether observer mode is on or off.
6371
6372@kindex may-write-registers
6373@item set may-write-registers on
6374@itemx set may-write-registers off
6375This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
6376registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
6377@code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
6378
6379@item show may-write-registers
6380Show the current permission to write registers.
6381
6382@kindex may-write-memory
6383@item set may-write-memory on
6384@itemx set may-write-memory off
6385This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
6386of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
6387defaults to @code{on}.
6388
6389@item show may-write-memory
6390Show the current permission to write memory.
6391
6392@kindex may-insert-breakpoints
6393@item set may-insert-breakpoints on
6394@itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
6395This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
6396This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
6397by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6398
6399@item show may-insert-breakpoints
6400Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
6401
6402@kindex may-insert-tracepoints
6403@item set may-insert-tracepoints on
6404@itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
6405This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
6406tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
6407non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
6408@code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6409
6410@item show may-insert-tracepoints
6411Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
6412
6413@kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
6414@item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
6415@itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
6416This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
6417tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
6418fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
6419control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6420
6421@item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
6422Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
6423
6424@kindex may-interrupt
6425@item set may-interrupt on
6426@itemx set may-interrupt off
6427This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
6428program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
6429@code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
6430@kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6431
6432@item show may-interrupt
6433Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
6434
6435@end table
6436
6437@node Reverse Execution
6438@chapter Running programs backward
6439@cindex reverse execution
6440@cindex running programs backward
6441
6442When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
6443you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
6444If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
6445``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
6446
6447A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
6448to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
6449program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
6450revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
6451deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
6452all target environments can support reverse execution.
6453
6454When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
6455have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
6456order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
6457thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
6458the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
6459instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
6460a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
6461should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
6462prior values@footnote{
6463Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
6464memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
6465targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
6466
6467The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
6468requires only that the target do something reasonable when
6469@value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
6470results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
6471@value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
6472assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
6473consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
6474}.
6475
6476If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
6477reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
6478
6479@table @code
6480@kindex reverse-continue
6481@kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
6482@item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6483@itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6484Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
6485in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
6486exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
6487asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
6488
6489@kindex reverse-step
6490@kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
6491@item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6492Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
6493different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
6494
6495Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
6496at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
6497executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
6498debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
6499the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
6500statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
6501
6502Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
6503called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
6504
6505@kindex reverse-stepi
6506@kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
6507@item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6508Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
6509to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
6510counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
6511if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
6512back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
6513
6514@kindex reverse-next
6515@kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
6516@item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6517Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
6518the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
6519calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
6520the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
6521to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
6522just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
6523line of a function back to its return to its caller
6524@footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
6525
6526@kindex reverse-nexti
6527@kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
6528@item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6529Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
6530in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
6531That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
6532another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
6533in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
6534frame) is reached.
6535
6536@kindex reverse-finish
6537@item reverse-finish
6538Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
6539current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
6540where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
6541function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
6542
6543@kindex set exec-direction
6544@item set exec-direction
6545Set the direction of target execution.
6546@item set exec-direction reverse
6547@cindex execute forward or backward in time
6548@value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
6549exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
6550@code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
6551command cannot be used in reverse mode.
6552@item set exec-direction forward
6553@value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
6554This is the default.
6555@end table
6556
6557
6558@node Process Record and Replay
6559@chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
6560@cindex process record and replay
6561@cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
6562
6563On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
6564and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
6565replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
6566
6567@cindex replay mode
6568When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
6569for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
6570mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
6571instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
6572code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
6573really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
6574program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
6575changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
6576execution log.
6577
6578@cindex record mode
6579If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
6580@value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
6581inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
6582for future replay.
6583
6584The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
6585(@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
6586inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
6587this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
6588log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
6589support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
6590
6591When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
6592replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
6593previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
6594platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
6595
6596For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
6597@value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
6598
6599@table @code
6600@kindex target record
6601@kindex target record-full
6602@kindex target record-btrace
6603@kindex record
6604@kindex record full
6605@kindex record btrace
6606@kindex record btrace bts
6607@kindex record btrace pt
6608@kindex record bts
6609@kindex record pt
6610@kindex rec
6611@kindex rec full
6612@kindex rec btrace
6613@kindex rec btrace bts
6614@kindex rec btrace pt
6615@kindex rec bts
6616@kindex rec pt
6617@item record @var{method}
6618This command starts the process record and replay target. The
6619recording method can be specified as parameter. Without a parameter
6620the command uses the @code{full} recording method. The following
6621recording methods are available:
6622
6623@table @code
6624@item full
6625Full record/replay recording using @value{GDBN}'s software record and
6626replay implementation. This method allows replaying and reverse
6627execution.
6628
6629@item btrace @var{format}
6630Hardware-supported instruction recording. This method does not record
6631data. Further, the data is collected in a ring buffer so old data will
6632be overwritten when the buffer is full. It allows limited reverse
6633execution. Variables and registers are not available during reverse
6634execution.
6635
6636The recording format can be specified as parameter. Without a parameter
6637the command chooses the recording format. The following recording
6638formats are available:
6639
6640@table @code
6641@item bts
6642@cindex branch trace store
6643Use the @dfn{Branch Trace Store} (@acronym{BTS}) recording format. In
6644this format, the processor stores a from/to record for each executed
6645branch in the btrace ring buffer.
6646
6647@item pt
6648@cindex Intel Processor Trace
6649Use the @dfn{Intel Processor Trace} recording format. In this
6650format, the processor stores the execution trace in a compressed form
6651that is afterwards decoded by @value{GDBN}.
6652
6653The trace can be recorded with very low overhead. The compressed
6654trace format also allows small trace buffers to already contain a big
6655number of instructions compared to @acronym{BTS}.
6656
6657Decoding the recorded execution trace, on the other hand, is more
6658expensive than decoding @acronym{BTS} trace. This is mostly due to the
6659increased number of instructions to process. You should increase the
6660buffer-size with care.
6661@end table
6662
6663Not all recording formats may be available on all processors.
6664@end table
6665
6666The process record and replay target can only debug a process that is
6667already running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with
6668the @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording
6669with the @kbd{record @var{method}} command.
6670
6671@cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
6672Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
6673will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
6674is started. That's because the process record and replay target
6675doesn't support displaced stepping.
6676
6677@cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
6678@cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
6679If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
6680the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), not
6681all recording methods are available. The @code{full} recording method
6682does not support these two modes.
6683
6684@kindex record stop
6685@kindex rec s
6686@item record stop
6687Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
6688replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
6689inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
6690
6691When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
6692the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
6693next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
6694you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
6695will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
6696
6697On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
6698while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
6699but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
6700at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
6701usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
6702
6703When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
6704process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
6705
6706@kindex record goto
6707@item record goto
6708Go to a specific location in the execution log. There are several
6709ways to specify the location to go to:
6710
6711@table @code
6712@item record goto begin
6713@itemx record goto start
6714Go to the beginning of the execution log.
6715
6716@item record goto end
6717Go to the end of the execution log.
6718
6719@item record goto @var{n}
6720Go to instruction number @var{n} in the execution log.
6721@end table
6722
6723@kindex record save
6724@item record save @var{filename}
6725Save the execution log to a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6726Default filename is @file{gdb_record.@var{process_id}}, where
6727@var{process_id} is the process ID of the inferior.
6728
6729This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6730
6731@kindex record restore
6732@item record restore @var{filename}
6733Restore the execution log from a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6734File must have been created with @code{record save}.
6735
6736@kindex set record full
6737@item set record full insn-number-max @var{limit}
6738@itemx set record full insn-number-max unlimited
6739Set the limit of instructions to be recorded for the @code{full}
6740recording method. Default value is 200000.
6741
6742If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
6743deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
6744instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
6745instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
6746instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
6747(Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
6748lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
6749the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
6750
6751If @var{limit} is @code{unlimited} or zero, @value{GDBN} will never
6752delete recorded instructions from the execution log. The number of
6753recorded instructions is limited only by the available memory.
6754
6755@kindex show record full
6756@item show record full insn-number-max
6757Show the limit of instructions to be recorded with the @code{full}
6758recording method.
6759
6760@item set record full stop-at-limit
6761Control the behavior of the @code{full} recording method when the
6762number of recorded instructions reaches the limit. If ON (the
6763default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit is reached for the
6764first time and ask you whether you want to stop the inferior or
6765continue running it and recording the execution log. If you decide
6766to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will cause the
6767oldest one to be deleted.
6768
6769If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
6770oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
6771
6772@item show record full stop-at-limit
6773Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
6774
6775@item set record full memory-query
6776Control the behavior when @value{GDBN} is unable to record memory
6777changes caused by an instruction for the @code{full} recording method.
6778If ON, @value{GDBN} will query whether to stop the inferior in that
6779case.
6780
6781If this option is OFF (the default), @value{GDBN} will automatically
6782ignore the effect of such instructions on memory. Later, when
6783@value{GDBN} replays this execution log, it will mark the log of this
6784instruction as not accessible, and it will not affect the replay
6785results.
6786
6787@item show record full memory-query
6788Show the current setting of @code{memory-query}.
6789
6790@kindex set record btrace
6791The @code{btrace} record target does not trace data. As a
6792convenience, when replaying, @value{GDBN} reads read-only memory off
6793the live program directly, assuming that the addresses of the
6794read-only areas don't change. This for example makes it possible to
6795disassemble code while replaying, but not to print variables.
6796In some cases, being able to inspect variables might be useful.
6797You can use the following command for that:
6798
6799@item set record btrace replay-memory-access
6800Control the behavior of the @code{btrace} recording method when
6801accessing memory during replay. If @code{read-only} (the default),
6802@value{GDBN} will only allow accesses to read-only memory.
6803If @code{read-write}, @value{GDBN} will allow accesses to read-only
6804and to read-write memory. Beware that the accessed memory corresponds
6805to the live target and not necessarily to the current replay
6806position.
6807
6808@kindex show record btrace
6809@item show record btrace replay-memory-access
6810Show the current setting of @code{replay-memory-access}.
6811
6812@kindex set record btrace bts
6813@item set record btrace bts buffer-size @var{size}
6814@itemx set record btrace bts buffer-size unlimited
6815Set the requested ring buffer size for branch tracing in @acronym{BTS}
6816format. Default is 64KB.
6817
6818If @var{size} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will try to
6819allocate a buffer of at least @var{size} bytes for each new thread
6820that uses the btrace recording method and the @acronym{BTS} format.
6821The actually obtained buffer size may differ from the requested
6822@var{size}. Use the @code{info record} command to see the actual
6823buffer size for each thread that uses the btrace recording method and
6824the @acronym{BTS} format.
6825
6826If @var{limit} is @code{unlimited} or zero, @value{GDBN} will try to
6827allocate a buffer of 4MB.
6828
6829Bigger buffers mean longer traces. On the other hand, @value{GDBN} will
6830also need longer to process the branch trace data before it can be used.
6831
6832@item show record btrace bts buffer-size @var{size}
6833Show the current setting of the requested ring buffer size for branch
6834tracing in @acronym{BTS} format.
6835
6836@kindex set record btrace pt
6837@item set record btrace pt buffer-size @var{size}
6838@itemx set record btrace pt buffer-size unlimited
6839Set the requested ring buffer size for branch tracing in Intel
6840Processor Trace format. Default is 16KB.
6841
6842If @var{size} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will try to
6843allocate a buffer of at least @var{size} bytes for each new thread
6844that uses the btrace recording method and the Intel Processor Trace
6845format. The actually obtained buffer size may differ from the
6846requested @var{size}. Use the @code{info record} command to see the
6847actual buffer size for each thread.
6848
6849If @var{limit} is @code{unlimited} or zero, @value{GDBN} will try to
6850allocate a buffer of 4MB.
6851
6852Bigger buffers mean longer traces. On the other hand, @value{GDBN} will
6853also need longer to process the branch trace data before it can be used.
6854
6855@item show record btrace pt buffer-size @var{size}
6856Show the current setting of the requested ring buffer size for branch
6857tracing in Intel Processor Trace format.
6858
6859@kindex info record
6860@item info record
6861Show various statistics about the recording depending on the recording
6862method:
6863
6864@table @code
6865@item full
6866For the @code{full} recording method, it shows the state of process
6867record and its in-memory execution log buffer, including:
6868
6869@itemize @bullet
6870@item
6871Whether in record mode or replay mode.
6872@item
6873Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
6874@item
6875Highest recorded instruction number.
6876@item
6877Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
6878@item
6879Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
6880@item
6881Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
6882@end itemize
6883
6884@item btrace
6885For the @code{btrace} recording method, it shows:
6886
6887@itemize @bullet
6888@item
6889Recording format.
6890@item
6891Number of instructions that have been recorded.
6892@item
6893Number of blocks of sequential control-flow formed by the recorded
6894instructions.
6895@item
6896Whether in record mode or replay mode.
6897@end itemize
6898
6899For the @code{bts} recording format, it also shows:
6900@itemize @bullet
6901@item
6902Size of the perf ring buffer.
6903@end itemize
6904
6905For the @code{pt} recording format, it also shows:
6906@itemize @bullet
6907@item
6908Size of the perf ring buffer.
6909@end itemize
6910@end table
6911
6912@kindex record delete
6913@kindex rec del
6914@item record delete
6915When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
6916subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
6917from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
6918recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
6919
6920@kindex record instruction-history
6921@kindex rec instruction-history
6922@item record instruction-history
6923Disassembles instructions from the recorded execution log. By
6924default, ten instructions are disassembled. This can be changed using
6925the @code{set record instruction-history-size} command. Instructions
6926are printed in execution order.
6927
6928It can also print mixed source+disassembly if you specify the the
6929@code{/m} or @code{/s} modifier, and print the raw instructions in hex
6930as well as in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r} modifier.
6931
6932The current position marker is printed for the instruction at the
6933current program counter value. This instruction can appear multiple
6934times in the trace and the current position marker will be printed
6935every time. To omit the current position marker, specify the
6936@code{/p} modifier.
6937
6938To better align the printed instructions when the trace contains
6939instructions from more than one function, the function name may be
6940omitted by specifying the @code{/f} modifier.
6941
6942Speculatively executed instructions are prefixed with @samp{?}. This
6943feature is not available for all recording formats.
6944
6945There are several ways to specify what part of the execution log to
6946disassemble:
6947
6948@table @code
6949@item record instruction-history @var{insn}
6950Disassembles ten instructions starting from instruction number
6951@var{insn}.
6952
6953@item record instruction-history @var{insn}, +/-@var{n}
6954Disassembles @var{n} instructions around instruction number
6955@var{insn}. If @var{n} is preceded with @code{+}, disassembles
6956@var{n} instructions after instruction number @var{insn}. If
6957@var{n} is preceded with @code{-}, disassembles @var{n}
6958instructions before instruction number @var{insn}.
6959
6960@item record instruction-history
6961Disassembles ten more instructions after the last disassembly.
6962
6963@item record instruction-history -
6964Disassembles ten more instructions before the last disassembly.
6965
6966@item record instruction-history @var{begin}, @var{end}
6967Disassembles instructions beginning with instruction number
6968@var{begin} until instruction number @var{end}. The instruction
6969number @var{end} is included.
6970@end table
6971
6972This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6973
6974@kindex set record
6975@item set record instruction-history-size @var{size}
6976@itemx set record instruction-history-size unlimited
6977Define how many instructions to disassemble in the @code{record
6978instruction-history} command. The default value is 10.
6979A @var{size} of @code{unlimited} means unlimited instructions.
6980
6981@kindex show record
6982@item show record instruction-history-size
6983Show how many instructions to disassemble in the @code{record
6984instruction-history} command.
6985
6986@kindex record function-call-history
6987@kindex rec function-call-history
6988@item record function-call-history
6989Prints the execution history at function granularity. It prints one
6990line for each sequence of instructions that belong to the same
6991function giving the name of that function, the source lines
6992for this instruction sequence (if the @code{/l} modifier is
6993specified), and the instructions numbers that form the sequence (if
6994the @code{/i} modifier is specified). The function names are indented
6995to reflect the call stack depth if the @code{/c} modifier is
6996specified. The @code{/l}, @code{/i}, and @code{/c} modifiers can be
6997given together.
6998
6999@smallexample
7000(@value{GDBP}) @b{list 1, 10}
70011 void foo (void)
70022 @{
70033 @}
70044
70055 void bar (void)
70066 @{
70077 ...
70088 foo ();
70099 ...
701010 @}
7011(@value{GDBP}) @b{record function-call-history /ilc}
70121 bar inst 1,4 at foo.c:6,8
70132 foo inst 5,10 at foo.c:2,3
70143 bar inst 11,13 at foo.c:9,10
7015@end smallexample
7016
7017By default, ten lines are printed. This can be changed using the
7018@code{set record function-call-history-size} command. Functions are
7019printed in execution order. There are several ways to specify what
7020to print:
7021
7022@table @code
7023@item record function-call-history @var{func}
7024Prints ten functions starting from function number @var{func}.
7025
7026@item record function-call-history @var{func}, +/-@var{n}
7027Prints @var{n} functions around function number @var{func}. If
7028@var{n} is preceded with @code{+}, prints @var{n} functions after
7029function number @var{func}. If @var{n} is preceded with @code{-},
7030prints @var{n} functions before function number @var{func}.
7031
7032@item record function-call-history
7033Prints ten more functions after the last ten-line print.
7034
7035@item record function-call-history -
7036Prints ten more functions before the last ten-line print.
7037
7038@item record function-call-history @var{begin}, @var{end}
7039Prints functions beginning with function number @var{begin} until
7040function number @var{end}. The function number @var{end} is included.
7041@end table
7042
7043This command may not be available for all recording methods.
7044
7045@item set record function-call-history-size @var{size}
7046@itemx set record function-call-history-size unlimited
7047Define how many lines to print in the
7048@code{record function-call-history} command. The default value is 10.
7049A size of @code{unlimited} means unlimited lines.
7050
7051@item show record function-call-history-size
7052Show how many lines to print in the
7053@code{record function-call-history} command.
7054@end table
7055
7056
7057@node Stack
7058@chapter Examining the Stack
7059
7060When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
7061stopped and how it got there.
7062
7063@cindex call stack
7064Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
7065is generated.
7066That information includes the location of the call in your program,
7067the arguments of the call,
7068and the local variables of the function being called.
7069The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
7070The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
7071stack}.
7072
7073When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
7074stack allow you to see all of this information.
7075
7076@cindex selected frame
7077One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
7078@value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
7079particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
7080your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
7081special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
7082interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
7083
7084When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
7085currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
7086@code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
7087
7088@menu
7089* Frames:: Stack frames
7090* Backtrace:: Backtraces
7091* Selection:: Selecting a frame
7092* Frame Info:: Information on a frame
7093* Frame Filter Management:: Managing frame filters
7094
7095@end menu
7096
7097@node Frames
7098@section Stack Frames
7099
7100@cindex frame, definition
7101@cindex stack frame
7102The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
7103frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
7104with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
7105to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
7106which the function is executing.
7107
7108@cindex initial frame
7109@cindex outermost frame
7110@cindex innermost frame
7111When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
7112function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
7113@dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
7114made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
7115is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
7116the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
7117actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
7118recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
7119
7120@cindex frame pointer
7121Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
7122stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
7123kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
7124address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
7125in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
7126(@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
7127
7128@cindex frame number
7129@value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
7130zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
7131and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
7132they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
7133frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
7134
7135@c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
7136@c underflow problems.
7137@cindex frameless execution
7138Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
7139without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
7140@smallexample
7141@samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
7142@end smallexample
7143generates functions without a frame.)
7144This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
7145the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
7146with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
7147has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
7148it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
7149correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
7150no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
7151
7152@node Backtrace
7153@section Backtraces
7154
7155@cindex traceback
7156@cindex call stack traces
7157A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
7158line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
7159frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
7160stack.
7161
7162@anchor{backtrace-command}
7163@table @code
7164@kindex backtrace
7165@kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
7166@item backtrace
7167@itemx bt
7168Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
7169frames in the stack.
7170
7171You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
7172character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
7173
7174@item backtrace @var{n}
7175@itemx bt @var{n}
7176Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
7177
7178@item backtrace -@var{n}
7179@itemx bt -@var{n}
7180Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
7181
7182@item backtrace full
7183@itemx bt full
7184@itemx bt full @var{n}
7185@itemx bt full -@var{n}
7186Print the values of the local variables also. As described above,
7187@var{n} specifies the number of frames to print.
7188
7189@item backtrace no-filters
7190@itemx bt no-filters
7191@itemx bt no-filters @var{n}
7192@itemx bt no-filters -@var{n}
7193@itemx bt no-filters full
7194@itemx bt no-filters full @var{n}
7195@itemx bt no-filters full -@var{n}
7196Do not run Python frame filters on this backtrace. @xref{Frame
7197Filter API}, for more information. Additionally use @ref{disable
7198frame-filter all} to turn off all frame filters. This is only
7199relevant when @value{GDBN} has been configured with @code{Python}
7200support.
7201@end table
7202
7203@kindex where
7204@kindex info stack
7205The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
7206are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
7207
7208@cindex multiple threads, backtrace
7209In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
7210backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
7211several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
7212(@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
7213apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
7214the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
7215multi-threaded program.
7216
7217Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
7218The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
7219print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
7220line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
7221counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
7222line number.
7223
7224Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
7225@samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
7226
7227@smallexample
7228@group
7229#0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
7230 at builtin.c:993
7231#1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
7232#2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
7233 at macro.c:71
7234(More stack frames follow...)
7235@end group
7236@end smallexample
7237
7238@noindent
7239The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
7240value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
7241code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
7242
7243@noindent
7244The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
7245@code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
7246only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
7247@kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
7248on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
7249
7250@cindex optimized out, in backtrace
7251@cindex function call arguments, optimized out
7252If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
7253optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
7254never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
7255passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
7256in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
7257arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
7258such a backtrace might look like:
7259
7260@smallexample
7261@group
7262#0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
7263 at builtin.c:993
7264#1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<optimized out>) at macro.c:242
7265#2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
7266 at macro.c:71
7267(More stack frames follow...)
7268@end group
7269@end smallexample
7270
7271@noindent
7272The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
7273shown as @samp{<optimized out>}.
7274
7275If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
7276either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
7277you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
7278
7279@cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
7280@cindex program entry point
7281@cindex startup code, and backtrace
7282Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
7283libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
7284@code{main}@footnote{
7285Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
7286environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
7287entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
7288When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
7289it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
7290system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
7291
7292If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
7293in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
7294
7295@table @code
7296@item set backtrace past-main
7297@itemx set backtrace past-main on
7298@kindex set backtrace
7299Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
7300
7301@item set backtrace past-main off
7302Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
7303default.
7304
7305@item show backtrace past-main
7306@kindex show backtrace
7307Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
7308
7309@item set backtrace past-entry
7310@itemx set backtrace past-entry on
7311Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
7312This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
7313and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
7314
7315@item set backtrace past-entry off
7316Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
7317application. This is the default.
7318
7319@item show backtrace past-entry
7320Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
7321
7322@item set backtrace limit @var{n}
7323@itemx set backtrace limit 0
7324@itemx set backtrace limit unlimited
7325@cindex backtrace limit
7326Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of @code{unlimited}
7327or zero means unlimited levels.
7328
7329@item show backtrace limit
7330Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
7331@end table
7332
7333You can control how file names are displayed.
7334
7335@table @code
7336@item set filename-display
7337@itemx set filename-display relative
7338@cindex filename-display
7339Display file names relative to the compilation directory. This is the default.
7340
7341@item set filename-display basename
7342Display only basename of a filename.
7343
7344@item set filename-display absolute
7345Display an absolute filename.
7346
7347@item show filename-display
7348Show the current way to display filenames.
7349@end table
7350
7351@node Selection
7352@section Selecting a Frame
7353
7354Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
7355whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
7356selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
7357of the stack frame just selected.
7358
7359@table @code
7360@kindex frame@r{, selecting}
7361@kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
7362@item frame @var{n}
7363@itemx f @var{n}
7364Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
7365(currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
7366innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
7367@code{main}.
7368
7369@item frame @var{stack-addr} [ @var{pc-addr} ]
7370@itemx f @var{stack-addr} [ @var{pc-addr} ]
7371Select the frame at address @var{stack-addr}. This is useful mainly if the
7372chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
7373impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
7374addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
7375switches between them. The optional @var{pc-addr} can also be given to
7376specify the value of PC for the stack frame.
7377
7378@kindex up
7379@item up @var{n}
7380Move @var{n} frames up the stack; @var{n} defaults to 1. For positive
7381numbers @var{n}, this advances toward the outermost frame, to higher
7382frame numbers, to frames that have existed longer.
7383
7384@kindex down
7385@kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
7386@item down @var{n}
7387Move @var{n} frames down the stack; @var{n} defaults to 1. For
7388positive numbers @var{n}, this advances toward the innermost frame, to
7389lower frame numbers, to frames that were created more recently.
7390You may abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
7391@end table
7392
7393All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
7394frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
7395arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
7396frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
7397
7398@need 1000
7399For example:
7400
7401@smallexample
7402@group
7403(@value{GDBP}) up
7404#1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
7405 at env.c:10
740610 read_input_file (argv[i]);
7407@end group
7408@end smallexample
7409
7410After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
7411prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
7412You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
7413editing program by typing @code{edit}.
7414@xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
7415for details.
7416
7417@table @code
7418@kindex select-frame
7419@item select-frame
7420The @code{select-frame} command is a variant of @code{frame} that does
7421not display the new frame after selecting it. This command is
7422intended primarily for use in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the
7423output might be unnecessary and distracting.
7424
7425@kindex down-silently
7426@kindex up-silently
7427@item up-silently @var{n}
7428@itemx down-silently @var{n}
7429These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
7430respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
7431causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
7432in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
7433distracting.
7434@end table
7435
7436@node Frame Info
7437@section Information About a Frame
7438
7439There are several other commands to print information about the selected
7440stack frame.
7441
7442@table @code
7443@item frame
7444@itemx f
7445When used without any argument, this command does not change which
7446frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
7447selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
7448argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
7449@xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
7450
7451@kindex info frame
7452@kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
7453@item info frame
7454@itemx info f
7455This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
7456including:
7457
7458@itemize @bullet
7459@item
7460the address of the frame
7461@item
7462the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
7463@item
7464the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
7465@item
7466the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
7467@item
7468the address of the frame's arguments
7469@item
7470the address of the frame's local variables
7471@item
7472the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
7473@item
7474which registers were saved in the frame
7475@end itemize
7476
7477@noindent The verbose description is useful when
7478something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
7479the usual conventions.
7480
7481@item info frame @var{addr}
7482@itemx info f @var{addr}
7483Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
7484selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
7485command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
7486architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
7487@xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
7488
7489@kindex info args
7490@item info args
7491Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
7492
7493@item info locals
7494@kindex info locals
7495Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
7496line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
7497accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
7498
7499@end table
7500
7501@node Frame Filter Management
7502@section Management of Frame Filters.
7503@cindex managing frame filters
7504
7505Frame filters are Python based utilities to manage and decorate the
7506output of frames. @xref{Frame Filter API}, for further information.
7507
7508Managing frame filters is performed by several commands available
7509within @value{GDBN}, detailed here.
7510
7511@table @code
7512@kindex info frame-filter
7513@item info frame-filter
7514Print a list of installed frame filters from all dictionaries, showing
7515their name, priority and enabled status.
7516
7517@kindex disable frame-filter
7518@anchor{disable frame-filter all}
7519@item disable frame-filter @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
7520Disable a frame filter in the dictionary matching
7521@var{filter-dictionary} and @var{filter-name}. The
7522@var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{all}, @code{global},
7523@code{progspace}, or the name of the object file where the frame filter
7524dictionary resides. When @code{all} is specified, all frame filters
7525across all dictionaries are disabled. The @var{filter-name} is the name
7526of the frame filter and is used when @code{all} is not the option for
7527@var{filter-dictionary}. A disabled frame-filter is not deleted, it
7528may be enabled again later.
7529
7530@kindex enable frame-filter
7531@item enable frame-filter @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
7532Enable a frame filter in the dictionary matching
7533@var{filter-dictionary} and @var{filter-name}. The
7534@var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{all}, @code{global},
7535@code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
7536dictionary resides. When @code{all} is specified, all frame filters across
7537all dictionaries are enabled. The @var{filter-name} is the name of the frame
7538filter and is used when @code{all} is not the option for
7539@var{filter-dictionary}.
7540
7541Example:
7542
7543@smallexample
7544(gdb) info frame-filter
7545
7546global frame-filters:
7547 Priority Enabled Name
7548 1000 No PrimaryFunctionFilter
7549 100 Yes Reverse
7550
7551progspace /build/test frame-filters:
7552 Priority Enabled Name
7553 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
7554
7555objfile /build/test frame-filters:
7556 Priority Enabled Name
7557 999 Yes BuildProgra Filter
7558
7559(gdb) disable frame-filter /build/test BuildProgramFilter
7560(gdb) info frame-filter
7561
7562global frame-filters:
7563 Priority Enabled Name
7564 1000 No PrimaryFunctionFilter
7565 100 Yes Reverse
7566
7567progspace /build/test frame-filters:
7568 Priority Enabled Name
7569 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
7570
7571objfile /build/test frame-filters:
7572 Priority Enabled Name
7573 999 No BuildProgramFilter
7574
7575(gdb) enable frame-filter global PrimaryFunctionFilter
7576(gdb) info frame-filter
7577
7578global frame-filters:
7579 Priority Enabled Name
7580 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
7581 100 Yes Reverse
7582
7583progspace /build/test frame-filters:
7584 Priority Enabled Name
7585 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
7586
7587objfile /build/test frame-filters:
7588 Priority Enabled Name
7589 999 No BuildProgramFilter
7590@end smallexample
7591
7592@kindex set frame-filter priority
7593@item set frame-filter priority @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name} @var{priority}
7594Set the @var{priority} of a frame filter in the dictionary matching
7595@var{filter-dictionary}, and the frame filter name matching
7596@var{filter-name}. The @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{global},
7597@code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
7598dictionary resides. The @var{priority} is an integer.
7599
7600@kindex show frame-filter priority
7601@item show frame-filter priority @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
7602Show the @var{priority} of a frame filter in the dictionary matching
7603@var{filter-dictionary}, and the frame filter name matching
7604@var{filter-name}. The @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{global},
7605@code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
7606dictionary resides.
7607
7608Example:
7609
7610@smallexample
7611(gdb) info frame-filter
7612
7613global frame-filters:
7614 Priority Enabled Name
7615 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
7616 100 Yes Reverse
7617
7618progspace /build/test frame-filters:
7619 Priority Enabled Name
7620 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
7621
7622objfile /build/test frame-filters:
7623 Priority Enabled Name
7624 999 No BuildProgramFilter
7625
7626(gdb) set frame-filter priority global Reverse 50
7627(gdb) info frame-filter
7628
7629global frame-filters:
7630 Priority Enabled Name
7631 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
7632 50 Yes Reverse
7633
7634progspace /build/test frame-filters:
7635 Priority Enabled Name
7636 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
7637
7638objfile /build/test frame-filters:
7639 Priority Enabled Name
7640 999 No BuildProgramFilter
7641@end smallexample
7642@end table
7643
7644@node Source
7645@chapter Examining Source Files
7646
7647@value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
7648information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
7649used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
7650the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
7651(@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
7652execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
7653source files by explicit command.
7654
7655If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
7656prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
7657@value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
7658
7659@menu
7660* List:: Printing source lines
7661* Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
7662* Edit:: Editing source files
7663* Search:: Searching source files
7664* Source Path:: Specifying source directories
7665* Machine Code:: Source and machine code
7666@end menu
7667
7668@node List
7669@section Printing Source Lines
7670
7671@kindex list
7672@kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
7673To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
7674(abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
7675There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
7676print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
7677
7678Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
7679
7680@table @code
7681@item list @var{linenum}
7682Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
7683current source file.
7684
7685@item list @var{function}
7686Print lines centered around the beginning of function
7687@var{function}.
7688
7689@item list
7690Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
7691@code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
7692printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
7693as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
7694Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
7695
7696@item list -
7697Print lines just before the lines last printed.
7698@end table
7699
7700@cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
7701By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
7702the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
7703
7704@table @code
7705@kindex set listsize
7706@item set listsize @var{count}
7707@itemx set listsize unlimited
7708Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
7709the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
7710Setting @var{count} to @code{unlimited} or 0 means there's no limit.
7711
7712@kindex show listsize
7713@item show listsize
7714Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
7715@end table
7716
7717Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
7718so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
7719than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
7720argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
7721each repetition moves up in the source file.
7722
7723In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
7724@dfn{locations}. Locations specify source lines; there are several ways
7725of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
7726to specify some source line.
7727
7728Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
7729
7730@table @code
7731@item list @var{location}
7732Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{location}.
7733
7734@item list @var{first},@var{last}
7735Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
7736locations. When a @code{list} command has two locations, and the
7737source file of the second location is omitted, this refers to
7738the same source file as the first location.
7739
7740@item list ,@var{last}
7741Print lines ending with @var{last}.
7742
7743@item list @var{first},
7744Print lines starting with @var{first}.
7745
7746@item list +
7747Print lines just after the lines last printed.
7748
7749@item list -
7750Print lines just before the lines last printed.
7751
7752@item list
7753As described in the preceding table.
7754@end table
7755
7756@node Specify Location
7757@section Specifying a Location
7758@cindex specifying location
7759@cindex location
7760@cindex source location
7761
7762@menu
7763* Linespec Locations:: Linespec locations
7764* Explicit Locations:: Explicit locations
7765* Address Locations:: Address locations
7766@end menu
7767
7768Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
7769of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
7770debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code.
7771Locations may be specified using three different formats:
7772linespec locations, explicit locations, or address locations.
7773
7774@node Linespec Locations
7775@subsection Linespec Locations
7776@cindex linespec locations
7777
7778A @dfn{linespec} is a colon-separated list of source location parameters such
7779as file name, function name, etc. Here are all the different ways of
7780specifying a linespec:
7781
7782@table @code
7783@item @var{linenum}
7784Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
7785
7786@item -@var{offset}
7787@itemx +@var{offset}
7788Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
7789line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
7790printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
7791execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
7792(@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
7793used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
7794this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
7795linespec.
7796
7797@item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
7798Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
7799If @var{filename} is a relative file name, then it will match any
7800source file name with the same trailing components. For example, if
7801@var{filename} is @samp{gcc/expr.c}, then it will match source file
7802name of @file{/build/trunk/gcc/expr.c}, but not
7803@file{/build/trunk/libcpp/expr.c} or @file{/build/trunk/gcc/x-expr.c}.
7804
7805@item @var{function}
7806Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
7807For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
7808
7809@item @var{function}:@var{label}
7810Specifies the line where @var{label} appears in @var{function}.
7811
7812@item @var{filename}:@var{function}
7813Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
7814in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
7815function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
7816functions in different source files.
7817
7818@item @var{label}
7819Specifies the line at which the label named @var{label} appears
7820in the function corresponding to the currently selected stack frame.
7821If there is no current selected stack frame (for instance, if the inferior
7822is not running), then @value{GDBN} will not search for a label.
7823
7824@cindex breakpoint at static probe point
7825@item -pstap|-probe-stap @r{[}@var{objfile}:@r{[}@var{provider}:@r{]}@r{]}@var{name}
7826The @sc{gnu}/Linux tool @code{SystemTap} provides a way for
7827applications to embed static probes. @xref{Static Probe Points}, for more
7828information on finding and using static probes. This form of linespec
7829specifies the location of such a static probe.
7830
7831If @var{objfile} is given, only probes coming from that shared library
7832or executable matching @var{objfile} as a regular expression are considered.
7833If @var{provider} is given, then only probes from that provider are considered.
7834If several probes match the spec, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at
7835each one of those probes.
7836@end table
7837
7838@node Explicit Locations
7839@subsection Explicit Locations
7840@cindex explicit locations
7841
7842@dfn{Explicit locations} allow the user to directly specify the source
7843location's parameters using option-value pairs.
7844
7845Explicit locations are useful when several functions, labels, or
7846file names have the same name (base name for files) in the program's
7847sources. In these cases, explicit locations point to the source
7848line you meant more accurately and unambiguously. Also, using
7849explicit locations might be faster in large programs.
7850
7851For example, the linespec @samp{foo:bar} may refer to a function @code{bar}
7852defined in the file named @file{foo} or the label @code{bar} in a function
7853named @code{foo}. @value{GDBN} must search either the file system or
7854the symbol table to know.
7855
7856The list of valid explicit location options is summarized in the
7857following table:
7858
7859@table @code
7860@item -source @var{filename}
7861The value specifies the source file name. To differentiate between
7862files with the same base name, prepend as many directories as is necessary
7863to uniquely identify the desired file, e.g., @file{foo/bar/baz.c}. Otherwise
7864@value{GDBN} will use the first file it finds with the given base
7865name. This option requires the use of either @code{-function} or @code{-line}.
7866
7867@item -function @var{function}
7868The value specifies the name of a function. Operations
7869on function locations unmodified by other options (such as @code{-label}
7870or @code{-line}) refer to the line that begins the body of the function.
7871In C, for example, this is the line with the open brace.
7872
7873@item -label @var{label}
7874The value specifies the name of a label. When the function
7875name is not specified, the label is searched in the function of the currently
7876selected stack frame.
7877
7878@item -line @var{number}
7879The value specifies a line offset for the location. The offset may either
7880be absolute (@code{-line 3}) or relative (@code{-line +3}), depending on
7881the command. When specified without any other options, the line offset is
7882relative to the current line.
7883@end table
7884
7885Explicit location options may be abbreviated by omitting any non-unique
7886trailing characters from the option name, e.g., @code{break -s main.c -li 3}.
7887
7888@node Address Locations
7889@subsection Address Locations
7890@cindex address locations
7891
7892@dfn{Address locations} indicate a specific program address. They have
7893the generalized form *@var{address}.
7894
7895For line-oriented commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this
7896specifies a source line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and
7897other breakpoint-oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
7898parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
7899source files.
7900
7901Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
7902language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
7903address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
7904semantics of expressions used in locations to cover several situations
7905that frequently occur during debugging. Here are the various forms
7906of @var{address}:
7907
7908@table @code
7909@item @var{expression}
7910Any expression valid in the current working language.
7911
7912@item @var{funcaddr}
7913An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
7914C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
7915simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
7916of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
7917@code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
7918(although the Pascal form also works).
7919
7920This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
7921before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
7922
7923@item '@var{filename}':@var{funcaddr}
7924Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
7925file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
7926specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
7927functions with identical names in different source files.
7928@end table
7929
7930@node Edit
7931@section Editing Source Files
7932@cindex editing source files
7933
7934@kindex edit
7935@kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
7936To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
7937The editing program of your choice
7938is invoked with the current line set to
7939the active line in the program.
7940Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
7941want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
7942
7943@table @code
7944@item edit @var{location}
7945Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
7946that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
7947specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
7948of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
7949command most commonly used:
7950
7951@table @code
7952@item edit @var{number}
7953Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
7954
7955@item edit @var{function}
7956Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
7957@end table
7958
7959@end table
7960
7961@subsection Choosing your Editor
7962You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
7963@footnote{
7964The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
7965following command-line syntax:
7966@smallexample
7967ex +@var{number} file
7968@end smallexample
7969The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
7970the file where to start editing.}.
7971By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
7972by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
7973@value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
7974@code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
7975@smallexample
7976EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi
7977export EDITOR
7978gdb @dots{}
7979@end smallexample
7980or in the @code{csh} shell,
7981@smallexample
7982setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
7983gdb @dots{}
7984@end smallexample
7985
7986@node Search
7987@section Searching Source Files
7988@cindex searching source files
7989
7990There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
7991regular expression.
7992
7993@table @code
7994@kindex search
7995@kindex forward-search
7996@kindex fo @r{(@code{forward-search})}
7997@item forward-search @var{regexp}
7998@itemx search @var{regexp}
7999The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
8000starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
8001@var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
8002synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
8003@code{fo}.
8004
8005@kindex reverse-search
8006@item reverse-search @var{regexp}
8007The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
8008with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
8009for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
8010this command as @code{rev}.
8011@end table
8012
8013@node Source Path
8014@section Specifying Source Directories
8015
8016@cindex source path
8017@cindex directories for source files
8018Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
8019files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
8020the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
8021session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
8022this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
8023it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
8024in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
8025
8026For example, suppose an executable references the file
8027@file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
8028@file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
8029fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
8030fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
8031message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
8032source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
8033Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
8034the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
8035@file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
8036@file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
8037
8038Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
8039names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
8040instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
8041is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
8042@file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
8043that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
8044
8045Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
8046source files.
8047
8048Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
8049any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
8050each line is in the file.
8051
8052@kindex directory
8053@kindex dir
8054When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
8055and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
8056To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
8057
8058The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
8059script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
8060
8061In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
8062that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
8063rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
8064debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
8065directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
8066two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
8067the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
8068In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
8069@var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
8070of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
8071source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
8072name to look up the sources.
8073
8074Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
8075moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
8076@value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
8077@file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
8078@file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
8079of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
8080substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
8081(@pxref{set substitute-path}).
8082
8083To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
8084@var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
8085For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
8086@file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
8087not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
8088is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
8089not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
8090
8091In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
8092command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
8093the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
8094subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
8095subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
8096preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
8097allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
8098command.
8099
8100@code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
8101The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
8102longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
8103the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
8104for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
8105located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
8106method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
8107
8108@cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
8109@cindex default source path substitution
8110You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
8111configuring @value{GDBN} with the
8112@samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
8113should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
8114prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
8115directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
8116automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
8117location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
8118with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
8119together.
8120
8121@table @code
8122@item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
8123@item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
8124Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
8125directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
8126(@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
8127part of absolute file names) or
8128whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
8129path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
8130
8131@kindex cdir
8132@kindex cwd
8133@vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
8134@vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
8135@cindex compilation directory
8136@cindex current directory
8137@cindex working directory
8138@cindex directory, current
8139@cindex directory, compilation
8140You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
8141directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
8142working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
8143tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
8144session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
8145directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
8146
8147@item directory
8148Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
8149
8150@c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
8151@c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
8152
8153@item set directories @var{path-list}
8154@kindex set directories
8155Set the source path to @var{path-list}.
8156@samp{$cdir:$cwd} are added if missing.
8157
8158@item show directories
8159@kindex show directories
8160Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
8161
8162@anchor{set substitute-path}
8163@item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
8164@kindex set substitute-path
8165Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
8166current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
8167@var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
8168
8169For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
8170@file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
8171
8172@smallexample
8173(@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /foo/bar /mnt/cross
8174@end smallexample
8175
8176@noindent
8177will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/foo/bar} with
8178@samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
8179@file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
8180
8181In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
8182the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
8183defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
8184the substitution.
8185
8186For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
8187
8188@smallexample
8189(@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
8190(@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
8191@end smallexample
8192
8193@noindent
8194@value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
8195@file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
8196use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
8197@file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
8198
8199
8200@item unset substitute-path [path]
8201@kindex unset substitute-path
8202If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
8203for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
8204A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
8205
8206If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
8207
8208@item show substitute-path [path]
8209@kindex show substitute-path
8210If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
8211which would rewrite that path, if any.
8212
8213If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
8214rules.
8215
8216@end table
8217
8218If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
8219interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
8220versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
8221
8222@enumerate
8223@item
8224Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
8225
8226@item
8227Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
8228directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
8229directories in one command.
8230@end enumerate
8231
8232@node Machine Code
8233@section Source and Machine Code
8234@cindex source line and its code address
8235
8236You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
8237addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
8238a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
8239@code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
8240source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
8241mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
8242line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
8243well as hex.
8244
8245@table @code
8246@kindex info line
8247@item info line @var{location}
8248Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
8249source line @var{location}. You can specify source lines in any of
8250the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
8251@end table
8252
8253For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
8254the object code for the first line of function
8255@code{m4_changequote}:
8256
8257@c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
8258@c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
8259@smallexample
8260(@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
8261Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
8262@end smallexample
8263
8264@noindent
8265@cindex code address and its source line
8266We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
8267@var{location}) what source line covers a particular address:
8268@smallexample
8269(@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
8270Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
8271@end smallexample
8272
8273@cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
8274@cindex @code{x} command, default address
8275@kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
8276After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
8277is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
8278sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
8279,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
8280convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
8281Variables}).
8282
8283@table @code
8284@kindex disassemble
8285@cindex assembly instructions
8286@cindex instructions, assembly
8287@cindex machine instructions
8288@cindex listing machine instructions
8289@item disassemble
8290@itemx disassemble /m
8291@itemx disassemble /s
8292@itemx disassemble /r
8293This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
8294instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
8295the @code{/m} or @code{/s} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex
8296as well as in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r} modifier.
8297The default memory range is the function surrounding the
8298program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
8299command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
8300surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
8301be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
8302arguments specify a range of addresses to dump, in one of two forms:
8303
8304@table @code
8305@item @var{start},@var{end}
8306the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to @var{end} (exclusive)
8307@item @var{start},+@var{length}
8308the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to
8309@code{@var{start}+@var{length}} (exclusive).
8310@end table
8311
8312@noindent
8313When 2 arguments are specified, the name of the function is also
8314printed (since there could be several functions in the given range).
8315
8316The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
8317@samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
8318
8319If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
8320the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
8321@end table
8322
8323The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
8324HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
8325
8326@smallexample
8327(@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
8328Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
8329 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
8330 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
8331 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
8332 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
8333 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
8334 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
8335 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
8336 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
8337End of assembler dump.
8338@end smallexample
8339
8340Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86
8341with @code{/m} or @code{/s}, when the program is stopped just after
8342function prologue in a non-optimized function with no inline code.
8343
8344@smallexample
8345(@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
8346Dump of assembler code for function main:
83475 @{
8348 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
8349 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
8350 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
8351 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
8352 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
8353
83546 printf ("Hello.\n");
8355=> 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
8356 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
8357
83587 return 0;
83598 @}
8360 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
8361 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
8362 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
8363
8364End of assembler dump.
8365@end smallexample
8366
8367The @code{/m} option is deprecated as its output is not useful when
8368there is either inlined code or re-ordered code.
8369The @code{/s} option is the preferred choice.
8370Here is an example for AMD x86-64 showing the difference between
8371@code{/m} output and @code{/s} output.
8372This example has one inline function defined in a header file,
8373and the code is compiled with @samp{-O2} optimization.
8374Note how the @code{/m} output is missing the disassembly of
8375several instructions that are present in the @code{/s} output.
8376
8377@file{foo.h}:
8378
8379@smallexample
8380int
8381foo (int a)
8382@{
8383 if (a < 0)
8384 return a * 2;
8385 if (a == 0)
8386 return 1;
8387 return a + 10;
8388@}
8389@end smallexample
8390
8391@file{foo.c}:
8392
8393@smallexample
8394#include "foo.h"
8395volatile int x, y;
8396int
8397main ()
8398@{
8399 x = foo (y);
8400 return 0;
8401@}
8402@end smallexample
8403
8404@smallexample
8405(@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
8406Dump of assembler code for function main:
84075 @{
8408
84096 x = foo (y);
8410 0x0000000000400400 <+0>: mov 0x200c2e(%rip),%eax # 0x601034 <y>
8411 0x0000000000400417 <+23>: mov %eax,0x200c13(%rip) # 0x601030 <x>
8412
84137 return 0;
84148 @}
8415 0x000000000040041d <+29>: xor %eax,%eax
8416 0x000000000040041f <+31>: retq
8417 0x0000000000400420 <+32>: add %eax,%eax
8418 0x0000000000400422 <+34>: jmp 0x400417 <main+23>
8419
8420End of assembler dump.
8421(@value{GDBP}) disas /s main
8422Dump of assembler code for function main:
8423foo.c:
84245 @{
84256 x = foo (y);
8426 0x0000000000400400 <+0>: mov 0x200c2e(%rip),%eax # 0x601034 <y>
8427
8428foo.h:
84294 if (a < 0)
8430 0x0000000000400406 <+6>: test %eax,%eax
8431 0x0000000000400408 <+8>: js 0x400420 <main+32>
8432
84336 if (a == 0)
84347 return 1;
84358 return a + 10;
8436 0x000000000040040a <+10>: lea 0xa(%rax),%edx
8437 0x000000000040040d <+13>: test %eax,%eax
8438 0x000000000040040f <+15>: mov $0x1,%eax
8439 0x0000000000400414 <+20>: cmovne %edx,%eax
8440
8441foo.c:
84426 x = foo (y);
8443 0x0000000000400417 <+23>: mov %eax,0x200c13(%rip) # 0x601030 <x>
8444
84457 return 0;
84468 @}
8447 0x000000000040041d <+29>: xor %eax,%eax
8448 0x000000000040041f <+31>: retq
8449
8450foo.h:
84515 return a * 2;
8452 0x0000000000400420 <+32>: add %eax,%eax
8453 0x0000000000400422 <+34>: jmp 0x400417 <main+23>
8454End of assembler dump.
8455@end smallexample
8456
8457Here is another example showing raw instructions in hex for AMD x86-64,
8458
8459@smallexample
8460(gdb) disas /r 0x400281,+10
8461Dump of assembler code from 0x400281 to 0x40028b:
8462 0x0000000000400281: 38 36 cmp %dh,(%rsi)
8463 0x0000000000400283: 2d 36 34 2e 73 sub $0x732e3436,%eax
8464 0x0000000000400288: 6f outsl %ds:(%rsi),(%dx)
8465 0x0000000000400289: 2e 32 00 xor %cs:(%rax),%al
8466End of assembler dump.
8467@end smallexample
8468
8469Addresses cannot be specified as a location (@pxref{Specify Location}).
8470So, for example, if you want to disassemble function @code{bar}
8471in file @file{foo.c}, you must type @samp{disassemble 'foo.c'::bar}
8472and not @samp{disassemble foo.c:bar}.
8473
8474Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
8475mnemonics or other syntax.
8476
8477For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
8478instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
8479libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
8480location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
8481might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
8482
8483@table @code
8484@kindex set disassembly-flavor
8485@cindex Intel disassembly flavor
8486@cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
8487@item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
8488Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
8489program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
8490
8491Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
8492can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
8493The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
8494assemblers for x86-based targets.
8495
8496@kindex show disassembly-flavor
8497@item show disassembly-flavor
8498Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
8499@end table
8500
8501@table @code
8502@kindex set disassemble-next-line
8503@kindex show disassemble-next-line
8504@item set disassemble-next-line
8505@itemx show disassemble-next-line
8506Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
8507line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
8508display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
8509program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
8510displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
8511possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
8512(e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
8513info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
8514next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
8515AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
8516if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
8517@value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
8518with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
8519OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
8520instruction.
8521@end table
8522
8523
8524@node Data
8525@chapter Examining Data
8526
8527@cindex printing data
8528@cindex examining data
8529@kindex print
8530@kindex inspect
8531The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
8532command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
8533evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
8534program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
8535Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
8536Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
8537
8538@table @code
8539@item print @var{expr}
8540@itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
8541@var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
8542value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
8543you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
8544@var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
8545Formats}.
8546
8547@item print
8548@itemx print /@var{f}
8549@cindex reprint the last value
8550If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
8551@dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
8552conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
8553@end table
8554
8555A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
8556It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
8557specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
8558
8559If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
8560fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
8561command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
8562Table}.
8563
8564@cindex exploring hierarchical data structures
8565@kindex explore
8566Another way of examining values of expressions and type information is
8567through the Python extension command @code{explore} (available only if
8568the @value{GDBN} build is configured with @code{--with-python}). It
8569offers an interactive way to start at the highest level (or, the most
8570abstract level) of the data type of an expression (or, the data type
8571itself) and explore all the way down to leaf scalar values/fields
8572embedded in the higher level data types.
8573
8574@table @code
8575@item explore @var{arg}
8576@var{arg} is either an expression (in the source language), or a type
8577visible in the current context of the program being debugged.
8578@end table
8579
8580The working of the @code{explore} command can be illustrated with an
8581example. If a data type @code{struct ComplexStruct} is defined in your
8582C program as
8583
8584@smallexample
8585struct SimpleStruct
8586@{
8587 int i;
8588 double d;
8589@};
8590
8591struct ComplexStruct
8592@{
8593 struct SimpleStruct *ss_p;
8594 int arr[10];
8595@};
8596@end smallexample
8597
8598@noindent
8599followed by variable declarations as
8600
8601@smallexample
8602struct SimpleStruct ss = @{ 10, 1.11 @};
8603struct ComplexStruct cs = @{ &ss, @{ 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 @} @};
8604@end smallexample
8605
8606@noindent
8607then, the value of the variable @code{cs} can be explored using the
8608@code{explore} command as follows.
8609
8610@smallexample
8611(gdb) explore cs
8612The value of `cs' is a struct/class of type `struct ComplexStruct' with
8613the following fields:
8614
8615 ss_p = <Enter 0 to explore this field of type `struct SimpleStruct *'>
8616 arr = <Enter 1 to explore this field of type `int [10]'>
8617
8618Enter the field number of choice:
8619@end smallexample
8620
8621@noindent
8622Since the fields of @code{cs} are not scalar values, you are being
8623prompted to chose the field you want to explore. Let's say you choose
8624the field @code{ss_p} by entering @code{0}. Then, since this field is a
8625pointer, you will be asked if it is pointing to a single value. From
8626the declaration of @code{cs} above, it is indeed pointing to a single
8627value, hence you enter @code{y}. If you enter @code{n}, then you will
8628be asked if it were pointing to an array of values, in which case this
8629field will be explored as if it were an array.
8630
8631@smallexample
8632`cs.ss_p' is a pointer to a value of type `struct SimpleStruct'
8633Continue exploring it as a pointer to a single value [y/n]: y
8634The value of `*(cs.ss_p)' is a struct/class of type `struct
8635SimpleStruct' with the following fields:
8636
8637 i = 10 .. (Value of type `int')
8638 d = 1.1100000000000001 .. (Value of type `double')
8639
8640Press enter to return to parent value:
8641@end smallexample
8642
8643@noindent
8644If the field @code{arr} of @code{cs} was chosen for exploration by
8645entering @code{1} earlier, then since it is as array, you will be
8646prompted to enter the index of the element in the array that you want
8647to explore.
8648
8649@smallexample
8650`cs.arr' is an array of `int'.
8651Enter the index of the element you want to explore in `cs.arr': 5
8652
8653`(cs.arr)[5]' is a scalar value of type `int'.
8654
8655(cs.arr)[5] = 4
8656
8657Press enter to return to parent value:
8658@end smallexample
8659
8660In general, at any stage of exploration, you can go deeper towards the
8661leaf values by responding to the prompts appropriately, or hit the
8662return key to return to the enclosing data structure (the @i{higher}
8663level data structure).
8664
8665Similar to exploring values, you can use the @code{explore} command to
8666explore types. Instead of specifying a value (which is typically a
8667variable name or an expression valid in the current context of the
8668program being debugged), you specify a type name. If you consider the
8669same example as above, your can explore the type
8670@code{struct ComplexStruct} by passing the argument
8671@code{struct ComplexStruct} to the @code{explore} command.
8672
8673@smallexample
8674(gdb) explore struct ComplexStruct
8675@end smallexample
8676
8677@noindent
8678By responding to the prompts appropriately in the subsequent interactive
8679session, you can explore the type @code{struct ComplexStruct} in a
8680manner similar to how the value @code{cs} was explored in the above
8681example.
8682
8683The @code{explore} command also has two sub-commands,
8684@code{explore value} and @code{explore type}. The former sub-command is
8685a way to explicitly specify that value exploration of the argument is
8686being invoked, while the latter is a way to explicitly specify that type
8687exploration of the argument is being invoked.
8688
8689@table @code
8690@item explore value @var{expr}
8691@cindex explore value
8692This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the value of the
8693expression @var{expr} (if @var{expr} is an expression valid in the
8694current context of the program being debugged). The behavior of this
8695command is identical to that of the behavior of the @code{explore}
8696command being passed the argument @var{expr}.
8697
8698@item explore type @var{arg}
8699@cindex explore type
8700This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the type of @var{arg} (if
8701@var{arg} is a type visible in the current context of program being
8702debugged), or the type of the value/expression @var{arg} (if @var{arg}
8703is an expression valid in the current context of the program being
8704debugged). If @var{arg} is a type, then the behavior of this command is
8705identical to that of the @code{explore} command being passed the
8706argument @var{arg}. If @var{arg} is an expression, then the behavior of
8707this command will be identical to that of the @code{explore} command
8708being passed the type of @var{arg} as the argument.
8709@end table
8710
8711@menu
8712* Expressions:: Expressions
8713* Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
8714* Variables:: Program variables
8715* Arrays:: Artificial arrays
8716* Output Formats:: Output formats
8717* Memory:: Examining memory
8718* Auto Display:: Automatic display
8719* Print Settings:: Print settings
8720* Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
8721* Value History:: Value history
8722* Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
8723* Convenience Funs:: Convenience functions
8724* Registers:: Registers
8725* Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
8726* Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
8727* OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
8728* Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
8729* Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
8730* Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
8731* Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
8732 character set than GDB does
8733* Caching Target Data:: Data caching for targets
8734* Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
8735* Value Sizes:: Managing memory allocated for values
8736@end menu
8737
8738@node Expressions
8739@section Expressions
8740
8741@cindex expressions
8742@code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
8743compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
8744by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
8745@value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
8746casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
8747you compiled your program to include this information; see
8748@ref{Compilation}.
8749
8750@cindex arrays in expressions
8751@value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
8752the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
8753you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
8754of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
8755to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
8756is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
8757
8758Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
8759this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
8760Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
8761languages.
8762
8763In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
8764expressions regardless of your programming language.
8765
8766@cindex casts, in expressions
8767Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
8768useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
8769at that address in memory.
8770@c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
8771
8772@value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
8773to programming languages:
8774
8775@table @code
8776@item @@
8777@samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
8778@xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
8779
8780@item ::
8781@samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
8782function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
8783
8784@cindex @{@var{type}@}
8785@cindex type casting memory
8786@cindex memory, viewing as typed object
8787@cindex casts, to view memory
8788@item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
8789Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
8790memory. The address @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is
8791an integer or pointer (but parentheses are required around binary
8792operators, just as in a cast). This construct is allowed regardless
8793of what kind of data is normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
8794@end table
8795
8796@node Ambiguous Expressions
8797@section Ambiguous Expressions
8798@cindex ambiguous expressions
8799
8800Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
8801some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
8802a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
8803different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
8804involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
8805templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
8806the same function name being defined in different contexts.
8807
8808In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
8809the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
8810can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
8811@kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
8812qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
8813as well.
8814
8815When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
8816has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
8817possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
8818The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
8819aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
8820used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
8821menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
8822choices.
8823
8824For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
8825breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
8826We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
8827
8828@c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
8829@smallexample
8830@group
8831(@value{GDBP}) b String::after
8832[0] cancel
8833[1] all
8834[2] file:String.cc; line number:867
8835[3] file:String.cc; line number:860
8836[4] file:String.cc; line number:875
8837[5] file:String.cc; line number:853
8838[6] file:String.cc; line number:846
8839[7] file:String.cc; line number:735
8840> 2 4 6
8841Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
8842Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
8843Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
8844Multiple breakpoints were set.
8845Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
8846 breakpoints.
8847(@value{GDBP})
8848@end group
8849@end smallexample
8850
8851@table @code
8852@kindex set multiple-symbols
8853@item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
8854@cindex multiple-symbols menu
8855
8856This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
8857is ambiguous.
8858
8859By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
8860the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
8861automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
8862a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
8863inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
8864then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
8865For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
8866in the use of the menu.
8867
8868When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
8869when an ambiguity is detected.
8870
8871Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
8872an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
8873
8874@kindex show multiple-symbols
8875@item show multiple-symbols
8876Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
8877@end table
8878
8879@node Variables
8880@section Program Variables
8881
8882The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
8883in your program.
8884
8885Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
8886(@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
8887
8888@itemize @bullet
8889@item
8890global (or file-static)
8891@end itemize
8892
8893@noindent or
8894
8895@itemize @bullet
8896@item
8897visible according to the scope rules of the
8898programming language from the point of execution in that frame
8899@end itemize
8900
8901@noindent This means that in the function
8902
8903@smallexample
8904foo (a)
8905 int a;
8906@{
8907 bar (a);
8908 @{
8909 int b = test ();
8910 bar (b);
8911 @}
8912@}
8913@end smallexample
8914
8915@noindent
8916you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
8917executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
8918examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
8919the block where @code{b} is declared.
8920
8921@cindex variable name conflict
8922There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
8923scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
8924in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
8925function with the same name (in different source files). If that
8926happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
8927you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file by
8928using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
8929
8930@cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
8931@ifnotinfo
8932@c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
8933@cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
8934@end ifnotinfo
8935@smallexample
8936@var{file}::@var{variable}
8937@var{function}::@var{variable}
8938@end smallexample
8939
8940@noindent
8941Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
8942static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
8943make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
8944to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
8945
8946@smallexample
8947(@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
8948@end smallexample
8949
8950The @code{::} notation is normally used for referring to
8951static variables, since you typically disambiguate uses of local variables
8952in functions by selecting the appropriate frame and using the
8953simple name of the variable. However, you may also use this notation
8954to refer to local variables in frames enclosing the selected frame:
8955
8956@smallexample
8957void
8958foo (int a)
8959@{
8960 if (a < 10)
8961 bar (a);
8962 else
8963 process (a); /* Stop here */
8964@}
8965
8966int
8967bar (int a)
8968@{
8969 foo (a + 5);
8970@}
8971@end smallexample
8972
8973@noindent
8974For example, if there is a breakpoint at the commented line,
8975here is what you might see
8976when the program stops after executing the call @code{bar(0)}:
8977
8978@smallexample
8979(@value{GDBP}) p a
8980$1 = 10
8981(@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
8982$2 = 5
8983(@value{GDBP}) up 2
8984#2 0x080483d0 in foo (a=5) at foobar.c:12
8985(@value{GDBP}) p a
8986$3 = 5
8987(@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
8988$4 = 0
8989@end smallexample
8990
8991@cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
8992These uses of @samp{::} are very rarely in conflict with the very
8993similar use of the same notation in C@t{++}. When they are in
8994conflict, the C@t{++} meaning takes precedence; however, this can be
8995overridden by quoting the file or function name with single quotes.
8996
8997For example, suppose the program is stopped in a method of a class
8998that has a field named @code{includefile}, and there is also an
8999include file named @file{includefile} that defines a variable,
9000@code{some_global}.
9001
9002@smallexample
9003(@value{GDBP}) p includefile
9004$1 = 23
9005(@value{GDBP}) p includefile::some_global
9006A syntax error in expression, near `'.
9007(@value{GDBP}) p 'includefile'::some_global
9008$2 = 27
9009@end smallexample
9010
9011@cindex wrong values
9012@cindex variable values, wrong
9013@cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
9014@cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
9015@quotation
9016@emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
9017wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
9018scope, and just before exit.
9019@end quotation
9020You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
9021This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
9022set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
9023stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
9024values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
9025also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
9026after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
9027variable definitions may be gone.
9028
9029This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
9030To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
9031when compiling.
9032
9033@cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
9034Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
9035unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
9036opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
9037offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
9038might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
9039happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
9040
9041@smallexample
9042No symbol "foo" in current context.
9043@end smallexample
9044
9045To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
9046different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
9047formats. @xref{Compilation}, for more information on choosing compiler
9048options. @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug
9049info formats that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
9050
9051If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
9052@value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
9053by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
9054type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
9055
9056If you append @kbd{@@entry} string to a function parameter name you get its
9057value at the time the function got called. If the value is not available an
9058error message is printed. Entry values are available only with some compilers.
9059Entry values are normally also printed at the function parameter list according
9060to @ref{set print entry-values}.
9061
9062@smallexample
9063Breakpoint 1, d (i=30) at gdb.base/entry-value.c:29
906429 i++;
9065(gdb) next
906630 e (i);
9067(gdb) print i
9068$1 = 31
9069(gdb) print i@@entry
9070$2 = 30
9071@end smallexample
9072
9073Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
9074signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
9075printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
9076@code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
9077defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
9078For program code
9079
9080@smallexample
9081char var0[] = "A";
9082signed char var1[] = "A";
9083@end smallexample
9084
9085You get during debugging
9086@smallexample
9087(gdb) print var0
9088$1 = "A"
9089(gdb) print var1
9090$2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
9091@end smallexample
9092
9093@node Arrays
9094@section Artificial Arrays
9095
9096@cindex artificial array
9097@cindex arrays
9098@kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
9099It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
9100same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
9101dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
9102program.
9103
9104You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
9105@dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
9106operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
9107and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
9108of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
9109the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
9110argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
9111following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
9112example. If a program says
9113
9114@smallexample
9115int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
9116@end smallexample
9117
9118@noindent
9119you can print the contents of @code{array} with
9120
9121@smallexample
9122p *array@@len
9123@end smallexample
9124
9125The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
9126with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
9127subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
9128Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
9129(@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
9130
9131Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
9132This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
9133The value need not be in memory:
9134@smallexample
9135(@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
9136$1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
9137@end smallexample
9138
9139As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
9140@samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
9141the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
9142@smallexample
9143(@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
9144$2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
9145@end smallexample
9146
9147Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
9148moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
9149actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
9150of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
9151to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
9152Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
9153interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
9154instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
9155structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
9156in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
9157
9158@smallexample
9159set $i = 0
9160p dtab[$i++]->fv
9161@key{RET}
9162@key{RET}
9163@dots{}
9164@end smallexample
9165
9166@node Output Formats
9167@section Output Formats
9168
9169@cindex formatted output
9170@cindex output formats
9171By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
9172this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
9173in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
9174at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
9175these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
9176
9177The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
9178already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
9179@code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
9180letters supported are:
9181
9182@table @code
9183@item x
9184Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
9185hexadecimal.
9186
9187@item d
9188Print as integer in signed decimal.
9189
9190@item u
9191Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
9192
9193@item o
9194Print as integer in octal.
9195
9196@item t
9197Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
9198@footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
9199used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
9200see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
9201
9202@item a
9203@cindex unknown address, locating
9204@cindex locate address
9205Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
9206the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
9207where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
9208
9209@smallexample
9210(@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
9211$3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
9212@end smallexample
9213
9214@noindent
9215The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
9216@xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
9217
9218@item c
9219Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
9220prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
9221character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
9222for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
9223
9224Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
9225@w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
9226constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
9227data.
9228
9229@item f
9230Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
9231using typical floating point syntax.
9232
9233@item s
9234@cindex printing strings
9235@cindex printing byte arrays
9236Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
9237data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
9238are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
9239natural types.
9240
9241Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
9242@code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
9243strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
9244array.
9245
9246@item z
9247Like @samp{x} formatting, the value is treated as an integer and
9248printed as hexadecimal, but leading zeros are printed to pad the value
9249to the size of the integer type.
9250
9251@item r
9252@cindex raw printing
9253Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
9254use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
9255Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
9256value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
9257pretty-printer which might exist.
9258@end table
9259
9260For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
9261
9262@smallexample
9263p/x $pc
9264@end smallexample
9265
9266@noindent
9267Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
9268names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
9269
9270To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
9271you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
9272expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
9273
9274@node Memory
9275@section Examining Memory
9276
9277You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
9278any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
9279
9280@cindex examining memory
9281@table @code
9282@kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
9283@item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
9284@itemx x @var{addr}
9285@itemx x
9286Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
9287@end table
9288
9289@var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
9290much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
9291expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
9292If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
9293Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
9294
9295@table @r
9296@item @var{n}, the repeat count
9297The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
9298how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
9299@c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
9300@c 4.1.2.
9301
9302@item @var{f}, the display format
9303The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
9304(@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
9305@samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
9306The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
9307each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
9308
9309@item @var{u}, the unit size
9310The unit size is any of
9311
9312@table @code
9313@item b
9314Bytes.
9315@item h
9316Halfwords (two bytes).
9317@item w
9318Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
9319@item g
9320Giant words (eight bytes).
9321@end table
9322
9323Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
9324default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
9325the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
9326the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
9327Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
932832-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
9329Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
9330current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
9331modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
9332UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
9333be altered.
9334
9335@item @var{addr}, starting display address
9336@var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
9337memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
9338it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
9339@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
9340@var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
9341other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
9342the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
9343starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
9344a value from memory).
9345@end table
9346
9347For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
9348(@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
9349starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
9350words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
9351@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
9352
9353Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
9354letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
9355unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
9356specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
9357(However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
9358
9359Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
9360and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
9361@samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
9362including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
9363the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
9364slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
9365follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
9366@code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
9367instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
9368
9369All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
9370easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
9371you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
9372instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
9373with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
9374the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
9375for successive uses of @code{x}.
9376
9377When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
9378counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
9379
9380@smallexample
9381(@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
9382 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
9383 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
9384 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
9385=> 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
9386 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
9387@end smallexample
9388
9389@cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
9390The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
9391in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
9392would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
9393subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
9394@code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
9395examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
9396@code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
9397the convenience variable @code{$__}.
9398
9399If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
9400are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
9401address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
9402
9403@anchor{addressable memory unit}
9404@cindex addressable memory unit
9405Most targets have an addressable memory unit size of 8 bits. This means
9406that to each memory address are associated 8 bits of data. Some
9407targets, however, have other addressable memory unit sizes.
9408Within @value{GDBN} and this document, the term
9409@dfn{addressable memory unit} (or @dfn{memory unit} for short) is used
9410when explicitly referring to a chunk of data of that size. The word
9411@dfn{byte} is used to refer to a chunk of data of 8 bits, regardless of
9412the addressable memory unit size of the target. For most systems,
9413addressable memory unit is a synonym of byte.
9414
9415@cindex remote memory comparison
9416@cindex target memory comparison
9417@cindex verify remote memory image
9418@cindex verify target memory image
9419When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
9420(@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image
9421in the remote machine's memory against the executable file you
9422downloaded to the target. Or, on any target, you may want to check
9423whether the program has corrupted its own read-only sections. The
9424@code{compare-sections} command is provided for such situations.
9425
9426@table @code
9427@kindex compare-sections
9428@item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{|}@code{-r}@r{]}
9429Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
9430executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
9431the target machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
9432arguments, compares all loadable sections. With an argument of
9433@code{-r}, compares all loadable read-only sections.
9434
9435Note: for remote targets, this command can be accelerated if the
9436target supports computing the CRC checksum of a block of memory
9437(@pxref{qCRC packet}).
9438@end table
9439
9440@node Auto Display
9441@section Automatic Display
9442@cindex automatic display
9443@cindex display of expressions
9444
9445If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
9446(to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
9447display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
9448Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
9449to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
9450The automatic display looks like this:
9451
9452@smallexample
94532: foo = 38
94543: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
9455@end smallexample
9456
9457@noindent
9458This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
9459displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
9460specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
9461whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
9462specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
9463or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
9464
9465@table @code
9466@kindex display
9467@item display @var{expr}
9468Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
9469each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
9470
9471@code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
9472
9473@item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
9474For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
9475count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
9476arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
9477@xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
9478
9479@item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
9480For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
9481number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
9482be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
9483doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
9484@end table
9485
9486For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
9487instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
9488is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
9489
9490@table @code
9491@kindex delete display
9492@kindex undisplay
9493@item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
9494@itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
9495Remove items from the list of expressions to display. Specify the
9496numbers of the displays that you want affected with the command
9497argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one of the
9498numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display} display;
9499or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
9500
9501@code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
9502(Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
9503
9504@kindex disable display
9505@item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
9506Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
9507item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
9508enabled again later. Specify the numbers of the displays that you
9509want affected with the command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a
9510single display number, one of the numbers shown in the first field of
9511the @samp{info display} display; or it could be a range of display
9512numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
9513
9514@kindex enable display
9515@item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
9516Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
9517again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
9518Specify the numbers of the displays that you want affected with the
9519command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one
9520of the numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display}
9521display; or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
9522
9523@item display
9524Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
9525done when your program stops.
9526
9527@kindex info display
9528@item info display
9529Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
9530automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
9531values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
9532It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
9533because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
9534@end table
9535
9536@cindex display disabled out of scope
9537If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
9538sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
9539expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
9540variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
9541@code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
9542@code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
9543continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
9544there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
9545automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
9546is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
9547
9548@node Print Settings
9549@section Print Settings
9550
9551@cindex format options
9552@cindex print settings
9553@value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
9554and symbols are printed.
9555
9556@noindent
9557These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
9558
9559@table @code
9560@kindex set print
9561@item set print address
9562@itemx set print address on
9563@cindex print/don't print memory addresses
9564@value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
9565traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
9566even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
9567is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
9568@code{set print address on}:
9569
9570@smallexample
9571@group
9572(@value{GDBP}) f
9573#0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
9574 at input.c:530
9575530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
9576@end group
9577@end smallexample
9578
9579@item set print address off
9580Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
9581this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
9582
9583@smallexample
9584@group
9585(@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
9586(@value{GDBP}) f
9587#0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
9588530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
9589@end group
9590@end smallexample
9591
9592You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
9593dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
9594@code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
9595all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
9596
9597@kindex show print
9598@item show print address
9599Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
9600@end table
9601
9602When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
9603closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
9604identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
9605source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
9606@code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
9607you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
9608it prints a symbolic address:
9609
9610@table @code
9611@item set print symbol-filename on
9612@cindex source file and line of a symbol
9613@cindex symbol, source file and line
9614Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
9615symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
9616
9617@item set print symbol-filename off
9618Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
9619default.
9620
9621@item show print symbol-filename
9622Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
9623line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
9624@end table
9625
9626Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
9627numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
9628number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
9629
9630Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
9631printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
9632
9633@table @code
9634@item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
9635@itemx set print max-symbolic-offset unlimited
9636@cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
9637Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
9638offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
9639@var{max-offset}. The default is @code{unlimited}, which tells @value{GDBN}
9640to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes
9641it. Zero is equivalent to @code{unlimited}.
9642
9643@item show print max-symbolic-offset
9644Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
9645symbolic address.
9646@end table
9647
9648@cindex wild pointer, interpreting
9649@cindex pointer, finding referent
9650If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
9651@samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
9652and source file location of the variable where it points, using
9653@samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
9654For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
9655at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
9656
9657@smallexample
9658(@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
9659(@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
9660$4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
9661@end smallexample
9662
9663@quotation
9664@emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
9665does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
9666the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
9667@end quotation
9668
9669You can also enable @samp{/a}-like formatting all the time using
9670@samp{set print symbol on}:
9671
9672@table @code
9673@item set print symbol on
9674Tell @value{GDBN} to print the symbol corresponding to an address, if
9675one exists.
9676
9677@item set print symbol off
9678Tell @value{GDBN} not to print the symbol corresponding to an
9679address. In this mode, @value{GDBN} will still print the symbol
9680corresponding to pointers to functions. This is the default.
9681
9682@item show print symbol
9683Show whether @value{GDBN} will display the symbol corresponding to an
9684address.
9685@end table
9686
9687Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
9688
9689@table @code
9690@item set print array
9691@itemx set print array on
9692@cindex pretty print arrays
9693Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
9694but uses more space. The default is off.
9695
9696@item set print array off
9697Return to compressed format for arrays.
9698
9699@item show print array
9700Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
9701arrays.
9702
9703@cindex print array indexes
9704@item set print array-indexes
9705@itemx set print array-indexes on
9706Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
9707convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
9708index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
9709
9710@item set print array-indexes off
9711Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
9712
9713@item show print array-indexes
9714Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
9715arrays.
9716
9717@item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
9718@itemx set print elements unlimited
9719@cindex number of array elements to print
9720@cindex limit on number of printed array elements
9721Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
9722If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
9723printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
9724This limit also applies to the display of strings.
9725When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
9726Setting @var{number-of-elements} to @code{unlimited} or zero means
9727that the number of elements to print is unlimited.
9728
9729@item show print elements
9730Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
9731If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
9732
9733@item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
9734@kindex set print frame-arguments
9735@cindex printing frame argument values
9736@cindex print all frame argument values
9737@cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
9738@cindex do not print frame argument values
9739This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
9740when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
9741values are:
9742
9743@table @code
9744@item all
9745The values of all arguments are printed.
9746
9747@item scalars
9748Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
9749complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
9750by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
9751only scalar arguments are shown:
9752
9753@smallexample
9754#1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
9755 at frame-args.c:23
9756@end smallexample
9757
9758@item none
9759None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
9760is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
9761
9762@smallexample
9763#1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
9764 at frame-args.c:23
9765@end smallexample
9766@end table
9767
9768By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
9769to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
9770of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
9771of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
9772information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
9773Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
9774the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
9775especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
9776to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
9777thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
9778
9779@item show print frame-arguments
9780Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
9781
9782@item set print raw frame-arguments on
9783Print frame arguments in raw, non pretty-printed, form.
9784
9785@item set print raw frame-arguments off
9786Print frame arguments in pretty-printed form, if there is a pretty-printer
9787for the value (@pxref{Pretty Printing}),
9788otherwise print the value in raw form.
9789This is the default.
9790
9791@item show print raw frame-arguments
9792Show whether to print frame arguments in raw form.
9793
9794@anchor{set print entry-values}
9795@item set print entry-values @var{value}
9796@kindex set print entry-values
9797Set printing of frame argument values at function entry. In some cases
9798@value{GDBN} can determine the value of function argument which was passed by
9799the function caller, even if the value was modified inside the called function
9800and therefore is different. With optimized code, the current value could be
9801unavailable, but the entry value may still be known.
9802
9803The default value is @code{default} (see below for its description). Older
9804@value{GDBN} behaved as with the setting @code{no}. Compilers not supporting
9805this feature will behave in the @code{default} setting the same way as with the
9806@code{no} setting.
9807
9808This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
9809the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
9810@value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
9811this information.
9812
9813The @var{value} parameter can be one of the following:
9814
9815@table @code
9816@item no
9817Print only actual parameter values, never print values from function entry
9818point.
9819@smallexample
9820#0 equal (val=5)
9821#0 different (val=6)
9822#0 lost (val=<optimized out>)
9823#0 born (val=10)
9824#0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9825@end smallexample
9826
9827@item only
9828Print only parameter values from function entry point. The actual parameter
9829values are never printed.
9830@smallexample
9831#0 equal (val@@entry=5)
9832#0 different (val@@entry=5)
9833#0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9834#0 born (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9835#0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9836@end smallexample
9837
9838@item preferred
9839Print only parameter values from function entry point. If value from function
9840entry point is not known while the actual value is known, print the actual
9841value for such parameter.
9842@smallexample
9843#0 equal (val@@entry=5)
9844#0 different (val@@entry=5)
9845#0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9846#0 born (val=10)
9847#0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9848@end smallexample
9849
9850@item if-needed
9851Print actual parameter values. If actual parameter value is not known while
9852value from function entry point is known, print the entry point value for such
9853parameter.
9854@smallexample
9855#0 equal (val=5)
9856#0 different (val=6)
9857#0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9858#0 born (val=10)
9859#0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9860@end smallexample
9861
9862@item both
9863Always print both the actual parameter value and its value from function entry
9864point, even if values of one or both are not available due to compiler
9865optimizations.
9866@smallexample
9867#0 equal (val=5, val@@entry=5)
9868#0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9869#0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
9870#0 born (val=10, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9871#0 invalid (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9872@end smallexample
9873
9874@item compact
9875Print the actual parameter value if it is known and also its value from
9876function entry point if it is known. If neither is known, print for the actual
9877value @code{<optimized out>}. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and if both
9878values are known and identical, print the shortened
9879@code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
9880@smallexample
9881#0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
9882#0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9883#0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9884#0 born (val=10)
9885#0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9886@end smallexample
9887
9888@item default
9889Always print the actual parameter value. Print also its value from function
9890entry point, but only if it is known. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and
9891if both values are known and identical, print the shortened
9892@code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
9893@smallexample
9894#0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
9895#0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9896#0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
9897#0 born (val=10)
9898#0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9899@end smallexample
9900@end table
9901
9902For analysis messages on possible failures of frame argument values at function
9903entry resolution see @ref{set debug entry-values}.
9904
9905@item show print entry-values
9906Show the method being used for printing of frame argument values at function
9907entry.
9908
9909@item set print repeats @var{number-of-repeats}
9910@itemx set print repeats unlimited
9911@cindex repeated array elements
9912Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
9913elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
9914array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
9915@code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
9916identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
9917themselves. Setting the threshold to @code{unlimited} or zero will
9918cause all elements to be individually printed. The default threshold
9919is 10.
9920
9921@item show print repeats
9922Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
9923elements.
9924
9925@item set print null-stop
9926@cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
9927Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
9928@sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
9929contain only short strings.
9930The default is off.
9931
9932@item show print null-stop
9933Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
9934@sc{null} character.
9935
9936@item set print pretty on
9937@cindex print structures in indented form
9938@cindex indentation in structure display
9939Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
9940per line, like this:
9941
9942@smallexample
9943@group
9944$1 = @{
9945 next = 0x0,
9946 flags = @{
9947 sweet = 1,
9948 sour = 1
9949 @},
9950 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
9951@}
9952@end group
9953@end smallexample
9954
9955@item set print pretty off
9956Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
9957
9958@smallexample
9959@group
9960$1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
9961meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
9962@end group
9963@end smallexample
9964
9965@noindent
9966This is the default format.
9967
9968@item show print pretty
9969Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
9970
9971@item set print sevenbit-strings on
9972@cindex eight-bit characters in strings
9973@cindex octal escapes in strings
9974Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
9975@value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
9976character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
9977best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
9978high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
9979
9980@item set print sevenbit-strings off
9981Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
9982international character sets, and is the default.
9983
9984@item show print sevenbit-strings
9985Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
9986
9987@item set print union on
9988@cindex unions in structures, printing
9989Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
9990and other unions. This is the default setting.
9991
9992@item set print union off
9993Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
9994structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
9995instead.
9996
9997@item show print union
9998Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
9999structures and other unions.
10000
10001For example, given the declarations
10002
10003@smallexample
10004typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
10005typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
10006typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
10007 Bug_forms;
10008
10009struct thing @{
10010 Species it;
10011 union @{
10012 Tree_forms tree;
10013 Bug_forms bug;
10014 @} form;
10015@};
10016
10017struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
10018@end smallexample
10019
10020@noindent
10021with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
10022
10023@smallexample
10024$1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
10025@end smallexample
10026
10027@noindent
10028and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
10029
10030@smallexample
10031$1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
10032@end smallexample
10033
10034@noindent
10035@code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
10036and in Pascal.
10037@end table
10038
10039@need 1000
10040@noindent
10041These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
10042
10043@table @code
10044@cindex demangling C@t{++} names
10045@item set print demangle
10046@itemx set print demangle on
10047Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
10048(``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
10049linkage. The default is on.
10050
10051@item show print demangle
10052Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
10053
10054@item set print asm-demangle
10055@itemx set print asm-demangle on
10056Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
10057in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
10058The default is off.
10059
10060@item show print asm-demangle
10061Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
10062or demangled form.
10063
10064@cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
10065@cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
10066@kindex set demangle-style
10067@item set demangle-style @var{style}
10068Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
10069represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
10070
10071@table @code
10072@item auto
10073Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
10074This is the default.
10075
10076@item gnu
10077Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
10078
10079@item hp
10080Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
10081
10082@item lucid
10083Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
10084
10085@item arm
10086Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
10087@strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
10088debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
10089require further enhancement to permit that.
10090
10091@end table
10092If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
10093
10094@item show demangle-style
10095Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
10096
10097@item set print object
10098@itemx set print object on
10099@cindex derived type of an object, printing
10100@cindex display derived types
10101When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
10102(derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
10103the virtual function table. Note that the virtual function table is
10104required---this feature can only work for objects that have run-time
10105type identification; a single virtual method in the object's declared
10106type is sufficient. Note that this setting is also taken into account when
10107working with variable objects via MI (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
10108
10109@item set print object off
10110Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
10111virtual function table. This is the default setting.
10112
10113@item show print object
10114Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
10115
10116@item set print static-members
10117@itemx set print static-members on
10118@cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
10119Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
10120
10121@item set print static-members off
10122Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
10123
10124@item show print static-members
10125Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
10126
10127@item set print pascal_static-members
10128@itemx set print pascal_static-members on
10129@cindex static members of Pascal objects
10130@cindex Pascal objects, static members display
10131Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
10132
10133@item set print pascal_static-members off
10134Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
10135
10136@item show print pascal_static-members
10137Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
10138
10139@c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
10140@item set print vtbl
10141@itemx set print vtbl on
10142@cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
10143@cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
10144@cindex VTBL display
10145Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
10146(The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
10147ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
10148
10149@item set print vtbl off
10150Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
10151
10152@item show print vtbl
10153Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
10154@end table
10155
10156@node Pretty Printing
10157@section Pretty Printing
10158
10159@value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
10160Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
10161mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
10162
10163@menu
10164* Pretty-Printer Introduction:: Introduction to pretty-printers
10165* Pretty-Printer Example:: An example pretty-printer
10166* Pretty-Printer Commands:: Pretty-printer commands
10167@end menu
10168
10169@node Pretty-Printer Introduction
10170@subsection Pretty-Printer Introduction
10171
10172When @value{GDBN} prints a value, it first sees if there is a pretty-printer
10173registered for the value. If there is then @value{GDBN} invokes the
10174pretty-printer to print the value. Otherwise the value is printed normally.
10175
10176Pretty-printers are normally named. This makes them easy to manage.
10177The @samp{info pretty-printer} command will list all the installed
10178pretty-printers with their names.
10179If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
10180@dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
10181Each such subprinter has its own name.
10182The format of the name is @var{printer-name};@var{subprinter-name}.
10183
10184Pretty-printers are installed by @dfn{registering} them with @value{GDBN}.
10185Typically they are automatically loaded and registered when the corresponding
10186debug information is loaded, thus making them available without having to
10187do anything special.
10188
10189There are three places where a pretty-printer can be registered.
10190
10191@itemize @bullet
10192@item
10193Pretty-printers registered globally are available when debugging
10194all inferiors.
10195
10196@item
10197Pretty-printers registered with a program space are available only
10198when debugging that program.
10199@xref{Progspaces In Python}, for more details on program spaces in Python.
10200
10201@item
10202Pretty-printers registered with an objfile are loaded and unloaded
10203with the corresponding objfile (e.g., shared library).
10204@xref{Objfiles In Python}, for more details on objfiles in Python.
10205@end itemize
10206
10207@xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for further information on how
10208pretty-printers are selected,
10209
10210@xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for implementing pretty printers
10211for new types.
10212
10213@node Pretty-Printer Example
10214@subsection Pretty-Printer Example
10215
10216Here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a pretty-printer:
10217
10218@smallexample
10219(@value{GDBP}) print s
10220$1 = @{
10221 static npos = 4294967295,
10222 _M_dataplus = @{
10223 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
10224 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
10225 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
10226 @},
10227 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
10228 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
10229 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
10230 @}
10231@}
10232@end smallexample
10233
10234With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
10235
10236@smallexample
10237(@value{GDBP}) print s
10238$2 = "abcd"
10239@end smallexample
10240
10241@node Pretty-Printer Commands
10242@subsection Pretty-Printer Commands
10243@cindex pretty-printer commands
10244
10245@table @code
10246@kindex info pretty-printer
10247@item info pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
10248Print the list of installed pretty-printers.
10249This includes disabled pretty-printers, which are marked as such.
10250
10251@var{object-regexp} is a regular expression matching the objects
10252whose pretty-printers to list.
10253Objects can be @code{global}, the program space's file
10254(@pxref{Progspaces In Python}),
10255and the object files within that program space (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}).
10256@xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for details on how @value{GDBN}
10257looks up a printer from these three objects.
10258
10259@var{name-regexp} is a regular expression matching the name of the printers
10260to list.
10261
10262@kindex disable pretty-printer
10263@item disable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
10264Disable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
10265A disabled pretty-printer is not forgotten, it may be enabled again later.
10266
10267@kindex enable pretty-printer
10268@item enable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
10269Enable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
10270@end table
10271
10272Example:
10273
10274Suppose we have three pretty-printers installed: one from library1.so
10275named @code{foo} that prints objects of type @code{foo}, and
10276another from library2.so named @code{bar} that prints two types of objects,
10277@code{bar1} and @code{bar2}.
10278
10279@smallexample
10280(gdb) info pretty-printer
10281library1.so:
10282 foo
10283library2.so:
10284 bar
10285 bar1
10286 bar2
10287(gdb) info pretty-printer library2
10288library2.so:
10289 bar
10290 bar1
10291 bar2
10292(gdb) disable pretty-printer library1
102931 printer disabled
102942 of 3 printers enabled
10295(gdb) info pretty-printer
10296library1.so:
10297 foo [disabled]
10298library2.so:
10299 bar
10300 bar1
10301 bar2
10302(gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar:bar1
103031 printer disabled
103041 of 3 printers enabled
10305(gdb) info pretty-printer library2
10306library1.so:
10307 foo [disabled]
10308library2.so:
10309 bar
10310 bar1 [disabled]
10311 bar2
10312(gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar
103131 printer disabled
103140 of 3 printers enabled
10315(gdb) info pretty-printer library2
10316library1.so:
10317 foo [disabled]
10318library2.so:
10319 bar [disabled]
10320 bar1 [disabled]
10321 bar2
10322@end smallexample
10323
10324Note that for @code{bar} the entire printer can be disabled,
10325as can each individual subprinter.
10326
10327@node Value History
10328@section Value History
10329
10330@cindex value history
10331@cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
10332Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
10333@dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
10334Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
10335(for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
10336When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
10337since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
10338symbol table.
10339
10340@cindex @code{$}
10341@cindex @code{$$}
10342@cindex history number
10343The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
10344refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
10345@code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
10346printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
10347history number.
10348
10349To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
10350history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
10351remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
10352the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
10353@code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
10354is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
10355@code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
10356
10357For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
10358want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
10359
10360@smallexample
10361p *$
10362@end smallexample
10363
10364If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
10365to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
10366
10367@smallexample
10368p *$.next
10369@end smallexample
10370
10371@noindent
10372You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
10373command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
10374
10375Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
10376@code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
10377
10378@smallexample
10379print x
10380set x=5
10381@end smallexample
10382
10383@noindent
10384then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
10385remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
10386
10387@table @code
10388@kindex show values
10389@item show values
10390Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
10391This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
10392values} does not change the history.
10393
10394@item show values @var{n}
10395Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
10396
10397@item show values +
10398Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
10399values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
10400@end table
10401
10402Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
10403same effect as @samp{show values +}.
10404
10405@node Convenience Vars
10406@section Convenience Variables
10407
10408@cindex convenience variables
10409@cindex user-defined variables
10410@value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
10411@value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
10412exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
10413setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
10414of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
10415
10416Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
10417@samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
10418the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
10419(Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
10420by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
10421
10422You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
10423expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
10424For example:
10425
10426@smallexample
10427set $foo = *object_ptr
10428@end smallexample
10429
10430@noindent
10431would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
10432@code{object_ptr}.
10433
10434Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
10435value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
10436value with another assignment at any time.
10437
10438Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
10439variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
10440that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
10441variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
10442
10443@table @code
10444@kindex show convenience
10445@cindex show all user variables and functions
10446@item show convenience
10447Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values,
10448as well as a list of the convenience functions.
10449Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
10450
10451@kindex init-if-undefined
10452@cindex convenience variables, initializing
10453@item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
10454Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
10455for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
10456to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
10457convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
10458override default values used in a command script.
10459
10460If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
10461any side-effects do not occur.
10462@end table
10463
10464One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
10465incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
10466a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
10467
10468@smallexample
10469set $i = 0
10470print bar[$i++]->contents
10471@end smallexample
10472
10473@noindent
10474Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
10475
10476Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
10477values likely to be useful.
10478
10479@table @code
10480@vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
10481@item $_
10482The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
10483the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
10484commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
10485set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
10486and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
10487except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
10488to the type of @code{$__}.
10489
10490@vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
10491@item $__
10492The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
10493to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
10494to match the format in which the data was printed.
10495
10496@item $_exitcode
10497@vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
10498When the program being debugged terminates normally, @value{GDBN}
10499automatically sets this variable to the exit code of the program, and
10500resets @code{$_exitsignal} to @code{void}.
10501
10502@item $_exitsignal
10503@vindex $_exitsignal@r{, convenience variable}
10504When the program being debugged dies due to an uncaught signal,
10505@value{GDBN} automatically sets this variable to that signal's number,
10506and resets @code{$_exitcode} to @code{void}.
10507
10508To distinguish between whether the program being debugged has exited
10509(i.e., @code{$_exitcode} is not @code{void}) or signalled (i.e.,
10510@code{$_exitsignal} is not @code{void}), the convenience function
10511@code{$_isvoid} can be used (@pxref{Convenience Funs,, Convenience
10512Functions}). For example, considering the following source code:
10513
10514@smallexample
10515#include <signal.h>
10516
10517int
10518main (int argc, char *argv[])
10519@{
10520 raise (SIGALRM);
10521 return 0;
10522@}
10523@end smallexample
10524
10525A valid way of telling whether the program being debugged has exited
10526or signalled would be:
10527
10528@smallexample
10529(@value{GDBP}) define has_exited_or_signalled
10530Type commands for definition of ``has_exited_or_signalled''.
10531End with a line saying just ``end''.
10532>if $_isvoid ($_exitsignal)
10533 >echo The program has exited\n
10534 >else
10535 >echo The program has signalled\n
10536 >end
10537>end
10538(@value{GDBP}) run
10539Starting program:
10540
10541Program terminated with signal SIGALRM, Alarm clock.
10542The program no longer exists.
10543(@value{GDBP}) has_exited_or_signalled
10544The program has signalled
10545@end smallexample
10546
10547As can be seen, @value{GDBN} correctly informs that the program being
10548debugged has signalled, since it calls @code{raise} and raises a
10549@code{SIGALRM} signal. If the program being debugged had not called
10550@code{raise}, then @value{GDBN} would report a normal exit:
10551
10552@smallexample
10553(@value{GDBP}) has_exited_or_signalled
10554The program has exited
10555@end smallexample
10556
10557@item $_exception
10558The variable @code{$_exception} is set to the exception object being
10559thrown at an exception-related catchpoint. @xref{Set Catchpoints}.
10560
10561@item $_probe_argc
10562@itemx $_probe_arg0@dots{}$_probe_arg11
10563Arguments to a static probe. @xref{Static Probe Points}.
10564
10565@item $_sdata
10566@vindex $_sdata@r{, inspect, convenience variable}
10567The variable @code{$_sdata} contains extra collected static tracepoint
10568data. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}. Note that
10569@code{$_sdata} could be empty, if not inspecting a trace buffer, or
10570if extra static tracepoint data has not been collected.
10571
10572@item $_siginfo
10573@vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
10574The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
10575(@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
10576could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
10577For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
10578
10579@item $_tlb
10580@vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
10581The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
10582applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
10583gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
10584@xref{General Query Packets}.
10585This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
10586
10587@item $_inferior
10588The number of the current inferior. @xref{Inferiors and
10589Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}.
10590
10591@item $_thread
10592The thread number of the current thread. @xref{thread numbers}.
10593
10594@item $_gthread
10595The global number of the current thread. @xref{global thread numbers}.
10596
10597@end table
10598
10599@node Convenience Funs
10600@section Convenience Functions
10601
10602@cindex convenience functions
10603@value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
10604have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
10605function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
10606however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
10607@value{GDBN}.
10608
10609These functions do not require @value{GDBN} to be configured with
10610@code{Python} support, which means that they are always available.
10611
10612@table @code
10613
10614@item $_isvoid (@var{expr})
10615@findex $_isvoid@r{, convenience function}
10616Return one if the expression @var{expr} is @code{void}. Otherwise it
10617returns zero.
10618
10619A @code{void} expression is an expression where the type of the result
10620is @code{void}. For example, you can examine a convenience variable
10621(see @ref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}) to check whether
10622it is @code{void}:
10623
10624@smallexample
10625(@value{GDBP}) print $_exitcode
10626$1 = void
10627(@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid ($_exitcode)
10628$2 = 1
10629(@value{GDBP}) run
10630Starting program: ./a.out
10631[Inferior 1 (process 29572) exited normally]
10632(@value{GDBP}) print $_exitcode
10633$3 = 0
10634(@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid ($_exitcode)
10635$4 = 0
10636@end smallexample
10637
10638In the example above, we used @code{$_isvoid} to check whether
10639@code{$_exitcode} is @code{void} before and after the execution of the
10640program being debugged. Before the execution there is no exit code to
10641be examined, therefore @code{$_exitcode} is @code{void}. After the
10642execution the program being debugged returned zero, therefore
10643@code{$_exitcode} is zero, which means that it is not @code{void}
10644anymore.
10645
10646The @code{void} expression can also be a call of a function from the
10647program being debugged. For example, given the following function:
10648
10649@smallexample
10650void
10651foo (void)
10652@{
10653@}
10654@end smallexample
10655
10656The result of calling it inside @value{GDBN} is @code{void}:
10657
10658@smallexample
10659(@value{GDBP}) print foo ()
10660$1 = void
10661(@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid (foo ())
10662$2 = 1
10663(@value{GDBP}) set $v = foo ()
10664(@value{GDBP}) print $v
10665$3 = void
10666(@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid ($v)
10667$4 = 1
10668@end smallexample
10669
10670@end table
10671
10672These functions require @value{GDBN} to be configured with
10673@code{Python} support.
10674
10675@table @code
10676
10677@item $_memeq(@var{buf1}, @var{buf2}, @var{length})
10678@findex $_memeq@r{, convenience function}
10679Returns one if the @var{length} bytes at the addresses given by
10680@var{buf1} and @var{buf2} are equal.
10681Otherwise it returns zero.
10682
10683@item $_regex(@var{str}, @var{regex})
10684@findex $_regex@r{, convenience function}
10685Returns one if the string @var{str} matches the regular expression
10686@var{regex}. Otherwise it returns zero.
10687The syntax of the regular expression is that specified by @code{Python}'s
10688regular expression support.
10689
10690@item $_streq(@var{str1}, @var{str2})
10691@findex $_streq@r{, convenience function}
10692Returns one if the strings @var{str1} and @var{str2} are equal.
10693Otherwise it returns zero.
10694
10695@item $_strlen(@var{str})
10696@findex $_strlen@r{, convenience function}
10697Returns the length of string @var{str}.
10698
10699@item $_caller_is(@var{name}@r{[}, @var{number_of_frames}@r{]})
10700@findex $_caller_is@r{, convenience function}
10701Returns one if the calling function's name is equal to @var{name}.
10702Otherwise it returns zero.
10703
10704If the optional argument @var{number_of_frames} is provided,
10705it is the number of frames up in the stack to look.
10706The default is 1.
10707
10708Example:
10709
10710@smallexample
10711(gdb) backtrace
10712#0 bottom_func ()
10713 at testsuite/gdb.python/py-caller-is.c:21
10714#1 0x00000000004005a0 in middle_func ()
10715 at testsuite/gdb.python/py-caller-is.c:27
10716#2 0x00000000004005ab in top_func ()
10717 at testsuite/gdb.python/py-caller-is.c:33
10718#3 0x00000000004005b6 in main ()
10719 at testsuite/gdb.python/py-caller-is.c:39
10720(gdb) print $_caller_is ("middle_func")
10721$1 = 1
10722(gdb) print $_caller_is ("top_func", 2)
10723$1 = 1
10724@end smallexample
10725
10726@item $_caller_matches(@var{regexp}@r{[}, @var{number_of_frames}@r{]})
10727@findex $_caller_matches@r{, convenience function}
10728Returns one if the calling function's name matches the regular expression
10729@var{regexp}. Otherwise it returns zero.
10730
10731If the optional argument @var{number_of_frames} is provided,
10732it is the number of frames up in the stack to look.
10733The default is 1.
10734
10735@item $_any_caller_is(@var{name}@r{[}, @var{number_of_frames}@r{]})
10736@findex $_any_caller_is@r{, convenience function}
10737Returns one if any calling function's name is equal to @var{name}.
10738Otherwise it returns zero.
10739
10740If the optional argument @var{number_of_frames} is provided,
10741it is the number of frames up in the stack to look.
10742The default is 1.
10743
10744This function differs from @code{$_caller_is} in that this function
10745checks all stack frames from the immediate caller to the frame specified
10746by @var{number_of_frames}, whereas @code{$_caller_is} only checks the
10747frame specified by @var{number_of_frames}.
10748
10749@item $_any_caller_matches(@var{regexp}@r{[}, @var{number_of_frames}@r{]})
10750@findex $_any_caller_matches@r{, convenience function}
10751Returns one if any calling function's name matches the regular expression
10752@var{regexp}. Otherwise it returns zero.
10753
10754If the optional argument @var{number_of_frames} is provided,
10755it is the number of frames up in the stack to look.
10756The default is 1.
10757
10758This function differs from @code{$_caller_matches} in that this function
10759checks all stack frames from the immediate caller to the frame specified
10760by @var{number_of_frames}, whereas @code{$_caller_matches} only checks the
10761frame specified by @var{number_of_frames}.
10762
10763@item $_as_string(@var{value})
10764@findex $_as_string@r{, convenience function}
10765Return the string representation of @var{value}.
10766
10767This function is useful to obtain the textual label (enumerator) of an
10768enumeration value. For example, assuming the variable @var{node} is of
10769an enumerated type:
10770
10771@smallexample
10772(gdb) printf "Visiting node of type %s\n", $_as_string(node)
10773Visiting node of type NODE_INTEGER
10774@end smallexample
10775
10776@end table
10777
10778@value{GDBN} provides the ability to list and get help on
10779convenience functions.
10780
10781@table @code
10782@item help function
10783@kindex help function
10784@cindex show all convenience functions
10785Print a list of all convenience functions.
10786@end table
10787
10788@node Registers
10789@section Registers
10790
10791@cindex registers
10792You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
10793with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
10794for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
10795your machine.
10796
10797@table @code
10798@kindex info registers
10799@item info registers
10800Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
10801and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
10802
10803@kindex info all-registers
10804@cindex floating point registers
10805@item info all-registers
10806Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
10807and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
10808
10809@item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
10810Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
10811As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
10812the selected stack frame. The @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
10813the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
10814@end table
10815
10816@anchor{standard registers}
10817@cindex stack pointer register
10818@cindex program counter register
10819@cindex process status register
10820@cindex frame pointer register
10821@cindex standard registers
10822@value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
10823expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
10824architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
10825@code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
10826the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
10827pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
10828register that contains the processor status. For example,
10829you could print the program counter in hex with
10830
10831@smallexample
10832p/x $pc
10833@end smallexample
10834
10835@noindent
10836or print the instruction to be executed next with
10837
10838@smallexample
10839x/i $pc
10840@end smallexample
10841
10842@noindent
10843or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
10844one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
10845memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
10846stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
10847stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
10848regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
10849see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
10850
10851@smallexample
10852set $sp += 4
10853@end smallexample
10854
10855Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
10856your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
10857so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
10858shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
10859registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
10860can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
10861is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
10862
10863@value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
10864integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
10865special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
10866registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
10867to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
10868(although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
10869@samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
10870
10871Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
10872means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
10873the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
10874sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
10875coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
10876programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
10877cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
10878that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
10879prints the data in both formats.
10880
10881@cindex SSE registers (x86)
10882@cindex MMX registers (x86)
10883Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
10884in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
10885have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
10886together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
10887registers in @code{struct} notation:
10888
10889@smallexample
10890(@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
10891$1 = @{
10892 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
10893 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
10894 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
10895 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
10896 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
10897 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
10898 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
10899@}
10900@end smallexample
10901
10902@noindent
10903To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
10904view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
10905value to a @code{struct} member:
10906
10907@smallexample
10908 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
10909@end smallexample
10910
10911Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
10912(@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
10913value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
10914were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
10915true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
10916frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
10917
10918@cindex caller-saved registers
10919@cindex call-clobbered registers
10920@cindex volatile registers
10921@cindex <not saved> values
10922Usually ABIs reserve some registers as not needed to be saved by the
10923callee (a.k.a.: ``caller-saved'', ``call-clobbered'' or ``volatile''
10924registers). It may therefore not be possible for @value{GDBN} to know
10925the value a register had before the call (in other words, in the outer
10926frame), if the register value has since been changed by the callee.
10927@value{GDBN} tries to deduce where the inner frame saved
10928(``callee-saved'') registers, from the debug info, unwind info, or the
10929machine code generated by your compiler. If some register is not
10930saved, and @value{GDBN} knows the register is ``caller-saved'' (via
10931its own knowledge of the ABI, or because the debug/unwind info
10932explicitly says the register's value is undefined), @value{GDBN}
10933displays @w{@samp{<not saved>}} as the register's value. With targets
10934that @value{GDBN} has no knowledge of the register saving convention,
10935if a register was not saved by the callee, then its value and location
10936in the outer frame are assumed to be the same of the inner frame.
10937This is usually harmless, because if the register is call-clobbered,
10938the caller either does not care what is in the register after the
10939call, or has code to restore the value that it does care about. Note,
10940however, that if you change such a register in the outer frame, you
10941may also be affecting the inner frame. Also, the more ``outer'' the
10942frame is you're looking at, the more likely a call-clobbered
10943register's value is to be wrong, in the sense that it doesn't actually
10944represent the value the register had just before the call.
10945
10946@node Floating Point Hardware
10947@section Floating Point Hardware
10948@cindex floating point
10949
10950Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
10951you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
10952
10953@table @code
10954@kindex info float
10955@item info float
10956Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
10957point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
10958floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
10959the ARM and x86 machines.
10960@end table
10961
10962@node Vector Unit
10963@section Vector Unit
10964@cindex vector unit
10965
10966Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
10967more information about the status of the vector unit.
10968
10969@table @code
10970@kindex info vector
10971@item info vector
10972Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
10973layout vary depending on the hardware.
10974@end table
10975
10976@node OS Information
10977@section Operating System Auxiliary Information
10978@cindex OS information
10979
10980@value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
10981you debug your program.
10982
10983@cindex auxiliary vector
10984@cindex vector, auxiliary
10985Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
10986startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
10987specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
10988binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
10989hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
10990identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
10991Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
10992@value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
10993targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
10994support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
10995@ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
10996
10997@table @code
10998@kindex info auxv
10999@item info auxv
11000Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
11001live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
11002numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
11003tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
11004pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
11005most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
11006an unrecognized tag.
11007@end table
11008
11009On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating system-specific
11010information and show it to you. The types of information available
11011will differ depending on the type of operating system running on the
11012target. The mechanism used to fetch the data is described in
11013@ref{Operating System Information}. For remote targets, this
11014functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
11015@samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
11016
11017@table @code
11018@kindex info os
11019@item info os @var{infotype}
11020
11021Display OS information of the requested type.
11022
11023On @sc{gnu}/Linux, the following values of @var{infotype} are valid:
11024
11025@anchor{linux info os infotypes}
11026@table @code
11027@kindex info os cpus
11028@item cpus
11029Display the list of all CPUs/cores. For each CPU/core, @value{GDBN} prints
11030the available fields from /proc/cpuinfo. For each supported architecture
11031different fields are available. Two common entries are processor which gives
11032CPU number and bogomips; a system constant that is calculated during
11033kernel initialization.
11034
11035@kindex info os files
11036@item files
11037Display the list of open file descriptors on the target. For each
11038file descriptor, @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process
11039owning the descriptor, the command of the owning process, the value
11040of the descriptor, and the target of the descriptor.
11041
11042@kindex info os modules
11043@item modules
11044Display the list of all loaded kernel modules on the target. For each
11045module, @value{GDBN} prints the module name, the size of the module in
11046bytes, the number of times the module is used, the dependencies of the
11047module, the status of the module, and the address of the loaded module
11048in memory.
11049
11050@kindex info os msg
11051@item msg
11052Display the list of all System V message queues on the target. For each
11053message queue, @value{GDBN} prints the message queue key, the message
11054queue identifier, the access permissions, the current number of bytes
11055on the queue, the current number of messages on the queue, the processes
11056that last sent and received a message on the queue, the user and group
11057of the owner and creator of the message queue, the times at which a
11058message was last sent and received on the queue, and the time at which
11059the message queue was last changed.
11060
11061@kindex info os processes
11062@item processes
11063Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
11064@value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, the
11065command corresponding to the process, and the list of processor cores
11066that the process is currently running on. (To understand what these
11067properties mean, for this and the following info types, please consult
11068the general @sc{gnu}/Linux documentation.)
11069
11070@kindex info os procgroups
11071@item procgroups
11072Display the list of process groups on the target. For each process,
11073@value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process group that it belongs
11074to, the command corresponding to the process group leader, the process
11075identifier, and the command line of the process. The list is sorted
11076first by the process group identifier, then by the process identifier,
11077so that processes belonging to the same process group are grouped together
11078and the process group leader is listed first.
11079
11080@kindex info os semaphores
11081@item semaphores
11082Display the list of all System V semaphore sets on the target. For each
11083semaphore set, @value{GDBN} prints the semaphore set key, the semaphore
11084set identifier, the access permissions, the number of semaphores in the
11085set, the user and group of the owner and creator of the semaphore set,
11086and the times at which the semaphore set was operated upon and changed.
11087
11088@kindex info os shm
11089@item shm
11090Display the list of all System V shared-memory regions on the target.
11091For each shared-memory region, @value{GDBN} prints the region key,
11092the shared-memory identifier, the access permissions, the size of the
11093region, the process that created the region, the process that last
11094attached to or detached from the region, the current number of live
11095attaches to the region, and the times at which the region was last
11096attached to, detach from, and changed.
11097
11098@kindex info os sockets
11099@item sockets
11100Display the list of Internet-domain sockets on the target. For each
11101socket, @value{GDBN} prints the address and port of the local and
11102remote endpoints, the current state of the connection, the creator of
11103the socket, the IP address family of the socket, and the type of the
11104connection.
11105
11106@kindex info os threads
11107@item threads
11108Display the list of threads running on the target. For each thread,
11109@value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process that the thread
11110belongs to, the command of the process, the thread identifier, and the
11111processor core that it is currently running on. The main thread of a
11112process is not listed.
11113@end table
11114
11115@item info os
11116If @var{infotype} is omitted, then list the possible values for
11117@var{infotype} and the kind of OS information available for each
11118@var{infotype}. If the target does not return a list of possible
11119types, this command will report an error.
11120@end table
11121
11122@node Memory Region Attributes
11123@section Memory Region Attributes
11124@cindex memory region attributes
11125
11126@dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
11127required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
11128attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
11129accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
11130target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
11131fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
11132user can override the fetched regions.
11133
11134Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
11135memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
11136accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
11137been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
11138all memory.
11139
11140When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
11141to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
11142
11143@table @code
11144@kindex mem
11145@item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
11146Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
11147attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
11148monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
11149case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
11150(0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
11151
11152@item mem auto
11153Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
11154regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
11155
11156@kindex delete mem
11157@item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
11158Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
11159monitored by @value{GDBN}.
11160
11161@kindex disable mem
11162@item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
11163Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
11164A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
11165It may be enabled again later.
11166
11167@kindex enable mem
11168@item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
11169Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
11170
11171@kindex info mem
11172@item info mem
11173Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
11174for each region:
11175
11176@table @emph
11177@item Memory Region Number
11178@item Enabled or Disabled.
11179Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
11180Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
11181
11182@item Lo Address
11183The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
11184
11185@item Hi Address
11186The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
11187
11188@item Attributes
11189The list of attributes set for this memory region.
11190@end table
11191@end table
11192
11193
11194@subsection Attributes
11195
11196@subsubsection Memory Access Mode
11197The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
11198write accesses to a memory region.
11199
11200While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
11201memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
11202etc.@: from accessing memory.
11203
11204@table @code
11205@item ro
11206Memory is read only.
11207@item wo
11208Memory is write only.
11209@item rw
11210Memory is read/write. This is the default.
11211@end table
11212
11213@subsubsection Memory Access Size
11214The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
11215accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
11216require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
11217specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
11218
11219@table @code
11220@item 8
11221Use 8 bit memory accesses.
11222@item 16
11223Use 16 bit memory accesses.
11224@item 32
11225Use 32 bit memory accesses.
11226@item 64
11227Use 64 bit memory accesses.
11228@end table
11229
11230@c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
11231@c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
11232@c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
11233@c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
11234@c
11235@c @table @code
11236@c @item hwbreak
11237@c Always use hardware breakpoints
11238@c @item swbreak (default)
11239@c @end table
11240
11241@subsubsection Data Cache
11242The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
11243memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
11244protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
11245does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
11246registers.
11247
11248@table @code
11249@item cache
11250Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
11251@item nocache
11252Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
11253@end table
11254
11255@subsection Memory Access Checking
11256@value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
11257not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
11258regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
11259better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
11260
11261@table @code
11262@kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
11263@item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
11264If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
11265explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
11266to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
11267memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
11268treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
11269The default value is @code{on}.
11270@kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
11271@item show mem inaccessible-by-default
11272Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
11273@end table
11274
11275
11276@c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
11277@c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
11278@c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
11279@c
11280@c @table @code
11281@c @item verify
11282@c @item noverify (default)
11283@c @end table
11284
11285@node Dump/Restore Files
11286@section Copy Between Memory and a File
11287@cindex dump/restore files
11288@cindex append data to a file
11289@cindex dump data to a file
11290@cindex restore data from a file
11291
11292You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
11293@code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
11294@code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
11295@code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
11296memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex,
11297Tektronix Hex, or Verilog Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only
11298append to binary files, and cannot read from Verilog Hex files.
11299
11300@table @code
11301
11302@kindex dump
11303@item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
11304@itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
11305Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
11306or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
11307
11308The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
11309@table @code
11310@item binary
11311Raw binary form.
11312@item ihex
11313Intel hex format.
11314@item srec
11315Motorola S-record format.
11316@item tekhex
11317Tektronix Hex format.
11318@item verilog
11319Verilog Hex format.
11320@end table
11321
11322@value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
11323@sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
11324@var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
11325form.
11326
11327@kindex append
11328@item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
11329@itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
11330Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
11331or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
11332(@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
11333
11334@kindex restore
11335@item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
11336Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
11337@code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
11338file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
11339must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
11340
11341If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
11342contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
11343they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
11344a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
11345from that location.
11346
11347If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
11348file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
11349These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
11350the @var{bias} argument is applied.
11351
11352@end table
11353
11354@node Core File Generation
11355@section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
11356@cindex dump core from inferior
11357
11358A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
11359image of a running process and its process status (register values
11360etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
11361crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
11362automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
11363the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
11364the post-mortem debugging mode.
11365
11366Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
11367are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
11368@value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
11369
11370@table @code
11371@kindex gcore
11372@kindex generate-core-file
11373@item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
11374@itemx gcore [@var{file}]
11375Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
11376@var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
11377specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
11378@var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
11379
11380Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
11381this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, and S390).
11382
11383On @sc{gnu}/Linux, this command can take into account the value of the
11384file @file{/proc/@var{pid}/coredump_filter} when generating the core
11385dump (@pxref{set use-coredump-filter}).
11386
11387@kindex set use-coredump-filter
11388@anchor{set use-coredump-filter}
11389@item set use-coredump-filter on
11390@itemx set use-coredump-filter off
11391Enable or disable the use of the file
11392@file{/proc/@var{pid}/coredump_filter} when generating core dump
11393files. This file is used by the Linux kernel to decide what types of
11394memory mappings will be dumped or ignored when generating a core dump
11395file. @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process.
11396
11397To make use of this feature, you have to write in the
11398@file{/proc/@var{pid}/coredump_filter} file a value, in hexadecimal,
11399which is a bit mask representing the memory mapping types. If a bit
11400is set in the bit mask, then the memory mappings of the corresponding
11401types will be dumped; otherwise, they will be ignored. This
11402configuration is inherited by child processes. For more information
11403about the bits that can be set in the
11404@file{/proc/@var{pid}/coredump_filter} file, please refer to the
11405manpage of @code{core(5)}.
11406
11407By default, this option is @code{on}. If this option is turned
11408@code{off}, @value{GDBN} does not read the @file{coredump_filter} file
11409and instead uses the same default value as the Linux kernel in order
11410to decide which pages will be dumped in the core dump file. This
11411value is currently @code{0x33}, which means that bits @code{0}
11412(anonymous private mappings), @code{1} (anonymous shared mappings),
11413@code{4} (ELF headers) and @code{5} (private huge pages) are active.
11414This will cause these memory mappings to be dumped automatically.
11415@end table
11416
11417@node Character Sets
11418@section Character Sets
11419@cindex character sets
11420@cindex charset
11421@cindex translating between character sets
11422@cindex host character set
11423@cindex target character set
11424
11425If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
11426represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
11427@value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
11428you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
11429character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
11430@dfn{target character set}.
11431
11432For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
11433uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
11434remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
11435running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
11436then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
11437@sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
11438target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
11439@sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
11440character and string literals in expressions.
11441
11442@value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
11443the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
11444target-charset} command, described below.
11445
11446Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
11447support:
11448
11449@table @code
11450@item set target-charset @var{charset}
11451@kindex set target-charset
11452Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
11453list of supported target character sets, type
11454@kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
11455
11456@item set host-charset @var{charset}
11457@kindex set host-charset
11458Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
11459
11460By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
11461system it is running on; you can override that default using the
11462@code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
11463automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
11464case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
11465
11466@value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
11467set. If you type @kbd{@w{set host-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
11468@value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
11469
11470@item set charset @var{charset}
11471@kindex set charset
11472Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
11473above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
11474@value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
11475for both host and target.
11476
11477@item show charset
11478@kindex show charset
11479Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
11480
11481@item show host-charset
11482@kindex show host-charset
11483Show the name of the current host character set.
11484
11485@item show target-charset
11486@kindex show target-charset
11487Show the name of the current target character set.
11488
11489@item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
11490@kindex set target-wide-charset
11491Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
11492the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
11493display the list of supported wide character sets, type
11494@kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
11495
11496@item show target-wide-charset
11497@kindex show target-wide-charset
11498Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
11499@end table
11500
11501Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
11502Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
11503@file{charset-test.c}:
11504
11505@smallexample
11506#include <stdio.h>
11507
11508char ascii_hello[]
11509 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
11510 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
11511char ibm1047_hello[]
11512 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
11513 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
11514
11515main ()
11516@{
11517 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
11518@}
11519@end smallexample
11520
11521In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
11522containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
11523encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
11524
11525We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
11526
11527@smallexample
11528$ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
11529$ gdb -nw charset-test
11530GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
11531Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
11532@dots{}
11533(@value{GDBP})
11534@end smallexample
11535
11536We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
11537@value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
11538strings:
11539
11540@smallexample
11541(@value{GDBP}) show charset
11542The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
11543(@value{GDBP})
11544@end smallexample
11545
11546For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
11547initial character set:
11548@smallexample
11549(@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
11550(@value{GDBP}) show charset
11551The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
11552(@value{GDBP})
11553@end smallexample
11554
11555Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
11556host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
11557characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
11558them properly. Since our current target character set is also
11559@sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
11560
11561@smallexample
11562(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
11563$1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
11564(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
11565$2 = 72 'H'
11566(@value{GDBP})
11567@end smallexample
11568
11569@value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
11570literals you use in expressions:
11571
11572@smallexample
11573(@value{GDBP}) print '+'
11574$3 = 43 '+'
11575(@value{GDBP})
11576@end smallexample
11577
11578The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
11579character.
11580
11581@value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
11582target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
11583character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
11584
11585@smallexample
11586(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
11587$4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
11588(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
11589$5 = 200 '\310'
11590(@value{GDBP})
11591@end smallexample
11592
11593If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
11594@value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
11595
11596@smallexample
11597(@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
11598ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
11599(@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
11600@end smallexample
11601
11602We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
11603program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
11604@value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
11605target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
11606@sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
11607
11608@smallexample
11609(@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
11610(@value{GDBP}) show charset
11611The current host character set is `ASCII'.
11612The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
11613(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
11614$6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
11615(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
11616$7 = 72 '\110'
11617(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
11618$8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
11619(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
11620$9 = 200 'H'
11621(@value{GDBP})
11622@end smallexample
11623
11624As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
11625string literals you use in expressions:
11626
11627@smallexample
11628(@value{GDBP}) print '+'
11629$10 = 78 '+'
11630(@value{GDBP})
11631@end smallexample
11632
11633The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
11634character.
11635
11636@node Caching Target Data
11637@section Caching Data of Targets
11638@cindex caching data of targets
11639
11640@value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a target.
11641Each cache is associated with the address space of the inferior.
11642@xref{Inferiors and Programs}, about inferior and address space.
11643Such caching generally improves performance in remote debugging
11644(@pxref{Remote Debugging}), because it reduces the overhead of the
11645remote protocol by bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks.
11646Unfortunately, simply caching everything would lead to incorrect results,
11647since @value{GDBN} does not necessarily know anything about volatile
11648values, memory-mapped I/O addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode
11649(@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command
11650is executing.
11651Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
11652known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
11653rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
11654in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
11655stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.} or
11656in the code segment.
11657Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
11658cacheable; @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
11659
11660@table @code
11661@kindex set remotecache
11662@item set remotecache on
11663@itemx set remotecache off
11664This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
11665with old scripts.
11666
11667@kindex show remotecache
11668@item show remotecache
11669Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
11670
11671@kindex set stack-cache
11672@item set stack-cache on
11673@itemx set stack-cache off
11674Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{on}, use
11675caching. By default, this option is @code{on}.
11676
11677@kindex show stack-cache
11678@item show stack-cache
11679Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
11680
11681@kindex set code-cache
11682@item set code-cache on
11683@itemx set code-cache off
11684Enable or disable caching of code segment accesses. When @code{on},
11685use caching. By default, this option is @code{on}. This improves
11686performance of disassembly in remote debugging.
11687
11688@kindex show code-cache
11689@item show code-cache
11690Show the current state of target memory cache for code segment
11691accesses.
11692
11693@kindex info dcache
11694@item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
11695Print the information about the performance of data cache of the
11696current inferior's address space. The information displayed
11697includes the dcache width and depth, and for each cache line, its
11698number, address, and how many times it was referenced. This
11699command is useful for debugging the data cache operation.
11700
11701If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
11702printed in hex.
11703
11704@item set dcache size @var{size}
11705@cindex dcache size
11706@kindex set dcache size
11707Set maximum number of entries in dcache (dcache depth above).
11708
11709@item set dcache line-size @var{line-size}
11710@cindex dcache line-size
11711@kindex set dcache line-size
11712Set number of bytes each dcache entry caches (dcache width above).
11713Must be a power of 2.
11714
11715@item show dcache size
11716@kindex show dcache size
11717Show maximum number of dcache entries. @xref{Caching Target Data, info dcache}.
11718
11719@item show dcache line-size
11720@kindex show dcache line-size
11721Show default size of dcache lines.
11722
11723@end table
11724
11725@node Searching Memory
11726@section Search Memory
11727@cindex searching memory
11728
11729Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
11730@code{find} command.
11731
11732@table @code
11733@kindex find
11734@item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
11735@itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
11736Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
11737etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
11738@var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
11739@end table
11740
11741@var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
11742They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
11743
11744@table @r
11745@item @var{s}, search query size
11746The size of each search query value.
11747
11748@table @code
11749@item b
11750bytes
11751@item h
11752halfwords (two bytes)
11753@item w
11754words (four bytes)
11755@item g
11756giant words (eight bytes)
11757@end table
11758
11759All values are interpreted in the current language.
11760This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
11761then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
11762
11763If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
11764value's type in the current language.
11765This is useful when one wants to specify the search
11766pattern as a mixture of types.
11767Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
11768a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
11769which is typically four bytes.
11770
11771@item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
11772The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
11773@end table
11774
11775You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
11776 (@code{"}).
11777The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
11778regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
11779
11780The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
11781number of matches found.
11782
11783The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
11784@samp{$_}.
11785A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
11786
11787For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
11788
11789@smallexample
11790void
11791hello ()
11792@{
11793 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
11794 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
11795 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
11796 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
11797 printf ("%s\n", hello);
11798@}
11799@end smallexample
11800
11801@noindent
11802you get during debugging:
11803
11804@smallexample
11805(gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
118060x804956d <hello.1620+6>
118071 pattern found
11808(gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
118090x8049567 <hello.1620>
118100x804956d <hello.1620+6>
118112 patterns found
11812(gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
118130x8049567 <hello.1620>
118141 pattern found
11815(gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
118160x8049560 <mixed.1625>
118171 pattern found
11818(gdb) print $numfound
11819$1 = 1
11820(gdb) print $_
11821$2 = (void *) 0x8049560
11822@end smallexample
11823
11824@node Value Sizes
11825@section Value Sizes
11826
11827Whenever @value{GDBN} prints a value memory will be allocated within
11828@value{GDBN} to hold the contents of the value. It is possible in
11829some languages with dynamic typing systems, that an invalid program
11830may indicate a value that is incorrectly large, this in turn may cause
11831@value{GDBN} to try and allocate an overly large ammount of memory.
11832
11833@table @code
11834@kindex set max-value-size
11835@item set max-value-size @var{bytes}
11836@itemx set max-value-size unlimited
11837Set the maximum size of memory that @value{GDBN} will allocate for the
11838contents of a value to @var{bytes}, trying to display a value that
11839requires more memory than that will result in an error.
11840
11841Setting this variable does not effect values that have already been
11842allocated within @value{GDBN}, only future allocations.
11843
11844There's a minimum size that @code{max-value-size} can be set to in
11845order that @value{GDBN} can still operate correctly, this minimum is
11846currently 16 bytes.
11847
11848The limit applies to the results of some subexpressions as well as to
11849complete expressions. For example, an expression denoting a simple
11850integer component, such as @code{x.y.z}, may fail if the size of
11851@var{x.y} is dynamic and exceeds @var{bytes}. On the other hand,
11852@value{GDBN} is sometimes clever; the expression @code{A[i]}, where
11853@var{A} is an array variable with non-constant size, will generally
11854succeed regardless of the bounds on @var{A}, as long as the component
11855size is less than @var{bytes}.
11856
11857The default value of @code{max-value-size} is currently 64k.
11858
11859@kindex show max-value-size
11860@item show max-value-size
11861Show the maximum size of memory, in bytes, that @value{GDBN} will
11862allocate for the contents of a value.
11863@end table
11864
11865@node Optimized Code
11866@chapter Debugging Optimized Code
11867@cindex optimized code, debugging
11868@cindex debugging optimized code
11869
11870Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
11871disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
11872directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
11873applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
11874diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
11875information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
11876the running program back to constructs from your original source.
11877
11878@value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
11879can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
11880progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
11881where you may need to debug an optimized version.
11882
11883When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
11884optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
11885really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
11886exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
11887variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
11888variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
11889
11890Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
11891@samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
11892doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
11893please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
11894@xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
11895
11896@menu
11897* Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
11898* Tail Call Frames:: @value{GDBN} analysis of jumps to functions
11899@end menu
11900
11901@node Inline Functions
11902@section Inline Functions
11903@cindex inline functions, debugging
11904
11905@dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
11906body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
11907routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
11908non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
11909arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
11910them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
11911You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
11912@code{info frame} command.
11913
11914For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
11915record information about inlining in the debug information ---
11916@value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
11917other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
11918when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
11919do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
11920@samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
11921function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
11922displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
11923local variables in the caller.
11924
11925The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
11926unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
11927the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
11928start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
11929the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
11930the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
11931instructions are executed.
11932
11933This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
11934context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
11935a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
11936this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
11937
11938There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
11939function calls are the same as normal calls:
11940
11941@itemize @bullet
11942@item
11943Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
11944work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
11945may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
11946function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
11947version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
11948or inside the inlined function instead.
11949
11950@item
11951@value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
11952using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
11953debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
11954and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
11955
11956@end itemize
11957
11958@node Tail Call Frames
11959@section Tail Call Frames
11960@cindex tail call frames, debugging
11961
11962Function @code{B} can call function @code{C} in its very last statement. In
11963unoptimized compilation the call of @code{C} is immediately followed by return
11964instruction at the end of @code{B} code. Optimizing compiler may replace the
11965call and return in function @code{B} into one jump to function @code{C}
11966instead. Such use of a jump instruction is called @dfn{tail call}.
11967
11968During execution of function @code{C}, there will be no indication in the
11969function call stack frames that it was tail-called from @code{B}. If function
11970@code{A} regularly calls function @code{B} which tail-calls function @code{C},
11971then @value{GDBN} will see @code{A} as the caller of @code{C}. However, in
11972some cases @value{GDBN} can determine that @code{C} was tail-called from
11973@code{B}, and it will then create fictitious call frame for that, with the
11974return address set up as if @code{B} called @code{C} normally.
11975
11976This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
11977the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
11978@value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
11979this information.
11980
11981@kbd{info frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info}) will indicate the tail call frame
11982kind by text @code{tail call frame} such as in this sample @value{GDBN} output:
11983
11984@smallexample
11985(gdb) x/i $pc - 2
11986 0x40066b <b(int, double)+11>: jmp 0x400640 <c(int, double)>
11987(gdb) info frame
11988Stack level 1, frame at 0x7fffffffda30:
11989 rip = 0x40066d in b (amd64-entry-value.cc:59); saved rip 0x4004c5
11990 tail call frame, caller of frame at 0x7fffffffda30
11991 source language c++.
11992 Arglist at unknown address.
11993 Locals at unknown address, Previous frame's sp is 0x7fffffffda30
11994@end smallexample
11995
11996The detection of all the possible code path executions can find them ambiguous.
11997There is no execution history stored (possible @ref{Reverse Execution} is never
11998used for this purpose) and the last known caller could have reached the known
11999callee by multiple different jump sequences. In such case @value{GDBN} still
12000tries to show at least all the unambiguous top tail callers and all the
12001unambiguous bottom tail calees, if any.
12002
12003@table @code
12004@anchor{set debug entry-values}
12005@item set debug entry-values
12006@kindex set debug entry-values
12007When set to on, enables printing of analysis messages for both frame argument
12008values at function entry and tail calls. It will show all the possible valid
12009tail calls code paths it has considered. It will also print the intersection
12010of them with the final unambiguous (possibly partial or even empty) code path
12011result.
12012
12013@item show debug entry-values
12014@kindex show debug entry-values
12015Show the current state of analysis messages printing for both frame argument
12016values at function entry and tail calls.
12017@end table
12018
12019The analysis messages for tail calls can for example show why the virtual tail
12020call frame for function @code{c} has not been recognized (due to the indirect
12021reference by variable @code{x}):
12022
12023@smallexample
12024static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void);
12025void (*x) (void) = c;
12026static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
12027static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ a (); @}
12028int main (void) @{ x (); return 0; @}
12029
12030Breakpoint 1, DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving cannot find
12031DW_TAG_GNU_call_site 0x40039a in main
12032a () at t.c:3
120333 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
12034(gdb) bt
12035#0 a () at t.c:3
12036#1 0x000000000040039a in main () at t.c:5
12037@end smallexample
12038
12039Another possibility is an ambiguous virtual tail call frames resolution:
12040
12041@smallexample
12042int i;
12043static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) f (void) @{ i++; @}
12044static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) e (void) @{ f (); @}
12045static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) d (void) @{ f (); @}
12046static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ d (); @}
12047static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (void)
12048@{ if (i) c (); else e (); @}
12049static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ b (); @}
12050int main (void) @{ a (); return 0; @}
12051
12052tailcall: initial: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004ce(b) 0x4004b2(c) 0x4004a2(d)
12053tailcall: compare: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004cc(b) 0x400492(e)
12054tailcall: reduced: 0x4004d2(a) |
12055(gdb) bt
12056#0 f () at t.c:2
12057#1 0x00000000004004d2 in a () at t.c:8
12058#2 0x0000000000400395 in main () at t.c:9
12059@end smallexample
12060
12061@set CALLSEQ1A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}c@value{ARROW}d@value{ARROW}f}
12062@set CALLSEQ2A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}e@value{ARROW}f}
12063
12064@c Convert CALLSEQ#A to CALLSEQ#B depending on HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK.
12065@ifset HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
12066@set ARROW @click{}
12067@set CALLSEQ1B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ1A}}
12068@set CALLSEQ2B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ2A}}
12069@end ifset
12070@ifclear HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
12071@set ARROW ->
12072@set CALLSEQ1B @value{CALLSEQ1A}
12073@set CALLSEQ2B @value{CALLSEQ2A}
12074@end ifclear
12075
12076Frames #0 and #2 are real, #1 is a virtual tail call frame.
12077The code can have possible execution paths @value{CALLSEQ1B} or
12078@value{CALLSEQ2B}, @value{GDBN} cannot find which one from the inferior state.
12079
12080@code{initial:} state shows some random possible calling sequence @value{GDBN}
12081has found. It then finds another possible calling sequcen - that one is
12082prefixed by @code{compare:}. The non-ambiguous intersection of these two is
12083printed as the @code{reduced:} calling sequence. That one could have many
12084futher @code{compare:} and @code{reduced:} statements as long as there remain
12085any non-ambiguous sequence entries.
12086
12087For the frame of function @code{b} in both cases there are different possible
12088@code{$pc} values (@code{0x4004cc} or @code{0x4004ce}), therefore this frame is
12089also ambigous. The only non-ambiguous frame is the one for function @code{a},
12090therefore this one is displayed to the user while the ambiguous frames are
12091omitted.
12092
12093There can be also reasons why printing of frame argument values at function
12094entry may fail:
12095
12096@smallexample
12097int v;
12098static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (int i) @{ v++; @}
12099static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i);
12100static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (int i) @{ a (i); @}
12101static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i)
12102@{ if (i) b (i - 1); else c (0); @}
12103int main (void) @{ a (5); return 0; @}
12104
12105(gdb) bt
12106#0 c (i=i@@entry=0) at t.c:2
12107#1 0x0000000000400428 in a (DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving has found
12108function "a" at 0x400420 can call itself via tail calls
12109i=<optimized out>) at t.c:6
12110#2 0x000000000040036e in main () at t.c:7
12111@end smallexample
12112
12113@value{GDBN} cannot find out from the inferior state if and how many times did
12114function @code{a} call itself (via function @code{b}) as these calls would be
12115tail calls. Such tail calls would modify thue @code{i} variable, therefore
12116@value{GDBN} cannot be sure the value it knows would be right - @value{GDBN}
12117prints @code{<optimized out>} instead.
12118
12119@node Macros
12120@chapter C Preprocessor Macros
12121
12122Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
12123``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
12124@value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
12125the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
12126where it was defined.
12127
12128You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
12129with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
12130include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
12131with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
12132
12133A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
12134and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
12135points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
12136no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
12137uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
12138@value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
12139see @ref{List}.
12140
12141Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
12142macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
12143the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
12144
12145@table @code
12146
12147@kindex macro expand
12148@cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
12149@cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
12150@cindex expanding preprocessor macros
12151@item macro expand @var{expression}
12152@itemx macro exp @var{expression}
12153Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
12154@var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
12155not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
12156it can be any string of tokens.
12157
12158@kindex macro exp1
12159@item macro expand-once @var{expression}
12160@itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
12161@cindex expand macro once
12162@i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
12163expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
12164@var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
12165left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
12166particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
12167expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
12168parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
12169can be any string of tokens.
12170
12171@kindex info macro
12172@cindex macro definition, showing
12173@cindex definition of a macro, showing
12174@cindex macros, from debug info
12175@item info macro [-a|-all] [--] @var{macro}
12176Show the current definition or all definitions of the named @var{macro},
12177and describe the source location or compiler command-line where that
12178definition was established. The optional double dash is to signify the end of
12179argument processing and the beginning of @var{macro} for non C-like macros where
12180the macro may begin with a hyphen.
12181
12182@kindex info macros
12183@item info macros @var{location}
12184Show all macro definitions that are in effect at the location specified
12185by @var{location}, and describe the source location or compiler
12186command-line where those definitions were established.
12187
12188@kindex macro define
12189@cindex user-defined macros
12190@cindex defining macros interactively
12191@cindex macros, user-defined
12192@item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
12193@itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
12194Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
12195invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
12196@var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
12197``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
12198defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
12199@var{arglist}.
12200
12201A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
12202expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
12203@code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
12204all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
12205as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
12206
12207@kindex macro undef
12208@item macro undef @var{macro}
12209Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
12210This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
12211define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
12212in the program being debugged.
12213
12214@kindex macro list
12215@item macro list
12216List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
12217@end table
12218
12219@cindex macros, example of debugging with
12220Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
12221show our source files:
12222
12223@smallexample
12224$ cat sample.c
12225#include <stdio.h>
12226#include "sample.h"
12227
12228#define M 42
12229#define ADD(x) (M + x)
12230
12231main ()
12232@{
12233#define N 28
12234 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
12235#undef N
12236 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
12237#define N 1729
12238 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
12239@}
12240$ cat sample.h
12241#define Q <
12242$
12243@end smallexample
12244
12245Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
12246@value{NGCC}. We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2}@footnote{This is the
12247minimum. Recent versions of @value{NGCC} support @option{-gdwarf-3}
12248and @option{-gdwarf-4}; we recommend always choosing the most recent
12249version of DWARF.} @emph{and} @option{-g3} flags to ensure the compiler
12250includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
12251information.
12252
12253@smallexample
12254$ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
12255$
12256@end smallexample
12257
12258Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
12259
12260@smallexample
12261$ gdb -nw sample
12262GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
12263Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
12264GDB is free software, @dots{}
12265(@value{GDBP})
12266@end smallexample
12267
12268We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
12269program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
12270to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
12271
12272@smallexample
12273(@value{GDBP}) list main
122743
122754 #define M 42
122765 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
122776
122787 main ()
122798 @{
122809 #define N 28
1228110 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
1228211 #undef N
1228312 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
12284(@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
12285Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
12286#define ADD(x) (M + x)
12287(@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
12288Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
12289 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
12290#define Q <
12291(@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
12292expands to: (42 + 1)
12293(@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
12294expands to: once (M + 1)
12295(@value{GDBP})
12296@end smallexample
12297
12298In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
12299the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
12300@code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
12301which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
12302
12303Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
12304force at the source line of the current stack frame:
12305
12306@smallexample
12307(@value{GDBP}) break main
12308Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
12309(@value{GDBP}) run
12310Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
12311
12312Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
1231310 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
12314(@value{GDBP})
12315@end smallexample
12316
12317At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
12318
12319@smallexample
12320(@value{GDBP}) info macro N
12321Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
12322#define N 28
12323(@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
12324expands to: 28 < 42
12325(@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
12326$1 = 1
12327(@value{GDBP})
12328@end smallexample
12329
12330As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
12331give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
12332thereof) in force at each point:
12333
12334@smallexample
12335(@value{GDBP}) next
12336Hello, world!
1233712 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
12338(@value{GDBP}) info macro N
12339The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
12340at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
12341(@value{GDBP}) next
12342We're so creative.
1234314 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
12344(@value{GDBP}) info macro N
12345Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
12346#define N 1729
12347(@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
12348expands to: 1729 < 42
12349(@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
12350$2 = 0
12351(@value{GDBP})
12352@end smallexample
12353
12354In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
12355line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
12356such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
12357of the source file submitted to the compiler.
12358
12359@smallexample
12360(@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
12361Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
12362-D__STDC__=1
12363(@value{GDBP})
12364@end smallexample
12365
12366
12367@node Tracepoints
12368@chapter Tracepoints
12369@c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
12370@c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
12371
12372@cindex tracepoints
12373In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
12374the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
12375anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
12376depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
12377might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
12378fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
12379to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
12380
12381Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
12382specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
12383arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
12384Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
12385those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
12386expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
12387for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
12388a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
12389in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
12390values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
12391unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
12392
12393The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
12394targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
12395how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
12396remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
12397support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
12398packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
12399Packets}.
12400
12401It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
12402of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
12403through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
12404
12405This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
12406
12407@menu
12408* Set Tracepoints::
12409* Analyze Collected Data::
12410* Tracepoint Variables::
12411* Trace Files::
12412@end menu
12413
12414@node Set Tracepoints
12415@section Commands to Set Tracepoints
12416
12417Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
12418tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
12419breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
12420standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
12421tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
12422of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
12423as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
12424
12425For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
12426of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
12427it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
12428local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
12429commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
12430tracepoint was hit.
12431
12432Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
12433tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
12434commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
12435either.
12436
12437@cindex fast tracepoints
12438Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
12439a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
12440faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
12441
12442@cindex static tracepoints
12443@cindex markers, static tracepoints
12444@cindex probing markers, static tracepoints
12445Regular and fast tracepoints are dynamic tracing facilities, meaning
12446that they can be used to insert tracepoints at (almost) any location
12447in the target. Some targets may also support controlling @dfn{static
12448tracepoints} from @value{GDBN}. With static tracing, a set of
12449instrumentation points, also known as @dfn{markers}, are embedded in
12450the target program, and can be activated or deactivated by name or
12451address. These are usually placed at locations which facilitate
12452investigating what the target is actually doing. @value{GDBN}'s
12453support for static tracing includes being able to list instrumentation
12454points, and attach them with @value{GDBN} defined high level
12455tracepoints that expose the whole range of convenience of
12456@value{GDBN}'s tracepoints support. Namely, support for collecting
12457registers values and values of global or local (to the instrumentation
12458point) variables; tracepoint conditions and trace state variables.
12459The act of installing a @value{GDBN} static tracepoint on an
12460instrumentation point, or marker, is referred to as @dfn{probing} a
12461static tracepoint marker.
12462
12463@code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
12464@xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
12465
12466This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
12467conditions and actions.
12468
12469@menu
12470* Create and Delete Tracepoints::
12471* Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
12472* Tracepoint Passcounts::
12473* Tracepoint Conditions::
12474* Trace State Variables::
12475* Tracepoint Actions::
12476* Listing Tracepoints::
12477* Listing Static Tracepoint Markers::
12478* Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
12479* Tracepoint Restrictions::
12480@end menu
12481
12482@node Create and Delete Tracepoints
12483@subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
12484
12485@table @code
12486@cindex set tracepoint
12487@kindex trace
12488@item trace @var{location}
12489The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
12490Its argument @var{location} can be any valid location.
12491@xref{Specify Location}. The @code{trace} command defines a tracepoint,
12492which is a point in the target program where the debugger will briefly stop,
12493collect some data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint
12494or changing its actions takes effect immediately if the remote stub
12495supports the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature (@pxref{install tracepoint
12496in tracing}).
12497If remote stub doesn't support the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature, all
12498these changes don't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
12499command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
12500not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts. In addition,
12501@value{GDBN} supports @dfn{pending tracepoints}---tracepoints whose
12502address is not yet resolved. (This is similar to pending breakpoints.)
12503Pending tracepoints are not downloaded to the target and not installed
12504until they are resolved. The resolution of pending tracepoints requires
12505@value{GDBN} support---when debugging with the remote target, and
12506@value{GDBN} disconnects from the remote stub (@pxref{disconnected
12507tracing}), pending tracepoints can not be resolved (and downloaded to
12508the remote stub) while @value{GDBN} is disconnected.
12509
12510Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
12511
12512@smallexample
12513(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
12514
12515(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
12516
12517(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
12518
12519(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
12520
12521(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
12522@end smallexample
12523
12524@noindent
12525You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
12526
12527@item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
12528Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
12529@var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
12530if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
12531@xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
12532information on tracepoint conditions.
12533
12534@item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
12535@cindex set fast tracepoint
12536@cindex fast tracepoints, setting
12537@kindex ftrace
12538The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
12539support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
12540less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
12541instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
12542may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
12543location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
12544message.
12545
12546@value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
12547@code{trace}.
12548
12549On 32-bit x86-architecture systems, fast tracepoints normally need to
12550be placed at an instruction that is 5 bytes or longer, but can be
12551placed at 4-byte instructions if the low 64K of memory of the target
12552program is available to install trampolines. Some Unix-type systems,
12553such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, exclude low addresses from the program's
12554address space; but for instance with the Linux kernel it is possible
12555to let @value{GDBN} use this area by doing a @command{sysctl} command
12556to set the @code{mmap_min_addr} kernel parameter, as in
12557
12558@example
12559sudo sysctl -w vm.mmap_min_addr=32768
12560@end example
12561
12562@noindent
12563which sets the low address to 32K, which leaves plenty of room for
12564trampolines. The minimum address should be set to a page boundary.
12565
12566@item strace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
12567@cindex set static tracepoint
12568@cindex static tracepoints, setting
12569@cindex probe static tracepoint marker
12570@kindex strace
12571The @code{strace} command sets a static tracepoint. For targets that
12572support it, setting a static tracepoint probes a static
12573instrumentation point, or marker, found at @var{location}. It may not
12574be possible to set a static tracepoint at the desired location, in
12575which case the command will exit with an explanatory message.
12576
12577@value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{strace} exactly as for
12578@code{trace}, with the addition that the user can also specify
12579@code{-m @var{marker}} as @var{location}. This probes the marker
12580identified by the @var{marker} string identifier. This identifier
12581depends on the static tracepoint backend library your program is
12582using. You can find all the marker identifiers in the @samp{ID} field
12583of the @code{info static-tracepoint-markers} command output.
12584@xref{Listing Static Tracepoint Markers,,Listing Static Tracepoint
12585Markers}. For example, in the following small program using the UST
12586tracing engine:
12587
12588@smallexample
12589main ()
12590@{
12591 trace_mark(ust, bar33, "str %s", "FOOBAZ");
12592@}
12593@end smallexample
12594
12595@noindent
12596the marker id is composed of joining the first two arguments to the
12597@code{trace_mark} call with a slash, which translates to:
12598
12599@smallexample
12600(@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
12601Cnt Enb ID Address What
126021 n ust/bar33 0x0000000000400ddc in main at stexample.c:22
12603 Data: "str %s"
12604[etc...]
12605@end smallexample
12606
12607@noindent
12608so you may probe the marker above with:
12609
12610@smallexample
12611(@value{GDBP}) strace -m ust/bar33
12612@end smallexample
12613
12614Static tracepoints accept an extra collect action --- @code{collect
12615$_sdata}. This collects arbitrary user data passed in the probe point
12616call to the tracing library. In the UST example above, you'll see
12617that the third argument to @code{trace_mark} is a printf-like format
12618string. The user data is then the result of running that formating
12619string against the following arguments. Note that @code{info
12620static-tracepoint-markers} command output lists that format string in
12621the @samp{Data:} field.
12622
12623You can inspect this data when analyzing the trace buffer, by printing
12624the $_sdata variable like any other variable available to
12625@value{GDBN}. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}.
12626
12627@vindex $tpnum
12628@cindex last tracepoint number
12629@cindex recent tracepoint number
12630@cindex tracepoint number
12631The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
12632of the most recently set tracepoint.
12633
12634@kindex delete tracepoint
12635@cindex tracepoint deletion
12636@item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
12637Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
12638default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
12639@code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
12640
12641Examples:
12642
12643@smallexample
12644(@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
12645
12646(@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
12647@end smallexample
12648
12649@noindent
12650You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
12651@end table
12652
12653@node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
12654@subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
12655
12656These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
12657
12658@table @code
12659@kindex disable tracepoint
12660@item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
12661Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
12662@var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
12663a trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
12664a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
12665If the command is issued during a trace experiment and the debug target
12666has support for disabling tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the
12667change will be effective immediately. Otherwise, it will be applied to the
12668next trace experiment.
12669
12670@kindex enable tracepoint
12671@item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
12672Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. If this command is
12673issued during a trace experiment and the debug target supports enabling
12674tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the enabled tracepoints will
12675become effective immediately. Otherwise, they will become effective the
12676next time a trace experiment is run.
12677@end table
12678
12679@node Tracepoint Passcounts
12680@subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
12681
12682@table @code
12683@kindex passcount
12684@cindex tracepoint pass count
12685@item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
12686Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
12687automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
12688@var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
12689the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
12690@var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
12691passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
12692given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
12693user.
12694
12695Examples:
12696
12697@smallexample
12698(@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
12699@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
12700
12701(@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
12702@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
12703(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
12704(@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
12705(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
12706(@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
12707(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
12708(@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
12709@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
12710@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
12711@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
12712@end smallexample
12713@end table
12714
12715@node Tracepoint Conditions
12716@subsection Tracepoint Conditions
12717@cindex conditional tracepoints
12718@cindex tracepoint conditions
12719
12720The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
12721reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
12722a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
12723programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
12724tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
12725program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
12726is true.
12727
12728Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
12729using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
12730@xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
12731also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
12732just as with breakpoints.
12733
12734Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
12735the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
12736expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions})
12737suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
12738Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
12739accesses, and so forth.
12740
12741For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
12742frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
12743could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
12744of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
12745through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
12746collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
12747search through.
12748
12749@smallexample
12750(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
12751@end smallexample
12752
12753@node Trace State Variables
12754@subsection Trace State Variables
12755@cindex trace state variables
12756
12757A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
12758created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
12759that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
12760but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
12761using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
12762integers.
12763
12764Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
12765to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
12766experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
12767trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
12768
12769@cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
12770Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
12771them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
12772variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
12773while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
12774the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
12775cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
12776@code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
12777variable with the same name.
12778
12779@table @code
12780
12781@item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
12782@kindex tvariable
12783The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
12784@code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
12785@var{expression}. The @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
12786entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
12787otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
12788@code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
12789variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
12790existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
12791value. The default initial value is 0.
12792
12793@item info tvariables
12794@kindex info tvariables
12795List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
12796Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
12797currently running.
12798
12799@item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
12800@kindex delete tvariable
12801Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
12802are specified.
12803
12804@end table
12805
12806@node Tracepoint Actions
12807@subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
12808
12809@table @code
12810@kindex actions
12811@cindex tracepoint actions
12812@item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
12813This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
12814tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
12815specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
12816recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
12817@code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
12818actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
12819terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
12820far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
12821@code{while-stepping}.
12822
12823@code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
12824Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
12825actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
12826
12827@cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
12828To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
12829and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
12830
12831@smallexample
12832(@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
12833
12834(@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
12835
12836(@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
12837@end smallexample
12838
12839In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
12840commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
12841hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
12842following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
12843followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
12844sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
12845terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
12846list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
12847
12848@smallexample
12849(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
12850(@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
12851Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
12852> collect bar,baz
12853> collect $regs
12854> while-stepping 12
12855 > collect $pc, arr[i]
12856 > end
12857end
12858@end smallexample
12859
12860@kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
12861@item collect@r{[}/@var{mods}@r{]} @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
12862Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
12863This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
12864In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
12865special arguments are supported:
12866
12867@table @code
12868@item $regs
12869Collect all registers.
12870
12871@item $args
12872Collect all function arguments.
12873
12874@item $locals
12875Collect all local variables.
12876
12877@item $_ret
12878Collect the return address. This is helpful if you want to see more
12879of a backtrace.
12880
12881@emph{Note:} The return address location can not always be reliably
12882determined up front, and the wrong address / registers may end up
12883collected instead. On some architectures the reliability is higher
12884for tracepoints at function entry, while on others it's the opposite.
12885When this happens, backtracing will stop because the return address is
12886found unavailable (unless another collect rule happened to match it).
12887
12888@item $_probe_argc
12889Collects the number of arguments from the static probe at which the
12890tracepoint is located.
12891@xref{Static Probe Points}.
12892
12893@item $_probe_arg@var{n}
12894@var{n} is an integer between 0 and 11. Collects the @var{n}th argument
12895from the static probe at which the tracepoint is located.
12896@xref{Static Probe Points}.
12897
12898@item $_sdata
12899@vindex $_sdata@r{, collect}
12900Collect static tracepoint marker specific data. Only available for
12901static tracepoints. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action
12902Lists}. On the UST static tracepoints library backend, an
12903instrumentation point resembles a @code{printf} function call. The
12904tracing library is able to collect user specified data formatted to a
12905character string using the format provided by the programmer that
12906instrumented the program. Other backends have similar mechanisms.
12907Here's an example of a UST marker call:
12908
12909@smallexample
12910 const char master_name[] = "$your_name";
12911 trace_mark(channel1, marker1, "hello %s", master_name)
12912@end smallexample
12913
12914In this case, collecting @code{$_sdata} collects the string
12915@samp{hello $yourname}. When analyzing the trace buffer, you can
12916inspect @samp{$_sdata} like any other variable available to
12917@value{GDBN}.
12918@end table
12919
12920You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
12921with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
12922arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
12923
12924The optional @var{mods} changes the usual handling of the arguments.
12925@code{s} requests that pointers to chars be handled as strings, in
12926particular collecting the contents of the memory being pointed at, up
12927to the first zero. The upper bound is by default the value of the
12928@code{print elements} variable; if @code{s} is followed by a decimal
12929number, that is the upper bound instead. So for instance
12930@samp{collect/s25 mystr} collects as many as 25 characters at
12931@samp{mystr}.
12932
12933The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
12934particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
12935
12936@kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
12937@item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
12938Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
12939command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
12940are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
12941state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
12942values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
12943action were used.
12944
12945@kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
12946@item while-stepping @var{n}
12947Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
12948collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
12949command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
12950(followed by its own @code{end} command):
12951
12952@smallexample
12953> while-stepping 12
12954 > collect $regs, myglobal
12955 > end
12956>
12957@end smallexample
12958
12959@noindent
12960Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
12961@code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
12962you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
12963@code{stepping}.
12964
12965@item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
12966@kindex set default-collect
12967@cindex default collection action
12968This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
12969hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
12970to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
12971individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
12972@code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
12973local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
12974
12975@item show default-collect
12976@kindex show default-collect
12977Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
12978tracepoint hit.
12979
12980@end table
12981
12982@node Listing Tracepoints
12983@subsection Listing Tracepoints
12984
12985@table @code
12986@kindex info tracepoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
12987@kindex info tp @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
12988@cindex information about tracepoints
12989@item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@dots{}@r{]}
12990Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
12991specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
12992tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
12993@code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
12994command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
12995
12996A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
12997tracing:
12998
12999@itemize @bullet
13000@item
13001its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
13002
13003@item
13004the state about installed on target of each location
13005@end itemize
13006
13007@smallexample
13008(@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
13009Num Type Disp Enb Address What
130101 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
13011 while-stepping 20
13012 collect globfoo, $regs
13013 end
13014 collect globfoo2
13015 end
13016 pass count 1200
130172 tracepoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
13018 collect $eip
130192.1 y 0x0804859c in func4 at change-loc.h:35
13020 installed on target
130212.2 y 0xb7ffc480 in func4 at change-loc.h:35
13022 installed on target
130232.3 y <PENDING> set_tracepoint
130243 tracepoint keep y 0x080485b1 in foo at change-loc.c:29
13025 not installed on target
13026(@value{GDBP})
13027@end smallexample
13028
13029@noindent
13030This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
13031@end table
13032
13033@node Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
13034@subsection Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
13035
13036@table @code
13037@kindex info static-tracepoint-markers
13038@cindex information about static tracepoint markers
13039@item info static-tracepoint-markers
13040Display information about all static tracepoint markers defined in the
13041program.
13042
13043For each marker, the following columns are printed:
13044
13045@table @emph
13046@item Count
13047An incrementing counter, output to help readability. This is not a
13048stable identifier.
13049@item ID
13050The marker ID, as reported by the target.
13051@item Enabled or Disabled
13052Probed markers are tagged with @samp{y}. @samp{n} identifies marks
13053that are not enabled.
13054@item Address
13055Where the marker is in your program, as a memory address.
13056@item What
13057Where the marker is in the source for your program, as a file and line
13058number. If the debug information included in the program does not
13059allow @value{GDBN} to locate the source of the marker, this column
13060will be left blank.
13061@end table
13062
13063@noindent
13064In addition, the following information may be printed for each marker:
13065
13066@table @emph
13067@item Data
13068User data passed to the tracing library by the marker call. In the
13069UST backend, this is the format string passed as argument to the
13070marker call.
13071@item Static tracepoints probing the marker
13072The list of static tracepoints attached to the marker.
13073@end table
13074
13075@smallexample
13076(@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
13077Cnt ID Enb Address What
130781 ust/bar2 y 0x0000000000400e1a in main at stexample.c:25
13079 Data: number1 %d number2 %d
13080 Probed by static tracepoints: #2
130812 ust/bar33 n 0x0000000000400c87 in main at stexample.c:24
13082 Data: str %s
13083(@value{GDBP})
13084@end smallexample
13085@end table
13086
13087@node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
13088@subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
13089
13090@table @code
13091@kindex tstart [ @var{notes} ]
13092@cindex start a new trace experiment
13093@cindex collected data discarded
13094@item tstart
13095This command starts the trace experiment, and begins collecting data.
13096It has the side effect of discarding all the data collected in the
13097trace buffer during the previous trace experiment. If any arguments
13098are supplied, they are taken as a note and stored with the trace
13099experiment's state. The notes may be arbitrary text, and are
13100especially useful with disconnected tracing in a multi-user context;
13101the notes can explain what the trace is doing, supply user contact
13102information, and so forth.
13103
13104@kindex tstop [ @var{notes} ]
13105@cindex stop a running trace experiment
13106@item tstop
13107This command stops the trace experiment. If any arguments are
13108supplied, they are recorded with the experiment as a note. This is
13109useful if you are stopping a trace started by someone else, for
13110instance if the trace is interfering with the system's behavior and
13111needs to be stopped quickly.
13112
13113@strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
13114automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
13115(@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
13116
13117@kindex tstatus
13118@cindex status of trace data collection
13119@cindex trace experiment, status of
13120@item tstatus
13121This command displays the status of the current trace data
13122collection.
13123@end table
13124
13125Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
13126
13127@smallexample
13128(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
13129(@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
13130Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
13131> collect $regs,$locals,$args
13132> while-stepping 11
13133 > collect $regs
13134 > end
13135> end
13136(@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
13137 [time passes @dots{}]
13138(@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
13139@end smallexample
13140
13141@anchor{disconnected tracing}
13142@cindex disconnected tracing
13143You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
13144@value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
13145involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
13146ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
13147terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
13148unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
13149@code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
13150continue running without @value{GDBN}.
13151
13152@table @code
13153@item set disconnected-tracing on
13154@itemx set disconnected-tracing off
13155@kindex set disconnected-tracing
13156Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
13157has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
13158@code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
13159matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
13160for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
13161
13162@item show disconnected-tracing
13163@kindex show disconnected-tracing
13164Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
13165
13166@end table
13167
13168When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
13169still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
13170meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
13171it will continue after reconnection.
13172
13173Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
13174tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
13175information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
13176to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
13177have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
13178the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
13179debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
13180which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
13181necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
13182created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
13183
13184@cindex circular trace buffer
13185If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
13186can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
13187buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
13188frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
13189collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
13190hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
13191buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
13192@samp{circular-trace-buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
13193including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
13194buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
13195the next run.
13196
13197@table @code
13198@item set circular-trace-buffer on
13199@itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
13200@kindex set circular-trace-buffer
13201Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
13202for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
13203fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
13204data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
13205
13206@item show circular-trace-buffer
13207@kindex show circular-trace-buffer
13208Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
13209match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
13210match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
13211for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
13212
13213@end table
13214
13215@table @code
13216@item set trace-buffer-size @var{n}
13217@itemx set trace-buffer-size unlimited
13218@kindex set trace-buffer-size
13219Request that the target use a trace buffer of @var{n} bytes. Not all
13220targets will honor the request; they may have a compiled-in size for
13221the trace buffer, or some other limitation. Set to a value of
13222@code{unlimited} or @code{-1} to let the target use whatever size it
13223likes. This is also the default.
13224
13225@item show trace-buffer-size
13226@kindex show trace-buffer-size
13227Show the current requested size for the trace buffer. Note that this
13228will only match the actual size if the target supports size-setting,
13229and was able to handle the requested size. For instance, if the
13230target can only change buffer size between runs, this variable will
13231not reflect the change until the next run starts. Use @code{tstatus}
13232to get a report of the actual buffer size.
13233@end table
13234
13235@table @code
13236@item set trace-user @var{text}
13237@kindex set trace-user
13238
13239@item show trace-user
13240@kindex show trace-user
13241
13242@item set trace-notes @var{text}
13243@kindex set trace-notes
13244Set the trace run's notes.
13245
13246@item show trace-notes
13247@kindex show trace-notes
13248Show the trace run's notes.
13249
13250@item set trace-stop-notes @var{text}
13251@kindex set trace-stop-notes
13252Set the trace run's stop notes. The handling of the note is as for
13253@code{tstop} arguments; the set command is convenient way to fix a
13254stop note that is mistaken or incomplete.
13255
13256@item show trace-stop-notes
13257@kindex show trace-stop-notes
13258Show the trace run's stop notes.
13259
13260@end table
13261
13262@node Tracepoint Restrictions
13263@subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
13264
13265@cindex tracepoint restrictions
13266There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
13267described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
13268without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
13269the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
13270examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
13271collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
13272is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
13273mentioned here.
13274
13275@itemize @bullet
13276
13277@item
13278Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
13279the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
13280You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
13281convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
13282state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
13283functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
13284cannot be collected either.
13285
13286@item
13287Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
13288@code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
13289behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
13290instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
13291may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
13292tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
13293variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
13294tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
13295where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
13296program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
13297
13298@item
13299Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
13300may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
13301in a misleading way.
13302
13303@item
13304When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
13305dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
13306being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
13307not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
13308dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
13309collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
13310@code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
13311by @code{ptr}.
13312
13313@item
13314It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
13315tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
13316bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*(unsigned char *)$esp@@300}
13317(adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
13318target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
13319Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
13320using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
13321depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
13322if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
13323stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
13324invalid address.
13325
13326@item
13327If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
13328infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
13329the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
13330for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
13331multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
13332inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
13333@value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
13334it to zero.
13335
13336@end itemize
13337
13338@node Analyze Collected Data
13339@section Using the Collected Data
13340
13341After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
13342for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
13343collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
13344snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
13345consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
13346examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
13347specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
13348snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
13349registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
13350rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
13351debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
13352(@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
13353behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
13354when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
13355the buffer will fail.
13356
13357@menu
13358* tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
13359* tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
13360* save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
13361@end menu
13362
13363@node tfind
13364@subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
13365
13366@kindex tfind
13367@cindex select trace snapshot
13368@cindex find trace snapshot
13369The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
13370@code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
13371counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
13372snapshot is selected.
13373
13374Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
13375
13376@table @code
13377@item tfind start
13378Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
13379@code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
13380
13381@item tfind none
13382Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
13383
13384@item tfind end
13385Same as @samp{tfind none}.
13386
13387@item tfind
13388No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
13389
13390@item tfind -
13391Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
13392retracing earlier steps.
13393
13394@item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
13395Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
13396proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
13397argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
13398for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
13399
13400@item tfind pc @var{addr}
13401Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
13402program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
13403snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
13404snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
13405
13406@item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
13407Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
13408addresses (exclusive).
13409
13410@item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
13411Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
13412@var{addr2} (inclusive).
13413
13414@item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
13415Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
13416the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
13417that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
13418trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
13419next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
13420@code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
13421stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
13422@end table
13423
13424The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
13425designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
13426instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
13427snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
13428trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
13429simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
13430snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
13431@key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
13432The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
13433for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
13434no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
13435(PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
13436no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
13437tracepoint as the current one.
13438
13439In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
13440these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
13441scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
13442you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
13443registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
13444
13445@smallexample
13446(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
13447(@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
13448> printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
13449 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
13450> tfind
13451> end
13452
13453Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
13454Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
13455Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
13456Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
13457Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
13458Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
13459Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
13460Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
13461Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
13462Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
13463Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
13464@end smallexample
13465
13466Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
13467the buffer:
13468
13469@smallexample
13470(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
13471(@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
13472> printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
13473> tfind line
13474> end
13475
13476Frame 0, X = 1
13477Frame 7, X = 2
13478Frame 13, X = 255
13479@end smallexample
13480
13481@node tdump
13482@subsection @code{tdump}
13483@kindex tdump
13484@cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
13485@cindex tracepoint data, display
13486
13487This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
13488the current trace snapshot.
13489
13490@smallexample
13491(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
13492(@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
13493Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
13494> collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
13495> end
13496
13497(@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
13498
13499(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
13500#0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
13501at gdb_test.c:444
13502444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
13503
13504(@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
13505Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
13506d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
13507d1 0x18 24
13508d2 0x80 128
13509d3 0x33 51
13510d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
13511d5 0x22 34
13512d6 0xe0 224
13513d7 0x380035 3670069
13514a0 0x19e24a 1696330
13515a1 0x3000668 50333288
13516a2 0x100 256
13517a3 0x322000 3284992
13518a4 0x3000698 50333336
13519a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
13520fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
13521sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
13522ps 0x0 0
13523pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
13524fpcontrol 0x0 0
13525fpstatus 0x0 0
13526fpiaddr 0x0 0
13527p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
13528p1 = (void *) 0x11
13529p2 = (void *) 0x22
13530p3 = (void *) 0x33
13531p4 = (void *) 0x44
13532p5 = (void *) 0x55
13533p6 = (void *) 0x66
13534gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
13535
13536(@value{GDBP})
13537@end smallexample
13538
13539@code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
13540actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
13541@code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
13542actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
13543
13544Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
13545uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
13546frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
13547collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
13548to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
13549body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
13550then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
13551list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
13552same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
13553@c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
13554
13555@node save tracepoints
13556@subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
13557@kindex save tracepoints
13558@kindex save-tracepoints
13559@cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
13560
13561This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
13562their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
13563suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
13564tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
13565Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
13566alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
13567
13568@node Tracepoint Variables
13569@section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
13570@cindex tracepoint variables
13571@cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
13572
13573@table @code
13574@vindex $trace_frame
13575@item (int) $trace_frame
13576The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
13577snapshot is selected.
13578
13579@vindex $tracepoint
13580@item (int) $tracepoint
13581The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
13582
13583@vindex $trace_line
13584@item (int) $trace_line
13585The line number for the current trace snapshot.
13586
13587@vindex $trace_file
13588@item (char []) $trace_file
13589The source file for the current trace snapshot.
13590
13591@vindex $trace_func
13592@item (char []) $trace_func
13593The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
13594@end table
13595
13596Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
13597use @code{output} instead.
13598
13599Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
13600stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
13601data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
13602which are managed by the target.
13603
13604@smallexample
13605(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
13606
13607(@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
13608> output $trace_file
13609> printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
13610> tfind
13611> end
13612@end smallexample
13613
13614@node Trace Files
13615@section Using Trace Files
13616@cindex trace files
13617
13618In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
13619longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
13620for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
13621dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
13622of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
13623
13624@table @code
13625
13626@kindex tsave
13627@item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
13628@itemx tsave [-ctf] @var{dirname}
13629Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
13630assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
13631necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
13632then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
13633optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
13634the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
13635more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
13636@code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
13637By default, this command will save trace frame in tfile format.
13638You can supply the optional argument @code{-ctf} to save date in CTF
13639format. The @dfn{Common Trace Format} (CTF) is proposed as a trace format
13640that can be shared by multiple debugging and tracing tools. Please go to
13641@indicateurl{http://www.efficios.com/ctf} to get more information.
13642
13643@kindex target tfile
13644@kindex tfile
13645@kindex target ctf
13646@kindex ctf
13647@item target tfile @var{filename}
13648@itemx target ctf @var{dirname}
13649Use the file named @var{filename} or directory named @var{dirname} as
13650a source of trace data. Commands that examine data work as they do with
13651a live target, but it is not possible to run any new trace experiments.
13652@code{tstatus} will report the state of the trace run at the moment
13653the data was saved, as well as the current trace frame you are examining.
13654Both @var{filename} and @var{dirname} must be on a filesystem accessible to
13655the host.
13656
13657@smallexample
13658(@value{GDBP}) target ctf ctf.ctf
13659(@value{GDBP}) tfind
13660Found trace frame 0, tracepoint 2
1366139 ++a; /* set tracepoint 1 here */
13662(@value{GDBP}) tdump
13663Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 0:
13664i = 0
13665a = 0
13666b = 1 '\001'
13667c = @{"123", "456", "789", "123", "456", "789"@}
13668d = @{@{@{a = 1, b = 2@}, @{a = 3, b = 4@}@}, @{@{a = 5, b = 6@}, @{a = 7, b = 8@}@}@}
13669(@value{GDBP}) p b
13670$1 = 1
13671@end smallexample
13672
13673@end table
13674
13675@node Overlays
13676@chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
13677@cindex overlays
13678
13679If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
13680memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
13681problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
13682use overlays.
13683
13684@menu
13685* How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
13686* Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
13687* Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
13688 mapped by asking the inferior.
13689* Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
13690@end menu
13691
13692@node How Overlays Work
13693@section How Overlays Work
13694@cindex mapped overlays
13695@cindex unmapped overlays
13696@cindex load address, overlay's
13697@cindex mapped address
13698@cindex overlay area
13699
13700Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
13701kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
13702other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
13703management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
13704adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
13705
13706One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
13707independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
13708@dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
13709their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
13710instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
13711largest overlay as well.
13712
13713Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
13714overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
13715for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
13716there.
13717
13718@c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
13719@c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
13720@c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
13721
13722@smallexample
13723@group
13724 Data Instruction Larger
13725Address Space Address Space Address Space
13726+-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
13727| | | | | |
13728+-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
13729| program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
13730| variables | | program | | +-----------+
13731| and heap | | | | | |
13732+-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
13733| | +-----------+ | | | load address
13734+-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
13735 | | | | | |
13736 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
13737 address | | | | | |
13738 | overlay | <-' | | |
13739 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
13740 | | <---. | | load address
13741 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
13742 | | | |
13743 +-----------+ | |
13744 +-----------+
13745 | |
13746 +-----------+
13747
13748 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
13749@end group
13750@end smallexample
13751
13752The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
13753and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
13754its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
13755Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
13756may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
13757data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
13758program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
13759program and the overlay area.
13760
13761An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
13762@dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
13763instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
13764in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
13765is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
13766the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
13767called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
13768
13769Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
13770program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
13771global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
13772
13773@itemize @bullet
13774
13775@item
13776Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
13777must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
13778return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
13779overlay, and your program will probably crash.
13780
13781@item
13782If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
13783will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
13784your program's performance.
13785
13786@item
13787The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
13788overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
13789mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
13790and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
13791You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
13792addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
13793ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
13794
13795@item
13796The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
13797to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
13798instruction and data spaces.
13799
13800@end itemize
13801
13802The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
13803improved in many ways:
13804
13805@itemize @bullet
13806
13807@item
13808If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
13809hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
13810contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
13811This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
13812area in the usual way.
13813
13814@item
13815If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
13816overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
13817
13818@item
13819You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
13820general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
13821code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
13822return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
13823the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
13824must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
13825different data overlay into the same mapped area.
13826
13827@end itemize
13828
13829
13830@node Overlay Commands
13831@section Overlay Commands
13832
13833To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
13834correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
13835virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
13836mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
13837@value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
13838variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
13839
13840@value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
13841you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
13842
13843@table @code
13844@item overlay off
13845@kindex overlay
13846Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
13847disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
13848always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
13849overlay support is disabled.
13850
13851@item overlay manual
13852@cindex manual overlay debugging
13853Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
13854relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
13855using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
13856commands described below.
13857
13858@item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
13859@itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
13860@cindex map an overlay
13861Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
13862be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
13863overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
13864functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
13865that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
13866@var{overlay} are now unmapped.
13867
13868@item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
13869@itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
13870@cindex unmap an overlay
13871Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
13872must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
13873When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
13874overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
13875
13876@item overlay auto
13877Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
13878consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
13879to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
13880Overlay Debugging}.
13881
13882@item overlay load-target
13883@itemx overlay load
13884@cindex reloading the overlay table
13885Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
13886re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
13887stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
13888overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
13889useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
13890
13891@item overlay list-overlays
13892@itemx overlay list
13893@cindex listing mapped overlays
13894Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
13895addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
13896
13897@end table
13898
13899Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
13900of the function the address falls in:
13901
13902@smallexample
13903(@value{GDBP}) print main
13904$3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
13905@end smallexample
13906@noindent
13907When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
13908unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
13909asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
13910unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
13911
13912@smallexample
13913(@value{GDBP}) overlay list
13914No sections are mapped.
13915(@value{GDBP}) print foo
13916$5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
13917@end smallexample
13918@noindent
13919When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
13920name normally:
13921
13922@smallexample
13923(@value{GDBP}) overlay list
13924Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
13925 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
13926(@value{GDBP}) print foo
13927$6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
13928@end smallexample
13929
13930When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
13931address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
13932overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
13933@code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
13934code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
13935
13936@itemize @bullet
13937@item
13938@cindex breakpoints in overlays
13939@cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
13940You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
13941@value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
13942@item
13943@value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
13944unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
13945overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
13946you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
13947breakpoints properly.
13948@end itemize
13949
13950
13951@node Automatic Overlay Debugging
13952@section Automatic Overlay Debugging
13953@cindex automatic overlay debugging
13954
13955@value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
13956are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
13957inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
13958@code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
13959looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
13960current state of the overlays.
13961
13962Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
13963@value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
13964
13965@table @asis
13966
13967@item @code{_ovly_table}:
13968This variable must be an array of the following structures:
13969
13970@smallexample
13971struct
13972@{
13973 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
13974 unsigned long vma;
13975
13976 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
13977 unsigned long size;
13978
13979 /* The overlay's load address. */
13980 unsigned long lma;
13981
13982 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
13983 zero otherwise. */
13984 unsigned long mapped;
13985@}
13986@end smallexample
13987
13988@item @code{_novlys}:
13989This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
13990number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
13991
13992@end table
13993
13994To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
13995looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
13996@code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
13997executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
13998the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
13999currently mapped.
14000
14001In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
14002@code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
14003will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
14004calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
14005will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
14006are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
14007in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
14008overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
14009are not being executed.
14010
14011@node Overlay Sample Program
14012@section Overlay Sample Program
14013@cindex overlay example program
14014
14015When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
14016at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
14017addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
14018Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
14019since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
14020architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
14021portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
14022
14023However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
14024program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
14025suite. The program consists of the following files from
14026@file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
14027
14028@table @file
14029@item overlays.c
14030The main program file.
14031@item ovlymgr.c
14032A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
14033@item foo.c
14034@itemx bar.c
14035@itemx baz.c
14036@itemx grbx.c
14037Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
14038@item d10v.ld
14039@itemx m32r.ld
14040Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
14041and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
14042@end table
14043
14044You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
14045cross-compiler like this:
14046
14047@smallexample
14048$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
14049$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
14050$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
14051$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
14052$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
14053$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
14054$ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
14055 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
14056@end smallexample
14057
14058The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
14059you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
14060target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
14061
14062
14063@node Languages
14064@chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
14065@cindex languages
14066
14067Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
14068rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
14069dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
14070Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
14071represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
14072@samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
14073
14074@cindex working language
14075Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
14076allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
14077native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
14078consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
14079language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
14080language}.
14081
14082@menu
14083* Setting:: Switching between source languages
14084* Show:: Displaying the language
14085* Checks:: Type and range checks
14086* Supported Languages:: Supported languages
14087* Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
14088@end menu
14089
14090@node Setting
14091@section Switching Between Source Languages
14092
14093There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
14094set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
14095@code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
14096defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
14097used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
14098are printed, etc.
14099
14100In addition to the working language, every source file that
14101@value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
14102file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
14103source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
14104language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
14105controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
14106show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
14107set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
14108set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
14109Displaying the Language}.
14110
14111This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
14112as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
14113another language. In that case, make the
14114program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
14115@value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
14116program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
14117
14118@menu
14119* Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
14120* Manually:: Setting the working language manually
14121* Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
14122@end menu
14123
14124@node Filenames
14125@subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
14126
14127If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
14128@value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
14129
14130@table @file
14131@item .ada
14132@itemx .ads
14133@itemx .adb
14134@itemx .a
14135Ada source file.
14136
14137@item .c
14138C source file
14139
14140@item .C
14141@itemx .cc
14142@itemx .cp
14143@itemx .cpp
14144@itemx .cxx
14145@itemx .c++
14146C@t{++} source file
14147
14148@item .d
14149D source file
14150
14151@item .m
14152Objective-C source file
14153
14154@item .f
14155@itemx .F
14156Fortran source file
14157
14158@item .mod
14159Modula-2 source file
14160
14161@item .s
14162@itemx .S
14163Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
14164@value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
14165@end table
14166
14167In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
14168extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
14169
14170@node Manually
14171@subsection Setting the Working Language
14172
14173If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
14174expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
14175your program.
14176
14177@kindex set language
14178If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
14179command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
14180a language, such as
14181@code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
14182For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
14183
14184Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
14185language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
14186to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
14187source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
14188languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
14189source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
14190command such as:
14191
14192@smallexample
14193print a = b + c
14194@end smallexample
14195
14196@noindent
14197might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
14198@code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
14199printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
14200@code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
14201
14202@node Automatically
14203@subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
14204
14205To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
14206@samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
14207then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
14208frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
14209working language to the language recorded for the function in that
14210frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
14211or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
14212does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
14213not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
14214
14215This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
14216entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
14217written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
14218a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
14219case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
14220
14221@node Show
14222@section Displaying the Language
14223
14224The following commands help you find out which language is the
14225working language, and also what language source files were written in.
14226
14227@table @code
14228@item show language
14229@anchor{show language}
14230@kindex show language
14231Display the current working language. This is the
14232language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
14233build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
14234
14235@item info frame
14236@kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
14237Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
14238working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
14239@xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
14240information listed here.
14241
14242@item info source
14243@kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
14244Display the source language of this source file.
14245@xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
14246information listed here.
14247@end table
14248
14249In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
14250not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
14251with a language explicitly:
14252
14253@table @code
14254@item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
14255@kindex set extension-language
14256Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
14257assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
14258
14259@item info extensions
14260@kindex info extensions
14261List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
14262@end table
14263
14264@node Checks
14265@section Type and Range Checking
14266
14267Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
14268errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
14269checking the type of arguments to functions and operators and making
14270sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
14271these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
14272by eliminating type mismatches and providing active checks for range
14273errors when your program is running.
14274
14275By default @value{GDBN} checks for these errors according to the
14276rules of the current source language. Although @value{GDBN} does not check
14277the statements in your program, it can check expressions entered directly
14278into @value{GDBN} for evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example.
14279
14280@menu
14281* Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
14282* Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
14283@end menu
14284
14285@cindex type checking
14286@cindex checks, type
14287@node Type Checking
14288@subsection An Overview of Type Checking
14289
14290Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, are strongly typed, meaning that the
14291arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
14292otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
14293errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
14294
14295@smallexample
14296int klass::my_method(char *b) @{ return b ? 1 : 2; @}
14297
14298(@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0)
14299$1 = 2
14300@exdent but
14301(@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0x1234)
14302Cannot resolve method klass::my_method to any overloaded instance
14303@end smallexample
14304
14305The second example fails because in C@t{++} the integer constant
14306@samp{0x1234} is not type-compatible with the pointer parameter type.
14307
14308For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
14309@value{GDBN} to not enforce strict type checking or
14310to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
14311When type checking is disabled, @value{GDBN} successfully evaluates
14312expressions like the second example above.
14313
14314Even if type checking is off, there may be other reasons
14315related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
14316For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
14317a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
14318with the language in use and usually arise from expressions which make
14319little sense to evaluate anyway.
14320
14321@value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling type checking:
14322
14323@kindex set check type
14324@kindex show check type
14325@table @code
14326@item set check type on
14327@itemx set check type off
14328Set strict type checking on or off. If any type mismatches occur in
14329evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
14330message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
14331
14332@item show check type
14333Show the current setting of type checking and whether @value{GDBN}
14334is enforcing strict type checking rules.
14335@end table
14336
14337@cindex range checking
14338@cindex checks, range
14339@node Range Checking
14340@subsection An Overview of Range Checking
14341
14342In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
14343bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
14344checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
14345computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
14346not exceed the bounds of the array.
14347
14348For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
14349@value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
14350always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
14351warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
14352
14353A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
14354array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
14355of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
14356error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
14357result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
14358the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
14359
14360@smallexample
14361@var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
14362@end smallexample
14363
14364This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
14365specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
14366Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
14367
14368@value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
14369
14370@kindex set check range
14371@kindex show check range
14372@table @code
14373@item set check range auto
14374Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
14375@xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
14376each language.
14377
14378@item set check range on
14379@itemx set check range off
14380Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
14381current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
14382match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
14383then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
14384
14385@item set check range warn
14386Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
14387but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
14388expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
14389memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
14390systems).
14391
14392@item show range
14393Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
14394being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
14395@end table
14396
14397@node Supported Languages
14398@section Supported Languages
14399
14400@value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Go, Objective-C, Fortran, Java,
14401OpenCL C, Pascal, assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
14402@c This is false ...
14403Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
14404language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
14405and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
14406,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
14407language.
14408
14409The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
14410supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
14411tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
14412@value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
14413formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
14414books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
14415language reference or tutorial.
14416
14417@menu
14418* C:: C and C@t{++}
14419* D:: D
14420* Go:: Go
14421* Objective-C:: Objective-C
14422* OpenCL C:: OpenCL C
14423* Fortran:: Fortran
14424* Pascal:: Pascal
14425* Modula-2:: Modula-2
14426* Ada:: Ada
14427@end menu
14428
14429@node C
14430@subsection C and C@t{++}
14431
14432@cindex C and C@t{++}
14433@cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
14434
14435Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
14436to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
14437together.
14438
14439@cindex C@t{++}
14440@cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
14441@cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
14442The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
14443compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
14444effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
14445C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
14446compiler (@code{aCC}).
14447
14448@menu
14449* C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
14450* C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
14451* C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
14452* C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
14453* C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
14454* Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
14455* Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
14456* Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
14457@end menu
14458
14459@node C Operators
14460@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
14461
14462@cindex C and C@t{++} operators
14463
14464Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
14465@code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
14466often defined on groups of types.
14467
14468For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
14469
14470@itemize @bullet
14471
14472@item
14473@emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
14474specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
14475
14476@item
14477@emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
14478@code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
14479
14480@item
14481@emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
14482
14483@item
14484@emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
14485
14486@end itemize
14487
14488@noindent
14489The following operators are supported. They are listed here
14490in order of increasing precedence:
14491
14492@table @code
14493@item ,
14494The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
14495are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
14496expression being the last expression evaluated.
14497
14498@item =
14499Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
14500assigned. Defined on scalar types.
14501
14502@item @var{op}=
14503Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
14504and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
14505@w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence. The operator
14506@var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
14507@code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
14508
14509@item ?:
14510The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
14511of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. The argument @var{a}
14512should be of an integral type.
14513
14514@item ||
14515Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
14516
14517@item &&
14518Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
14519
14520@item |
14521Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
14522
14523@item ^
14524Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
14525
14526@item &
14527Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
14528
14529@item ==@r{, }!=
14530Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
14531expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
14532
14533@item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
14534Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
14535Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
14536and non-zero for true.
14537
14538@item <<@r{, }>>
14539left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
14540
14541@item @@
14542The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
14543
14544@item +@r{, }-
14545Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
14546pointer types.
14547
14548@item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
14549Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
14550defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
14551integral types.
14552
14553@item ++@r{, }--
14554Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
14555operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
14556when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
14557operation takes place.
14558
14559@item *
14560Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
14561@code{++}.
14562
14563@item &
14564Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
14565
14566For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
14567allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
14568to examine the address
14569where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
14570stored.
14571
14572@item -
14573Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
14574precedence as @code{++}.
14575
14576@item !
14577Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
14578@code{++}.
14579
14580@item ~
14581Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
14582@code{++}.
14583
14584
14585@item .@r{, }->
14586Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
14587@value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
14588pointer based on the stored type information.
14589Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
14590
14591@item .*@r{, }->*
14592Dereferences of pointers to members.
14593
14594@item []
14595Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
14596@code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
14597
14598@item ()
14599Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
14600
14601@item ::
14602C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
14603and @code{class} types.
14604
14605@item ::
14606Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
14607(@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
14608above.
14609@end table
14610
14611If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
14612attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
14613predefined meaning.
14614
14615@node C Constants
14616@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
14617
14618@cindex C and C@t{++} constants
14619
14620@value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
14621following ways:
14622
14623@itemize @bullet
14624@item
14625Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
14626specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
14627by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
14628@samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
14629@code{long} value.
14630
14631@item
14632Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
14633point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
14634exponent. An exponent is of the form:
14635@samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
14636sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
14637A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
14638@samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
14639the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
14640a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
14641constant.
14642
14643@item
14644Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
14645integral equivalents.
14646
14647@item
14648Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
14649(@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
14650(usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
14651be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
14652the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
14653of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
14654@samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
14655@samp{\n} for newline.
14656
14657Wide character constants can be written by prefixing a character
14658constant with @samp{L}, as in C. For example, @samp{L'x'} is the wide
14659form of @samp{x}. The target wide character set is used when
14660computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
14661
14662@item
14663String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
14664double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
14665above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
14666a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
14667characters.
14668
14669Wide string constants can be written by prefixing a string constant
14670with @samp{L}, as in C. The target wide character set is used when
14671computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
14672
14673@item
14674Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
14675to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
14676
14677@item
14678Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
14679and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
14680integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
14681and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
14682@end itemize
14683
14684@node C Plus Plus Expressions
14685@subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
14686
14687@cindex expressions in C@t{++}
14688@value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
14689
14690@cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
14691@cindex C@t{++} compilers
14692@cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
14693@cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
14694@quotation
14695@emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use
14696the proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently,
14697@value{GDBN} works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled
14698with the most recent version of @value{NGCC} possible. The DWARF
14699debugging format is preferred; @value{NGCC} defaults to this on most
14700popular platforms. Other compilers and/or debug formats are likely to
14701work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug C@t{++}
14702code. @xref{Compilation}.
14703@end quotation
14704
14705@enumerate
14706
14707@cindex member functions
14708@item
14709Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
14710
14711@smallexample
14712count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
14713@end smallexample
14714
14715@vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
14716@cindex namespace in C@t{++}
14717@item
14718While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
14719expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
14720that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
14721pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}. @code{using}
14722declarations in the current scope are also respected by @value{GDBN}.
14723
14724@cindex call overloaded functions
14725@cindex overloaded functions, calling
14726@cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
14727@item
14728You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
14729call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
14730perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
14731calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
14732in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
14733default arguments.
14734
14735It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
14736promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
14737class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
14738functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
14739number of function arguments.
14740
14741Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
14742@code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
14743,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
14744
14745You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
14746explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
14747@smallexample
14748p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
14749@end smallexample
14750
14751The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
14752see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
14753
14754@cindex reference declarations
14755@item
14756@value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
14757them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
14758dereferenced.
14759
14760In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
14761reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
14762avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
14763The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
14764you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
14765
14766@item
14767@value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
14768expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
14769one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
14770necessary, for example in an expression like
14771@samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
14772resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
14773debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
14774
14775@item
14776@value{GDBN} performs argument-dependent lookup, following the C@t{++}
14777specification.
14778@end enumerate
14779
14780@node C Defaults
14781@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
14782
14783@cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
14784
14785If you allow @value{GDBN} to set range checking automatically, it
14786defaults to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
14787C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
14788selects the working language.
14789
14790If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
14791recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
14792@file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
14793these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
14794@xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
14795for further details.
14796
14797@node C Checks
14798@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
14799
14800@cindex C and C@t{++} checks
14801
14802By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, strict type
14803checking is used. However, if you turn type checking off, @value{GDBN}
14804will allow certain non-standard conversions, such as promoting integer
14805constants to pointers.
14806
14807Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
14808indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
14809that is not itself an array.
14810
14811@node Debugging C
14812@subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
14813
14814The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
14815the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
14816inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
14817appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
14818
14819The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
14820with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
14821,Expressions}.
14822
14823@node Debugging C Plus Plus
14824@subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
14825
14826@cindex commands for C@t{++}
14827
14828Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
14829designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
14830
14831@table @code
14832@cindex break in overloaded functions
14833@item @r{breakpoint menus}
14834When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
14835@value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
14836locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
14837@xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
14838
14839@cindex overloading in C@t{++}
14840@item rbreak @var{regex}
14841Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
14842breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
14843classes.
14844@xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
14845
14846@cindex C@t{++} exception handling
14847@item catch throw
14848@itemx catch rethrow
14849@itemx catch catch
14850Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
14851Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
14852
14853@cindex inheritance
14854@item ptype @var{typename}
14855Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
14856@var{typename}.
14857@xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
14858
14859@item info vtbl @var{expression}.
14860The @code{info vtbl} command can be used to display the virtual
14861method tables of the object computed by @var{expression}. This shows
14862one entry per virtual table; there may be multiple virtual tables when
14863multiple inheritance is in use.
14864
14865@cindex C@t{++} demangling
14866@item demangle @var{name}
14867Demangle @var{name}.
14868@xref{Symbols}, for a more complete description of the @code{demangle} command.
14869
14870@cindex C@t{++} symbol display
14871@item set print demangle
14872@itemx show print demangle
14873@itemx set print asm-demangle
14874@itemx show print asm-demangle
14875Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
14876displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
14877@xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
14878
14879@item set print object
14880@itemx show print object
14881Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
14882@xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
14883
14884@item set print vtbl
14885@itemx show print vtbl
14886Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
14887@xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
14888(The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
14889ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
14890
14891@kindex set overload-resolution
14892@cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
14893@item set overload-resolution on
14894Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
14895is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
14896and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
14897using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
14898Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
14899If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
14900
14901@item set overload-resolution off
14902Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
14903overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
14904chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
14905symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
14906overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
14907searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
14908argument types.
14909
14910@kindex show overload-resolution
14911@item show overload-resolution
14912Show the current setting of overload resolution.
14913
14914@item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
14915You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
14916the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
14917@code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
14918also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
14919available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
14920@xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
14921@end table
14922
14923@node Decimal Floating Point
14924@subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
14925@cindex decimal floating point format
14926
14927@value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
14928decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
14929@code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
14930specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
14931
14932There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
14933Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
14934PowerPC and S/390. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the
14935configured target.
14936
14937Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
14938to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
14939(using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
14940
14941In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
14942point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
14943underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
14944
14945In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
14946to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
14947See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
14948
14949@node D
14950@subsection D
14951
14952@cindex D
14953@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
14954GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
14955specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
14956
14957@node Go
14958@subsection Go
14959
14960@cindex Go (programming language)
14961@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Go and compiled with
14962@file{gccgo} or @file{6g} compilers.
14963
14964Here is a summary of the Go-specific features and restrictions:
14965
14966@table @code
14967@cindex current Go package
14968@item The current Go package
14969The name of the current package does not need to be specified when
14970specifying global variables and functions.
14971
14972For example, given the program:
14973
14974@example
14975package main
14976var myglob = "Shall we?"
14977func main () @{
14978 // ...
14979@}
14980@end example
14981
14982When stopped inside @code{main} either of these work:
14983
14984@example
14985(gdb) p myglob
14986(gdb) p main.myglob
14987@end example
14988
14989@cindex builtin Go types
14990@item Builtin Go types
14991The @code{string} type is recognized by @value{GDBN} and is printed
14992as a string.
14993
14994@cindex builtin Go functions
14995@item Builtin Go functions
14996The @value{GDBN} expression parser recognizes the @code{unsafe.Sizeof}
14997function and handles it internally.
14998
14999@cindex restrictions on Go expressions
15000@item Restrictions on Go expressions
15001All Go operators are supported except @code{&^}.
15002The Go @code{_} ``blank identifier'' is not supported.
15003Automatic dereferencing of pointers is not supported.
15004@end table
15005
15006@node Objective-C
15007@subsection Objective-C
15008
15009@cindex Objective-C
15010This section provides information about some commands and command
15011options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
15012@ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
15013few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
15014
15015@menu
15016* Method Names in Commands::
15017* The Print Command with Objective-C::
15018@end menu
15019
15020@node Method Names in Commands
15021@subsubsection Method Names in Commands
15022
15023The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
15024names as line specifications:
15025
15026@kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
15027@kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
15028@kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
15029@kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
15030@kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
15031@itemize
15032@item @code{clear}
15033@item @code{break}
15034@item @code{info line}
15035@item @code{jump}
15036@item @code{list}
15037@end itemize
15038
15039A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
15040
15041@smallexample
15042-[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
15043@end smallexample
15044
15045where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
15046plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
15047name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
15048brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
15049source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
15050instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
15051debugged, enter:
15052
15053@smallexample
15054break -[Fruit create]
15055@end smallexample
15056
15057To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
15058enter:
15059
15060@smallexample
15061list +[NSText initialize]
15062@end smallexample
15063
15064In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
15065required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
15066sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
15067is also possible to specify just a method name:
15068
15069@smallexample
15070break create
15071@end smallexample
15072
15073You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
15074your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
15075you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
15076method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
15077none apply.
15078
15079As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
15080@code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
15081
15082@smallexample
15083clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
15084@end smallexample
15085
15086@node The Print Command with Objective-C
15087@subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
15088@cindex Objective-C, print objects
15089@kindex print-object
15090@kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
15091
15092The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
15093
15094@smallexample
15095print -[@var{object} hash]
15096@end smallexample
15097
15098@cindex print an Objective-C object description
15099@cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
15100@noindent
15101will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
15102and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
15103@code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
15104the description of an object. However, this command may only work
15105with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
15106function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
15107
15108@node OpenCL C
15109@subsection OpenCL C
15110
15111@cindex OpenCL C
15112This section provides information about @value{GDBN}s OpenCL C support.
15113
15114@menu
15115* OpenCL C Datatypes::
15116* OpenCL C Expressions::
15117* OpenCL C Operators::
15118@end menu
15119
15120@node OpenCL C Datatypes
15121@subsubsection OpenCL C Datatypes
15122
15123@cindex OpenCL C Datatypes
15124@value{GDBN} supports the builtin scalar and vector datatypes specified
15125by OpenCL 1.1. In addition the half- and double-precision floating point
15126data types of the @code{cl_khr_fp16} and @code{cl_khr_fp64} OpenCL
15127extensions are also known to @value{GDBN}.
15128
15129@node OpenCL C Expressions
15130@subsubsection OpenCL C Expressions
15131
15132@cindex OpenCL C Expressions
15133@value{GDBN} supports accesses to vector components including the access as
15134lvalue where possible. Since OpenCL C is based on C99 most C expressions
15135supported by @value{GDBN} can be used as well.
15136
15137@node OpenCL C Operators
15138@subsubsection OpenCL C Operators
15139
15140@cindex OpenCL C Operators
15141@value{GDBN} supports the operators specified by OpenCL 1.1 for scalar and
15142vector data types.
15143
15144@node Fortran
15145@subsection Fortran
15146@cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
15147
15148@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
15149currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
15150
15151@cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
15152Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
15153among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
15154functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
15155will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
15156underscore.
15157
15158@menu
15159* Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
15160* Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
15161* Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
15162@end menu
15163
15164@node Fortran Operators
15165@subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
15166
15167@cindex Fortran operators and expressions
15168
15169Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
15170@code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
15171arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
15172
15173@table @code
15174@item **
15175The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
15176of the second one.
15177
15178@item :
15179The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
15180represent a section of array.
15181
15182@item %
15183The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
15184types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
15185this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
15186union type.
15187@end table
15188
15189@node Fortran Defaults
15190@subsubsection Fortran Defaults
15191
15192@cindex Fortran Defaults
15193
15194Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
15195default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
15196change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
15197@ref{Symbols}, for the details.
15198
15199@node Special Fortran Commands
15200@subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
15201
15202@cindex Special Fortran commands
15203
15204@value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
15205such as displaying common blocks.
15206
15207@table @code
15208@cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
15209@kindex info common
15210@item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
15211This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
15212block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
15213all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
15214printed.
15215@end table
15216
15217@node Pascal
15218@subsection Pascal
15219
15220@cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
15221Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
15222nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
15223entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
15224syntax.
15225
15226The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
15227controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
15228@xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
15229
15230@node Modula-2
15231@subsection Modula-2
15232
15233@cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
15234
15235The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
15236output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
15237developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
15238attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
15239to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
15240table.
15241
15242@cindex expressions in Modula-2
15243@menu
15244* M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
15245* Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
15246* M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
15247* M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
15248* M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
15249* Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
15250* M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
15251* M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
15252* GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
15253@end menu
15254
15255@node M2 Operators
15256@subsubsection Operators
15257@cindex Modula-2 operators
15258
15259Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
15260@code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
15261often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
15262following definitions hold:
15263
15264@itemize @bullet
15265
15266@item
15267@emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
15268their subranges.
15269
15270@item
15271@emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
15272
15273@item
15274@emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
15275
15276@item
15277@emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
15278@var{type}}.
15279
15280@item
15281@emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
15282
15283@item
15284@emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
15285
15286@item
15287@emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
15288@end itemize
15289
15290@noindent
15291The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
15292increasing precedence:
15293
15294@table @code
15295@item ,
15296Function argument or array index separator.
15297
15298@item :=
15299Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
15300@var{value}.
15301
15302@item <@r{, }>
15303Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
15304types.
15305
15306@item <=@r{, }>=
15307Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
15308on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
15309set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
15310
15311@item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
15312Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
15313Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
15314available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
15315comment character.
15316
15317@item IN
15318Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
15319Same precedence as @code{<}.
15320
15321@item OR
15322Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
15323
15324@item AND@r{, }&
15325Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
15326
15327@item @@
15328The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
15329
15330@item +@r{, }-
15331Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
15332and difference on set types.
15333
15334@item *
15335Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
15336on set types.
15337
15338@item /
15339Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
15340types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
15341
15342@item DIV@r{, }MOD
15343Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
15344precedence as @code{*}.
15345
15346@item -
15347Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
15348
15349@item ^
15350Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
15351
15352@item NOT
15353Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
15354@code{^}.
15355
15356@item .
15357@code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
15358precedence as @code{^}.
15359
15360@item []
15361Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
15362
15363@item ()
15364Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
15365as @code{^}.
15366
15367@item ::@r{, }.
15368@value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
15369@end table
15370
15371@quotation
15372@emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
15373treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
15374@code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
15375@code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
15376@end quotation
15377
15378
15379@node Built-In Func/Proc
15380@subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
15381@cindex Modula-2 built-ins
15382
15383Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
15384In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
15385
15386@table @var
15387
15388@item a
15389represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
15390
15391@item c
15392represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
15393
15394@item i
15395represents a variable or constant of integral type.
15396
15397@item m
15398represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
15399same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
15400be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
15401
15402@item n
15403represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
15404
15405@item r
15406represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
15407
15408@item t
15409represents a type.
15410
15411@item v
15412represents a variable.
15413
15414@item x
15415represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
15416explanation of the function for details.
15417@end table
15418
15419All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
15420
15421@table @code
15422@item ABS(@var{n})
15423Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
15424
15425@item CAP(@var{c})
15426If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
15427equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
15428
15429@item CHR(@var{i})
15430Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
15431
15432@item DEC(@var{v})
15433Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
15434
15435@item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
15436Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
15437new value.
15438
15439@item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
15440Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
15441set.
15442
15443@item FLOAT(@var{i})
15444Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
15445
15446@item HIGH(@var{a})
15447Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
15448
15449@item INC(@var{v})
15450Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
15451
15452@item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
15453Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
15454new value.
15455
15456@item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
15457Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
15458there. Returns the new set.
15459
15460@item MAX(@var{t})
15461Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
15462
15463@item MIN(@var{t})
15464Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
15465
15466@item ODD(@var{i})
15467Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
15468
15469@item ORD(@var{x})
15470Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
15471value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting
15472the @sc{ascii} character set). The argument @var{x} must be of an
15473ordered type, which include integral, character and enumerated types.
15474
15475@item SIZE(@var{x})
15476Returns the size of its argument. The argument @var{x} can be a
15477variable or a type.
15478
15479@item TRUNC(@var{r})
15480Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
15481
15482@item TSIZE(@var{x})
15483Returns the size of its argument. The argument @var{x} can be a
15484variable or a type.
15485
15486@item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
15487Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
15488@end table
15489
15490@quotation
15491@emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
15492@value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
15493an error.
15494@end quotation
15495
15496@cindex Modula-2 constants
15497@node M2 Constants
15498@subsubsection Constants
15499
15500@value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
15501ways:
15502
15503@itemize @bullet
15504
15505@item
15506Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
15507expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
15508rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
15509trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
15510
15511@item
15512Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
15513decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
15514then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
15515@samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
15516digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
15517digits.
15518
15519@item
15520Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
15521like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
15522also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
15523followed by a @samp{C}.
15524
15525@item
15526String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
15527pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
15528Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
15529Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
15530sequences.
15531
15532@item
15533Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
15534
15535@item
15536Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
15537@code{FALSE}.
15538
15539@item
15540Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
15541
15542@item
15543Set constants are not yet supported.
15544@end itemize
15545
15546@node M2 Types
15547@subsubsection Modula-2 Types
15548@cindex Modula-2 types
15549
15550Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
15551syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
15552types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
15553print the contents of variables declared using these type.
15554This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
15555sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
15556
15557The first example contains the following section of code:
15558
15559@smallexample
15560VAR
15561 s: SET OF CHAR ;
15562 r: [20..40] ;
15563@end smallexample
15564
15565@noindent
15566and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
15567@code{r} and @code{s}.
15568
15569@smallexample
15570(@value{GDBP}) print s
15571@{'A'..'C', 'Z'@}
15572(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
15573SET OF CHAR
15574(@value{GDBP}) print r
1557521
15576(@value{GDBP}) ptype r
15577[20..40]
15578@end smallexample
15579
15580@noindent
15581Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
15582
15583@smallexample
15584VAR
15585 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
15586@end smallexample
15587
15588@noindent
15589then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
15590
15591@smallexample
15592(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
15593type = SET ['A'..'Z']
15594@end smallexample
15595
15596@noindent
15597Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
15598expressions using the debugger.
15599
15600The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
15601and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
15602
15603@smallexample
15604VAR
15605 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
15606@end smallexample
15607
15608@smallexample
15609(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
15610ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
15611@end smallexample
15612
15613Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
15614is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
15615arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
15616above.
15617
15618Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
15619
15620@smallexample
15621TYPE
15622 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
15623 t = [blue..yellow] ;
15624VAR
15625 s: t ;
15626BEGIN
15627 s := blue ;
15628@end smallexample
15629
15630@noindent
15631The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
15632and value of a variable.
15633
15634@smallexample
15635(@value{GDBP}) print s
15636$1 = blue
15637(@value{GDBP}) ptype t
15638type = [blue..yellow]
15639@end smallexample
15640
15641@noindent
15642In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
15643displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
15644their @code{C} counterparts.
15645
15646@smallexample
15647VAR
15648 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
15649BEGIN
15650 s[1] := 1 ;
15651@end smallexample
15652
15653@smallexample
15654(@value{GDBP}) print s
15655$1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
15656(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
15657type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
15658@end smallexample
15659
15660The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
15661pointer types as shown in this example:
15662
15663@smallexample
15664VAR
15665 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
15666BEGIN
15667 NEW(s) ;
15668 s^[1] := 1 ;
15669@end smallexample
15670
15671@noindent
15672and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
15673
15674@smallexample
15675(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
15676type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
15677@end smallexample
15678
15679@value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
15680Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
15681types:
15682
15683@smallexample
15684TYPE
15685 foo = RECORD
15686 f1: CARDINAL ;
15687 f2: CHAR ;
15688 f3: myarray ;
15689 END ;
15690
15691 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
15692 myrange = [-2..2] ;
15693VAR
15694 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
15695@end smallexample
15696
15697@noindent
15698and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
15699below.
15700
15701@smallexample
15702(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
15703type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
15704 f1 : CARDINAL;
15705 f2 : CHAR;
15706 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
15707END
15708@end smallexample
15709
15710@node M2 Defaults
15711@subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
15712@cindex Modula-2 defaults
15713
15714If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
15715both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
15716Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
15717selected the working language.
15718
15719If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
15720code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
15721working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
15722Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
15723
15724@node Deviations
15725@subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
15726@cindex Modula-2, deviations from
15727
15728A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
15729This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
15730
15731@itemize @bullet
15732@item
15733Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
15734integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
15735debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
15736pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
15737through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
15738returned a pointer.)
15739
15740@item
15741C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
15742non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
15743escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
15744printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
15745
15746@item
15747The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
15748argument.
15749
15750@item
15751All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
15752@end itemize
15753
15754@node M2 Checks
15755@subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
15756@cindex Modula-2 checks
15757
15758@quotation
15759@emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
15760range checking.
15761@end quotation
15762@c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
15763
15764@value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
15765
15766@itemize @bullet
15767@item
15768They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
15769@var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
15770
15771@item
15772They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
15773@sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
15774@end itemize
15775
15776As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
15777whose types are not equivalent is an error.
15778
15779Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
15780index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
15781
15782@node M2 Scope
15783@subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
15784@cindex scope
15785@cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
15786@cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
15787@ifinfo
15788@vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
15789@c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
15790@end ifinfo
15791@ifnotinfo
15792@vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
15793@end ifnotinfo
15794
15795There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
15796(@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
15797similar syntax:
15798
15799@smallexample
15800
15801@var{module} . @var{id}
15802@var{scope} :: @var{id}
15803@end smallexample
15804
15805@noindent
15806where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
15807@var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
15808identifier within your program, except another module.
15809
15810Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
15811specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
15812found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
15813enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
15814
15815Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
15816the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
15817definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
15818an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
15819module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
15820@var{module}.
15821
15822@node GDB/M2
15823@subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
15824
15825Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
15826Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
15827specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
15828@samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
15829apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
15830analogue in Modula-2.
15831
15832The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
15833with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
15834intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
15835created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
15836address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
15837@samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
15838
15839@cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
15840In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
15841interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
15842
15843@node Ada
15844@subsection Ada
15845@cindex Ada
15846
15847The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
15848output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
15849Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
15850attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
15851to be difficult.
15852
15853
15854@cindex expressions in Ada
15855@menu
15856* Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
15857 and semantics supported by Ada mode
15858 in @value{GDBN}.
15859* Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
15860* Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
15861* Overloading support for Ada:: Support for expressions involving overloaded
15862 subprograms.
15863* Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
15864* Ada Exceptions:: Ada Exceptions
15865* Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
15866* Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
15867* Ravenscar Profile:: Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar
15868 Profile
15869* Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
15870@end menu
15871
15872@node Ada Mode Intro
15873@subsubsection Introduction
15874@cindex Ada mode, general
15875
15876The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
15877syntax, with some extensions.
15878The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
15879
15880@itemize @bullet
15881@item
15882That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
15883arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
15884leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
15885program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
15886
15887@item
15888That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
15889are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
15890
15891@item
15892That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
15893@end itemize
15894
15895Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
15896user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
15897according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
15898names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
15899ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
15900
15901The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
15902As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
15903was translated from an Ada source file.
15904
15905While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
15906mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
15907(@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
15908middle (to allow based literals).
15909
15910@node Omissions from Ada
15911@subsubsection Omissions from Ada
15912@cindex Ada, omissions from
15913
15914Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
15915
15916@itemize @bullet
15917@item
15918Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
15919
15920@itemize @minus
15921@item
15922@t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
15923 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
15924
15925@item
15926@t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
15927
15928@item
15929@t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
15930
15931@item
15932@t{'Tag}.
15933
15934@item
15935@t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
15936operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
15937
15938@item
15939@t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
15940@t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
15941
15942@item
15943@t{'Address}.
15944@end itemize
15945
15946@item
15947The names in
15948@code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
15949concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
15950not currently available.
15951
15952@item
15953Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
15954equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
15955for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
15956They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
15957types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
15958(in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
15959zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
15960indeterminate values.
15961
15962@item
15963The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
15964@code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
15965are not implemented.
15966
15967@item
15968@cindex array aggregates (Ada)
15969@cindex record aggregates (Ada)
15970@cindex aggregates (Ada)
15971There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
15972permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
15973
15974@smallexample
15975(@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
15976(@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
15977(@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
15978(@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
15979(@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
15980(@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
15981@end smallexample
15982
15983Changing a
15984discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
15985undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
15986However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
15987them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
15988aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
15989declared to have a type such as:
15990
15991@smallexample
15992type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
15993 Id : Integer;
15994 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
15995end record;
15996@end smallexample
15997
15998you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
15999assignments:
16000
16001@smallexample
16002(@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
16003(@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
16004@end smallexample
16005
16006As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
16007rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
16008components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
16009component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
16010original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
16011indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
16012redundant component associations, although which component values are
16013assigned in such cases is not defined.
16014
16015@item
16016Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
16017
16018@item
16019The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
16020than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
16021which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
16022looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
16023function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
16024the proper resolution.
16025
16026@item
16027The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
16028
16029@item
16030Entry calls are not implemented.
16031
16032@item
16033Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
16034formats are not supported.
16035
16036@item
16037It is not possible to slice a packed array.
16038
16039@item
16040The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
16041are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
16042context.
16043Should your program
16044redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
16045you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
16046@end itemize
16047
16048@node Additions to Ada
16049@subsubsection Additions to Ada
16050@cindex Ada, deviations from
16051
16052As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
16053extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
16054
16055@itemize @bullet
16056@item
16057If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
16058a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
16059then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
16060@var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
16061Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
16062in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
16063Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
16064which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
16065
16066@item
16067@code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
16068appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
16069you must typically surround it in single quotes.
16070
16071@item
16072The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
16073@var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
16074
16075@item
16076A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
16077(@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
16078@end itemize
16079
16080In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
16081additions specific to Ada:
16082
16083@itemize @bullet
16084@item
16085The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
16086its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
16087
16088@smallexample
16089(@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
16090(@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
16091@end smallexample
16092
16093@item
16094The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
16095the value of its right-hand operand.
16096This allows, for example,
16097complex conditional breaks:
16098
16099@smallexample
16100(@value{GDBP}) break f
16101(@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
16102@end smallexample
16103
16104@item
16105Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
16106characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
16107which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
16108@samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
16109(single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
16110sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
16111in strings. For example,
16112@smallexample
16113 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
16114@end smallexample
16115@noindent
16116contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
16117after each period.
16118
16119@item
16120The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
16121@t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
16122to write
16123
16124@smallexample
16125(@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
16126@end smallexample
16127
16128@item
16129When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
16130array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
16131For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
16132of 3 might print as
16133
16134@smallexample
16135(3 => 10, 17, 1)
16136@end smallexample
16137
16138@noindent
16139That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
16140clause.
16141
16142@item
16143You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
16144multi-character subsequence of
16145their names (an exact match gets preference).
16146For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
16147in place of @t{a'length}.
16148
16149@item
16150@cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
16151Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
16152to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
16153some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
16154For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
16155enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
16156For example,
16157@smallexample
16158(@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
16159@end smallexample
16160
16161@item
16162Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
16163access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
16164specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
16165selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
16166object.
16167
16168@end itemize
16169
16170@node Overloading support for Ada
16171@subsubsection Overloading support for Ada
16172@cindex overloading, Ada
16173
16174The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
16175the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
16176actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
16177the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
16178procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
16179functions to procedures elsewhere.
16180
16181If, after narrowing, the set of matching definitions still contains more than
16182one definition, @value{GDBN} will display a menu to query which one it should
16183use, for instance:
16184
16185@smallexample
16186(@value{GDBP}) print f(1)
16187Multiple matches for f
16188[0] cancel
16189[1] foo.f (integer) return boolean at foo.adb:23
16190[2] foo.f (foo.new_integer) return boolean at foo.adb:28
16191>
16192@end smallexample
16193
16194In this case, just select one menu entry either to cancel expression evaluation
16195(type @kbd{0} and press @key{RET}) or to continue evaluation with a specific
16196instance (type the corresponding number and press @key{RET}).
16197
16198Here are a couple of commands to customize @value{GDBN}'s behavior in this
16199case:
16200
16201@table @code
16202
16203@kindex set ada print-signatures
16204@item set ada print-signatures
16205Control whether parameter types and return types are displayed in overloads
16206selection menus. It is @code{on} by default.
16207@xref{Overloading support for Ada}.
16208
16209@kindex show ada print-signatures
16210@item show ada print-signatures
16211Show the current setting for displaying parameter types and return types in
16212overloads selection menu.
16213@xref{Overloading support for Ada}.
16214
16215@end table
16216
16217@node Stopping Before Main Program
16218@subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
16219
16220@cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
16221It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
16222before reaching the main procedure.
16223As defined in the Ada Reference
16224Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
16225@code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
16226elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
16227@code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
16228
16229@node Ada Exceptions
16230@subsubsection Ada Exceptions
16231
16232A command is provided to list all Ada exceptions:
16233
16234@table @code
16235@kindex info exceptions
16236@item info exceptions
16237@itemx info exceptions @var{regexp}
16238The @code{info exceptions} command allows you to list all Ada exceptions
16239defined within the program being debugged, as well as their addresses.
16240With a regular expression, @var{regexp}, as argument, only those exceptions
16241whose names match @var{regexp} are listed.
16242@end table
16243
16244Below is a small example, showing how the command can be used, first
16245without argument, and next with a regular expression passed as an
16246argument.
16247
16248@smallexample
16249(@value{GDBP}) info exceptions
16250All defined Ada exceptions:
16251constraint_error: 0x613da0
16252program_error: 0x613d20
16253storage_error: 0x613ce0
16254tasking_error: 0x613ca0
16255const.aint_global_e: 0x613b00
16256(@value{GDBP}) info exceptions const.aint
16257All Ada exceptions matching regular expression "const.aint":
16258constraint_error: 0x613da0
16259const.aint_global_e: 0x613b00
16260@end smallexample
16261
16262It is also possible to ask @value{GDBN} to stop your program's execution
16263when an exception is raised. For more details, see @ref{Set Catchpoints}.
16264
16265@node Ada Tasks
16266@subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
16267@cindex Ada, tasking
16268
16269Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
16270@value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
16271
16272@table @code
16273@kindex info tasks
16274@item info tasks
16275This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
16276
16277
16278@smallexample
16279@iftex
16280@leftskip=0.5cm
16281@end iftex
16282(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
16283 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
16284 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
16285 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
16286 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
16287* 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
16288
16289@end smallexample
16290
16291@noindent
16292In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
16293task currently being inspected.
16294
16295@table @asis
16296@item ID
16297Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
16298
16299@item TID
16300The Ada task ID.
16301
16302@item P-ID
16303The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
16304
16305@item Pri
16306The base priority of the task.
16307
16308@item State
16309Current state of the task.
16310
16311@table @code
16312@item Unactivated
16313The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
16314executing.
16315
16316@item Runnable
16317The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
16318for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
16319
16320@item Terminated
16321The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
16322that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
16323terminated themselves.
16324
16325@item Child Activation Wait
16326The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
16327
16328@item Accept Statement
16329The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
16330
16331@item Waiting on entry call
16332The task is waiting on an entry call.
16333
16334@item Async Select Wait
16335The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
16336select statement.
16337
16338@item Delay Sleep
16339The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
16340alternative open.
16341
16342@item Child Termination Wait
16343The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
16344waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
16345waiting on a terminate Phase.
16346
16347@item Wait Child in Term Alt
16348The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
16349finish terminating.
16350
16351@item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
16352The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
16353@end table
16354
16355@item Name
16356Name of the task in the program.
16357
16358@end table
16359
16360@kindex info task @var{taskno}
16361@item info task @var{taskno}
16362This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
16363the following example:
16364@smallexample
16365@iftex
16366@leftskip=0.5cm
16367@end iftex
16368(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
16369 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
16370 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
16371* 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
16372(@value{GDBP}) info task 2
16373Ada Task: 0x807c468
16374Name: task_1
16375Thread: 0x807f378
16376Parent: 1 (main_task)
16377Base Priority: 15
16378State: Runnable
16379@end smallexample
16380
16381@item task
16382@kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
16383@cindex current Ada task ID
16384This command prints the ID of the current task.
16385
16386@smallexample
16387@iftex
16388@leftskip=0.5cm
16389@end iftex
16390(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
16391 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
16392 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
16393* 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
16394(@value{GDBP}) task
16395[Current task is 2]
16396@end smallexample
16397
16398@item task @var{taskno}
16399@cindex Ada task switching
16400This command is like the @code{thread @var{thread-id}}
16401command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
16402from the current task to the given task.
16403
16404@smallexample
16405@iftex
16406@leftskip=0.5cm
16407@end iftex
16408(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
16409 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
16410 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
16411* 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
16412(@value{GDBP}) task 1
16413[Switching to task 1]
16414#0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
16415(@value{GDBP}) bt
16416#0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
16417#1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
16418#2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
16419#3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
16420#4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
16421@end smallexample
16422
16423@item break @var{location} task @var{taskno}
16424@itemx break @var{location} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
16425@cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
16426@cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
16427@kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
16428These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
16429command (@pxref{Thread Stops}). The
16430@var{location} argument specifies source lines, as described
16431in @ref{Specify Location}.
16432
16433Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
16434to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
16435particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. The @var{taskno} is one of the
16436numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
16437column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
16438
16439If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
16440breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
16441program.
16442
16443You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
16444well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
16445breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
16446
16447For example,
16448
16449@smallexample
16450@iftex
16451@leftskip=0.5cm
16452@end iftex
16453(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
16454 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
16455 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
16456 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
16457 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
16458* 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
16459(@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
16460Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
16461(@value{GDBP}) cont
16462Continuing.
16463task # 1 running
16464task # 2 running
16465
16466Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
1646715 flush;
16468(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
16469 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
16470 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
16471* 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
16472 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
16473 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
16474@end smallexample
16475@end table
16476
16477@node Ada Tasks and Core Files
16478@subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
16479@cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
16480
16481When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
16482tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
16483the platform being used.
16484For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
16485switching is not supported.
16486
16487On certain platforms, the debugger needs to perform some
16488memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
16489a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
16490privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
16491Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
16492file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
16493
16494@node Ravenscar Profile
16495@subsubsection Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar Profile
16496@cindex Ravenscar Profile
16497
16498The @dfn{Ravenscar Profile} is a subset of the Ada tasking features,
16499specifically designed for systems with safety-critical real-time
16500requirements.
16501
16502@table @code
16503@kindex set ravenscar task-switching on
16504@cindex task switching with program using Ravenscar Profile
16505@item set ravenscar task-switching on
16506Allows task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
16507Profile. This is the default.
16508
16509@kindex set ravenscar task-switching off
16510@item set ravenscar task-switching off
16511Turn off task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
16512Profile. This is mostly intended to disable the code that adds support
16513for the Ravenscar Profile, in case a bug in either @value{GDBN} or in
16514the Ravenscar runtime is preventing @value{GDBN} from working properly.
16515To be effective, this command should be run before the program is started.
16516
16517@kindex show ravenscar task-switching
16518@item show ravenscar task-switching
16519Show whether it is possible to switch from task to task in a program
16520using the Ravenscar Profile.
16521
16522@end table
16523
16524@node Ada Glitches
16525@subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
16526@cindex Ada, problems
16527
16528Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
16529we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
16530@value{GDBN},
16531some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
16532and the GNU Ada compiler.
16533
16534@itemize @bullet
16535@item
16536Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
16537storage are invisible to the debugger.
16538
16539@item
16540Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
16541argument lists are treated as positional).
16542
16543@item
16544Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
16545
16546@item
16547Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
16548floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
16549the host machine.
16550
16551@item
16552The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
16553the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
16554this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
16555look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
16556symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
16557defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
16558local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
16559GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
16560you can usually resolve the confusion
16561by qualifying the problematic names with package
16562@code{Standard} explicitly.
16563@end itemize
16564
16565Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
16566information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
16567of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
16568around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
16569to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
16570enabled.
16571
16572@kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
16573@kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
16574@table @code
16575
16576@item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
16577Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
16578value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
16579types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
16580a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
16581This is the default.
16582
16583@item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
16584This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
16585sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
16586trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
16587the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
16588@code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
16589recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
16590
16591@end table
16592
16593@cindex GNAT descriptive types
16594@cindex GNAT encoding
16595Internally, the debugger also relies on the compiler following a number
16596of conventions known as the @samp{GNAT Encoding}, all documented in
16597@file{gcc/ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources. This encoding describes
16598how the debugging information should be generated for certain types.
16599In particular, this convention makes use of @dfn{descriptive types},
16600which are artificial types generated purely to help the debugger.
16601
16602These encodings were defined at a time when the debugging information
16603format used was not powerful enough to describe some of the more complex
16604types available in Ada. Since DWARF allows us to express nearly all
16605Ada features, the long-term goal is to slowly replace these descriptive
16606types by their pure DWARF equivalent. To facilitate that transition,
16607a new maintenance option is available to force the debugger to ignore
16608those descriptive types. It allows the user to quickly evaluate how
16609well @value{GDBN} works without them.
16610
16611@table @code
16612
16613@kindex maint ada set ignore-descriptive-types
16614@item maintenance ada set ignore-descriptive-types [on|off]
16615Control whether the debugger should ignore descriptive types.
16616The default is not to ignore descriptives types (@code{off}).
16617
16618@kindex maint ada show ignore-descriptive-types
16619@item maintenance ada show ignore-descriptive-types
16620Show if descriptive types are ignored by @value{GDBN}.
16621
16622@end table
16623
16624@node Unsupported Languages
16625@section Unsupported Languages
16626
16627@cindex unsupported languages
16628@cindex minimal language
16629In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
16630@value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
16631It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
16632of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
16633This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
16634an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
16635
16636If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
16637select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
16638language.
16639
16640@node Symbols
16641@chapter Examining the Symbol Table
16642
16643The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
16644symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
16645program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
16646does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
16647program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
16648(@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
16649file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
16650
16651@cindex symbol names
16652@cindex names of symbols
16653@cindex quoting names
16654Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
16655characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
16656most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
16657source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
16658are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
16659ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
16660@samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
16661@samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
16662
16663@smallexample
16664p 'foo.c'::x
16665@end smallexample
16666
16667@noindent
16668looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
16669
16670@table @code
16671@cindex case-insensitive symbol names
16672@cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
16673@kindex set case-sensitive
16674@item set case-sensitive on
16675@itemx set case-sensitive off
16676@itemx set case-sensitive auto
16677Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
16678with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
16679Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
16680case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
16681case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
16682you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
16683suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
16684matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
16685case-insensitive matches.
16686
16687@kindex show case-sensitive
16688@item show case-sensitive
16689This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
16690lookups.
16691
16692@kindex set print type methods
16693@item set print type methods
16694@itemx set print type methods on
16695@itemx set print type methods off
16696Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a class, it displays any methods
16697declared in that class. You can control this behavior either by
16698passing the appropriate flag to @code{ptype}, or using @command{set
16699print type methods}. Specifying @code{on} will cause @value{GDBN} to
16700display the methods; this is the default. Specifying @code{off} will
16701cause @value{GDBN} to omit the methods.
16702
16703@kindex show print type methods
16704@item show print type methods
16705This command shows the current setting of method display when printing
16706classes.
16707
16708@kindex set print type typedefs
16709@item set print type typedefs
16710@itemx set print type typedefs on
16711@itemx set print type typedefs off
16712
16713Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a class, it displays any typedefs
16714defined in that class. You can control this behavior either by
16715passing the appropriate flag to @code{ptype}, or using @command{set
16716print type typedefs}. Specifying @code{on} will cause @value{GDBN} to
16717display the typedef definitions; this is the default. Specifying
16718@code{off} will cause @value{GDBN} to omit the typedef definitions.
16719Note that this controls whether the typedef definition itself is
16720printed, not whether typedef names are substituted when printing other
16721types.
16722
16723@kindex show print type typedefs
16724@item show print type typedefs
16725This command shows the current setting of typedef display when
16726printing classes.
16727
16728@kindex info address
16729@cindex address of a symbol
16730@item info address @var{symbol}
16731Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
16732variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
16733local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
16734is always stored.
16735
16736Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
16737at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
16738the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
16739
16740@kindex info symbol
16741@cindex symbol from address
16742@cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
16743@item info symbol @var{addr}
16744Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
16745If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
16746nearest symbol and an offset from it:
16747
16748@smallexample
16749(@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
16750_initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
16751@end smallexample
16752
16753@noindent
16754This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
16755it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
16756
16757For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
16758library containing the symbol is also printed:
16759
16760@smallexample
16761(@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
16762_start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
16763(@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
16764__read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
16765@end smallexample
16766
16767@kindex demangle
16768@cindex demangle
16769@item demangle @r{[}-l @var{language}@r{]} @r{[}@var{--}@r{]} @var{name}
16770Demangle @var{name}.
16771If @var{language} is provided it is the name of the language to demangle
16772@var{name} in. Otherwise @var{name} is demangled in the current language.
16773
16774The @samp{--} option specifies the end of options,
16775and is useful when @var{name} begins with a dash.
16776
16777The parameter @code{demangle-style} specifies how to interpret the kind
16778of mangling used. @xref{Print Settings}.
16779
16780@kindex whatis
16781@item whatis[/@var{flags}] [@var{arg}]
16782Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression
16783or a name of a data type. With no argument, print the data type of
16784@code{$}, the last value in the value history.
16785
16786If @var{arg} is an expression (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), it
16787is not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
16788assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place.
16789
16790If @var{arg} is a variable or an expression, @code{whatis} prints its
16791literal type as it is used in the source code. If the type was
16792defined using a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will @emph{not} print
16793the data type underlying the @code{typedef}. If the type of the
16794variable or the expression is a compound data type, such as
16795@code{struct} or @code{class}, @code{whatis} never prints their
16796fields or methods. It just prints the @code{struct}/@code{class}
16797name (a.k.a.@: its @dfn{tag}). If you want to see the members of
16798such a compound data type, use @code{ptype}.
16799
16800If @var{arg} is a type name that was defined using @code{typedef},
16801@code{whatis} @dfn{unrolls} only one level of that @code{typedef}.
16802Unrolling means that @code{whatis} will show the underlying type used
16803in the @code{typedef} declaration of @var{arg}. However, if that
16804underlying type is also a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will not
16805unroll it.
16806
16807For C code, the type names may also have the form @samp{class
16808@var{class-name}}, @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union
16809@var{union-tag}} or @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
16810
16811@var{flags} can be used to modify how the type is displayed.
16812Available flags are:
16813
16814@table @code
16815@item r
16816Display in ``raw'' form. Normally, @value{GDBN} substitutes template
16817parameters and typedefs defined in a class when printing the class'
16818members. The @code{/r} flag disables this.
16819
16820@item m
16821Do not print methods defined in the class.
16822
16823@item M
16824Print methods defined in the class. This is the default, but the flag
16825exists in case you change the default with @command{set print type methods}.
16826
16827@item t
16828Do not print typedefs defined in the class. Note that this controls
16829whether the typedef definition itself is printed, not whether typedef
16830names are substituted when printing other types.
16831
16832@item T
16833Print typedefs defined in the class. This is the default, but the flag
16834exists in case you change the default with @command{set print type typedefs}.
16835@end table
16836
16837@kindex ptype
16838@item ptype[/@var{flags}] [@var{arg}]
16839@code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
16840detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
16841@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
16842
16843Contrary to @code{whatis}, @code{ptype} always unrolls any
16844@code{typedef}s in its argument declaration, whether the argument is
16845a variable, expression, or a data type. This means that @code{ptype}
16846of a variable or an expression will not print literally its type as
16847present in the source code---use @code{whatis} for that. @code{typedef}s at
16848the pointer or reference targets are also unrolled. Only @code{typedef}s of
16849fields, methods and inner @code{class typedef}s of @code{struct}s,
16850@code{class}es and @code{union}s are not unrolled even with @code{ptype}.
16851
16852For example, for this variable declaration:
16853
16854@smallexample
16855typedef double real_t;
16856struct complex @{ real_t real; double imag; @};
16857typedef struct complex complex_t;
16858complex_t var;
16859real_t *real_pointer_var;
16860@end smallexample
16861
16862@noindent
16863the two commands give this output:
16864
16865@smallexample
16866@group
16867(@value{GDBP}) whatis var
16868type = complex_t
16869(@value{GDBP}) ptype var
16870type = struct complex @{
16871 real_t real;
16872 double imag;
16873@}
16874(@value{GDBP}) whatis complex_t
16875type = struct complex
16876(@value{GDBP}) whatis struct complex
16877type = struct complex
16878(@value{GDBP}) ptype struct complex
16879type = struct complex @{
16880 real_t real;
16881 double imag;
16882@}
16883(@value{GDBP}) whatis real_pointer_var
16884type = real_t *
16885(@value{GDBP}) ptype real_pointer_var
16886type = double *
16887@end group
16888@end smallexample
16889
16890@noindent
16891As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
16892the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
16893
16894@cindex incomplete type
16895Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
16896of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
16897program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
16898the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
16899given these declarations:
16900
16901@smallexample
16902 struct foo;
16903 struct foo *fooptr;
16904@end smallexample
16905
16906@noindent
16907but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
16908
16909@smallexample
16910 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
16911 $1 = <incomplete type>
16912@end smallexample
16913
16914@noindent
16915``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
16916completely specified.
16917
16918@kindex info types
16919@item info types @var{regexp}
16920@itemx info types
16921Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
16922expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
16923no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
16924complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
16925types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
16926@samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
16927name is @code{value}.
16928
16929This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
16930@code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
16931lists all source files where a type is defined.
16932
16933@kindex info type-printers
16934@item info type-printers
16935Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled may
16936have ``type printers'' available. When using @command{ptype} or
16937@command{whatis}, these printers are consulted when the name of a type
16938is needed. @xref{Type Printing API}, for more information on writing
16939type printers.
16940
16941@code{info type-printers} displays all the available type printers.
16942
16943@kindex enable type-printer
16944@kindex disable type-printer
16945@item enable type-printer @var{name}@dots{}
16946@item disable type-printer @var{name}@dots{}
16947These commands can be used to enable or disable type printers.
16948
16949@kindex info scope
16950@cindex local variables
16951@item info scope @var{location}
16952List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
16953accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
16954an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
16955to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
16956details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
16957
16958@smallexample
16959(@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
16960Scope for command_line_handler:
16961Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
16962Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
16963Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
16964Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
16965Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
16966Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
16967Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
16968@end smallexample
16969
16970@noindent
16971This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
16972during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
16973collect}.
16974
16975@kindex info source
16976@item info source
16977Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
16978the function containing the current point of execution:
16979@itemize @bullet
16980@item
16981the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
16982@item
16983the directory it was compiled in,
16984@item
16985its length, in lines,
16986@item
16987which programming language it is written in,
16988@item
16989if the debug information provides it, the program that compiled the file
16990(which may include, e.g., the compiler version and command line arguments),
16991@item
16992whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
16993if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
16994@item
16995whether the debugging information includes information about
16996preprocessor macros.
16997@end itemize
16998
16999
17000@kindex info sources
17001@item info sources
17002Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
17003debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
17004have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
17005
17006@kindex info functions
17007@item info functions
17008Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
17009
17010@item info functions @var{regexp}
17011Print the names and data types of all defined functions
17012whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
17013Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
17014include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
17015start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
17016that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
17017@samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
17018
17019@kindex info variables
17020@item info variables
17021Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
17022outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
17023
17024@item info variables @var{regexp}
17025Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
17026variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
17027@var{regexp}.
17028
17029@kindex info classes
17030@cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
17031@item info classes
17032@itemx info classes @var{regexp}
17033Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
17034(with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
17035expression.
17036
17037@kindex info selectors
17038@item info selectors
17039@itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
17040Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
17041(with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
17042expression.
17043
17044@ignore
17045This was never implemented.
17046@kindex info methods
17047@item info methods
17048@itemx info methods @var{regexp}
17049The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
17050methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
17051specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
17052C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
17053from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
17054@code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
17055which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
17056@end ignore
17057
17058@cindex opaque data types
17059@kindex set opaque-type-resolution
17060@item set opaque-type-resolution on
17061Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
17062declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
17063@code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
17064source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
17065another source file. The default is on.
17066
17067A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
17068the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
17069
17070@item set opaque-type-resolution off
17071Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
17072is printed as follows:
17073@smallexample
17074@{<no data fields>@}
17075@end smallexample
17076
17077@kindex show opaque-type-resolution
17078@item show opaque-type-resolution
17079Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
17080
17081@kindex set print symbol-loading
17082@cindex print messages when symbols are loaded
17083@item set print symbol-loading
17084@itemx set print symbol-loading full
17085@itemx set print symbol-loading brief
17086@itemx set print symbol-loading off
17087The @code{set print symbol-loading} command allows you to control the
17088printing of messages when @value{GDBN} loads symbol information.
17089By default a message is printed for the executable and one for each
17090shared library, and normally this is what you want. However, when
17091debugging apps with large numbers of shared libraries these messages
17092can be annoying.
17093When set to @code{brief} a message is printed for each executable,
17094and when @value{GDBN} loads a collection of shared libraries at once
17095it will only print one message regardless of the number of shared
17096libraries. When set to @code{off} no messages are printed.
17097
17098@kindex show print symbol-loading
17099@item show print symbol-loading
17100Show whether messages will be printed when a @value{GDBN} command
17101entered from the keyboard causes symbol information to be loaded.
17102
17103@kindex maint print symbols
17104@cindex symbol dump
17105@kindex maint print psymbols
17106@cindex partial symbol dump
17107@kindex maint print msymbols
17108@cindex minimal symbol dump
17109@item maint print symbols @var{filename}
17110@itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
17111@itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
17112Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
17113These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
17114symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
17115symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
17116collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
17117only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
17118command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
17119use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
17120symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
17121files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
17122@samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
17123required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
17124@xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
17125@value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
17126
17127@kindex maint info symtabs
17128@kindex maint info psymtabs
17129@cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
17130@cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
17131@cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
17132@cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
17133@item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
17134@itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
17135
17136List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
17137structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
17138given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
17139copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
17140structure in more detail. For example:
17141
17142@smallexample
17143(@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
17144@{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
17145 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
17146 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
17147 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
17148 readin no
17149 fullname (null)
17150 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
17151 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
17152 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
17153 dependencies (none)
17154 @}
17155@}
17156(@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
17157(@value{GDBP})
17158@end smallexample
17159@noindent
17160We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
17161the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
17162and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
17163If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
17164read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
17165
17166@smallexample
17167(@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
17168Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
17169line 1574.
17170(@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
17171@{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
17172 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
17173 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
17174 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
17175 dirname (null)
17176 fullname (null)
17177 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
17178 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
17179 debugformat DWARF 2
17180 @}
17181@}
17182(@value{GDBP})
17183@end smallexample
17184
17185@kindex maint info line-table
17186@cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal line tables
17187@cindex line tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
17188@item maint info line-table @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
17189
17190List the @code{struct linetable} from all @code{struct symtab}
17191instances whose name matches @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
17192given, list the @code{struct linetable} from all @code{struct symtab}.
17193
17194@kindex maint set symbol-cache-size
17195@cindex symbol cache size
17196@item maint set symbol-cache-size @var{size}
17197Set the size of the symbol cache to @var{size}.
17198The default size is intended to be good enough for debugging
17199most applications. This option exists to allow for experimenting
17200with different sizes.
17201
17202@kindex maint show symbol-cache-size
17203@item maint show symbol-cache-size
17204Show the size of the symbol cache.
17205
17206@kindex maint print symbol-cache
17207@cindex symbol cache, printing its contents
17208@item maint print symbol-cache
17209Print the contents of the symbol cache.
17210This is useful when debugging symbol cache issues.
17211
17212@kindex maint print symbol-cache-statistics
17213@cindex symbol cache, printing usage statistics
17214@item maint print symbol-cache-statistics
17215Print symbol cache usage statistics.
17216This helps determine how well the cache is being utilized.
17217
17218@kindex maint flush-symbol-cache
17219@cindex symbol cache, flushing
17220@item maint flush-symbol-cache
17221Flush the contents of the symbol cache, all entries are removed.
17222This command is useful when debugging the symbol cache.
17223It is also useful when collecting performance data.
17224
17225@end table
17226
17227@node Altering
17228@chapter Altering Execution
17229
17230Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
17231find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
17232correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
17233experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
17234program.
17235
17236For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
17237locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
17238address, or even return prematurely from a function.
17239
17240@menu
17241* Assignment:: Assignment to variables
17242* Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
17243* Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
17244* Returning:: Returning from a function
17245* Calling:: Calling your program's functions
17246* Patching:: Patching your program
17247* Compiling and Injecting Code:: Compiling and injecting code in @value{GDBN}
17248@end menu
17249
17250@node Assignment
17251@section Assignment to Variables
17252
17253@cindex assignment
17254@cindex setting variables
17255To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
17256@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
17257
17258@smallexample
17259print x=4
17260@end smallexample
17261
17262@noindent
17263stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
17264value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
17265@xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
17266information on operators in supported languages.
17267
17268@kindex set variable
17269@cindex variables, setting
17270If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
17271@code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
17272really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
17273not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
17274,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
17275
17276If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
17277appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
17278variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
17279to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
17280program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
17281a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
17282command @code{set width}:
17283
17284@smallexample
17285(@value{GDBP}) whatis width
17286type = double
17287(@value{GDBP}) p width
17288$4 = 13
17289(@value{GDBP}) set width=47
17290Invalid syntax in expression.
17291@end smallexample
17292
17293@noindent
17294The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
17295order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
17296
17297@smallexample
17298(@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
17299@end smallexample
17300
17301Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
17302with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
17303@code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
17304your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
17305to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
17306the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
17307
17308@smallexample
17309@group
17310(@value{GDBP}) whatis g
17311type = double
17312(@value{GDBP}) p g
17313$1 = 1
17314(@value{GDBP}) set g=4
17315(@value{GDBP}) p g
17316$2 = 1
17317(@value{GDBP}) r
17318The program being debugged has been started already.
17319Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
17320Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
17321"/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
17322 Invalid bfd target.
17323(@value{GDBP}) show g
17324The current BFD target is "=4".
17325@end group
17326@end smallexample
17327
17328@noindent
17329The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
17330@code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
17331@code{g}, use
17332
17333@smallexample
17334(@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
17335@end smallexample
17336
17337@value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
17338freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
17339and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
17340same length or shorter.
17341@comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
17342@comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
17343
17344To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
17345construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
17346(@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
17347to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
17348and representation in memory), and
17349
17350@smallexample
17351set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
17352@end smallexample
17353
17354@noindent
17355stores the value 4 into that memory location.
17356
17357@node Jumping
17358@section Continuing at a Different Address
17359
17360Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
17361it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
17362an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
17363
17364@table @code
17365@kindex jump
17366@kindex j @r{(@code{jump})}
17367@item jump @var{location}
17368@itemx j @var{location}
17369Resume execution at @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately
17370if there is a breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description
17371of the different forms of @var{location}. It is common
17372practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
17373@code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
17374
17375The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
17376the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
17377register other than the program counter. If @var{location} is in
17378a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
17379be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
17380of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
17381confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
17382executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
17383well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
17384@end table
17385
17386On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
17387command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
17388difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
17389changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
17390example,
17391
17392@smallexample
17393set $pc = 0x485
17394@end smallexample
17395
17396@noindent
17397makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
17398address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
17399@xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
17400
17401The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
17402up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
17403that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
17404detail.
17405
17406@c @group
17407@node Signaling
17408@section Giving your Program a Signal
17409@cindex deliver a signal to a program
17410
17411@table @code
17412@kindex signal
17413@item signal @var{signal}
17414Resume execution where your program is stopped, but immediately give it the
17415signal @var{signal}. The @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
17416signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
17417SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
17418
17419Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
17420giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
17421a signal and would ordinarily see the signal when resumed with the
17422@code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
17423signal.
17424
17425@emph{Note:} When resuming a multi-threaded program, @var{signal} is
17426delivered to the currently selected thread, not the thread that last
17427reported a stop. This includes the situation where a thread was
17428stopped due to a signal. So if you want to continue execution
17429suppressing the signal that stopped a thread, you should select that
17430same thread before issuing the @samp{signal 0} command. If you issue
17431the @samp{signal 0} command with another thread as the selected one,
17432@value{GDBN} detects that and asks for confirmation.
17433
17434Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
17435@code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
17436causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
17437the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
17438passes the signal directly to your program.
17439
17440@code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
17441after executing the command.
17442
17443@kindex queue-signal
17444@item queue-signal @var{signal}
17445Queue @var{signal} to be delivered immediately to the current thread
17446when execution of the thread resumes. The @var{signal} can be the name or
17447the number of a signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and
17448@code{signal SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
17449The handling of the signal must be set to pass the signal to the program,
17450otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error.
17451You can control the handling of signals from @value{GDBN} with the
17452@code{handle} command (@pxref{Signals}).
17453
17454Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, any currently queued signal
17455for the current thread is discarded and when execution resumes no signal
17456will be delivered. This is useful when your program stopped on account
17457of a signal and would ordinarily see the signal when resumed with the
17458@code{continue} command.
17459
17460This command differs from the @code{signal} command in that the signal
17461is just queued, execution is not resumed. And @code{queue-signal} cannot
17462be used to pass a signal whose handling state has been set to @code{nopass}
17463(@pxref{Signals}).
17464@end table
17465@c @end group
17466
17467@xref{stepping into signal handlers}, for information on how stepping
17468commands behave when the thread has a signal queued.
17469
17470@node Returning
17471@section Returning from a Function
17472
17473@table @code
17474@cindex returning from a function
17475@kindex return
17476@item return
17477@itemx return @var{expression}
17478You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
17479command. If you give an
17480@var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
17481value.
17482@end table
17483
17484When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
17485(and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
17486discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
17487be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
17488
17489This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
17490Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
17491innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
17492specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
17493of functions.
17494
17495The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
17496program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
17497returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
17498and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
17499selected stack frame returns naturally.
17500
17501@value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
17502the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
17503type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
17504OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
17505CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
17506registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
17507specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
17508current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
17509assignment into the right register(s).
17510
17511Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
17512use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
17513debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
17514function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
17515int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
17516into a @code{long long int}:
17517
17518@smallexample
17519Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
1752029 return 31;
17521(@value{GDBP}) return -1
17522Make func return now? (y or n) y
17523#0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
1752443 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
17525(@value{GDBP})
17526@end smallexample
17527
17528However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
17529function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
17530to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
17531in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
17532typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
17533of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
17534architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
17535an appropriate cast explicitly:
17536
17537@smallexample
17538Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
17539(@value{GDBP}) return -1
17540Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
17541Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
17542(@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
17543Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
17544#0 0x00400526 in main ()
17545(@value{GDBP})
17546@end smallexample
17547
17548@node Calling
17549@section Calling Program Functions
17550
17551@table @code
17552@cindex calling functions
17553@cindex inferior functions, calling
17554@item print @var{expr}
17555Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
17556The expression may include calls to functions in the program being
17557debugged.
17558
17559@kindex call
17560@item call @var{expr}
17561Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
17562returned values.
17563
17564You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
17565execute a function from your program that does not return anything
17566(a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
17567with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
17568print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
17569value history.
17570@end table
17571
17572It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
17573@code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
17574the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
17575in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
17576
17577Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
17578call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
17579exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
17580frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
17581an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
17582dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
17583seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
17584in that case is controlled by the
17585@code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
17586
17587@table @code
17588@item set unwindonsignal
17589@kindex set unwindonsignal
17590@cindex unwind stack in called functions
17591@cindex call dummy stack unwinding
17592Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
17593that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
17594@value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
17595the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
17596default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
17597received.
17598
17599@item show unwindonsignal
17600@kindex show unwindonsignal
17601Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
17602@value{GDBN}.
17603
17604@item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
17605@kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
17606@cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
17607@cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
17608Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
17609unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
17610debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
17611it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
17612the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
17613the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
17614
17615@item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
17616@kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
17617Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
17618@value{GDBN}.
17619
17620@end table
17621
17622@cindex weak alias functions
17623Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
17624for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
17625the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
17626which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
17627As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
17628even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
17629function instead.
17630
17631@node Patching
17632@section Patching Programs
17633
17634@cindex patching binaries
17635@cindex writing into executables
17636@cindex writing into corefiles
17637
17638By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
17639executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
17640alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
17641patching your program's binary.
17642
17643If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
17644explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
17645want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
17646repairs.
17647
17648@table @code
17649@kindex set write
17650@item set write on
17651@itemx set write off
17652If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
17653core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
17654off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
17655
17656If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
17657@code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
17658write}, for your new setting to take effect.
17659
17660@item show write
17661@kindex show write
17662Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
17663as well as reading.
17664@end table
17665
17666@node Compiling and Injecting Code
17667@section Compiling and injecting code in @value{GDBN}
17668@cindex injecting code
17669@cindex writing into executables
17670@cindex compiling code
17671
17672@value{GDBN} supports on-demand compilation and code injection into
17673programs running under @value{GDBN}. GCC 5.0 or higher built with
17674@file{libcc1.so} must be installed for this functionality to be enabled.
17675This functionality is implemented with the following commands.
17676
17677@table @code
17678@kindex compile code
17679@item compile code @var{source-code}
17680@itemx compile code -raw @var{--} @var{source-code}
17681Compile @var{source-code} with the compiler language found as the current
17682language in @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Languages}). If compilation and
17683injection is not supported with the current language specified in
17684@value{GDBN}, or the compiler does not support this feature, an error
17685message will be printed. If @var{source-code} compiles and links
17686successfully, @value{GDBN} will load the object-code emitted,
17687and execute it within the context of the currently selected inferior.
17688It is important to note that the compiled code is executed immediately.
17689After execution, the compiled code is removed from @value{GDBN} and any
17690new types or variables you have defined will be deleted.
17691
17692The command allows you to specify @var{source-code} in two ways.
17693The simplest method is to provide a single line of code to the command.
17694E.g.:
17695
17696@smallexample
17697compile code printf ("hello world\n");
17698@end smallexample
17699
17700If you specify options on the command line as well as source code, they
17701may conflict. The @samp{--} delimiter can be used to separate options
17702from actual source code. E.g.:
17703
17704@smallexample
17705compile code -r -- printf ("hello world\n");
17706@end smallexample
17707
17708Alternatively you can enter source code as multiple lines of text. To
17709enter this mode, invoke the @samp{compile code} command without any text
17710following the command. This will start the multiple-line editor and
17711allow you to type as many lines of source code as required. When you
17712have completed typing, enter @samp{end} on its own line to exit the
17713editor.
17714
17715@smallexample
17716compile code
17717>printf ("hello\n");
17718>printf ("world\n");
17719>end
17720@end smallexample
17721
17722Specifying @samp{-raw}, prohibits @value{GDBN} from wrapping the
17723provided @var{source-code} in a callable scope. In this case, you must
17724specify the entry point of the code by defining a function named
17725@code{_gdb_expr_}. The @samp{-raw} code cannot access variables of the
17726inferior. Using @samp{-raw} option may be needed for example when
17727@var{source-code} requires @samp{#include} lines which may conflict with
17728inferior symbols otherwise.
17729
17730@kindex compile file
17731@item compile file @var{filename}
17732@itemx compile file -raw @var{filename}
17733Like @code{compile code}, but take the source code from @var{filename}.
17734
17735@smallexample
17736compile file /home/user/example.c
17737@end smallexample
17738@end table
17739
17740@table @code
17741@item compile print @var{expr}
17742@itemx compile print /@var{f} @var{expr}
17743Compile and execute @var{expr} with the compiler language found as the
17744current language in @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Languages}). By default the
17745value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
17746you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
17747@var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
17748Formats}.
17749
17750@item compile print
17751@itemx compile print /@var{f}
17752@cindex reprint the last value
17753Alternatively you can enter the expression (source code producing it) as
17754multiple lines of text. To enter this mode, invoke the @samp{compile print}
17755command without any text following the command. This will start the
17756multiple-line editor.
17757@end table
17758
17759@noindent
17760The process of compiling and injecting the code can be inspected using:
17761
17762@table @code
17763@anchor{set debug compile}
17764@item set debug compile
17765@cindex compile command debugging info
17766Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} process of compiling and
17767injecting the code. The default is off.
17768
17769@item show debug compile
17770Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} process of
17771compiling and injecting the code.
17772@end table
17773
17774@subsection Compilation options for the @code{compile} command
17775
17776@value{GDBN} needs to specify the right compilation options for the code
17777to be injected, in part to make its ABI compatible with the inferior
17778and in part to make the injected code compatible with @value{GDBN}'s
17779injecting process.
17780
17781@noindent
17782The options used, in increasing precedence:
17783
17784@table @asis
17785@item target architecture and OS options (@code{gdbarch})
17786These options depend on target processor type and target operating
17787system, usually they specify at least 32-bit (@code{-m32}) or 64-bit
17788(@code{-m64}) compilation option.
17789
17790@item compilation options recorded in the target
17791@value{NGCC} (since version 4.7) stores the options used for compilation
17792into @code{DW_AT_producer} part of DWARF debugging information according
17793to the @value{NGCC} option @code{-grecord-gcc-switches}. One has to
17794explicitly specify @code{-g} during inferior compilation otherwise
17795@value{NGCC} produces no DWARF. This feature is only relevant for
17796platforms where @code{-g} produces DWARF by default, otherwise one may
17797try to enforce DWARF by using @code{-gdwarf-4}.
17798
17799@item compilation options set by @code{set compile-args}
17800@end table
17801
17802@noindent
17803You can override compilation options using the following command:
17804
17805@table @code
17806@item set compile-args
17807@cindex compile command options override
17808Set compilation options used for compiling and injecting code with the
17809@code{compile} commands. These options override any conflicting ones
17810from the target architecture and/or options stored during inferior
17811compilation.
17812
17813@item show compile-args
17814Displays the current state of compilation options override.
17815This does not show all the options actually used during compilation,
17816use @ref{set debug compile} for that.
17817@end table
17818
17819@subsection Caveats when using the @code{compile} command
17820
17821There are a few caveats to keep in mind when using the @code{compile}
17822command. As the caveats are different per language, the table below
17823highlights specific issues on a per language basis.
17824
17825@table @asis
17826@item C code examples and caveats
17827When the language in @value{GDBN} is set to @samp{C}, the compiler will
17828attempt to compile the source code with a @samp{C} compiler. The source
17829code provided to the @code{compile} command will have much the same
17830access to variables and types as it normally would if it were part of
17831the program currently being debugged in @value{GDBN}.
17832
17833Below is a sample program that forms the basis of the examples that
17834follow. This program has been compiled and loaded into @value{GDBN},
17835much like any other normal debugging session.
17836
17837@smallexample
17838void function1 (void)
17839@{
17840 int i = 42;
17841 printf ("function 1\n");
17842@}
17843
17844void function2 (void)
17845@{
17846 int j = 12;
17847 function1 ();
17848@}
17849
17850int main(void)
17851@{
17852 int k = 6;
17853 int *p;
17854 function2 ();
17855 return 0;
17856@}
17857@end smallexample
17858
17859For the purposes of the examples in this section, the program above has
17860been compiled, loaded into @value{GDBN}, stopped at the function
17861@code{main}, and @value{GDBN} is awaiting input from the user.
17862
17863To access variables and types for any program in @value{GDBN}, the
17864program must be compiled and packaged with debug information. The
17865@code{compile} command is not an exception to this rule. Without debug
17866information, you can still use the @code{compile} command, but you will
17867be very limited in what variables and types you can access.
17868
17869So with that in mind, the example above has been compiled with debug
17870information enabled. The @code{compile} command will have access to
17871all variables and types (except those that may have been optimized
17872out). Currently, as @value{GDBN} has stopped the program in the
17873@code{main} function, the @code{compile} command would have access to
17874the variable @code{k}. You could invoke the @code{compile} command
17875and type some source code to set the value of @code{k}. You can also
17876read it, or do anything with that variable you would normally do in
17877@code{C}. Be aware that changes to inferior variables in the
17878@code{compile} command are persistent. In the following example:
17879
17880@smallexample
17881compile code k = 3;
17882@end smallexample
17883
17884@noindent
17885the variable @code{k} is now 3. It will retain that value until
17886something else in the example program changes it, or another
17887@code{compile} command changes it.
17888
17889Normal scope and access rules apply to source code compiled and
17890injected by the @code{compile} command. In the example, the variables
17891@code{j} and @code{k} are not accessible yet, because the program is
17892currently stopped in the @code{main} function, where these variables
17893are not in scope. Therefore, the following command
17894
17895@smallexample
17896compile code j = 3;
17897@end smallexample
17898
17899@noindent
17900will result in a compilation error message.
17901
17902Once the program is continued, execution will bring these variables in
17903scope, and they will become accessible; then the code you specify via
17904the @code{compile} command will be able to access them.
17905
17906You can create variables and types with the @code{compile} command as
17907part of your source code. Variables and types that are created as part
17908of the @code{compile} command are not visible to the rest of the program for
17909the duration of its run. This example is valid:
17910
17911@smallexample
17912compile code int ff = 5; printf ("ff is %d\n", ff);
17913@end smallexample
17914
17915However, if you were to type the following into @value{GDBN} after that
17916command has completed:
17917
17918@smallexample
17919compile code printf ("ff is %d\n'', ff);
17920@end smallexample
17921
17922@noindent
17923a compiler error would be raised as the variable @code{ff} no longer
17924exists. Object code generated and injected by the @code{compile}
17925command is removed when its execution ends. Caution is advised
17926when assigning to program variables values of variables created by the
17927code submitted to the @code{compile} command. This example is valid:
17928
17929@smallexample
17930compile code int ff = 5; k = ff;
17931@end smallexample
17932
17933The value of the variable @code{ff} is assigned to @code{k}. The variable
17934@code{k} does not require the existence of @code{ff} to maintain the value
17935it has been assigned. However, pointers require particular care in
17936assignment. If the source code compiled with the @code{compile} command
17937changed the address of a pointer in the example program, perhaps to a
17938variable created in the @code{compile} command, that pointer would point
17939to an invalid location when the command exits. The following example
17940would likely cause issues with your debugged program:
17941
17942@smallexample
17943compile code int ff = 5; p = &ff;
17944@end smallexample
17945
17946In this example, @code{p} would point to @code{ff} when the
17947@code{compile} command is executing the source code provided to it.
17948However, as variables in the (example) program persist with their
17949assigned values, the variable @code{p} would point to an invalid
17950location when the command exists. A general rule should be followed
17951in that you should either assign @code{NULL} to any assigned pointers,
17952or restore a valid location to the pointer before the command exits.
17953
17954Similar caution must be exercised with any structs, unions, and typedefs
17955defined in @code{compile} command. Types defined in the @code{compile}
17956command will no longer be available in the next @code{compile} command.
17957Therefore, if you cast a variable to a type defined in the
17958@code{compile} command, care must be taken to ensure that any future
17959need to resolve the type can be achieved.
17960
17961@smallexample
17962(gdb) compile code static struct a @{ int a; @} v = @{ 42 @}; argv = &v;
17963(gdb) compile code printf ("%d\n", ((struct a *) argv)->a);
17964gdb command line:1:36: error: dereferencing pointer to incomplete type ‘struct a’
17965Compilation failed.
17966(gdb) compile code struct a @{ int a; @}; printf ("%d\n", ((struct a *) argv)->a);
1796742
17968@end smallexample
17969
17970Variables that have been optimized away by the compiler are not
17971accessible to the code submitted to the @code{compile} command.
17972Access to those variables will generate a compiler error which @value{GDBN}
17973will print to the console.
17974@end table
17975
17976@subsection Compiler search for the @code{compile} command
17977
17978@value{GDBN} needs to find @value{NGCC} for the inferior being debugged which
17979may not be obvious for remote targets of different architecture than where
17980@value{GDBN} is running. Environment variable @code{PATH} (@code{PATH} from
17981shell that executed @value{GDBN}, not the one set by @value{GDBN}
17982command @code{set environment}). @xref{Environment}. @code{PATH} on
17983@value{GDBN} host is searched for @value{NGCC} binary matching the
17984target architecture and operating system.
17985
17986Specifically @code{PATH} is searched for binaries matching regular expression
17987@code{@var{arch}(-[^-]*)?-@var{os}-gcc} according to the inferior target being
17988debugged. @var{arch} is processor name --- multiarch is supported, so for
17989example both @code{i386} and @code{x86_64} targets look for pattern
17990@code{(x86_64|i.86)} and both @code{s390} and @code{s390x} targets look
17991for pattern @code{s390x?}. @var{os} is currently supported only for
17992pattern @code{linux(-gnu)?}.
17993
17994@node GDB Files
17995@chapter @value{GDBN} Files
17996
17997@value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
17998both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
17999program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
18000@value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
18001
18002@menu
18003* Files:: Commands to specify files
18004* File Caching:: Information about @value{GDBN}'s file caching
18005* Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
18006* MiniDebugInfo:: Debugging information in a special section
18007* Index Files:: Index files speed up GDB
18008* Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
18009* Data Files:: GDB data files
18010@end menu
18011
18012@node Files
18013@section Commands to Specify Files
18014
18015@cindex symbol table
18016@cindex core dump file
18017
18018You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
18019way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
18020@value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
18021Out of @value{GDBN}}).
18022
18023Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
18024@value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
18025specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
18026via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
18027Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
18028new files are useful.
18029
18030@table @code
18031@cindex executable file
18032@kindex file
18033@item file @var{filename}
18034Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
18035symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
18036executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
18037directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
18038@value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
18039directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
18040to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
18041and your program, using the @code{path} command.
18042
18043@cindex unlinked object files
18044@cindex patching object files
18045You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
18046the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
18047file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
18048if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
18049@kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
18050that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
18051case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
18052the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
18053
18054@item file
18055@code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
18056has on both executable file and the symbol table.
18057
18058@kindex exec-file
18059@item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
18060Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
18061in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
18062if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
18063discard information on the executable file.
18064
18065@kindex symbol-file
18066@item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
18067Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
18068searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
18069table and program to run from the same file.
18070
18071@code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
18072program's symbol table.
18073
18074The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
18075some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
18076contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
18077which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
18078@value{GDBN}.
18079
18080@code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
18081executing it once.
18082
18083When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
18084understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
18085generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
18086other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
18087Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
18088using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
18089optimized code.
18090
18091For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
18092using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
18093symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
18094quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
18095details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
18096
18097The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
18098start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
18099occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
18100file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
18101pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
18102Warnings and Messages}.)
18103
18104We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
18105symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
18106symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
18107still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
18108in stabs format.
18109
18110@kindex readnow
18111@cindex reading symbols immediately
18112@cindex symbols, reading immediately
18113@item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
18114@itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
18115You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
18116tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
18117load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
18118entire symbol table available.
18119
18120@c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
18121@c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
18122@c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
18123@c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
18124@c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
18125@c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
18126@c files.
18127
18128@kindex core-file
18129@item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
18130@itemx core
18131Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
18132of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
18133address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
18134executable file itself for other parts.
18135
18136@code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
18137to be used.
18138
18139Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
18140under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
18141wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
18142the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
18143(@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
18144
18145@kindex add-symbol-file
18146@cindex dynamic linking
18147@item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
18148@itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
18149@itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} -s @var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
18150The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
18151information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
18152when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
18153into the program that is running. The @var{address} should give the memory
18154address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
18155this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
18156of @samp{-s @var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
18157section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
18158@var{address} as an expression.
18159
18160The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
18161originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
18162@code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
18163thus read is kept in addition to the old.
18164
18165Changes can be reverted using the command @code{remove-symbol-file}.
18166
18167@cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
18168@cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
18169@cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
18170@cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
18171@cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
18172Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
18173executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
18174relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
18175information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
18176
18177@itemize @bullet
18178@item
18179the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
18180that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
18181@item
18182every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
18183been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
18184@item
18185you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
18186provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
18187@end itemize
18188
18189@noindent
18190Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
18191relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
18192typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
18193important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
18194procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
18195assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
18196general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
18197relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
18198as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
18199way.
18200
18201@code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
18202
18203@kindex remove-symbol-file
18204@item remove-symbol-file @var{filename}
18205@item remove-symbol-file -a @var{address}
18206Remove a symbol file added via the @code{add-symbol-file} command. The
18207file to remove can be identified by its @var{filename} or by an @var{address}
18208that lies within the boundaries of this symbol file in memory. Example:
18209
18210@smallexample
18211(gdb) add-symbol-file /home/user/gdb/mylib.so 0x7ffff7ff9480
18212add symbol table from file "/home/user/gdb/mylib.so" at
18213 .text_addr = 0x7ffff7ff9480
18214(y or n) y
18215Reading symbols from /home/user/gdb/mylib.so...done.
18216(gdb) remove-symbol-file -a 0x7ffff7ff9480
18217Remove symbol table from file "/home/user/gdb/mylib.so"? (y or n) y
18218(gdb)
18219@end smallexample
18220
18221
18222@code{remove-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
18223
18224@kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
18225@cindex @code{syscall DSO}
18226@cindex load symbols from memory
18227@item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
18228Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
18229object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
18230For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
18231process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
18232some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
18233evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
18234For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
18235@code{exec-file} commands in advance.
18236
18237@kindex section
18238@item section @var{section} @var{addr}
18239The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
18240@var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
18241exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
18242@code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
18243itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
18244@code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
18245their addresses.
18246
18247@kindex info files
18248@kindex info target
18249@item info files
18250@itemx info target
18251@code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
18252current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
18253including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
18254use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
18255command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
18256current ones.
18257
18258@kindex maint info sections
18259@item maint info sections
18260Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
18261is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
18262displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
18263offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
18264@code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
18265may be arbitrarily combined):
18266
18267@table @code
18268@item ALLOBJ
18269Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
18270@item @var{sections}
18271Display info only for named @var{sections}.
18272@item @var{section-flags}
18273Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
18274The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
18275@table @code
18276@item ALLOC
18277Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
18278Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
18279@item LOAD
18280Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
18281Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
18282@item RELOC
18283Section needs to be relocated before loading.
18284@item READONLY
18285Section cannot be modified by the child process.
18286@item CODE
18287Section contains executable code only.
18288@item DATA
18289Section contains data only (no executable code).
18290@item ROM
18291Section will reside in ROM.
18292@item CONSTRUCTOR
18293Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
18294@item HAS_CONTENTS
18295Section is not empty.
18296@item NEVER_LOAD
18297An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
18298@item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
18299A notification to the linker that the section contains
18300COFF shared library information.
18301@item IS_COMMON
18302Section contains common symbols.
18303@end table
18304@end table
18305@kindex set trust-readonly-sections
18306@cindex read-only sections
18307@item set trust-readonly-sections on
18308Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
18309really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
18310In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
18311out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
18312For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
18313enhancement to debugging performance.
18314
18315The default is off.
18316
18317@item set trust-readonly-sections off
18318Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
18319the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
18320and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
18321
18322@item show trust-readonly-sections
18323Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
18324@end table
18325
18326All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
18327as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
18328name and remembers it that way.
18329
18330@cindex shared libraries
18331@anchor{Shared Libraries}
18332@value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, SunOS,
18333Darwin/Mach-O, SVr4, IBM RS/6000 AIX, QNX Neutrino, FDPIC (FR-V), and
18334DSBT (TIC6X) shared libraries.
18335
18336On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
18337shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
18338
18339@value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
18340when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
18341(Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
18342references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
18343debugging a core file).
18344
18345@c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
18346@c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
18347@c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
18348
18349There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
18350symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
18351particularly large or there are many of them.
18352
18353To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
18354commands:
18355
18356@table @code
18357@kindex set auto-solib-add
18358@item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
18359If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
18360will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
18361attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
18362informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
18363is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
18364@code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
18365
18366@cindex memory used for symbol tables
18367If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
18368takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
18369memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
18370symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
18371auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
18372library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
18373@var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
18374the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
18375
18376@kindex show auto-solib-add
18377@item show auto-solib-add
18378Display the current autoloading mode.
18379@end table
18380
18381@cindex load shared library
18382To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
18383command:
18384
18385@table @code
18386@kindex info sharedlibrary
18387@kindex info share
18388@item info share @var{regex}
18389@itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
18390Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
18391that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
18392all shared libraries that are loaded.
18393
18394@kindex info dll
18395@item info dll @var{regex}
18396This is an alias of @code{info sharedlibrary}.
18397
18398@kindex sharedlibrary
18399@kindex share
18400@item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
18401@itemx share @var{regex}
18402Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
18403Unix regular expression.
18404As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
18405required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
18406@var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
18407loaded.
18408
18409@item nosharedlibrary
18410@kindex nosharedlibrary
18411@cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
18412Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
18413that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
18414libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
18415discarded.
18416@end table
18417
18418Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
18419when any of shared library events happen. The best way to do this is
18420to use @code{catch load} and @code{catch unload} (@pxref{Set
18421Catchpoints}).
18422
18423@value{GDBN} also supports the the @code{set stop-on-solib-events}
18424command for this. This command exists for historical reasons. It is
18425less useful than setting a catchpoint, because it does not allow for
18426conditions or commands as a catchpoint does.
18427
18428@table @code
18429@item set stop-on-solib-events
18430@kindex set stop-on-solib-events
18431This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
18432when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
18433The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
18434shared library.
18435
18436@item show stop-on-solib-events
18437@kindex show stop-on-solib-events
18438Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
18439library events happen.
18440@end table
18441
18442Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
18443configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
18444this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
18445on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
18446libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
18447provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
18448copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
18449not.
18450
18451@cindex where to look for shared libraries
18452For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
18453libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
18454may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
18455to specify the search directories for target libraries.
18456
18457@table @code
18458@cindex prefix for executable and shared library file names
18459@cindex system root, alternate
18460@kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
18461@kindex set sysroot
18462@item set sysroot @var{path}
18463Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
18464absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
18465runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
18466target program's memory. When starting processes remotely, and when
18467attaching to already-running processes (local or remote), their
18468executable filenames will be prefixed with @var{path} if reported to
18469@value{GDBN} as absolute by the operating system. If you use
18470@code{set sysroot} to find executables and shared libraries, they need
18471to be laid out in the same way that they are on the target, with
18472e.g.@: a @file{/bin}, @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy under
18473@var{path}.
18474
18475If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{target:} and the target
18476system is remote then @value{GDBN} will retrieve the target binaries
18477from the remote system. This is only supported when using a remote
18478target that supports the @code{remote get} command (@pxref{File
18479Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}). The part of @var{path}
18480following the initial @file{target:} (if present) is used as system
18481root prefix on the remote file system. If @var{path} starts with the
18482sequence @file{remote:} this is converted to the sequence
18483@file{target:} by @code{set sysroot}@footnote{Historically the
18484functionality to retrieve binaries from the remote system was
18485provided by prefixing @var{path} with @file{remote:}}. If you want
18486to specify a local system root using a directory that happens to be
18487named @file{target:} or @file{remote:}, you need to use some
18488equivalent variant of the name like @file{./target:}.
18489
18490For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
18491SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
18492absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
18493@value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
18494slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
18495
18496@smallexample
18497 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
18498@end smallexample
18499
18500Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
18501@var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
18502system:
18503
18504@smallexample
18505 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
18506@end smallexample
18507
18508If that does not find the binary, @value{GDBN} tries removing
18509the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
18510for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
18511colons:
18512
18513@smallexample
18514 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
18515@end smallexample
18516
18517This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
18518with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
18519copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
18520@samp{z}):
18521
18522@smallexample
18523 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
18524 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
18525 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
18526@end smallexample
18527
18528@noindent
18529and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
18530@value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
18531@file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
18532
18533If that still does not find the binary, @value{GDBN} tries
18534removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
18535
18536@smallexample
18537 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
18538@end smallexample
18539
18540This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
18541if you don't want or need to.
18542
18543The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
18544sysroot}.
18545
18546@cindex default system root
18547@cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
18548You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
18549@samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
18550@value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
18551@samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
18552automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
18553location.
18554
18555@kindex show sysroot
18556@item show sysroot
18557Display the current executable and shared library prefix.
18558
18559@kindex set solib-search-path
18560@item set solib-search-path @var{path}
18561If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
18562directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
18563is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
18564path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
18565use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
18566@samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
18567finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
18568it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
18569of shared library symbols.
18570
18571@kindex show solib-search-path
18572@item show solib-search-path
18573Display the current shared library search path.
18574
18575@cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
18576@kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
18577@kindex show target-file-system-kind
18578@item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
18579Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
18580
18581Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
18582make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
18583example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
18584system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
18585@value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
18586@file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
18587drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
18588indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
18589normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
18590the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
18591as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
18592it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
18593shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
18594with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
18595@code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
18596to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
18597map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
18598semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
18599to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
18600tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
18601current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
18602Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
18603
18604@table @code
18605@item unix
18606Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
18607kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
18608are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
18609the forward slash.
18610
18611@item dos-based
18612Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
18613File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
18614followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
18615both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
18616considered directory separators.
18617
18618@item auto
18619Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
18620target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
18621This is the default.
18622@end table
18623@end table
18624
18625@cindex file name canonicalization
18626@cindex base name differences
18627When processing file names provided by the user, @value{GDBN}
18628frequently needs to compare them to the file names recorded in the
18629program's debug info. Normally, @value{GDBN} compares just the
18630@dfn{base names} of the files as strings, which is reasonably fast
18631even for very large programs. (The base name of a file is the last
18632portion of its name, after stripping all the leading directories.)
18633This shortcut in comparison is based upon the assumption that files
18634cannot have more than one base name. This is usually true, but
18635references to files that use symlinks or similar filesystem
18636facilities violate that assumption. If your program records files
18637using such facilities, or if you provide file names to @value{GDBN}
18638using symlinks etc., you can set @code{basenames-may-differ} to
18639@code{true} to instruct @value{GDBN} to completely canonicalize each
18640pair of file names it needs to compare. This will make file-name
18641comparisons accurate, but at a price of a significant slowdown.
18642
18643@table @code
18644@item set basenames-may-differ
18645@kindex set basenames-may-differ
18646Set whether a source file may have multiple base names.
18647
18648@item show basenames-may-differ
18649@kindex show basenames-may-differ
18650Show whether a source file may have multiple base names.
18651@end table
18652
18653@node File Caching
18654@section File Caching
18655@cindex caching of opened files
18656@cindex caching of bfd objects
18657
18658To speed up file loading, and reduce memory usage, @value{GDBN} will
18659reuse the @code{bfd} objects used to track open files. @xref{Top, ,
18660BFD, bfd, The Binary File Descriptor Library}. The following commands
18661allow visibility and control of the caching behavior.
18662
18663@table @code
18664@kindex maint info bfds
18665@item maint info bfds
18666This prints information about each @code{bfd} object that is known to
18667@value{GDBN}.
18668
18669@kindex maint set bfd-sharing
18670@kindex maint show bfd-sharing
18671@kindex bfd caching
18672@item maint set bfd-sharing
18673@item maint show bfd-sharing
18674Control whether @code{bfd} objects can be shared. When sharing is
18675enabled @value{GDBN} reuses already open @code{bfd} objects rather
18676than reopening the same file. Turning sharing off does not cause
18677already shared @code{bfd} objects to be unshared, but all future files
18678that are opened will create a new @code{bfd} object. Similarly,
18679re-enabling sharing does not cause multiple existing @code{bfd}
18680objects to be collapsed into a single shared @code{bfd} object.
18681
18682@kindex set debug bfd-cache @var{level}
18683@kindex bfd caching
18684@item set debug bfd-cache @var{level}
18685Turns on debugging of the bfd cache, setting the level to @var{level}.
18686
18687@kindex show debug bfd-cache
18688@kindex bfd caching
18689@item show debug bfd-cache
18690Show the current debugging level of the bfd cache.
18691@end table
18692
18693@node Separate Debug Files
18694@section Debugging Information in Separate Files
18695@cindex separate debugging information files
18696@cindex debugging information in separate files
18697@cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
18698@cindex debugging information directory, global
18699@cindex global debugging information directories
18700@cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
18701@cindex @file{.build-id} directory
18702
18703@value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
18704file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
18705@value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
18706Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
18707than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
18708information for their executables in separate files, which users can
18709install only when they need to debug a problem.
18710
18711@value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
18712file:
18713
18714@itemize @bullet
18715@item
18716The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
18717the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
18718usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
18719name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
18720(e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
18721debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
18722checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
18723the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
18724
18725@item
18726The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
18727also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
18728only on some operating systems, when using the ELF or PE file formats
18729for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
18730this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
18731command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
18732The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
18733explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
18734below.
18735@end itemize
18736
18737Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
18738uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
18739
18740@itemize @bullet
18741@item
18742For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
18743the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
18744directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under each one of the global debug
18745directories, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
18746directories of the executable's absolute file name.
18747
18748@item
18749For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
18750@file{.build-id} subdirectory of each one of the global debug directories for
18751a file named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
18752first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
18753are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
18754hex characters, not 10.)
18755@end itemize
18756
18757So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
18758@file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
18759file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
18760@code{abcdef1234}. If the list of the global debug directories includes
18761@file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
18762debug information files, in the indicated order:
18763
18764@itemize @minus
18765@item
18766@file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
18767@item
18768@file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
18769@item
18770@file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
18771@item
18772@file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
18773@end itemize
18774
18775@anchor{debug-file-directory}
18776Global debugging info directories default to what is set by @value{GDBN}
18777configure option @option{--with-separate-debug-dir}. During @value{GDBN} run
18778you can also set the global debugging info directories, and view the list
18779@value{GDBN} is currently using.
18780
18781@table @code
18782
18783@kindex set debug-file-directory
18784@item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
18785Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
18786information files to @var{directory}. Multiple path components can be set
18787concatenating them by a path separator.
18788
18789@kindex show debug-file-directory
18790@item show debug-file-directory
18791Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
18792information files.
18793
18794@end table
18795
18796@cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
18797@cindex debug link sections
18798A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
18799@code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
18800
18801@itemize
18802@item
18803A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
18804a zero byte,
18805@item
18806zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
18807boundary within the section, and
18808@item
18809a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
18810executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
18811information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
18812zero as the @var{crc} argument.
18813@end itemize
18814
18815Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
18816contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
18817described above.
18818
18819@cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
18820@cindex build ID sections
18821The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
18822ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
18823often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
18824It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
18825the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
18826algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
18827content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
18828value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
18829stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
18830
18831The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
18832executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
18833debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
18834should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
18835but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
18836in an ordinary executable.
18837
18838The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
18839@samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
18840the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
18841following commands:
18842
18843@smallexample
18844@kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
18845@kbd{strip -g foo}
18846@end smallexample
18847
18848@noindent
18849These commands remove the debugging
18850information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
18851@file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
18852two files:
18853
18854@itemize @bullet
18855@item
18856The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
18857behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
18858
18859@smallexample
18860@kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
18861@end smallexample
18862
18863Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
18864a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
18865foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
18866the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
18867
18868@item
18869Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
18870the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
18871compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
18872utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
18873@end itemize
18874
18875@noindent
18876
18877@cindex CRC algorithm definition
18878The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
18879IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
18880
18881@c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
18882@c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
18883@c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
18884@c different ways!
18885@ifhtml
18886@display
18887@html
18888 <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>
18889 + <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
18890@end html
18891@end display
18892@end ifhtml
18893@ifnothtml
18894@display
18895 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
18896 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
18897@end display
18898@end ifnothtml
18899
18900The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
18901significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
18902@code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
18903the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
18904CRC.
18905
18906@emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
18907@dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{qCRC packet}).
18908However in the case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed
18909@emph{most} significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so
18910trailing zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
18911
18912To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
18913which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
18914initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
18915this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
18916@code{0xffffffff}.
18917
18918@kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
18919@smallexample
18920unsigned long
18921gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
18922 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
18923@{
18924 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
18925 @{
18926 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
18927 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
18928 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
18929 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
18930 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
18931 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
18932 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
18933 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
18934 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
18935 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
18936 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
18937 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
18938 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
18939 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
18940 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
18941 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
18942 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
18943 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
18944 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
18945 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
18946 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
18947 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
18948 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
18949 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
18950 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
18951 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
18952 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
18953 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
18954 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
18955 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
18956 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
18957 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
18958 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
18959 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
18960 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
18961 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
18962 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
18963 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
18964 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
18965 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
18966 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
18967 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
18968 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
18969 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
18970 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
18971 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
18972 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
18973 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
18974 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
18975 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
18976 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
18977 0x2d02ef8d
18978 @};
18979 unsigned char *end;
18980
18981 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
18982 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
18983 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
18984 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
18985@}
18986@end smallexample
18987
18988@noindent
18989This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
18990
18991@node MiniDebugInfo
18992@section Debugging information in a special section
18993@cindex separate debug sections
18994@cindex @samp{.gnu_debugdata} section
18995
18996Some systems ship pre-built executables and libraries that have a
18997special @samp{.gnu_debugdata} section. This feature is called
18998@dfn{MiniDebugInfo}. This section holds an LZMA-compressed object and
18999is used to supply extra symbols for backtraces.
19000
19001The intent of this section is to provide extra minimal debugging
19002information for use in simple backtraces. It is not intended to be a
19003replacement for full separate debugging information (@pxref{Separate
19004Debug Files}). The example below shows the intended use; however,
19005@value{GDBN} does not currently put restrictions on what sort of
19006debugging information might be included in the section.
19007
19008@value{GDBN} has support for this extension. If the section exists,
19009then it is used provided that no other source of debugging information
19010can be found, and that @value{GDBN} was configured with LZMA support.
19011
19012This section can be easily created using @command{objcopy} and other
19013standard utilities:
19014
19015@smallexample
19016# Extract the dynamic symbols from the main binary, there is no need
19017# to also have these in the normal symbol table.
19018nm -D @var{binary} --format=posix --defined-only \
19019 | awk '@{ print $1 @}' | sort > dynsyms
19020
19021# Extract all the text (i.e. function) symbols from the debuginfo.
19022# (Note that we actually also accept "D" symbols, for the benefit
19023# of platforms like PowerPC64 that use function descriptors.)
19024nm @var{binary} --format=posix --defined-only \
19025 | awk '@{ if ($2 == "T" || $2 == "t" || $2 == "D") print $1 @}' \
19026 | sort > funcsyms
19027
19028# Keep all the function symbols not already in the dynamic symbol
19029# table.
19030comm -13 dynsyms funcsyms > keep_symbols
19031
19032# Separate full debug info into debug binary.
19033objcopy --only-keep-debug @var{binary} debug
19034
19035# Copy the full debuginfo, keeping only a minimal set of symbols and
19036# removing some unnecessary sections.
19037objcopy -S --remove-section .gdb_index --remove-section .comment \
19038 --keep-symbols=keep_symbols debug mini_debuginfo
19039
19040# Drop the full debug info from the original binary.
19041strip --strip-all -R .comment @var{binary}
19042
19043# Inject the compressed data into the .gnu_debugdata section of the
19044# original binary.
19045xz mini_debuginfo
19046objcopy --add-section .gnu_debugdata=mini_debuginfo.xz @var{binary}
19047@end smallexample
19048
19049@node Index Files
19050@section Index Files Speed Up @value{GDBN}
19051@cindex index files
19052@cindex @samp{.gdb_index} section
19053
19054When @value{GDBN} finds a symbol file, it scans the symbols in the
19055file in order to construct an internal symbol table. This lets most
19056@value{GDBN} operations work quickly---at the cost of a delay early
19057on. For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so
19058@value{GDBN} provides a way to build an index, which speeds up
19059startup.
19060
19061The index is stored as a section in the symbol file. @value{GDBN} can
19062write the index to a file, then you can put it into the symbol file
19063using @command{objcopy}.
19064
19065To create an index file, use the @code{save gdb-index} command:
19066
19067@table @code
19068@item save gdb-index @var{directory}
19069@kindex save gdb-index
19070Create an index file for each symbol file currently known by
19071@value{GDBN}. Each file is named after its corresponding symbol file,
19072with @samp{.gdb-index} appended, and is written into the given
19073@var{directory}.
19074@end table
19075
19076Once you have created an index file you can merge it into your symbol
19077file, here named @file{symfile}, using @command{objcopy}:
19078
19079@smallexample
19080$ objcopy --add-section .gdb_index=symfile.gdb-index \
19081 --set-section-flags .gdb_index=readonly symfile symfile
19082@end smallexample
19083
19084@value{GDBN} will normally ignore older versions of @file{.gdb_index}
19085sections that have been deprecated. Usually they are deprecated because
19086they are missing a new feature or have performance issues.
19087To tell @value{GDBN} to use a deprecated index section anyway
19088specify @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
19089The default is @code{off}.
19090This can speed up startup, but may result in some functionality being lost.
19091@xref{Index Section Format}.
19092
19093@emph{Warning:} Setting @code{use-deprecated-index-sections} to @code{on}
19094must be done before gdb reads the file. The following will not work:
19095
19096@smallexample
19097$ gdb -ex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
19098@end smallexample
19099
19100Instead you must do, for example,
19101
19102@smallexample
19103$ gdb -iex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
19104@end smallexample
19105
19106There are currently some limitation on indices. They only work when
19107for DWARF debugging information, not stabs. And, they do not
19108currently work for programs using Ada.
19109
19110@node Symbol Errors
19111@section Errors Reading Symbol Files
19112
19113While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
19114such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
19115output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
19116they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
19117debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
19118about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
19119only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
19120times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
19121to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
19122complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
19123Messages}).
19124
19125The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
19126
19127@table @code
19128@item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
19129
19130The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
19131(such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
19132error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
19133in its outer scope blocks.
19134
19135@value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
19136the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
19137may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
19138function.
19139
19140@item block at @var{address} out of order
19141
19142The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
19143order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
19144do so.
19145
19146@value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
19147locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
19148can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
19149@code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
19150Messages}.)
19151
19152@item bad block start address patched
19153
19154The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
19155smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
19156to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
19157
19158@value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
19159starting on the previous source line.
19160
19161@item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
19162
19163@cindex foo
19164Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
19165larger than the size of the string table.
19166
19167@value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
19168name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
19169with this name.
19170
19171@item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
19172
19173The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
19174not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
19175uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
19176
19177@value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
19178This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
19179are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
19180debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
19181on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
19182and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
19183
19184@item stub type has NULL name
19185
19186@value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
19187
19188@item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
19189The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
19190information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
19191it.
19192
19193@item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
19194
19195@value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
19196
19197@end table
19198
19199@node Data Files
19200@section GDB Data Files
19201
19202@cindex prefix for data files
19203@value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
19204are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
19205
19206You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
19207is currently using.
19208
19209@table @code
19210@kindex set data-directory
19211@item set data-directory @var{directory}
19212Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
19213to @var{directory}.
19214
19215@kindex show data-directory
19216@item show data-directory
19217Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
19218@end table
19219
19220@cindex default data directory
19221@cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
19222You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
19223@samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
19224@value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
19225@samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
19226automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
19227location.
19228
19229The data directory may also be specified with the
19230@code{--data-directory} command line option.
19231@xref{Mode Options}.
19232
19233@node Targets
19234@chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
19235
19236@cindex debugging target
19237A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
19238
19239Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
19240in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
19241you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
19242flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
19243host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
19244realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
19245command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
19246(@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
19247
19248@cindex target architecture
19249It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
19250architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
19251one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
19252command.
19253
19254@table @code
19255@kindex set architecture
19256@kindex show architecture
19257@item set architecture @var{arch}
19258This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
19259value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
19260supported architectures.
19261
19262@item show architecture
19263Show the current target architecture.
19264
19265@item set processor
19266@itemx processor
19267@kindex set processor
19268@kindex show processor
19269These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
19270and @code{show architecture}.
19271@end table
19272
19273@menu
19274* Active Targets:: Active targets
19275* Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
19276* Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
19277@end menu
19278
19279@node Active Targets
19280@section Active Targets
19281
19282@cindex stacking targets
19283@cindex active targets
19284@cindex multiple targets
19285
19286There are multiple classes of targets such as: processes, executable files or
19287recording sessions. Core files belong to the process class, making core file
19288and process mutually exclusive. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} can work concurrently
19289on multiple active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for
19290example) start a process and inspect its activity, while still having access to
19291the executable file after the process finishes. Or if you start process
19292recording (@pxref{Reverse Execution}) and @code{reverse-step} there, you are
19293presented a virtual layer of the recording target, while the process target
19294remains stopped at the chronologically last point of the process execution.
19295
19296Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new core
19297file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}). To
19298specify as a target a process that is already running, use the @code{attach}
19299command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
19300
19301@node Target Commands
19302@section Commands for Managing Targets
19303
19304@table @code
19305@item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
19306Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
19307process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
19308facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
19309protocol of the target machine.
19310
19311Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
19312typically include things like device names or host names to connect
19313with, process numbers, and baud rates.
19314
19315The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
19316after executing the command.
19317
19318@kindex help target
19319@item help target
19320Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
19321currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
19322(@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
19323
19324@item help target @var{name}
19325Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
19326select it.
19327
19328@kindex set gnutarget
19329@item set gnutarget @var{args}
19330@value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
19331knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
19332a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
19333with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
19334with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
19335
19336@quotation
19337@emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
19338you must know the actual BFD name.
19339@end quotation
19340
19341@noindent
19342@xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
19343
19344@kindex show gnutarget
19345@item show gnutarget
19346Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
19347@code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
19348@value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
19349and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BFD target is "auto"}.
19350@end table
19351
19352@cindex common targets
19353Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
19354configuration):
19355
19356@table @code
19357@kindex target
19358@item target exec @var{program}
19359@cindex executable file target
19360An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
19361@samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
19362
19363@item target core @var{filename}
19364@cindex core dump file target
19365A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
19366@samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
19367
19368@item target remote @var{medium}
19369@cindex remote target
19370A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
19371connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
19372protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
19373
19374For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
19375machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
19376
19377@smallexample
19378target remote /dev/ttya
19379@end smallexample
19380
19381@code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
19382useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
19383system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
19384clobbered by the download.
19385
19386@item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
19387@cindex built-in simulator target
19388Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
19389In general,
19390@smallexample
19391 target sim
19392 load
19393 run
19394@end smallexample
19395@noindent
19396works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
19397drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
19398provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
19399see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
19400Processors}.
19401
19402@item target native
19403@cindex native target
19404Setup for local/native process debugging. Useful to make the
19405@code{run} command spawn native processes (likewise @code{attach},
19406etc.@:) even when @code{set auto-connect-native-target} is @code{off}
19407(@pxref{set auto-connect-native-target}).
19408
19409@end table
19410
19411Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
19412your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
19413
19414Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
19415you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
19416various aspects of this process.
19417
19418@table @code
19419
19420@item set hash
19421@kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
19422@cindex hash mark while downloading
19423This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
19424downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
19425displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
19426monitor.
19427
19428@item show hash
19429@kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
19430Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
19431
19432@item set debug monitor
19433@kindex set debug monitor
19434@cindex display remote monitor communications
19435Enable or disable display of communications messages between
19436@value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
19437
19438@item show debug monitor
19439@kindex show debug monitor
19440Show the current status of displaying communications between
19441@value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
19442@end table
19443
19444@table @code
19445
19446@kindex load @var{filename}
19447@item load @var{filename}
19448@anchor{load}
19449Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
19450@value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
19451is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
19452on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
19453@code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
19454the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
19455
19456If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
19457execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
19458target is @dots{}}''
19459
19460The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
19461For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
19462link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
19463specifies a fixed address.
19464@c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
19465
19466Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
19467load programs into flash memory.
19468
19469@code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
19470@end table
19471
19472@node Byte Order
19473@section Choosing Target Byte Order
19474
19475@cindex choosing target byte order
19476@cindex target byte order
19477
19478Some types of processors, such as the @acronym{MIPS}, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
19479offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
19480orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
19481designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
19482which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
19483@value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
19484
19485@table @code
19486@kindex set endian
19487@item set endian big
19488Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
19489
19490@item set endian little
19491Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
19492
19493@item set endian auto
19494Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
19495executable.
19496
19497@item show endian
19498Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
19499
19500@end table
19501
19502Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
19503data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
19504target system.
19505
19506
19507@node Remote Debugging
19508@chapter Debugging Remote Programs
19509@cindex remote debugging
19510
19511If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
19512@value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
19513For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
19514or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
19515powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
19516
19517Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
19518to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
19519@value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
19520but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
19521write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
19522communicate with @value{GDBN}.
19523
19524Other remote targets may be available in your
19525configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
19526
19527@menu
19528* Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
19529* File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
19530* Server:: Using the gdbserver program
19531* Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
19532* Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
19533@end menu
19534
19535@node Connecting
19536@section Connecting to a Remote Target
19537@cindex remote debugging, connecting
19538@cindex @code{gdbserver}, connecting
19539@cindex remote debugging, types of connections
19540@cindex @code{gdbserver}, types of connections
19541@cindex @code{gdbserver}, @code{target remote} mode
19542@cindex @code{gdbserver}, @code{target extended-remote} mode
19543
19544This section describes how to connect to a remote target, including the
19545types of connections and their differences, how to set up executable and
19546symbol files on the host and target, and the commands used for
19547connecting to and disconnecting from the remote target.
19548
19549@subsection Types of Remote Connections
19550
19551@value{GDBN} supports two types of remote connections, @code{target remote}
19552mode and @code{target extended-remote} mode. Note that many remote targets
19553support only @code{target remote} mode. There are several major
19554differences between the two types of connections, enumerated here:
19555
19556@table @asis
19557
19558@cindex remote debugging, detach and program exit
19559@item Result of detach or program exit
19560@strong{With target remote mode:} When the debugged program exits or you
19561detach from it, @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target. When using
19562@code{gdbserver}, @code{gdbserver} will exit.
19563
19564@strong{With target extended-remote mode:} When the debugged program exits or
19565you detach from it, @value{GDBN} remains connected to the target, even
19566though no program is running. You can rerun the program, attach to a
19567running program, or use @code{monitor} commands specific to the target.
19568
19569When using @code{gdbserver} in this case, it does not exit unless it was
19570invoked using the @option{--once} option. If the @option{--once} option
19571was not used, you can ask @code{gdbserver} to exit using the
19572@code{monitor exit} command (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}).
19573
19574@item Specifying the program to debug
19575For both connection types you use the @code{file} command to specify the
19576program on the host system. If you are using @code{gdbserver} there are
19577some differences in how to specify the location of the program on the
19578target.
19579
19580@strong{With target remote mode:} You must either specify the program to debug
19581on the @code{gdbserver} command line or use the @option{--attach} option
19582(@pxref{Attaching to a program,,Attaching to a Running Program}).
19583
19584@cindex @option{--multi}, @code{gdbserver} option
19585@strong{With target extended-remote mode:} You may specify the program to debug
19586on the @code{gdbserver} command line, or you can load the program or attach
19587to it using @value{GDBN} commands after connecting to @code{gdbserver}.
19588
19589@anchor{--multi Option in Types of Remote Connnections}
19590You can start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
19591or process ID to attach. To do this, use the @option{--multi} command line
19592option. Then you can connect using @code{target extended-remote} and start
19593the program you want to debug (see below for details on using the
19594@code{run} command in this scenario). Note that the conditions under which
19595@code{gdbserver} terminates depend on how @value{GDBN} connects to it
19596(@code{target remote} or @code{target extended-remote}). The
19597@option{--multi} option to @code{gdbserver} has no influence on that.
19598
19599@item The @code{run} command
19600@strong{With target remote mode:} The @code{run} command is not
19601supported. Once a connection has been established, you can use all
19602the usual @value{GDBN} commands to examine and change data. The
19603remote program is already running, so you can use commands like
19604@kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}.
19605
19606@strong{With target extended-remote mode:} The @code{run} command is
19607supported. The @code{run} command uses the value set by
19608@code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set remote exec-file}) to select
19609the program to run. Command line arguments are supported, except for
19610wildcard expansion and I/O redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
19611
19612If you specify the program to debug on the command line, then the
19613@code{run} command is not required to start execution, and you can
19614resume using commands like @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue} as with
19615@code{target remote} mode.
19616
19617@anchor{Attaching in Types of Remote Connections}
19618@item Attaching
19619@strong{With target remote mode:} The @value{GDBN} command @code{attach} is
19620not supported. To attach to a running program using @code{gdbserver}, you
19621must use the @option{--attach} option (@pxref{Running gdbserver}).
19622
19623@strong{With target extended-remote mode:} To attach to a running program,
19624you may use the @code{attach} command after the connection has been
19625established. If you are using @code{gdbserver}, you may also invoke
19626@code{gdbserver} using the @option{--attach} option
19627(@pxref{Running gdbserver}).
19628
19629@end table
19630
19631@anchor{Host and target files}
19632@subsection Host and Target Files
19633@cindex remote debugging, symbol files
19634@cindex symbol files, remote debugging
19635
19636@value{GDBN}, running on the host, needs access to symbol and debugging
19637information for your program running on the target. This requires
19638access to an unstripped copy of your program, and possibly any associated
19639symbol files. Note that this section applies equally to both @code{target
19640remote} mode and @code{target extended-remote} mode.
19641
19642Some remote targets (@pxref{qXfer executable filename read}, and
19643@pxref{Host I/O Packets}) allow @value{GDBN} to access program files over
19644the same connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. With such a
19645target, if the remote program is unstripped, the only command you need is
19646@code{target remote} (or @code{target extended-remote}).
19647
19648If the remote program is stripped, or the target does not support remote
19649program file access, start up @value{GDBN} using the name of the local
19650unstripped copy of your program as the first argument, or use the
19651@code{file} command. Use @code{set sysroot} to specify the location (on
19652the host) of target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN} was compiled with
19653the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}). Alternatively, you
19654may use @code{set solib-search-path} to specify how @value{GDBN} locates
19655target libraries.
19656
19657The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
19658and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
19659system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
19660are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
19661during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
19662files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
19663programs.
19664
19665@subsection Remote Connection Commands
19666@cindex remote connection commands
19667@value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
19668over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
19669each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
19670program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
19671@code{target remote} and @code{target extended-remote} commands
19672establish a connection to the target. Both commands accept the same
19673arguments, which indicate the medium to use:
19674
19675@table @code
19676
19677@item target remote @var{serial-device}
19678@itemx target extended-remote @var{serial-device}
19679@cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
19680Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
19681to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
19682
19683@smallexample
19684target remote /dev/ttyb
19685@end smallexample
19686
19687If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
19688@samp{--baud} option, or use the @code{set serial baud} command
19689(@pxref{Remote Configuration, set serial baud}) before the
19690@code{target} command.
19691
19692@item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
19693@itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
19694@itemx target extended-remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
19695@itemx target extended-remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
19696@cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
19697Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
19698The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
19699address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
19700the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
19701it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
19702target.
19703
19704For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
19705@code{manyfarms}:
19706
19707@smallexample
19708target remote manyfarms:2828
19709@end smallexample
19710
19711If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
19712debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
19713same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
19714port 1234 on your local machine:
19715
19716@smallexample
19717target remote :1234
19718@end smallexample
19719@noindent
19720
19721Note that the colon is still required here.
19722
19723@item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
19724@itemx target extended-remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
19725@cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
19726Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
19727connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
19728
19729@smallexample
19730target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
19731@end smallexample
19732
19733When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
19734keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
19735can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
19736cause havoc with your debugging session.
19737
19738@item target remote | @var{command}
19739@itemx target extended-remote | @var{command}
19740@cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
19741Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
19742pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
19743by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
19744protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
19745standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
19746that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
19747using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
19748
19749If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
19750@value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
19751program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
19752
19753@end table
19754
19755@cindex interrupting remote programs
19756@cindex remote programs, interrupting
19757Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
19758interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
19759program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
19760and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
19761interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
19762
19763@smallexample
19764Interrupted while waiting for the program.
19765Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
19766@end smallexample
19767
19768In @code{target remote} mode, if you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons
19769the remote debugging session. (If you decide you want to try again later,
19770you can use @kbd{target remote} again to connect once more.) If you type
19771@kbd{n}, @value{GDBN} goes back to waiting.
19772
19773In @code{target extended-remote} mode, typing @kbd{n} will leave
19774@value{GDBN} connected to the target.
19775
19776@table @code
19777@kindex detach (remote)
19778@item detach
19779When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
19780@code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
19781Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
19782will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
19783command in @code{target remote} mode, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to
19784another target. In @code{target extended-remote} mode, @value{GDBN} is
19785still connected to the target.
19786
19787@kindex disconnect
19788@item disconnect
19789The @code{disconnect} command closes the connection to the target, and
19790the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
19791(this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
19792the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
19793another target.
19794
19795@cindex send command to remote monitor
19796@cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
19797@cindex add new commands for external monitor
19798@kindex monitor
19799@item monitor @var{cmd}
19800This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
19801remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
19802sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
19803can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
19804and implement.
19805@end table
19806
19807@node File Transfer
19808@section Sending files to a remote system
19809@cindex remote target, file transfer
19810@cindex file transfer
19811@cindex sending files to remote systems
19812
19813Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
19814connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
19815for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
19816running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
19817e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
19818the only way to upload or download files.
19819
19820Not all remote targets support these commands.
19821
19822@table @code
19823@kindex remote put
19824@item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
19825Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
19826@value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
19827
19828@kindex remote get
19829@item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
19830Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
19831on the host system.
19832
19833@kindex remote delete
19834@item remote delete @var{targetfile}
19835Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
19836
19837@end table
19838
19839@node Server
19840@section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
19841
19842@kindex gdbserver
19843@cindex remote connection without stubs
19844@code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
19845allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
19846@code{target remote} or @code{target extended-remote}---but without
19847linking in the usual debugging stub.
19848
19849@code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
19850because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
19851that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
19852@code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
19853@value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
19854because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
19855also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
19856started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
19857Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
19858the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
19859do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
19860by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
19861choice for debugging.
19862
19863@value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
19864or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
19865protocol.
19866
19867@quotation
19868@emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
19869Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
19870@value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
19871target system with the same privileges as the user running
19872@code{gdbserver}.
19873@end quotation
19874
19875@anchor{Running gdbserver}
19876@subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
19877@cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
19878@cindex @code{gdbserver}, command-line arguments
19879
19880Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
19881program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
19882@code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
19883strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
19884system does all the symbol handling.
19885
19886To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
19887the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
19888syntax is:
19889
19890@smallexample
19891target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
19892@end smallexample
19893
19894@var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line), or a TCP
19895hostname and portnumber, or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
19896stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}.
19897For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
19898@samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
19899@file{/dev/com1}:
19900
19901@smallexample
19902target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
19903@end smallexample
19904
19905@code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
19906with it.
19907
19908To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
19909
19910@smallexample
19911target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
19912@end smallexample
19913
19914The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
19915specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
19916TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
19917expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
19918(Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
19919you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
19920TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
19921reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
19922conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
19923and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
19924@code{target remote} command.
19925
19926The @code{stdio} connection is useful when starting @code{gdbserver}
19927with ssh:
19928
19929@smallexample
19930(gdb) target remote | ssh -T hostname gdbserver - hello
19931@end smallexample
19932
19933The @samp{-T} option to ssh is provided because we don't need a remote pty,
19934and we don't want escape-character handling. Ssh does this by default when
19935a command is provided, the flag is provided to make it explicit.
19936You could elide it if you want to.
19937
19938Programs started with stdio-connected gdbserver have @file{/dev/null} for
19939@code{stdin}, and @code{stdout},@code{stderr} are sent back to gdb for
19940display through a pipe connected to gdbserver.
19941Both @code{stdout} and @code{stderr} use the same pipe.
19942
19943@anchor{Attaching to a program}
19944@subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
19945@cindex attach to a program, @code{gdbserver}
19946@cindex @option{--attach}, @code{gdbserver} option
19947
19948On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
19949This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
19950
19951@smallexample
19952target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
19953@end smallexample
19954
19955@var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
19956necessary to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
19957
19958In @code{target extended-remote} mode, you can also attach using the
19959@value{GDBN} attach command
19960(@pxref{Attaching in Types of Remote Connections}).
19961
19962@pindex pidof
19963You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
19964@code{pidof} utility:
19965
19966@smallexample
19967target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
19968@end smallexample
19969
19970In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
19971has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
19972@code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
19973
19974@subsubsection TCP port allocation lifecycle of @code{gdbserver}
19975
19976This section applies only when @code{gdbserver} is run to listen on a TCP
19977port.
19978
19979@code{gdbserver} normally terminates after all of its debugged processes have
19980terminated in @kbd{target remote} mode. On the other hand, for @kbd{target
19981extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver} stays running even with no processes left.
19982@value{GDBN} normally terminates the spawned debugged process on its exit,
19983which normally also terminates @code{gdbserver} in the @kbd{target remote}
19984mode. Therefore, when the connection drops unexpectedly, and @value{GDBN}
19985cannot ask @code{gdbserver} to kill its debugged processes, @code{gdbserver}
19986stays running even in the @kbd{target remote} mode.
19987
19988When @code{gdbserver} stays running, @value{GDBN} can connect to it again later.
19989Such reconnecting is useful for features like @ref{disconnected tracing}. For
19990completeness, at most one @value{GDBN} can be connected at a time.
19991
19992@cindex @option{--once}, @code{gdbserver} option
19993By default, @code{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
19994subsequent connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
19995with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
19996connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session. This
19997means no further connections to @code{gdbserver} will be possible after the
19998first one. It also means @code{gdbserver} will terminate after the first
19999connection with remote @value{GDBN} has closed, even for unexpectedly closed
20000connections and even in the @kbd{target extended-remote} mode. The
20001@option{--once} option allows reusing the same port number for connecting to
20002multiple instances of @code{gdbserver} running on the same host, since each
20003instance closes its port after the first connection.
20004
20005@anchor{Other Command-Line Arguments for gdbserver}
20006@subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
20007
20008You can use the @option{--multi} option to start @code{gdbserver} without
20009specifying a program to debug or a process to attach to. Then you can
20010attach in @code{target extended-remote} mode and run or attach to a
20011program. For more information,
20012@pxref{--multi Option in Types of Remote Connnections}.
20013
20014@cindex @option{--debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
20015The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
20016status information about the debugging process.
20017@cindex @option{--remote-debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
20018The @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
20019remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
20020@code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
20021
20022@cindex @option{--debug-format}, @code{gdbserver} option
20023The @option{--debug-format=option1[,option2,...]} option tells
20024@code{gdbserver} to include additional information in each output.
20025Possible options are:
20026
20027@table @code
20028@item none
20029Turn off all extra information in debugging output.
20030@item all
20031Turn on all extra information in debugging output.
20032@item timestamps
20033Include a timestamp in each line of debugging output.
20034@end table
20035
20036Options are processed in order. Thus, for example, if @option{none}
20037appears last then no additional information is added to debugging output.
20038
20039@cindex @option{--wrapper}, @code{gdbserver} option
20040The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
20041for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
20042wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
20043@kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
20044
20045@code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
20046command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
20047program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
20048runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
20049
20050You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
20051its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
20052this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
20053with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
20054
20055For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
20056the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
20057environment:
20058
20059@smallexample
20060$ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
20061@end smallexample
20062
20063@subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
20064
20065The basic procedure for connecting to the remote target is:
20066@itemize
20067
20068@item
20069Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
20070
20071@item
20072Make sure you have the necessary symbol files
20073(@pxref{Host and target files}).
20074Load symbols for your application using the @code{file} command before you
20075connect. Use @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your
20076@value{GDBN} was compiled with the correct sysroot using
20077@code{--with-sysroot}).
20078
20079@item
20080Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
20081For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
20082the @code{target} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
20083text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
20084@samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
20085command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{target remote} mode, since the
20086program is already on the target.
20087
20088@end itemize
20089
20090@anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
20091@subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
20092@cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
20093
20094During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
20095@code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
20096Here are the available commands.
20097
20098@table @code
20099@item monitor help
20100List the available monitor commands.
20101
20102@item monitor set debug 0
20103@itemx monitor set debug 1
20104Disable or enable general debugging messages.
20105
20106@item monitor set remote-debug 0
20107@itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
20108Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
20109protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
20110
20111@item monitor set debug-format option1@r{[},option2,...@r{]}
20112Specify additional text to add to debugging messages.
20113Possible options are:
20114
20115@table @code
20116@item none
20117Turn off all extra information in debugging output.
20118@item all
20119Turn on all extra information in debugging output.
20120@item timestamps
20121Include a timestamp in each line of debugging output.
20122@end table
20123
20124Options are processed in order. Thus, for example, if @option{none}
20125appears last then no additional information is added to debugging output.
20126
20127@item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
20128@cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
20129When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
20130directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
20131libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
20132@samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to its default value.
20133
20134The special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path} is
20135not supported in @code{gdbserver}.
20136
20137@item monitor exit
20138Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
20139@code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
20140detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
20141Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
20142of a multi-process mode debug session.
20143
20144@end table
20145
20146@subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
20147@cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
20148
20149On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints, fast
20150tracepoints and static tracepoints.
20151
20152For fast or static tracepoints to work, a special library called the
20153@dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
20154This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
20155@code{gdbserver}. In addition, support for static tracepoints
20156requires building the in-process agent library with static tracepoints
20157support. At present, the UST (LTTng Userspace Tracer,
20158@url{http://lttng.org/ust}) tracing engine is supported. This support
20159is automatically available if UST development headers are found in the
20160standard include path when @code{gdbserver} is built, or if
20161@code{gdbserver} was explicitly configured using @option{--with-ust}
20162to point at such headers. You can explicitly disable the support
20163using @option{--with-ust=no}.
20164
20165There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
20166
20167@table @code
20168@item Specifying it as dependency at link time
20169
20170You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
20171library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
20172@code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
20173
20174@item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
20175
20176You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
20177your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
20178support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
20179cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
20180in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
20181@option{--wrapper} command line option.
20182
20183@item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
20184
20185On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
20186by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
20187of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
20188systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
20189command for that. For example:
20190
20191@smallexample
20192(@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
20193@end smallexample
20194
20195Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
20196available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
20197@end table
20198
20199On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
20200systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
20201remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
20202loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
20203program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
20204case, before being able to use any of the fast or static tracepoints
20205features, you need to let the loader run and load the shared
20206libraries. The simplest way to do that is to run the program to the
20207main procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
20208@code{gdbserver} like so:
20209
20210@smallexample
20211$ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
20212@end smallexample
20213
20214Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
20215
20216@smallexample
20217$ gdb myprogram
20218(@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
202190x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
20220(@value{GDBP}) b main
20221(@value{GDBP}) continue
20222@end smallexample
20223
20224The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
20225process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
20226command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
20227process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints, list static
20228tracepoint markers, probe static tracepoints markers, and start
20229tracing.
20230
20231@node Remote Configuration
20232@section Remote Configuration
20233
20234@kindex set remote
20235@kindex show remote
20236This section documents the configuration options available when
20237debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
20238extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
20239system-call-allowed}.
20240
20241@table @code
20242@item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
20243@cindex address size for remote targets
20244@cindex bits in remote address
20245Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
20246number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
20247that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
20248default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
20249
20250@item show remoteaddresssize
20251Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
20252
20253@item set serial baud @var{n}
20254@cindex baud rate for remote targets
20255Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
20256value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
20257remote targets.
20258
20259@item show serial baud
20260Show the current speed of the remote connection.
20261
20262@item set serial parity @var{parity}
20263Set the parity for the remote serial I/O. Supported values of @var{parity} are:
20264@code{even}, @code{none}, and @code{odd}. The default is @code{none}.
20265
20266@item show serial parity
20267Show the current parity of the serial port.
20268
20269@item set remotebreak
20270@cindex interrupt remote programs
20271@cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
20272@anchor{set remotebreak}
20273If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
20274when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
20275on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
20276character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
20277expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
20278
20279@item show remotebreak
20280Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
20281interrupt the remote program.
20282
20283@item set remoteflow on
20284@itemx set remoteflow off
20285@kindex set remoteflow
20286Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
20287on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
20288
20289@item show remoteflow
20290@kindex show remoteflow
20291Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
20292
20293@item set remotelogbase @var{base}
20294Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
20295communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
20296@code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
20297@code{ascii}.
20298
20299@item show remotelogbase
20300Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
20301protocol.
20302
20303@item set remotelogfile @var{file}
20304@cindex record serial communications on file
20305Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
20306default is not to record at all.
20307
20308@item show remotelogfile.
20309Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
20310serial communications.
20311
20312@item set remotetimeout @var{num}
20313@cindex timeout for serial communications
20314@cindex remote timeout
20315Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
20316@var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
20317
20318@item show remotetimeout
20319Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
20320responses.
20321
20322@cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
20323@cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
20324@anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
20325@anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
20326@item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
20327@itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
20328Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
20329watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
20330
20331@cindex limit hardware watchpoints length
20332@cindex remote target, limit watchpoints length
20333@anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit}
20334@item set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit @var{limit}
20335Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} bytes for the maximum length of
20336a remote hardware watchpoint. A limit of -1, the default, is treated
20337as unlimited.
20338
20339@item show remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit
20340Show the current limit (in bytes) of the maximum length of
20341a remote hardware watchpoint.
20342
20343@item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
20344@itemx show remote exec-file
20345@anchor{set remote exec-file}
20346@cindex executable file, for remote target
20347Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
20348extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
20349target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
20350filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
20351
20352@item set remote interrupt-sequence
20353@cindex interrupt remote programs
20354@cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
20355Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
20356@samp{BREAK-g} as the
20357sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
20358@samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
20359is high level of serial line for some certain time.
20360Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
20361It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
20362
20363@item show interrupt-sequence
20364Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
20365is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
20366@code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
20367also known as Magic SysRq g.
20368
20369@item set remote interrupt-on-connect
20370@cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
20371Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
20372@value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
20373Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
20374which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
20375
20376@item show interrupt-on-connect
20377Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
20378to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
20379
20380@kindex set tcp
20381@kindex show tcp
20382@item set tcp auto-retry on
20383@cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
20384Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
20385debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
20386condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
20387before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
20388enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
20389to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
20390@code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
20391
20392@item set tcp auto-retry off
20393Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
20394
20395@item show tcp auto-retry
20396Show the current auto-retry setting.
20397
20398@item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
20399@itemx set tcp connect-timeout unlimited
20400@cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
20401@cindex timeout, for remote target connection
20402Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
20403@var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
20404(enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
20405that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
20406value. If @var{seconds} is @code{unlimited}, there is no timeout and
20407@value{GDBN} will keep attempting to establish a connection forever,
20408unless interrupted with @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The default is 15 seconds.
20409
20410@item show tcp connect-timeout
20411Show the current connection timeout setting.
20412@end table
20413
20414@cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
20415The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
20416your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
20417can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
20418packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
20419packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
20420or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
20421all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
20422see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
20423
20424During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
20425If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
20426in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
20427@value{GDBN} developers.
20428
20429For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
20430packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
20431are:
20432
20433@multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
20434@item Command Name
20435@tab Remote Packet
20436@tab Related Features
20437
20438@item @code{fetch-register}
20439@tab @code{p}
20440@tab @code{info registers}
20441
20442@item @code{set-register}
20443@tab @code{P}
20444@tab @code{set}
20445
20446@item @code{binary-download}
20447@tab @code{X}
20448@tab @code{load}, @code{set}
20449
20450@item @code{read-aux-vector}
20451@tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
20452@tab @code{info auxv}
20453
20454@item @code{symbol-lookup}
20455@tab @code{qSymbol}
20456@tab Detecting multiple threads
20457
20458@item @code{attach}
20459@tab @code{vAttach}
20460@tab @code{attach}
20461
20462@item @code{verbose-resume}
20463@tab @code{vCont}
20464@tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
20465
20466@item @code{run}
20467@tab @code{vRun}
20468@tab @code{run}
20469
20470@item @code{software-breakpoint}
20471@tab @code{Z0}
20472@tab @code{break}
20473
20474@item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
20475@tab @code{Z1}
20476@tab @code{hbreak}
20477
20478@item @code{write-watchpoint}
20479@tab @code{Z2}
20480@tab @code{watch}
20481
20482@item @code{read-watchpoint}
20483@tab @code{Z3}
20484@tab @code{rwatch}
20485
20486@item @code{access-watchpoint}
20487@tab @code{Z4}
20488@tab @code{awatch}
20489
20490@item @code{pid-to-exec-file}
20491@tab @code{qXfer:exec-file:read}
20492@tab @code{attach}, @code{run}
20493
20494@item @code{target-features}
20495@tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
20496@tab @code{set architecture}
20497
20498@item @code{library-info}
20499@tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
20500@tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
20501
20502@item @code{memory-map}
20503@tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
20504@tab @code{info mem}
20505
20506@item @code{read-sdata-object}
20507@tab @code{qXfer:sdata:read}
20508@tab @code{print $_sdata}
20509
20510@item @code{read-spu-object}
20511@tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
20512@tab @code{info spu}
20513
20514@item @code{write-spu-object}
20515@tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
20516@tab @code{info spu}
20517
20518@item @code{read-siginfo-object}
20519@tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
20520@tab @code{print $_siginfo}
20521
20522@item @code{write-siginfo-object}
20523@tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
20524@tab @code{set $_siginfo}
20525
20526@item @code{threads}
20527@tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
20528@tab @code{info threads}
20529
20530@item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
20531@tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
20532@tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
20533
20534@item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
20535@tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
20536@tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
20537
20538@item @code{search-memory}
20539@tab @code{qSearch:memory}
20540@tab @code{find}
20541
20542@item @code{supported-packets}
20543@tab @code{qSupported}
20544@tab Remote communications parameters
20545
20546@item @code{catch-syscalls}
20547@tab @code{QCatchSyscalls}
20548@tab @code{catch syscall}
20549
20550@item @code{pass-signals}
20551@tab @code{QPassSignals}
20552@tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
20553
20554@item @code{program-signals}
20555@tab @code{QProgramSignals}
20556@tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
20557
20558@item @code{hostio-close-packet}
20559@tab @code{vFile:close}
20560@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
20561
20562@item @code{hostio-open-packet}
20563@tab @code{vFile:open}
20564@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
20565
20566@item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
20567@tab @code{vFile:pread}
20568@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
20569
20570@item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
20571@tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
20572@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
20573
20574@item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
20575@tab @code{vFile:unlink}
20576@tab @code{remote delete}
20577
20578@item @code{hostio-readlink-packet}
20579@tab @code{vFile:readlink}
20580@tab Host I/O
20581
20582@item @code{hostio-fstat-packet}
20583@tab @code{vFile:fstat}
20584@tab Host I/O
20585
20586@item @code{hostio-setfs-packet}
20587@tab @code{vFile:setfs}
20588@tab Host I/O
20589
20590@item @code{noack-packet}
20591@tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
20592@tab Packet acknowledgment
20593
20594@item @code{osdata}
20595@tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
20596@tab @code{info os}
20597
20598@item @code{query-attached}
20599@tab @code{qAttached}
20600@tab Querying remote process attach state.
20601
20602@item @code{trace-buffer-size}
20603@tab @code{QTBuffer:size}
20604@tab @code{set trace-buffer-size}
20605
20606@item @code{trace-status}
20607@tab @code{qTStatus}
20608@tab @code{tstatus}
20609
20610@item @code{traceframe-info}
20611@tab @code{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
20612@tab Traceframe info
20613
20614@item @code{install-in-trace}
20615@tab @code{InstallInTrace}
20616@tab Install tracepoint in tracing
20617
20618@item @code{disable-randomization}
20619@tab @code{QDisableRandomization}
20620@tab @code{set disable-randomization}
20621
20622@item @code{conditional-breakpoints-packet}
20623@tab @code{Z0 and Z1}
20624@tab @code{Support for target-side breakpoint condition evaluation}
20625
20626@item @code{multiprocess-extensions}
20627@tab @code{multiprocess extensions}
20628@tab Debug multiple processes and remote process PID awareness
20629
20630@item @code{swbreak-feature}
20631@tab @code{swbreak stop reason}
20632@tab @code{break}
20633
20634@item @code{hwbreak-feature}
20635@tab @code{hwbreak stop reason}
20636@tab @code{hbreak}
20637
20638@item @code{fork-event-feature}
20639@tab @code{fork stop reason}
20640@tab @code{fork}
20641
20642@item @code{vfork-event-feature}
20643@tab @code{vfork stop reason}
20644@tab @code{vfork}
20645
20646@item @code{exec-event-feature}
20647@tab @code{exec stop reason}
20648@tab @code{exec}
20649
20650@item @code{thread-events}
20651@tab @code{QThreadEvents}
20652@tab Tracking thread lifetime.
20653
20654@item @code{no-resumed-stop-reply}
20655@tab @code{no resumed thread left stop reply}
20656@tab Tracking thread lifetime.
20657
20658@end multitable
20659
20660@node Remote Stub
20661@section Implementing a Remote Stub
20662
20663@cindex debugging stub, example
20664@cindex remote stub, example
20665@cindex stub example, remote debugging
20666The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
20667communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
20668@value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
20669these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
20670implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
20671with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
20672organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
20673
20674@cindex remote serial debugging, overview
20675To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
20676@dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
20677prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
20678program, you need:
20679
20680@enumerate
20681@item
20682A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
20683have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
20684your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
20685
20686@item
20687A C subroutine library to support your program's
20688subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
20689
20690@item
20691A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
20692download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
20693manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
20694documentation.
20695@end enumerate
20696
20697The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
20698communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
20699machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
20700
20701@table @emph
20702@item On the host,
20703@value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
20704else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
20705(@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
20706
20707@item On the target,
20708you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
20709implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
20710subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
20711
20712On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
20713@code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
20714@xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
20715@end table
20716
20717The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
20718machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
20719@sc{sparc} boards.
20720
20721@cindex remote serial stub list
20722These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
20723
20724@table @code
20725
20726@item i386-stub.c
20727@cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
20728@cindex Intel
20729@cindex i386
20730For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
20731
20732@item m68k-stub.c
20733@cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
20734@cindex Motorola 680x0
20735@cindex m680x0
20736For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
20737
20738@item sh-stub.c
20739@cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
20740@cindex Renesas
20741@cindex SH
20742For Renesas SH architectures.
20743
20744@item sparc-stub.c
20745@cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
20746@cindex Sparc
20747For @sc{sparc} architectures.
20748
20749@item sparcl-stub.c
20750@cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
20751@cindex Fujitsu
20752@cindex SparcLite
20753For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
20754
20755@end table
20756
20757The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
20758recently added stubs.
20759
20760@menu
20761* Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
20762* Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
20763* Debug Session:: Putting it all together
20764@end menu
20765
20766@node Stub Contents
20767@subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
20768
20769@cindex remote serial stub
20770The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
20771subroutines:
20772
20773@table @code
20774@item set_debug_traps
20775@findex set_debug_traps
20776@cindex remote serial stub, initialization
20777This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
20778program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly in your
20779program's startup code.
20780
20781@item handle_exception
20782@findex handle_exception
20783@cindex remote serial stub, main routine
20784This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
20785explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
20786run when a trap is triggered.
20787
20788@code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
20789execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
20790with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
20791protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
20792representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
20793information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
20794retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
20795execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
20796@code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
20797machine.
20798
20799@item breakpoint
20800@cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
20801Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
20802breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
20803way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
20804machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
20805pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
20806@code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
20807simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
20808again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
20809your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
20810@value{GDBN} session gets control.
20811
20812Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
20813to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
20814start of your debugging session.
20815@end table
20816
20817@node Bootstrapping
20818@subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
20819
20820@cindex remote stub, support routines
20821The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
20822chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
20823debugging target machine.
20824
20825First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
20826serial port.
20827
20828@table @code
20829@item int getDebugChar()
20830@findex getDebugChar
20831Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
20832It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
20833different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
20834
20835@item void putDebugChar(int)
20836@findex putDebugChar
20837Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
20838It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
20839different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
20840@end table
20841
20842@cindex control C, and remote debugging
20843@cindex interrupting remote targets
20844If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
20845running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
20846for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
20847character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
20848remote system to stop.
20849
20850Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
20851probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
20852is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
20853@value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
20854
20855Other routines you need to supply are:
20856
20857@table @code
20858@item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
20859@findex exceptionHandler
20860Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
20861handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
20862way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
20863are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
20864containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
20865The @var{exception_number} specifies the exception which should be changed;
20866its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
20867might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
20868exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
20869@var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
20870and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
20871you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
20872should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
20873
20874For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
20875gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
20876should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
20877@sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
20878help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
20879
20880@item void flush_i_cache()
20881@findex flush_i_cache
20882On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
20883instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
20884instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
20885
20886On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
20887function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
20888@end table
20889
20890@noindent
20891You must also make sure this library routine is available:
20892
20893@table @code
20894@item void *memset(void *, int, int)
20895@findex memset
20896This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
20897memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
20898@code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
20899either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
20900@end table
20901
20902If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
20903library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
20904but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
20905subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
20906
20907
20908@node Debug Session
20909@subsection Putting it All Together
20910
20911@cindex remote serial debugging summary
20912In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
20913steps.
20914
20915@enumerate
20916@item
20917Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
20918(@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
20919@display
20920@code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
20921@code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
20922@end display
20923
20924@item
20925Insert these lines in your program's startup code, before the main
20926procedure is called:
20927
20928@smallexample
20929set_debug_traps();
20930breakpoint();
20931@end smallexample
20932
20933On some machines, when a breakpoint trap is raised, the hardware
20934automatically makes the PC point to the instruction after the
20935breakpoint. If your machine doesn't do that, you may need to adjust
20936@code{handle_exception} to arrange for it to return to the instruction
20937after the breakpoint on this first invocation, so that your program
20938doesn't keep hitting the initial breakpoint instead of making
20939progress.
20940
20941@item
20942For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
20943@code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
20944
20945@smallexample
20946void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
20947@end smallexample
20948
20949@noindent
20950but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
20951function in your program, that function is called when
20952@code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
20953error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
20954one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
20955
20956@item
20957Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
20958your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
20959
20960@item
20961Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
20962the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
20963
20964@item
20965@c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
20966@c document that. FIXME.
20967Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
20968whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
20969
20970@item
20971Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
20972(@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
20973
20974@end enumerate
20975
20976@node Configurations
20977@chapter Configuration-Specific Information
20978
20979While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
20980cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
20981describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
20982
20983There are three major categories of configurations: native
20984configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
20985operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
20986different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
20987are quite different from each other.
20988
20989@menu
20990* Native::
20991* Embedded OS::
20992* Embedded Processors::
20993* Architectures::
20994@end menu
20995
20996@node Native
20997@section Native
20998
20999This section describes details specific to particular native
21000configurations.
21001
21002@menu
21003* BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
21004* SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
21005* DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
21006* Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
21007* Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
21008* Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
21009@end menu
21010
21011@node BSD libkvm Interface
21012@subsection BSD libkvm Interface
21013
21014@cindex libkvm
21015@cindex kernel memory image
21016@cindex kernel crash dump
21017
21018BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
21019interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
21020memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
21021uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
21022dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
21023special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
21024the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
21025@code{kvm} target:
21026
21027@smallexample
21028(@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
21029@end smallexample
21030
21031For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
21032argument:
21033
21034@smallexample
21035(@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
21036@end smallexample
21037
21038Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
21039available:
21040
21041@table @code
21042@kindex kvm
21043@item kvm pcb
21044Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
21045
21046@item kvm proc
21047Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
21048modern FreeBSD systems.
21049@end table
21050
21051@node SVR4 Process Information
21052@subsection SVR4 Process Information
21053@cindex /proc
21054@cindex examine process image
21055@cindex process info via @file{/proc}
21056
21057Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
21058@samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
21059process using file-system subroutines.
21060
21061If @value{GDBN} is configured for an operating system with this
21062facility, the command @code{info proc} is available to report
21063information about the process running your program, or about any
21064process running on your system. This includes, as of this writing,
21065@sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris, for example.
21066
21067This command may also work on core files that were created on a system
21068that has the @samp{/proc} facility.
21069
21070@table @code
21071@kindex info proc
21072@cindex process ID
21073@item info proc
21074@itemx info proc @var{process-id}
21075Summarize available information about any running process. If a
21076process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
21077that process; otherwise display information about the program being
21078debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
21079line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
21080executable file's absolute file name.
21081
21082On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
21083@samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
21084within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
21085a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
21086needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
21087a process ID rather than a thread ID).
21088
21089@item info proc cmdline
21090@cindex info proc cmdline
21091Show the original command line of the process. This command is
21092specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
21093
21094@item info proc cwd
21095@cindex info proc cwd
21096Show the current working directory of the process. This command is
21097specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
21098
21099@item info proc exe
21100@cindex info proc exe
21101Show the name of executable of the process. This command is specific
21102to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
21103
21104@item info proc mappings
21105@cindex memory address space mappings
21106Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
21107information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
21108rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
21109includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
21110memory access rights to that range.
21111
21112@item info proc stat
21113@itemx info proc status
21114@cindex process detailed status information
21115These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
21116the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
21117how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
21118the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
21119consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
21120value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
21121(type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
21122
21123@item info proc all
21124Show all the information about the process described under all of the
21125above @code{info proc} subcommands.
21126
21127@ignore
21128@comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
21129@comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
21130@comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
21131@kindex info proc times
21132@item info proc times
21133Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
21134its children.
21135
21136@kindex info proc id
21137@item info proc id
21138Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
21139the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
21140@end ignore
21141
21142@item set procfs-trace
21143@kindex set procfs-trace
21144@cindex @code{procfs} API calls
21145This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
21146
21147@item show procfs-trace
21148@kindex show procfs-trace
21149Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
21150
21151@item set procfs-file @var{file}
21152@kindex set procfs-file
21153Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
21154@var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
21155contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
21156standard output.
21157
21158@item show procfs-file
21159@kindex show procfs-file
21160Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
21161
21162@item proc-trace-entry
21163@itemx proc-trace-exit
21164@itemx proc-untrace-entry
21165@itemx proc-untrace-exit
21166@kindex proc-trace-entry
21167@kindex proc-trace-exit
21168@kindex proc-untrace-entry
21169@kindex proc-untrace-exit
21170These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
21171from the @code{syscall} interface.
21172
21173@item info pidlist
21174@kindex info pidlist
21175@cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
21176For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
21177processes and all the threads within each process.
21178
21179@item info meminfo
21180@kindex info meminfo
21181@cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
21182For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
21183@end table
21184
21185@node DJGPP Native
21186@subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
21187@cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
21188@cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
21189@cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
21190
21191@cindex DPMI
21192@sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
21193MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
21194that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
21195top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
21196
21197@value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
21198defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
21199subsection describes those commands.
21200
21201@table @code
21202@kindex info dos
21203@item info dos
21204This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
21205information about the target system and important OS structures.
21206
21207@kindex sysinfo
21208@cindex MS-DOS system info
21209@cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
21210@item info dos sysinfo
21211This command displays assorted information about the underlying
21212platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
21213DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
21214
21215@cindex GDT
21216@cindex LDT
21217@cindex IDT
21218@cindex segment descriptor tables
21219@cindex descriptor tables display
21220@item info dos gdt
21221@itemx info dos ldt
21222@itemx info dos idt
21223These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
21224and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
21225tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
21226that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
21227descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
21228descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
21229rights.
21230
21231A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
21232segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
21233allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
21234conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
21235additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
21236
21237@cindex garbled pointers
21238These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
21239Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
21240displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
21241display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
21242example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
21243debugged program's data segment:
21244
21245@smallexample
21246@exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
21247@exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
21248@end smallexample
21249
21250@noindent
21251This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
21252the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
21253
21254@cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
21255@item info dos pde
21256@itemx info dos pte
21257These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
21258Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
21259data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
21260into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
21261page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
21262may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
21263Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
21264that is currently in use.
21265
21266Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
21267Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
21268the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
21269@kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
21270Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
21271means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
21272the specified entry in the Page Directory.
21273
21274@cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
21275These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
21276Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
21277controller.
21278
21279These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
21280
21281@cindex physical address from linear address
21282@item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
21283This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
21284address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
21285already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
21286because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
21287segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
21288the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
21289
21290@smallexample
21291@exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
21292@exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
21293@exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
21294@end smallexample
21295
21296@noindent
21297This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
21298whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
21299attributes of that page.
21300
21301Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
21302since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
21303address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
21304be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
21305declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
21306@code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
21307
21308Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
21309transfer buffer:
21310
21311@smallexample
21312@exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
21313@exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
21314@exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
21315@end smallexample
21316
21317@noindent
21318(The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
213193rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
21320clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
21321memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
21322linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
21323
21324This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
21325@end table
21326
21327@cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
21328In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
21329debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
21330to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
21331
21332@table @code
21333@kindex set com1base
21334@kindex set com1irq
21335@kindex set com2base
21336@kindex set com2irq
21337@kindex set com3base
21338@kindex set com3irq
21339@kindex set com4base
21340@kindex set com4irq
21341@item set com1base @var{addr}
21342This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
21343port.
21344
21345@item set com1irq @var{irq}
21346This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
21347for the @file{COM1} serial port.
21348
21349There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
21350etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
21351other 3 COM ports.
21352
21353@kindex show com1base
21354@kindex show com1irq
21355@kindex show com2base
21356@kindex show com2irq
21357@kindex show com3base
21358@kindex show com3irq
21359@kindex show com4base
21360@kindex show com4irq
21361The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
21362display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
21363lines used by the COM ports.
21364
21365@item info serial
21366@kindex info serial
21367@cindex DOS serial port status
21368This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
21369port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
21370IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
21371counts of various errors encountered so far.
21372@end table
21373
21374
21375@node Cygwin Native
21376@subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
21377@cindex MS Windows debugging
21378@cindex native Cygwin debugging
21379@cindex Cygwin-specific commands
21380
21381@value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
21382DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
21383
21384@cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
21385@cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
21386MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
21387special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
21388by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
21389supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
21390sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
21391ignores @kbd{C-c}.
21392
21393There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
21394this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
21395described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
21396
21397@table @code
21398@kindex info w32
21399@item info w32
21400This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
21401information about the target system and important OS structures.
21402
21403@item info w32 selector
21404This command displays information returned by
21405the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
21406It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
21407a long value to give the information about this given selector.
21408Without argument, this command displays information
21409about the six segment registers.
21410
21411@item info w32 thread-information-block
21412This command displays thread specific information stored in the
21413Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
21414selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
21415
21416@kindex set cygwin-exceptions
21417@cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
21418@cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
21419@item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
21420If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
21421happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
21422@value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
21423exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
21424``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
21425Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
21426@value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
21427
21428@kindex show cygwin-exceptions
21429@item show cygwin-exceptions
21430Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
21431inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
21432
21433@kindex set new-console
21434@item set new-console @var{mode}
21435If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
21436be started in a new console on next start.
21437If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
21438be started in the same console as the debugger.
21439
21440@kindex show new-console
21441@item show new-console
21442Displays whether a new console is used
21443when the debuggee is started.
21444
21445@kindex set new-group
21446@item set new-group @var{mode}
21447This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
21448start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
21449This affects the way the Windows OS handles
21450@samp{Ctrl-C}.
21451
21452@kindex show new-group
21453@item show new-group
21454Displays current value of new-group boolean.
21455
21456@kindex set debugevents
21457@item set debugevents
21458This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
21459to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
21460signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
21461unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
21462Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
21463
21464@kindex set debugexec
21465@item set debugexec
21466This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
21467(such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
21468
21469@kindex set debugexceptions
21470@item set debugexceptions
21471This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
21472debuggee seen by the debugger.
21473
21474@kindex set debugmemory
21475@item set debugmemory
21476This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
21477and writes by the debugger.
21478
21479@kindex set shell
21480@item set shell
21481This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
21482via a shell or directly (default value is on).
21483
21484@kindex show shell
21485@item show shell
21486Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
21487
21488@end table
21489
21490@menu
21491* Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
21492@end menu
21493
21494@node Non-debug DLL Symbols
21495@subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
21496@cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
21497@cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
21498
21499Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
21500not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
21501@file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
21502symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
21503information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
21504describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
21505``minimal symbols''.
21506
21507Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
21508will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
21509start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
21510program run once to completion.
21511
21512@subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
21513
21514In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
21515tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
21516DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
21517also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
21518sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
21519(particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
21520necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
21521contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
21522exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
21523
21524Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
21525though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
21526symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
21527some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
21528@code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
21529(@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
21530
21531@smallexample
21532(@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
21533All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
21534
21535Non-debugging symbols:
215360x77e885f4 CreateFileA
215370x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
21538@end smallexample
21539
21540@smallexample
21541(@value{GDBP}) info function !
21542All functions matching regular expression "!":
21543
21544Non-debugging symbols:
215450x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
215460x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
215470x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
21548[etc...]
21549@end smallexample
21550
21551@subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
21552
21553Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
21554type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
21555refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
21556contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
21557contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
21558means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
21559a function within a DLL without a running program.
21560
21561Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
21562automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
21563variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
21564type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
21565problem:
21566
21567@smallexample
21568(@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
21569$1 = 268572168
21570@end smallexample
21571
21572@smallexample
21573(@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
215740x10021610: "\230y\""
21575@end smallexample
21576
21577And two possible solutions:
21578
21579@smallexample
21580(@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
21581$2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
21582@end smallexample
21583
21584@smallexample
21585(@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
215860x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
21587(@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
215880x10021608: 0x0022fd98
21589(@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
215900x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
21591@end smallexample
21592
21593Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
21594starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
21595examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
21596function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
21597to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
21598
21599@smallexample
21600(@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
21601Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
21602@end smallexample
21603
21604The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
21605break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
21606safe.
21607
21608@node Hurd Native
21609@subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
21610@cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
21611
21612This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
21613@sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
21614
21615@table @code
21616@item set signals
21617@itemx set sigs
21618@kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
21619@kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
21620This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
21621@value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
21622affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
21623@code{signals}.
21624
21625@item show signals
21626@itemx show sigs
21627@kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
21628@kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
21629Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
21630
21631@item set signal-thread
21632@itemx set sigthread
21633@kindex set signal-thread
21634@kindex set sigthread
21635This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
21636thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
21637process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
21638signal-thread}.
21639
21640@item show signal-thread
21641@itemx show sigthread
21642@kindex show signal-thread
21643@kindex show sigthread
21644These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
21645delivered a signal.
21646
21647@item set stopped
21648@kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
21649This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
21650as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
21651continued by delivering a signal to it.
21652
21653@item show stopped
21654@kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
21655This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
21656stopped.
21657
21658@item set exceptions
21659@kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
21660Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
21661When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
21662single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
21663trapping on.
21664
21665@item show exceptions
21666@kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
21667Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
21668
21669@item set task pause
21670@kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
21671@cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
21672@cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
21673This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
21674Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
21675whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
21676effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
21677to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
21678thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
21679
21680@item show task pause
21681@kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
21682Show the current state of task suspension.
21683
21684@item set task detach-suspend-count
21685@cindex task suspend count
21686@cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
21687This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
21688@value{GDBN} detaches from it.
21689
21690@item show task detach-suspend-count
21691Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
21692
21693@item set task exception-port
21694@itemx set task excp
21695@cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
21696This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
21697forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
21698rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
21699
21700@item set noninvasive
21701@cindex noninvasive task options
21702This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
21703invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
21704is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
21705@code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
21706
21707@item info send-rights
21708@itemx info receive-rights
21709@itemx info port-rights
21710@itemx info port-sets
21711@itemx info dead-names
21712@itemx info ports
21713@itemx info psets
21714@cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
21715@cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
21716@cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
21717@cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
21718@cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
21719These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
21720receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
21721There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
21722port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
21723
21724@item set thread pause
21725@kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
21726@cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
21727@cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
21728This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
21729control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
21730thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
21731off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
21732Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
21733control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
21734task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
21735only the current thread.
21736
21737@item show thread pause
21738@kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
21739This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
21740
21741@item set thread run
21742This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
21743
21744@item show thread run
21745Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
21746
21747@item set thread detach-suspend-count
21748@cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
21749@cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
21750This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
21751thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
21752found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
21753takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
21754
21755@item show thread detach-suspend-count
21756Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
21757detaching.
21758
21759@item set thread exception-port
21760@itemx set thread excp
21761Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
21762overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
21763@code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
21764
21765@item set thread takeover-suspend-count
21766Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
21767value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
21768changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
21769
21770@item set thread default
21771@itemx show thread default
21772@cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
21773Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
21774default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
21775thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
21776variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
21777threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
21778the non-default commands.
21779@end table
21780
21781@node Darwin
21782@subsection Darwin
21783@cindex Darwin
21784
21785@value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
21786
21787@table @code
21788@item set debug darwin @var{num}
21789@kindex set debug darwin
21790When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
21791the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
21792
21793@item show debug darwin
21794@kindex show debug darwin
21795Show the current state of Darwin messages.
21796
21797@item set debug mach-o @var{num}
21798@kindex set debug mach-o
21799When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
21800@value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
21801file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
21802values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
21803problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
21804usage.
21805
21806@item show debug mach-o
21807@kindex show debug mach-o
21808Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
21809
21810@item set mach-exceptions on
21811@itemx set mach-exceptions off
21812@kindex set mach-exceptions
21813On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
21814mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
21815Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
21816better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
21817
21818@item show mach-exceptions
21819@kindex show mach-exceptions
21820Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
21821@end table
21822
21823
21824@node Embedded OS
21825@section Embedded Operating Systems
21826
21827This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
21828embedded operating systems that are available for several different
21829architectures.
21830
21831@value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
21832various real-time operating systems.
21833
21834@node Embedded Processors
21835@section Embedded Processors
21836
21837This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
21838configurations.
21839
21840@cindex send command to simulator
21841Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
21842allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
21843
21844@table @code
21845@item sim @var{command}
21846@kindex sim@r{, a command}
21847Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
21848documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
21849acceptable commands.
21850@end table
21851
21852
21853@menu
21854* ARM:: ARM
21855* M68K:: Motorola M68K
21856* MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
21857* MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
21858* PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
21859* AVR:: Atmel AVR
21860* CRIS:: CRIS
21861* Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
21862@end menu
21863
21864@node ARM
21865@subsection ARM
21866
21867@value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
21868
21869@table @code
21870@item set arm disassembler
21871@kindex set arm
21872This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
21873@code{"std"} style is the standard style.
21874
21875@item show arm disassembler
21876@kindex show arm
21877Show the current disassembly style.
21878
21879@item set arm apcs32
21880@cindex ARM 32-bit mode
21881This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
21882
21883@item show arm apcs32
21884Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
21885
21886@item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
21887This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
21888argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
21889
21890@table @code
21891@item auto
21892Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
21893@item softfpa
21894Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
21895processors.
21896@item fpa
21897GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
21898@item softvfp
21899Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
21900@item vfp
21901VFP co-processor.
21902@end table
21903
21904@item show arm fpu
21905Show the current type of the FPU.
21906
21907@item set arm abi
21908This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
21909
21910@item show arm abi
21911Show the currently used ABI.
21912
21913@item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
21914@value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
21915whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
21916@value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
21917available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
21918use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
21919register).
21920
21921@item show arm fallback-mode
21922Show the current fallback instruction mode.
21923
21924@item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
21925This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
21926instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
21927causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
21928of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
21929
21930@item show arm force-mode
21931Show the current forced instruction mode.
21932
21933@item set debug arm
21934Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
21935target support subsystem.
21936
21937@item show debug arm
21938Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
21939@end table
21940
21941@table @code
21942@item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
21943The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
21944
21945@table @code
21946@item --swi-support=@var{type}
21947Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support. The argument
21948@var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
21949The default value is @code{all}.
21950
21951@table @code
21952@item none
21953@item demon
21954@item angel
21955@item redboot
21956@item all
21957@end table
21958@end table
21959@end table
21960
21961@node M68K
21962@subsection M68k
21963
21964The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support.
21965
21966@node MicroBlaze
21967@subsection MicroBlaze
21968@cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
21969@cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
21970
21971The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
21972FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
21973usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
21974Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
21975This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
21976the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
21977communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
21978presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
21979@code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
21980this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
21981commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
21982
21983Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
21984
21985@table @code
21986@item target remote :1234
21987Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
21988on the same system as @code{xmd}.
21989
21990@item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
21991Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
21992running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
21993
21994@item load
21995Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
21996
21997@item set debug microblaze @var{n}
21998Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
21999
22000@item show debug microblaze @var{n}
22001Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
22002@end table
22003
22004@node MIPS Embedded
22005@subsection @acronym{MIPS} Embedded
22006
22007@noindent
22008@value{GDBN} supports these special commands for @acronym{MIPS} targets:
22009
22010@table @code
22011@item set mipsfpu double
22012@itemx set mipsfpu single
22013@itemx set mipsfpu none
22014@itemx set mipsfpu auto
22015@itemx show mipsfpu
22016@kindex set mipsfpu
22017@kindex show mipsfpu
22018@cindex @acronym{MIPS} remote floating point
22019@cindex floating point, @acronym{MIPS} remote
22020If your target board does not support the @acronym{MIPS} floating point
22021coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
22022need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
22023file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
22024functions which return floating point values. It also allows
22025@value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
22026functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
22027with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
22028processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
22029double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
22030@samp{set mipsfpu double}.
22031
22032In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
22033floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
22034and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
22035
22036As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
22037@samp{show mipsfpu}.
22038@end table
22039
22040@node PowerPC Embedded
22041@subsection PowerPC Embedded
22042
22043@cindex DVC register
22044@value{GDBN} supports using the DVC (Data Value Compare) register to
22045implement in hardware simple hardware watchpoint conditions of the form:
22046
22047@smallexample
22048(@value{GDBP}) watch @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} \
22049 if @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} == @var{CONSTANT EXPRESSION}
22050@end smallexample
22051
22052The DVC register will be automatically used when @value{GDBN} detects
22053such pattern in a condition expression, and the created watchpoint uses one
22054debug register (either the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on and the
22055variable is scalar, or the variable has a length of one byte). This feature
22056is available in native @value{GDBN} running on a Linux kernel version 2.6.34
22057or newer.
22058
22059When running on PowerPC embedded processors, @value{GDBN} automatically uses
22060ranged hardware watchpoints, unless the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on,
22061in which case watchpoints using only one debug register are created when
22062watching variables of scalar types.
22063
22064You can create an artificial array to watch an arbitrary memory
22065region using one of the following commands (@pxref{Expressions}):
22066
22067@smallexample
22068(@value{GDBP}) watch *((char *) @var{address})@@@var{length}
22069(@value{GDBP}) watch @{char[@var{length}]@} @var{address}
22070@end smallexample
22071
22072PowerPC embedded processors support masked watchpoints. See the discussion
22073about the @code{mask} argument in @ref{Set Watchpoints}.
22074
22075@cindex ranged breakpoint
22076PowerPC embedded processors support hardware accelerated
22077@dfn{ranged breakpoints}. A ranged breakpoint stops execution of
22078the inferior whenever it executes an instruction at any address within
22079the range it specifies. To set a ranged breakpoint in @value{GDBN},
22080use the @code{break-range} command.
22081
22082@value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
22083
22084@table @code
22085@kindex break-range
22086@item break-range @var{start-location}, @var{end-location}
22087Set a breakpoint for an address range given by
22088@var{start-location} and @var{end-location}, which can specify a function name,
22089a line number, an offset of lines from the current line or from the start
22090location, or an address of an instruction (see @ref{Specify Location},
22091for a list of all the possible ways to specify a @var{location}.)
22092The breakpoint will stop execution of the inferior whenever it
22093executes an instruction at any address within the specified range,
22094(including @var{start-location} and @var{end-location}.)
22095
22096@kindex set powerpc
22097@item set powerpc soft-float
22098@itemx show powerpc soft-float
22099Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
22100convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
22101on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
22102
22103@item set powerpc vector-abi
22104@itemx show powerpc vector-abi
22105Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
22106arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
22107@samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
22108@samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
22109registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
22110based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
22111
22112@item set powerpc exact-watchpoints
22113@itemx show powerpc exact-watchpoints
22114Allow @value{GDBN} to use only one debug register when watching a variable
22115of scalar type, thus assuming that the variable is accessed through the
22116address of its first byte.
22117
22118@end table
22119
22120@node AVR
22121@subsection Atmel AVR
22122@cindex AVR
22123
22124When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
22125following AVR-specific commands:
22126
22127@table @code
22128@item info io_registers
22129@kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
22130@cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
22131This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
22132each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
22133@end table
22134
22135@node CRIS
22136@subsection CRIS
22137@cindex CRIS
22138
22139When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
22140following CRIS-specific commands:
22141
22142@table @code
22143@item set cris-version @var{ver}
22144@cindex CRIS version
22145Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
22146The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
22147case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
22148
22149@item show cris-version
22150Show the current CRIS version.
22151
22152@item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
22153@cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
22154Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
22155Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
22156@code{R59}.
22157
22158@item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
22159Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
22160
22161@item set cris-mode @var{mode}
22162@cindex CRIS mode
22163Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
22164debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
22165@samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
22166
22167@item show cris-mode
22168Show the current CRIS mode.
22169@end table
22170
22171@node Super-H
22172@subsection Renesas Super-H
22173@cindex Super-H
22174
22175For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
22176commands:
22177
22178@table @code
22179@item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
22180@kindex set sh calling-convention
22181Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
22182Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
22183With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
22184convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
22185that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
22186is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
22187is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
22188regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
22189default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
22190does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
22191
22192@item show sh calling-convention
22193@kindex show sh calling-convention
22194Show the current calling convention setting.
22195
22196@end table
22197
22198
22199@node Architectures
22200@section Architectures
22201
22202This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
22203all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
22204
22205@menu
22206* AArch64::
22207* i386::
22208* Alpha::
22209* MIPS::
22210* HPPA:: HP PA architecture
22211* SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
22212* PowerPC::
22213* Nios II::
22214@end menu
22215
22216@node AArch64
22217@subsection AArch64
22218@cindex AArch64 support
22219
22220When @value{GDBN} is debugging the AArch64 architecture, it provides the
22221following special commands:
22222
22223@table @code
22224@item set debug aarch64
22225@kindex set debug aarch64
22226This command determines whether AArch64 architecture-specific debugging
22227messages are to be displayed.
22228
22229@item show debug aarch64
22230Show whether AArch64 debugging messages are displayed.
22231
22232@end table
22233
22234@node i386
22235@subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
22236
22237@table @code
22238@item set struct-convention @var{mode}
22239@kindex set struct-convention
22240@cindex struct return convention
22241@cindex struct/union returned in registers
22242Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
22243@code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
22244@var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
22245default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
22246are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
22247@code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
22248be returned in a register.
22249
22250@item show struct-convention
22251@kindex show struct-convention
22252Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
22253from functions.
22254@end table
22255
22256
22257@subsubsection Intel @dfn{Memory Protection Extensions} (MPX).
22258@cindex Intel Memory Protection Extensions (MPX).
22259
22260Memory Protection Extension (MPX) adds the bound registers @samp{BND0}
22261@footnote{The register named with capital letters represent the architecture
22262registers.} through @samp{BND3}. Bound registers store a pair of 64-bit values
22263which are the lower bound and upper bound. Bounds are effective addresses or
22264memory locations. The upper bounds are architecturally represented in 1's
22265complement form. A bound having lower bound = 0, and upper bound = 0
22266(1's complement of all bits set) will allow access to the entire address space.
22267
22268@samp{BND0} through @samp{BND3} are represented in @value{GDBN} as @samp{bnd0raw}
22269through @samp{bnd3raw}. Pseudo registers @samp{bnd0} through @samp{bnd3}
22270display the upper bound performing the complement of one operation on the
22271upper bound value, i.e.@ when upper bound in @samp{bnd0raw} is 0 in the
22272@value{GDBN} @samp{bnd0} it will be @code{0xfff@dots{}}. In this sense it
22273can also be noted that the upper bounds are inclusive.
22274
22275As an example, assume that the register BND0 holds bounds for a pointer having
22276access allowed for the range between 0x32 and 0x71. The values present on
22277bnd0raw and bnd registers are presented as follows:
22278
22279@smallexample
22280 bnd0raw = @{0x32, 0xffffffff8e@}
22281 bnd0 = @{lbound = 0x32, ubound = 0x71@} : size 64
22282@end smallexample
22283
22284This way the raw value can be accessed via bnd0raw@dots{}bnd3raw. Any
22285change on bnd0@dots{}bnd3 or bnd0raw@dots{}bnd3raw is reflect on its
22286counterpart. When the bnd0@dots{}bnd3 registers are displayed via
22287Python, the display includes the memory size, in bits, accessible to
22288the pointer.
22289
22290Bounds can also be stored in bounds tables, which are stored in
22291application memory. These tables store bounds for pointers by specifying
22292the bounds pointer's value along with its bounds. Evaluating and changing
22293bounds located in bound tables is therefore interesting while investigating
22294bugs on MPX context. @value{GDBN} provides commands for this purpose:
22295
22296@table @code
22297@item show mpx bound @var{pointer}
22298@kindex show mpx bound
22299Display bounds of the given @var{pointer}.
22300
22301@item set mpx bound @var{pointer}, @var{lbound}, @var{ubound}
22302@kindex set mpx bound
22303Set the bounds of a pointer in the bound table.
22304This command takes three parameters: @var{pointer} is the pointers
22305whose bounds are to be changed, @var{lbound} and @var{ubound} are new values
22306for lower and upper bounds respectively.
22307@end table
22308
22309@node Alpha
22310@subsection Alpha
22311
22312See the following section.
22313
22314@node MIPS
22315@subsection @acronym{MIPS}
22316
22317@cindex stack on Alpha
22318@cindex stack on @acronym{MIPS}
22319@cindex Alpha stack
22320@cindex @acronym{MIPS} stack
22321Alpha- and @acronym{MIPS}-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
22322sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
22323find the beginning of a function.
22324
22325@cindex response time, @acronym{MIPS} debugging
22326To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
22327@value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
22328you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
22329commands:
22330
22331@table @code
22332@cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, @acronym{MIPS})
22333@item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
22334Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
22335search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
22336default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
22337larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
22338and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
22339this command when debugging a stripped executable.
22340
22341@item show heuristic-fence-post
22342Display the current limit.
22343@end table
22344
22345@noindent
22346These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
22347for debugging programs on Alpha or @acronym{MIPS} processors.
22348
22349Several @acronym{MIPS}-specific commands are available when debugging @acronym{MIPS}
22350programs:
22351
22352@table @code
22353@item set mips abi @var{arg}
22354@kindex set mips abi
22355@cindex set ABI for @acronym{MIPS}
22356Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
22357values of @var{arg} are:
22358
22359@table @samp
22360@item auto
22361The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
22362default).
22363@item o32
22364@item o64
22365@item n32
22366@item n64
22367@item eabi32
22368@item eabi64
22369@end table
22370
22371@item show mips abi
22372@kindex show mips abi
22373Show the @acronym{MIPS} ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
22374
22375@item set mips compression @var{arg}
22376@kindex set mips compression
22377@cindex code compression, @acronym{MIPS}
22378Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} compressed
22379@acronym{ISA, Instruction Set Architecture} encoding is used by the
22380inferior. @value{GDBN} uses this for code disassembly and other
22381internal interpretation purposes. This setting is only referred to
22382when no executable has been associated with the debugging session or
22383the executable does not provide information about the encoding it uses.
22384Otherwise this setting is automatically updated from information
22385provided by the executable.
22386
22387Possible values of @var{arg} are @samp{mips16} and @samp{micromips}.
22388The default compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding is @samp{mips16}, as
22389executables containing @acronym{MIPS16} code frequently are not
22390identified as such.
22391
22392This setting is ``sticky''; that is, it retains its value across
22393debugging sessions until reset either explicitly with this command or
22394implicitly from an executable.
22395
22396The compiler and/or assembler typically add symbol table annotations to
22397identify functions compiled for the @acronym{MIPS16} or
22398@acronym{microMIPS} @acronym{ISA}s. If these function-scope annotations
22399are present, @value{GDBN} uses them in preference to the global
22400compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding setting.
22401
22402@item show mips compression
22403@kindex show mips compression
22404Show the @acronym{MIPS} compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding used by
22405@value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
22406
22407@item set mipsfpu
22408@itemx show mipsfpu
22409@xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
22410
22411@item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
22412@kindex set mips mask-address
22413@cindex @acronym{MIPS} addresses, masking
22414This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
22415@acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
22416@samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
22417setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
22418
22419@item show mips mask-address
22420@kindex show mips mask-address
22421Show whether the upper 32 bits of @acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off or
22422not.
22423
22424@item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
22425@kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
22426This command controls compatibility with 64-bit @acronym{MIPS} targets that
22427transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old @acronym{MIPS} 64 target
22428that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
22429and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
22430
22431@item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
22432@kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
22433Show the current setting of compatibility with older @acronym{MIPS} 64 targets.
22434
22435@item set debug mips
22436@kindex set debug mips
22437This command turns on and off debugging messages for the @acronym{MIPS}-specific
22438target code in @value{GDBN}.
22439
22440@item show debug mips
22441@kindex show debug mips
22442Show the current setting of @acronym{MIPS} debugging messages.
22443@end table
22444
22445
22446@node HPPA
22447@subsection HPPA
22448@cindex HPPA support
22449
22450When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
22451following special commands:
22452
22453@table @code
22454@item set debug hppa
22455@kindex set debug hppa
22456This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
22457messages are to be displayed.
22458
22459@item show debug hppa
22460Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
22461
22462@item maint print unwind @var{address}
22463@kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
22464This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
22465given @var{address}.
22466
22467@end table
22468
22469
22470@node SPU
22471@subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
22472@cindex Cell Broadband Engine
22473@cindex SPU
22474
22475When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
22476it provides the following special commands:
22477
22478@table @code
22479@item info spu event
22480@kindex info spu
22481Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
22482and pending event status.
22483
22484@item info spu signal
22485Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
22486signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
22487notification channels.
22488
22489@item info spu mailbox
22490Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
22491in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
22492SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
22493
22494@item info spu dma
22495Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
22496DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
22497and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
22498
22499@item info spu proxydma
22500Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
22501Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
22502and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
22503
22504@end table
22505
22506When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
22507on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
22508special commands:
22509
22510@table @code
22511@item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
22512@kindex set spu
22513Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
22514will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
22515function. The default is @code{off}.
22516
22517@item show spu stop-on-load
22518@kindex show spu
22519Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
22520
22521@item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
22522Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
22523@code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
22524cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
22525view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
22526does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
22527
22528@item show spu auto-flush-cache
22529Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
22530
22531@end table
22532
22533@node PowerPC
22534@subsection PowerPC
22535@cindex PowerPC architecture
22536
22537When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
22538pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
22539numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
22540in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
22541@code{f0} or @code{f2}.
22542
22543The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
22544by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
22545@code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
22546
22547For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
22548wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
22549
22550@node Nios II
22551@subsection Nios II
22552@cindex Nios II architecture
22553
22554When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Nios II architecture,
22555it provides the following special commands:
22556
22557@table @code
22558
22559@item set debug nios2
22560@kindex set debug nios2
22561This command turns on and off debugging messages for the Nios II
22562target code in @value{GDBN}.
22563
22564@item show debug nios2
22565@kindex show debug nios2
22566Show the current setting of Nios II debugging messages.
22567@end table
22568
22569@node Controlling GDB
22570@chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
22571
22572You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
22573@code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
22574data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
22575described here.
22576
22577@menu
22578* Prompt:: Prompt
22579* Editing:: Command editing
22580* Command History:: Command history
22581* Screen Size:: Screen size
22582* Numbers:: Numbers
22583* ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
22584* Auto-loading:: Automatically loading associated files
22585* Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
22586* Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
22587* Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
22588@end menu
22589
22590@node Prompt
22591@section Prompt
22592
22593@cindex prompt
22594
22595@value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
22596called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
22597can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
22598instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
22599the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
22600which one you are talking to.
22601
22602@emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
22603prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
22604or a prompt that does not.
22605
22606@table @code
22607@kindex set prompt
22608@item set prompt @var{newprompt}
22609Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
22610
22611@kindex show prompt
22612@item show prompt
22613Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
22614@end table
22615
22616Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled have
22617prompt extensions. The commands for interacting with these extensions
22618are:
22619
22620@table @code
22621@kindex set extended-prompt
22622@item set extended-prompt @var{prompt}
22623Set an extended prompt that allows for substitutions.
22624@xref{gdb.prompt}, for a list of escape sequences that can be used for
22625substitution. Any escape sequences specified as part of the prompt
22626string are replaced with the corresponding strings each time the prompt
22627is displayed.
22628
22629For example:
22630
22631@smallexample
22632set extended-prompt Current working directory: \w (gdb)
22633@end smallexample
22634
22635Note that when an extended-prompt is set, it takes control of the
22636@var{prompt_hook} hook. @xref{prompt_hook}, for further information.
22637
22638@kindex show extended-prompt
22639@item show extended-prompt
22640Prints the extended prompt. Any escape sequences specified as part of
22641the prompt string with @code{set extended-prompt}, are replaced with the
22642corresponding strings each time the prompt is displayed.
22643@end table
22644
22645@node Editing
22646@section Command Editing
22647@cindex readline
22648@cindex command line editing
22649
22650@value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
22651@sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
22652command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
22653or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
22654substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
22655debugging sessions.
22656
22657You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
22658command @code{set}.
22659
22660@table @code
22661@kindex set editing
22662@cindex editing
22663@item set editing
22664@itemx set editing on
22665Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
22666
22667@item set editing off
22668Disable command line editing.
22669
22670@kindex show editing
22671@item show editing
22672Show whether command line editing is enabled.
22673@end table
22674
22675@ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
22676@xref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library},
22677@end ifset
22678@ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
22679@xref{Command Line Editing},
22680@end ifclear
22681for more details about the Readline
22682interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
22683encouraged to read that chapter.
22684
22685@node Command History
22686@section Command History
22687@cindex command history
22688
22689@value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
22690debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
22691happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
22692history facility.
22693
22694@value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
22695package, to provide the history facility.
22696@ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
22697@xref{Using History Interactively, , , history, GNU History Library},
22698@end ifset
22699@ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
22700@xref{Using History Interactively},
22701@end ifclear
22702for the detailed description of the History library.
22703
22704To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
22705the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
22706(@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
22707means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
22708affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
22709pressed on a line by itself.
22710
22711@cindex @code{server}, command prefix
22712The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
22713history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
22714use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
22715
22716Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
22717history.
22718
22719@table @code
22720@cindex history substitution
22721@cindex history file
22722@kindex set history filename
22723@cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
22724@item set history filename @var{fname}
22725Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
22726This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
22727list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
22728exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
22729the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
22730to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
22731@file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
22732is not set.
22733
22734@cindex save command history
22735@kindex set history save
22736@item set history save
22737@itemx set history save on
22738Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
22739@code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
22740
22741@item set history save off
22742Stop recording command history in a file.
22743
22744@cindex history size
22745@kindex set history size
22746@cindex @env{GDBHISTSIZE}, environment variable
22747@item set history size @var{size}
22748@itemx set history size unlimited
22749Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
22750This defaults to the value of the environment variable @env{GDBHISTSIZE}, or
22751to 256 if this variable is not set. Non-numeric values of @env{GDBHISTSIZE}
22752are ignored. If @var{size} is @code{unlimited} or if @env{GDBHISTSIZE} is
22753either a negative number or the empty string, then the number of commands
22754@value{GDBN} keeps in the history list is unlimited.
22755
22756@cindex remove duplicate history
22757@kindex set history remove-duplicates
22758@item set history remove-duplicates @var{count}
22759@itemx set history remove-duplicates unlimited
22760Control the removal of duplicate history entries in the command history list.
22761If @var{count} is non-zero, @value{GDBN} will look back at the last @var{count}
22762history entries and remove the first entry that is a duplicate of the current
22763entry being added to the command history list. If @var{count} is
22764@code{unlimited} then this lookbehind is unbounded. If @var{count} is 0, then
22765removal of duplicate history entries is disabled.
22766
22767Only history entries added during the current session are considered for
22768removal. This option is set to 0 by default.
22769
22770@end table
22771
22772History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
22773@ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
22774@xref{Event Designators, , , history, GNU History Library},
22775@end ifset
22776@ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
22777@xref{Event Designators},
22778@end ifclear
22779for more details.
22780
22781@cindex history expansion, turn on/off
22782Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
22783is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
22784@code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
22785follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
22786a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
22787history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
22788@kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
22789
22790The commands to control history expansion are:
22791
22792@table @code
22793@item set history expansion on
22794@itemx set history expansion
22795@kindex set history expansion
22796Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
22797
22798@item set history expansion off
22799Disable history expansion.
22800
22801@c @group
22802@kindex show history
22803@item show history
22804@itemx show history filename
22805@itemx show history save
22806@itemx show history size
22807@itemx show history expansion
22808These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
22809@code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
22810@c @end group
22811@end table
22812
22813@table @code
22814@kindex show commands
22815@cindex show last commands
22816@cindex display command history
22817@item show commands
22818Display the last ten commands in the command history.
22819
22820@item show commands @var{n}
22821Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
22822
22823@item show commands +
22824Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
22825@end table
22826
22827@node Screen Size
22828@section Screen Size
22829@cindex size of screen
22830@cindex screen size
22831@cindex pagination
22832@cindex page size
22833@cindex pauses in output
22834
22835Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
22836information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
22837@value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
22838output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
22839to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
22840determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
22841printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
22842rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
22843
22844Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
22845driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
22846together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
22847@code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
22848you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
22849width} commands:
22850
22851@table @code
22852@kindex set height
22853@kindex set width
22854@kindex show width
22855@kindex show height
22856@item set height @var{lpp}
22857@itemx set height unlimited
22858@itemx show height
22859@itemx set width @var{cpl}
22860@itemx set width unlimited
22861@itemx show width
22862These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
22863a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
22864commands display the current settings.
22865
22866If you specify a height of either @code{unlimited} or zero lines,
22867@value{GDBN} does not pause during output no matter how long the
22868output is. This is useful if output is to a file or to an editor
22869buffer.
22870
22871Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width unlimited} or @samp{set
22872width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN} from wrapping its output.
22873
22874@item set pagination on
22875@itemx set pagination off
22876@kindex set pagination
22877Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
22878pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height unlimited}. Note that
22879running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
22880Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
22881
22882@item show pagination
22883@kindex show pagination
22884Show the current pagination mode.
22885@end table
22886
22887@node Numbers
22888@section Numbers
22889@cindex number representation
22890@cindex entering numbers
22891
22892You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
22893@value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
22894@samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
22895begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
22896@samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
2289710; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
22898format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
22899both input and output with the commands described below.
22900
22901@table @code
22902@kindex set input-radix
22903@item set input-radix @var{base}
22904Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
22905for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. The base must itself be
22906specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
22907example, any of
22908
22909@smallexample
22910set input-radix 012
22911set input-radix 10.
22912set input-radix 0xa
22913@end smallexample
22914
22915@noindent
22916sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
22917leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
22918@samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
22919interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
22920@samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
22921change the radix.
22922
22923@kindex set output-radix
22924@item set output-radix @var{base}
22925Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
22926for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. The base must itself be
22927specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
22928
22929@kindex show input-radix
22930@item show input-radix
22931Display the current default base for numeric input.
22932
22933@kindex show output-radix
22934@item show output-radix
22935Display the current default base for numeric display.
22936
22937@item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
22938@itemx show radix
22939@kindex set radix
22940@kindex show radix
22941These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
22942of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
22943the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
22944default value of 10.
22945
22946@end table
22947
22948@node ABI
22949@section Configuring the Current ABI
22950
22951@value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
22952application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
22953conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
22954current ABI.
22955
22956@cindex OS ABI
22957@kindex set osabi
22958@kindex show osabi
22959@cindex Newlib OS ABI and its influence on the longjmp handling
22960
22961One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
22962system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
22963@value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
22964but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
22965One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
22966an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
22967not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
22968platform provides.
22969
22970When @value{GDBN} is debugging the AArch64 architecture, it provides a
22971``Newlib'' OS ABI. This is useful for handling @code{setjmp} and
22972@code{longjmp} when debugging binaries that use the @sc{newlib} C library.
22973The ``Newlib'' OS ABI can be selected by @code{set osabi Newlib}.
22974
22975@table @code
22976@item show osabi
22977Show the OS ABI currently in use.
22978
22979@item set osabi
22980With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
22981
22982@item set osabi @var{abi}
22983Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
22984@end table
22985
22986@cindex float promotion
22987
22988Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
22989function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
22990(i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
22991according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
22992(i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
22993@code{double} and then passed.
22994
22995Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
22996a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
22997as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
22998
22999@table @code
23000@kindex set coerce-float-to-double
23001@item set coerce-float-to-double
23002@itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
23003Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
23004to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
23005
23006@item set coerce-float-to-double off
23007Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
23008functions.
23009
23010@kindex show coerce-float-to-double
23011@item show coerce-float-to-double
23012Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
23013@end table
23014
23015@kindex set cp-abi
23016@kindex show cp-abi
23017@value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
23018objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
23019used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
23020programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
23021multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
23022program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
23023Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
23024before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
23025``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
23026use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
23027``auto''.
23028
23029@table @code
23030@item show cp-abi
23031Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
23032
23033@item set cp-abi
23034With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
23035
23036@item set cp-abi @var{abi}
23037@itemx set cp-abi auto
23038Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
23039@end table
23040
23041@node Auto-loading
23042@section Automatically loading associated files
23043@cindex auto-loading
23044
23045@value{GDBN} sometimes reads files with commands and settings automatically,
23046without being explicitly told so by the user. We call this feature
23047@dfn{auto-loading}. While auto-loading is useful for automatically adapting
23048@value{GDBN} to the needs of your project, it can sometimes produce unexpected
23049results or introduce security risks (e.g., if the file comes from untrusted
23050sources).
23051
23052@menu
23053* Init File in the Current Directory:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load local-gdbinit}
23054* libthread_db.so.1 file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load libthread-db}
23055
23056* Auto-loading safe path:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load safe-path}
23057* Auto-loading verbose mode:: @samp{set/show debug auto-load}
23058@end menu
23059
23060There are various kinds of files @value{GDBN} can automatically load.
23061In addition to these files, @value{GDBN} supports auto-loading code written
23062in various extension languages. @xref{Auto-loading extensions}.
23063
23064Note that loading of these associated files (including the local @file{.gdbinit}
23065file) requires accordingly configured @code{auto-load safe-path}
23066(@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
23067
23068For these reasons, @value{GDBN} includes commands and options to let you
23069control when to auto-load files and which files should be auto-loaded.
23070
23071@table @code
23072@anchor{set auto-load off}
23073@kindex set auto-load off
23074@item set auto-load off
23075Globally disable loading of all auto-loaded files.
23076You may want to use this command with the @samp{-iex} option
23077(@pxref{Option -init-eval-command}) such as:
23078@smallexample
23079$ @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load off" untrusted-executable corefile}
23080@end smallexample
23081
23082Be aware that system init file (@pxref{System-wide configuration})
23083and init files from your home directory (@pxref{Home Directory Init File})
23084still get read (as they come from generally trusted directories).
23085To prevent @value{GDBN} from auto-loading even those init files, use the
23086@option{-nx} option (@pxref{Mode Options}), in addition to
23087@code{set auto-load no}.
23088
23089@anchor{show auto-load}
23090@kindex show auto-load
23091@item show auto-load
23092Show whether auto-loading of each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) is enabled
23093or disabled.
23094
23095@smallexample
23096(gdb) show auto-load
23097gdb-scripts: Auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is on.
23098libthread-db: Auto-loading of inferior specific libthread_db is on.
23099local-gdbinit: Auto-loading of .gdbinit script from current directory
23100 is on.
23101python-scripts: Auto-loading of Python scripts is on.
23102safe-path: List of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
23103 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
23104scripts-directory: List of directories from which to load auto-loaded scripts
23105 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
23106@end smallexample
23107
23108@anchor{info auto-load}
23109@kindex info auto-load
23110@item info auto-load
23111Print whether each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) have been auto-loaded or
23112not.
23113
23114@smallexample
23115(gdb) info auto-load
23116gdb-scripts:
23117Loaded Script
23118Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb
23119libthread-db: No auto-loaded libthread-db.
23120local-gdbinit: Local .gdbinit file "/home/user/gdb/.gdbinit" has been
23121 loaded.
23122python-scripts:
23123Loaded Script
23124Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py
23125@end smallexample
23126@end table
23127
23128These are @value{GDBN} control commands for the auto-loading:
23129
23130@multitable @columnfractions .5 .5
23131@item @xref{set auto-load off}.
23132@tab Disable auto-loading globally.
23133@item @xref{show auto-load}.
23134@tab Show setting of all kinds of files.
23135@item @xref{info auto-load}.
23136@tab Show state of all kinds of files.
23137@item @xref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
23138@tab Control for @value{GDBN} command scripts.
23139@item @xref{show auto-load gdb-scripts}.
23140@tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
23141@item @xref{info auto-load gdb-scripts}.
23142@tab Show state of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
23143@item @xref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
23144@tab Control for @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
23145@item @xref{show auto-load python-scripts}.
23146@tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
23147@item @xref{info auto-load python-scripts}.
23148@tab Show state of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
23149@item @xref{set auto-load guile-scripts}.
23150@tab Control for @value{GDBN} Guile scripts.
23151@item @xref{show auto-load guile-scripts}.
23152@tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} Guile scripts.
23153@item @xref{info auto-load guile-scripts}.
23154@tab Show state of @value{GDBN} Guile scripts.
23155@item @xref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
23156@tab Control for @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
23157@item @xref{show auto-load scripts-directory}.
23158@tab Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
23159@item @xref{add-auto-load-scripts-directory}.
23160@tab Add directory for auto-loaded scripts location list.
23161@item @xref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
23162@tab Control for init file in the current directory.
23163@item @xref{show auto-load local-gdbinit}.
23164@tab Show setting of init file in the current directory.
23165@item @xref{info auto-load local-gdbinit}.
23166@tab Show state of init file in the current directory.
23167@item @xref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
23168@tab Control for thread debugging library.
23169@item @xref{show auto-load libthread-db}.
23170@tab Show setting of thread debugging library.
23171@item @xref{info auto-load libthread-db}.
23172@tab Show state of thread debugging library.
23173@item @xref{set auto-load safe-path}.
23174@tab Control directories trusted for automatic loading.
23175@item @xref{show auto-load safe-path}.
23176@tab Show directories trusted for automatic loading.
23177@item @xref{add-auto-load-safe-path}.
23178@tab Add directory trusted for automatic loading.
23179@end multitable
23180
23181@node Init File in the Current Directory
23182@subsection Automatically loading init file in the current directory
23183@cindex auto-loading init file in the current directory
23184
23185By default, @value{GDBN} reads and executes the canned sequences of commands
23186from init file (if any) in the current working directory,
23187see @ref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}.
23188
23189Note that loading of this local @file{.gdbinit} file also requires accordingly
23190configured @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
23191
23192@table @code
23193@anchor{set auto-load local-gdbinit}
23194@kindex set auto-load local-gdbinit
23195@item set auto-load local-gdbinit [on|off]
23196Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands
23197(@pxref{Sequences}) found in init file in the current directory.
23198
23199@anchor{show auto-load local-gdbinit}
23200@kindex show auto-load local-gdbinit
23201@item show auto-load local-gdbinit
23202Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands from init file in the
23203current directory is enabled or disabled.
23204
23205@anchor{info auto-load local-gdbinit}
23206@kindex info auto-load local-gdbinit
23207@item info auto-load local-gdbinit
23208Print whether canned sequences of commands from init file in the
23209current directory have been auto-loaded.
23210@end table
23211
23212@node libthread_db.so.1 file
23213@subsection Automatically loading thread debugging library
23214@cindex auto-loading libthread_db.so.1
23215
23216This feature is currently present only on @sc{gnu}/Linux native hosts.
23217
23218@value{GDBN} reads in some cases thread debugging library from places specific
23219to the inferior (@pxref{set libthread-db-search-path}).
23220
23221The special @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entry @samp{$sdir} is processed
23222without checking this @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} switch as system
23223libraries have to be trusted in general. In all other cases of
23224@samp{libthread-db-search-path} entries @value{GDBN} checks first if @samp{set
23225auto-load libthread-db} is enabled before trying to open such thread debugging
23226library.
23227
23228Note that loading of this debugging library also requires accordingly configured
23229@code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
23230
23231@table @code
23232@anchor{set auto-load libthread-db}
23233@kindex set auto-load libthread-db
23234@item set auto-load libthread-db [on|off]
23235Enable or disable the auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library.
23236
23237@anchor{show auto-load libthread-db}
23238@kindex show auto-load libthread-db
23239@item show auto-load libthread-db
23240Show whether auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library is
23241enabled or disabled.
23242
23243@anchor{info auto-load libthread-db}
23244@kindex info auto-load libthread-db
23245@item info auto-load libthread-db
23246Print the list of all loaded inferior specific thread debugging libraries and
23247for each such library print list of inferior @var{pid}s using it.
23248@end table
23249
23250@node Auto-loading safe path
23251@subsection Security restriction for auto-loading
23252@cindex auto-loading safe-path
23253
23254As the files of inferior can come from untrusted source (such as submitted by
23255an application user) @value{GDBN} does not always load any files automatically.
23256@value{GDBN} provides the @samp{set auto-load safe-path} setting to list
23257directories trusted for loading files not explicitly requested by user.
23258Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern.
23259
23260If the path is not set properly you will see a warning and the file will not
23261get loaded:
23262
23263@smallexample
23264$ ./gdb -q ./gdb
23265Reading symbols from /home/user/gdb/gdb...done.
23266warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been
23267 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
23268 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
23269warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py" auto-loading has been
23270 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
23271 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
23272@end smallexample
23273
23274@noindent
23275To instruct @value{GDBN} to go ahead and use the init files anyway,
23276invoke @value{GDBN} like this:
23277
23278@smallexample
23279$ gdb -q -iex "set auto-load safe-path /home/user/gdb" ./gdb
23280@end smallexample
23281
23282The list of trusted directories is controlled by the following commands:
23283
23284@table @code
23285@anchor{set auto-load safe-path}
23286@kindex set auto-load safe-path
23287@item set auto-load safe-path @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
23288Set the list of directories (and their subdirectories) trusted for automatic
23289loading and execution of scripts. You can also enter a specific trusted file.
23290Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern; wildcards do not match
23291directory separator - see @code{FNM_PATHNAME} for system function @code{fnmatch}
23292(@pxref{Wildcard Matching, fnmatch, , libc, GNU C Library Reference Manual}).
23293If you omit @var{directories}, @samp{auto-load safe-path} will be reset to
23294its default value as specified during @value{GDBN} compilation.
23295
23296The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
23297systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
23298to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
23299
23300@anchor{show auto-load safe-path}
23301@kindex show auto-load safe-path
23302@item show auto-load safe-path
23303Show the list of directories trusted for automatic loading and execution of
23304scripts.
23305
23306@anchor{add-auto-load-safe-path}
23307@kindex add-auto-load-safe-path
23308@item add-auto-load-safe-path
23309Add an entry (or list of entries) to the list of directories trusted for
23310automatic loading and execution of scripts. Multiple entries may be delimited
23311by the host platform path separator in use.
23312@end table
23313
23314This variable defaults to what @code{--with-auto-load-dir} has been configured
23315to (@pxref{with-auto-load-dir}). @file{$debugdir} and @file{$datadir}
23316substitution applies the same as for @ref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
23317The default @code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by
23318@value{GDBN} configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-safe-path}.
23319
23320Setting this variable to @file{/} disables this security protection,
23321corresponding @value{GDBN} configuration option is
23322@option{--without-auto-load-safe-path}.
23323This variable is supposed to be set to the system directories writable by the
23324system superuser only. Users can add their source directories in init files in
23325their home directories (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). See also deprecated
23326init file in the current directory
23327(@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}).
23328
23329To force @value{GDBN} to load the files it declined to load in the previous
23330example, you could use one of the following ways:
23331
23332@table @asis
23333@item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{add-auto-load-safe-path ~/src/gdb}
23334Specify this trusted directory (or a file) as additional component of the list.
23335You have to specify also any existing directories displayed by
23336by @samp{show auto-load safe-path} (such as @samp{/usr:/bin} in this example).
23337
23338@item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /usr:/bin:~/src/gdb" @dots{}}
23339Specify this directory as in the previous case but just for a single
23340@value{GDBN} session.
23341
23342@item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /" @dots{}}
23343Disable auto-loading safety for a single @value{GDBN} session.
23344This assumes all the files you debug during this @value{GDBN} session will come
23345from trusted sources.
23346
23347@item @kbd{./configure --without-auto-load-safe-path}
23348During compilation of @value{GDBN} you may disable any auto-loading safety.
23349This assumes all the files you will ever debug with this @value{GDBN} come from
23350trusted sources.
23351@end table
23352
23353On the other hand you can also explicitly forbid automatic files loading which
23354also suppresses any such warning messages:
23355
23356@table @asis
23357@item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load no" @dots{}}
23358You can use @value{GDBN} command-line option for a single @value{GDBN} session.
23359
23360@item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{set auto-load no}
23361Disable auto-loading globally for the user
23362(@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). While it is improbable, you could also
23363use system init file instead (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
23364@end table
23365
23366This setting applies to the file names as entered by user. If no entry matches
23367@value{GDBN} tries as a last resort to also resolve all the file names into
23368their canonical form (typically resolving symbolic links) and compare the
23369entries again. @value{GDBN} already canonicalizes most of the filenames on its
23370own before starting the comparison so a canonical form of directories is
23371recommended to be entered.
23372
23373@node Auto-loading verbose mode
23374@subsection Displaying files tried for auto-load
23375@cindex auto-loading verbose mode
23376
23377For better visibility of all the file locations where you can place scripts to
23378be auto-loaded with inferior --- or to protect yourself against accidental
23379execution of untrusted scripts --- @value{GDBN} provides a feature for printing
23380all the files attempted to be loaded. Both existing and non-existing files may
23381be printed.
23382
23383For example the list of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
23384(@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}) applies also to canonicalized filenames which
23385may not be too obvious while setting it up.
23386
23387@smallexample
23388(gdb) set debug auto-load on
23389(gdb) file ~/src/t/true
23390auto-load: Loading canned sequences of commands script "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb"
23391 for objfile "/tmp/true".
23392auto-load: Updating directories of "/usr:/opt".
23393auto-load: Using directory "/usr".
23394auto-load: Using directory "/opt".
23395warning: File "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been declined
23396 by your `auto-load safe-path' set to "/usr:/opt".
23397@end smallexample
23398
23399@table @code
23400@anchor{set debug auto-load}
23401@kindex set debug auto-load
23402@item set debug auto-load [on|off]
23403Set whether to print the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded.
23404
23405@anchor{show debug auto-load}
23406@kindex show debug auto-load
23407@item show debug auto-load
23408Show whether printing of the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded is turned
23409on or off.
23410@end table
23411
23412@node Messages/Warnings
23413@section Optional Warnings and Messages
23414
23415@cindex verbose operation
23416@cindex optional warnings
23417By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
23418running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
23419command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
23420internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
23421
23422Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
23423which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
23424see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
23425
23426@table @code
23427@kindex set verbose
23428@item set verbose on
23429Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
23430
23431@item set verbose off
23432Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
23433
23434@kindex show verbose
23435@item show verbose
23436Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
23437@end table
23438
23439By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
23440object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
23441find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
23442Symbol Files}).
23443
23444@table @code
23445
23446@kindex set complaints
23447@item set complaints @var{limit}
23448Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
23449unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
23450@var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
23451to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
23452
23453@kindex show complaints
23454@item show complaints
23455Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
23456
23457@end table
23458
23459@anchor{confirmation requests}
23460By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
23461lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
23462you try to run a program which is already running:
23463
23464@smallexample
23465(@value{GDBP}) run
23466The program being debugged has been started already.
23467Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
23468@end smallexample
23469
23470If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
23471commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
23472
23473@table @code
23474
23475@kindex set confirm
23476@cindex flinching
23477@cindex confirmation
23478@cindex stupid questions
23479@item set confirm off
23480Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
23481the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
23482automatically disables confirmation requests.
23483
23484@item set confirm on
23485Enables confirmation requests (the default).
23486
23487@kindex show confirm
23488@item show confirm
23489Displays state of confirmation requests.
23490
23491@end table
23492
23493@cindex command tracing
23494If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
23495useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
23496printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
23497quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
23498
23499@table @code
23500@kindex set trace-commands
23501@cindex command scripts, debugging
23502@item set trace-commands on
23503Enable command tracing.
23504@item set trace-commands off
23505Disable command tracing.
23506@item show trace-commands
23507Display the current state of command tracing.
23508@end table
23509
23510@node Debugging Output
23511@section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
23512@cindex optional debugging messages
23513
23514@value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
23515various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
23516interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
23517section documents those commands.
23518
23519@table @code
23520@kindex set exec-done-display
23521@item set exec-done-display
23522Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
23523completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
23524asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
23525@kindex show exec-done-display
23526@item show exec-done-display
23527Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
23528notification.
23529@kindex set debug
23530@cindex ARM AArch64
23531@item set debug aarch64
23532Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to ARM AArch64.
23533The default is off.
23534@kindex show debug
23535@item show debug aarch64
23536Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
23537ARM AArch64.
23538@cindex gdbarch debugging info
23539@cindex architecture debugging info
23540@item set debug arch
23541Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
23542@item show debug arch
23543Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
23544@item set debug aix-solib
23545@cindex AIX shared library debugging
23546Control display of debugging messages from the AIX shared library
23547support module. The default is off.
23548@item show debug aix-thread
23549Show the current state of displaying AIX shared library debugging messages.
23550@item set debug aix-thread
23551@cindex AIX threads
23552Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
23553module.
23554@item show debug aix-thread
23555Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
23556@item set debug check-physname
23557@cindex physname
23558Check the results of the ``physname'' computation. When reading DWARF
23559debugging information for C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} attempts to compute
23560each entity's name. @value{GDBN} can do this computation in two
23561different ways, depending on exactly what information is present.
23562When enabled, this setting causes @value{GDBN} to compute the names
23563both ways and display any discrepancies.
23564@item show debug check-physname
23565Show the current state of ``physname'' checking.
23566@item set debug coff-pe-read
23567@cindex COFF/PE exported symbols
23568Control display of debugging messages related to reading of COFF/PE
23569exported symbols. The default is off.
23570@item show debug coff-pe-read
23571Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
23572reading of COFF/PE exported symbols.
23573@item set debug dwarf-die
23574@cindex DWARF DIEs
23575Dump DWARF DIEs after they are read in.
23576The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
23577A value of zero turns off the display.
23578@item show debug dwarf-die
23579Show the current state of DWARF DIE debugging.
23580@item set debug dwarf-line
23581@cindex DWARF Line Tables
23582Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to reading
23583DWARF line tables. The default is 0 (off).
23584A value of 1 provides basic information.
23585A value greater than 1 provides more verbose information.
23586@item show debug dwarf-line
23587Show the current state of DWARF line table debugging.
23588@item set debug dwarf-read
23589@cindex DWARF Reading
23590Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to reading
23591DWARF debug info. The default is 0 (off).
23592A value of 1 provides basic information.
23593A value greater than 1 provides more verbose information.
23594@item show debug dwarf-read
23595Show the current state of DWARF reader debugging.
23596@item set debug displaced
23597@cindex displaced stepping debugging info
23598Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
23599displaced stepping support. The default is off.
23600@item show debug displaced
23601Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
23602related to displaced stepping.
23603@item set debug event
23604@cindex event debugging info
23605Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
23606default is off.
23607@item show debug event
23608Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
23609info.
23610@item set debug expression
23611@cindex expression debugging info
23612Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
23613expression parsing. The default is off.
23614@item show debug expression
23615Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
23616@value{GDBN} expression parsing.
23617@item set debug fbsd-lwp
23618@cindex FreeBSD LWP debug messages
23619Turns on or off debugging messages from the FreeBSD LWP debug support.
23620@item show debug fbsd-lwp
23621Show the current state of FreeBSD LWP debugging messages.
23622@item set debug frame
23623@cindex frame debugging info
23624Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
23625default is off.
23626@item show debug frame
23627Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
23628info.
23629@item set debug gnu-nat
23630@cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
23631Turn on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
23632@item show debug gnu-nat
23633Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
23634@item set debug infrun
23635@cindex inferior debugging info
23636Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
23637The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
23638for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
23639@item show debug infrun
23640Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
23641@item set debug jit
23642@cindex just-in-time compilation, debugging messages
23643Turn on or off debugging messages from JIT debug support.
23644@item show debug jit
23645Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} JIT debugging.
23646@item set debug lin-lwp
23647@cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
23648@cindex Linux lightweight processes
23649Turn on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
23650@item show debug lin-lwp
23651Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
23652@item set debug linux-namespaces
23653@cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux namespaces debug messages
23654Turn on or off debugging messages from the Linux namespaces debug support.
23655@item show debug linux-namespaces
23656Show the current state of Linux namespaces debugging messages.
23657@item set debug mach-o
23658@cindex Mach-O symbols processing
23659Control display of debugging messages related to Mach-O symbols
23660processing. The default is off.
23661@item show debug mach-o
23662Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
23663reading of COFF/PE exported symbols.
23664@item set debug notification
23665@cindex remote async notification debugging info
23666Turn on or off debugging messages about remote async notification.
23667The default is off.
23668@item show debug notification
23669Displays the current state of remote async notification debugging messages.
23670@item set debug observer
23671@cindex observer debugging info
23672Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
23673includes info such as the notification of observable events.
23674@item show debug observer
23675Displays the current state of observer debugging.
23676@item set debug overload
23677@cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
23678Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
23679info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
23680is off.
23681@item show debug overload
23682Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
23683debugging info.
23684@cindex expression parser, debugging info
23685@cindex debug expression parser
23686@item set debug parser
23687Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
23688Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
23689parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
23690details. The default is off.
23691@item show debug parser
23692Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
23693@cindex packets, reporting on stdout
23694@cindex serial connections, debugging
23695@cindex debug remote protocol
23696@cindex remote protocol debugging
23697@cindex display remote packets
23698@item set debug remote
23699Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
23700the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
23701@value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
23702@item show debug remote
23703Displays the state of display of remote packets.
23704@item set debug serial
23705Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
23706default is off.
23707@item show debug serial
23708Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
23709info.
23710@item set debug solib-frv
23711@cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
23712Turn on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
23713@item show debug solib-frv
23714Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
23715messages.
23716@item set debug symbol-lookup
23717@cindex symbol lookup
23718Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to symbol lookup.
23719The default is 0 (off).
23720A value of 1 provides basic information.
23721A value greater than 1 provides more verbose information.
23722@item show debug symbol-lookup
23723Show the current state of symbol lookup debugging messages.
23724@item set debug symfile
23725@cindex symbol file functions
23726Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to symbol file functions.
23727The default is off. @xref{Files}.
23728@item show debug symfile
23729Show the current state of symbol file debugging messages.
23730@item set debug symtab-create
23731@cindex symbol table creation
23732Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to symbol table creation.
23733The default is 0 (off).
23734A value of 1 provides basic information.
23735A value greater than 1 provides more verbose information.
23736@item show debug symtab-create
23737Show the current state of symbol table creation debugging.
23738@item set debug target
23739@cindex target debugging info
23740Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
23741includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
23742default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
23743value of large memory transfers.
23744@item show debug target
23745Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
23746info.
23747@item set debug timestamp
23748@cindex timestampping debugging info
23749Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
23750When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
23751message.
23752@item show debug timestamp
23753Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
23754debugging info.
23755@item set debug varobj
23756@cindex variable object debugging info
23757Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
23758info. The default is off.
23759@item show debug varobj
23760Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
23761debugging info.
23762@item set debug xml
23763@cindex XML parser debugging
23764Turn on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
23765@item show debug xml
23766Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
23767@end table
23768
23769@node Other Misc Settings
23770@section Other Miscellaneous Settings
23771@cindex miscellaneous settings
23772
23773@table @code
23774@kindex set interactive-mode
23775@item set interactive-mode
23776If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to assume that GDB was started
23777in a terminal. In practice, this means that @value{GDBN} should wait
23778for the user to answer queries generated by commands entered at
23779the command prompt. If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate
23780in the opposite mode, and it uses the default answers to all queries.
23781If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} tries to determine whether
23782its standard input is a terminal, and works in interactive-mode if it
23783is, non-interactively otherwise.
23784
23785In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
23786correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
23787in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
23788inside a cygwin window.
23789
23790@kindex show interactive-mode
23791@item show interactive-mode
23792Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
23793@end table
23794
23795@node Extending GDB
23796@chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
23797@cindex extending GDB
23798
23799@value{GDBN} provides several mechanisms for extension.
23800@value{GDBN} also provides the ability to automatically load
23801extensions when it reads a file for debugging. This allows the
23802user to automatically customize @value{GDBN} for the program
23803being debugged.
23804
23805@menu
23806* Sequences:: Canned Sequences of @value{GDBN} Commands
23807* Python:: Extending @value{GDBN} using Python
23808* Guile:: Extending @value{GDBN} using Guile
23809* Auto-loading extensions:: Automatically loading extensions
23810* Multiple Extension Languages:: Working with multiple extension languages
23811* Aliases:: Creating new spellings of existing commands
23812@end menu
23813
23814To facilitate the use of extension languages, @value{GDBN} is capable
23815of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
23816can recognize which extension language is being used by looking at
23817the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
23818are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
23819@xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
23820
23821You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
23822setting:
23823
23824@table @code
23825@kindex set script-extension
23826@kindex show script-extension
23827@item set script-extension off
23828All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
23829
23830@item set script-extension soft
23831The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
23832extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
23833evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
23834the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
23835
23836@item set script-extension strict
23837The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
23838extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
23839language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
23840
23841@item show script-extension
23842Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
23843
23844@end table
23845
23846@node Sequences
23847@section Canned Sequences of Commands
23848
23849Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
23850Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
23851commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
23852files.
23853
23854@menu
23855* Define:: How to define your own commands
23856* Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
23857* Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
23858* Output:: Commands for controlled output
23859* Auto-loading sequences:: Controlling auto-loaded command files
23860@end menu
23861
23862@node Define
23863@subsection User-defined Commands
23864
23865@cindex user-defined command
23866@cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
23867A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
23868which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
23869@code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
23870separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
23871via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
23872
23873@smallexample
23874define adder
23875 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
23876end
23877@end smallexample
23878
23879@noindent
23880To execute the command use:
23881
23882@smallexample
23883adder 1 2 3
23884@end smallexample
23885
23886@noindent
23887This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
23888its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
23889reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
23890functions calls.
23891
23892@cindex argument count in user-defined commands
23893@cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
23894In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
23895been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
23896
23897@smallexample
23898define adder
23899 if $argc == 2
23900 print $arg0 + $arg1
23901 end
23902 if $argc == 3
23903 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
23904 end
23905end
23906@end smallexample
23907
23908@table @code
23909
23910@kindex define
23911@item define @var{commandname}
23912Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
23913by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
23914The argument @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
23915numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
23916prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
23917a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
23918
23919The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
23920which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
23921commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
23922
23923@kindex document
23924@kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
23925@item document @var{commandname}
23926Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
23927accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
23928defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
23929reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
23930After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
23931@var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
23932
23933You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
23934documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
23935does not change the documentation.
23936
23937@kindex dont-repeat
23938@cindex don't repeat command
23939@item dont-repeat
23940Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
23941command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
23942(@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
23943
23944@kindex help user-defined
23945@item help user-defined
23946List all user-defined commands and all python commands defined in class
23947COMAND_USER. The first line of the documentation or docstring is
23948included (if any).
23949
23950@kindex show user
23951@item show user
23952@itemx show user @var{commandname}
23953Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
23954not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
23955definitions for all user-defined commands.
23956This does not work for user-defined python commands.
23957
23958@cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
23959@kindex show max-user-call-depth
23960@kindex set max-user-call-depth
23961@item show max-user-call-depth
23962@itemx set max-user-call-depth
23963The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
23964levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
23965infinite recursion and aborts the command.
23966This does not apply to user-defined python commands.
23967@end table
23968
23969In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
23970use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
23971
23972When user-defined commands are executed, the
23973commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
23974stops execution of the user-defined command.
23975
23976If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
23977without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
23978commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
23979messages when used in a user-defined command.
23980
23981@node Hooks
23982@subsection User-defined Command Hooks
23983@cindex command hooks
23984@cindex hooks, for commands
23985@cindex hooks, pre-command
23986
23987@kindex hook
23988You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
23989command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
23990command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
23991before that command.
23992
23993@cindex hooks, post-command
23994@kindex hookpost
23995A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
23996Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
23997@samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
23998that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
23999pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
24000
24001It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
24002occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
24003
24004@c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
24005@c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
24006
24007@kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
24008In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
24009(@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
24010execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
24011displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
24012
24013For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
24014single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
24015you could define:
24016
24017@smallexample
24018define hook-stop
24019handle SIGALRM nopass
24020end
24021
24022define hook-run
24023handle SIGALRM pass
24024end
24025
24026define hook-continue
24027handle SIGALRM pass
24028end
24029@end smallexample
24030
24031As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
24032command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
24033you could define:
24034
24035@smallexample
24036define hook-echo
24037echo <<<---
24038end
24039
24040define hookpost-echo
24041echo --->>>\n
24042end
24043
24044(@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
24045<<<---Hello World--->>>
24046(@value{GDBP})
24047
24048@end smallexample
24049
24050You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
24051not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
24052name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
24053@c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
24054@c or not?
24055You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
24056@code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
24057@samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
24058
24059If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
24060@value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
24061(before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
24062
24063If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
24064get a warning from the @code{define} command.
24065
24066@node Command Files
24067@subsection Command Files
24068
24069@cindex command files
24070@cindex scripting commands
24071A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
24072@value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
24073also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
24074does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
24075terminal.
24076
24077You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
24078command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
24079scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
24080using the @code{script-extension} setting.
24081@xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
24082
24083@table @code
24084@kindex source
24085@cindex execute commands from a file
24086@item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
24087Execute the command file @var{filename}.
24088@end table
24089
24090The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
24091unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
24092@emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
24093printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
24094execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
24095
24096@value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
24097If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
24098directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
24099(specified with the @samp{directory} command);
24100except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
24101is not relevant to scripts.
24102
24103If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
24104on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
24105The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
24106search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
24107and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
24108look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
24109The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
24110For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
24111the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
24112look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
24113For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
24114it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
24115@file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
24116will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
24117
24118If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
24119each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
24120@var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
24121
24122Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
24123without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
24124normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
24125when called from command files.
24126
24127@value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
24128mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
24129standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
24130not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
24131the next command.
24132
24133@smallexample
24134gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
24135@end smallexample
24136
24137(The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
24138will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
24139would be directed to @file{log}.
24140
24141Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
24142commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
24143complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
24144variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
24145built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
24146deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
24147complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
24148conditionally, etc.
24149
24150@table @code
24151@kindex if
24152@kindex else
24153@item if
24154@itemx else
24155This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
24156commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
24157expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
24158are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
24159There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
24160of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
24161end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
24162
24163@kindex while
24164@item while
24165This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
24166@code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
24167to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
24168line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
24169@dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
24170executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
24171
24172@kindex loop_break
24173@item loop_break
24174This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
24175Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
24176line.
24177
24178@kindex loop_continue
24179@item loop_continue
24180This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
24181in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
24182branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
24183the controlling expression.
24184
24185@kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
24186@item end
24187Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
24188@code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
24189@end table
24190
24191
24192@node Output
24193@subsection Commands for Controlled Output
24194
24195During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
24196@value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
24197explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
24198describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
24199want.
24200
24201@table @code
24202@kindex echo
24203@item echo @var{text}
24204@c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
24205@c because it is not in ANSI.
24206Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
24207@var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
24208newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
24209In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
24210by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
24211string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
24212trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
24213To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
24214@samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
24215
24216A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
24217the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
24218
24219@smallexample
24220echo This is some text\n\
24221which is continued\n\
24222onto several lines.\n
24223@end smallexample
24224
24225produces the same output as
24226
24227@smallexample
24228echo This is some text\n
24229echo which is continued\n
24230echo onto several lines.\n
24231@end smallexample
24232
24233@kindex output
24234@item output @var{expression}
24235Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
24236newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
24237value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
24238on expressions.
24239
24240@item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
24241Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
24242the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
24243Formats}, for more information.
24244
24245@kindex printf
24246@item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
24247Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
24248the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
24249@var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
24250which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
24251specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
24252executing the code below:
24253
24254@smallexample
24255printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
24256@end smallexample
24257
24258As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
24259are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
24260by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
24261evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
24262style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
24263printed.
24264
24265For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
24266
24267@smallexample
24268printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
24269@end smallexample
24270
24271@code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
24272specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
24273character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
24274
24275@itemize @bullet
24276@item
24277The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
24278
24279@item
24280The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
24281width.
24282
24283@item
24284The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
24285@code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
24286
24287@item
24288The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
24289supported.
24290
24291@item
24292The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
24293
24294@item
24295The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
24296@end itemize
24297
24298@noindent
24299Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
24300underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
24301the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
24302supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
24303
24304As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
24305sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
24306@samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
24307single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
24308supported.
24309
24310Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
24311(@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
24312together with a floating point specifier.
24313letters:
24314
24315@itemize @bullet
24316@item
24317@samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
24318
24319@item
24320@samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
24321
24322@item
24323@samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
24324@end itemize
24325
24326If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
24327support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
24328such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
24329
24330In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
24331available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
24332
24333Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
24334@smallexample
24335printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
24336@end smallexample
24337
24338@kindex eval
24339@item eval @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
24340Convert the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
24341the string @var{template} to a command line, and call it.
24342
24343@end table
24344
24345@node Auto-loading sequences
24346@subsection Controlling auto-loading native @value{GDBN} scripts
24347@cindex native script auto-loading
24348
24349When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
24350command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
24351@value{GDBN} will look for the command file @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb}.
24352@xref{Auto-loading extensions}.
24353
24354Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled,
24355and the list of auto-loaded scripts can be printed.
24356
24357@table @code
24358@anchor{set auto-load gdb-scripts}
24359@kindex set auto-load gdb-scripts
24360@item set auto-load gdb-scripts [on|off]
24361Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts.
24362
24363@anchor{show auto-load gdb-scripts}
24364@kindex show auto-load gdb-scripts
24365@item show auto-load gdb-scripts
24366Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is enabled or
24367disabled.
24368
24369@anchor{info auto-load gdb-scripts}
24370@kindex info auto-load gdb-scripts
24371@cindex print list of auto-loaded canned sequences of commands scripts
24372@item info auto-load gdb-scripts [@var{regexp}]
24373Print the list of all canned sequences of commands scripts that @value{GDBN}
24374auto-loaded.
24375@end table
24376
24377If @var{regexp} is supplied only canned sequences of commands scripts with
24378matching names are printed.
24379
24380@c Python docs live in a separate file.
24381@include python.texi
24382
24383@c Guile docs live in a separate file.
24384@include guile.texi
24385
24386@node Auto-loading extensions
24387@section Auto-loading extensions
24388@cindex auto-loading extensions
24389
24390@value{GDBN} provides two mechanisms for automatically loading extensions
24391when a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
24392command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library):
24393@file{@var{objfile}-gdb.@var{ext}} and the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts}
24394section of modern file formats like ELF.
24395
24396@menu
24397* objfile-gdb.ext file: objfile-gdbdotext file. The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.@var{ext}} file
24398* .debug_gdb_scripts section: dotdebug_gdb_scripts section. The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
24399* Which flavor to choose?::
24400@end menu
24401
24402The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
24403debugging commands and features.
24404
24405Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled,
24406and the list of auto-loaded scripts can be printed.
24407See the @samp{auto-loading} section of each extension language
24408for more information.
24409For @value{GDBN} command files see @ref{Auto-loading sequences}.
24410For Python files see @ref{Python Auto-loading}.
24411
24412Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
24413@code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
24414
24415@node objfile-gdbdotext file
24416@subsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.@var{ext}} file
24417@cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb}
24418@cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
24419@cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.scm}
24420
24421When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for a file named
24422@file{@var{objfile}-gdb.@var{ext}} (we call it @var{script-name} below),
24423where @var{objfile} is the object file's name and
24424where @var{ext} is the file extension for the extension language:
24425
24426@table @code
24427@item @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb}
24428GDB's own command language
24429@item @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
24430Python
24431@item @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.scm}
24432Guile
24433@end table
24434
24435@var{script-name} is formed by ensuring that the file name of @var{objfile}
24436is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving @code{.} and @code{..}
24437components, and appending the @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} suffix.
24438If this file exists and is readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a
24439script in the specified extension language.
24440
24441If this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
24442@var{script-name} file in all of the directories as specified below.
24443
24444Note that loading of these files requires an accordingly configured
24445@code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
24446
24447For object files using @file{.exe} suffix @value{GDBN} tries to load first the
24448scripts normally according to its @file{.exe} filename. But if no scripts are
24449found @value{GDBN} also tries script filenames matching the object file without
24450its @file{.exe} suffix. This @file{.exe} stripping is case insensitive and it
24451is attempted on any platform. This makes the script filenames compatible
24452between Unix and MS-Windows hosts.
24453
24454@table @code
24455@anchor{set auto-load scripts-directory}
24456@kindex set auto-load scripts-directory
24457@item set auto-load scripts-directory @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
24458Control @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location. Multiple directory entries
24459may be delimited by the host platform path separator in use
24460(@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS).
24461
24462Each entry here needs to be covered also by the security setting
24463@code{set auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{set auto-load safe-path}).
24464
24465@anchor{with-auto-load-dir}
24466This variable defaults to @file{$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load}. The default
24467@code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by @value{GDBN}
24468configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-dir}.
24469
24470Any reference to @file{$debugdir} will get replaced by
24471@var{debug-file-directory} value (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}) and any
24472reference to @file{$datadir} will get replaced by @var{data-directory} which is
24473determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}). @file{$debugdir} and
24474@file{$datadir} must be placed as a directory component --- either alone or
24475delimited by @file{/} or @file{\} directory separators, depending on the host
24476platform.
24477
24478The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
24479systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
24480to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
24481
24482@anchor{show auto-load scripts-directory}
24483@kindex show auto-load scripts-directory
24484@item show auto-load scripts-directory
24485Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
24486
24487@anchor{add-auto-load-scripts-directory}
24488@kindex add-auto-load-scripts-directory
24489@item add-auto-load-scripts-directory @r{[}@var{directories}@dots{}@r{]}
24490Add an entry (or list of entries) to the list of auto-loaded scripts locations.
24491Multiple entries may be delimited by the host platform path separator in use.
24492@end table
24493
24494@value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
24495@value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
24496@var{objfile} is opened.
24497So your @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
24498is evaluated more than once.
24499
24500@node dotdebug_gdb_scripts section
24501@subsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
24502@cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
24503
24504For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
24505when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
24506it will look for a special section named @code{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
24507If this section exists, its contents is a list of null-terminated entries
24508specifying scripts to load. Each entry begins with a non-null prefix byte that
24509specifies the kind of entry, typically the extension language and whether the
24510script is in a file or inlined in @code{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
24511
24512The following entries are supported:
24513
24514@table @code
24515@item SECTION_SCRIPT_ID_PYTHON_FILE = 1
24516@item SECTION_SCRIPT_ID_SCHEME_FILE = 3
24517@item SECTION_SCRIPT_ID_PYTHON_TEXT = 4
24518@item SECTION_SCRIPT_ID_SCHEME_TEXT = 6
24519@end table
24520
24521@subsubsection Script File Entries
24522
24523If the entry specifies a file, @value{GDBN} will look for the file first
24524in the current directory and then along the source search path
24525(@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
24526except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
24527directory is not relevant to scripts.
24528
24529File entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
24530for example, this GCC macro for Python scripts.
24531
24532@example
24533/* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remove duplicates. */
24534#define DEFINE_GDB_PY_SCRIPT(script_name) \
24535 asm("\
24536.pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
24537.byte 1 /* Python */\n\
24538.asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
24539.popsection \n\
24540");
24541@end example
24542
24543@noindent
24544For Guile scripts, replace @code{.byte 1} with @code{.byte 3}.
24545Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
24546
24547@example
24548DEFINE_GDB_PY_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
24549@end example
24550
24551The script name may include directories if desired.
24552
24553Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
24554@code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
24555
24556If the macro invocation is put in a header, any application or library
24557using this header will get a reference to the specified script,
24558and with the use of @code{"MS"} attributes on the section, the linker
24559will remove duplicates.
24560
24561@subsubsection Script Text Entries
24562
24563Script text entries allow to put the executable script in the entry
24564itself instead of loading it from a file.
24565The first line of the entry, everything after the prefix byte and up to
24566the first newline (@code{0xa}) character, is the script name, and must not
24567contain any kind of space character, e.g., spaces or tabs.
24568The rest of the entry, up to the trailing null byte, is the script to
24569execute in the specified language. The name needs to be unique among
24570all script names, as @value{GDBN} executes each script only once based
24571on its name.
24572
24573Here is an example from file @file{py-section-script.c} in the @value{GDBN}
24574testsuite.
24575
24576@example
24577#include "symcat.h"
24578#include "gdb/section-scripts.h"
24579asm(
24580".pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n"
24581".byte " XSTRING (SECTION_SCRIPT_ID_PYTHON_TEXT) "\n"
24582".ascii \"gdb.inlined-script\\n\"\n"
24583".ascii \"class test_cmd (gdb.Command):\\n\"\n"
24584".ascii \" def __init__ (self):\\n\"\n"
24585".ascii \" super (test_cmd, self).__init__ ("
24586 "\\\"test-cmd\\\", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)\\n\"\n"
24587".ascii \" def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):\\n\"\n"
24588".ascii \" print (\\\"test-cmd output, arg = %s\\\" % arg)\\n\"\n"
24589".ascii \"test_cmd ()\\n\"\n"
24590".byte 0\n"
24591".popsection\n"
24592);
24593@end example
24594
24595Loading of inlined scripts requires a properly configured
24596@code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
24597The path to specify in @code{auto-load safe-path} is the path of the file
24598containing the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section.
24599
24600@node Which flavor to choose?
24601@subsection Which flavor to choose?
24602
24603Given the multiple ways of auto-loading extensions, it might not always
24604be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
24605
24606@noindent
24607Benefits of the @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} way:
24608
24609@itemize @bullet
24610@item
24611Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
24612
24613@item
24614Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
24615
24616Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
24617in the source search path.
24618For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
24619isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
24620
24621@item
24622Doesn't require source code additions.
24623@end itemize
24624
24625@noindent
24626Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
24627
24628@itemize @bullet
24629@item
24630Works with static linking.
24631
24632Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} way require an objfile to
24633trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
24634objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
24635scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's
24636@file{-gdb.@var{ext}} script.
24637
24638@item
24639Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
24640
24641Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
24642shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} script to.
24643
24644@item
24645Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
24646
24647In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
24648libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
24649@file{-gdb.@var{ext}} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
24650cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
24651@code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
24652top of the source tree to the source search path.
24653@end itemize
24654
24655@node Multiple Extension Languages
24656@section Multiple Extension Languages
24657
24658The Guile and Python extension languages do not share any state,
24659and generally do not interfere with each other.
24660There are some things to be aware of, however.
24661
24662@subsection Python comes first
24663
24664Python was @value{GDBN}'s first extension language, and to avoid breaking
24665existing behaviour Python comes first. This is generally solved by the
24666``first one wins'' principle. @value{GDBN} maintains a list of enabled
24667extension languages, and when it makes a call to an extension language,
24668(say to pretty-print a value), it tries each in turn until an extension
24669language indicates it has performed the request (e.g., has returned the
24670pretty-printed form of a value).
24671This extends to errors while performing such requests: If an error happens
24672while, for example, trying to pretty-print an object then the error is
24673reported and any following extension languages are not tried.
24674
24675@node Aliases
24676@section Creating new spellings of existing commands
24677@cindex aliases for commands
24678
24679It is often useful to define alternate spellings of existing commands.
24680For example, if a new @value{GDBN} command defined in Python has
24681a long name to type, it is handy to have an abbreviated version of it
24682that involves less typing.
24683
24684@value{GDBN} itself uses aliases. For example @samp{s} is an alias
24685of the @samp{step} command even though it is otherwise an ambiguous
24686abbreviation of other commands like @samp{set} and @samp{show}.
24687
24688Aliases are also used to provide shortened or more common versions
24689of multi-word commands. For example, @value{GDBN} provides the
24690@samp{tty} alias of the @samp{set inferior-tty} command.
24691
24692You can define a new alias with the @samp{alias} command.
24693
24694@table @code
24695
24696@kindex alias
24697@item alias [-a] [--] @var{ALIAS} = @var{COMMAND}
24698
24699@end table
24700
24701@var{ALIAS} specifies the name of the new alias.
24702Each word of @var{ALIAS} must consist of letters, numbers, dashes and
24703underscores.
24704
24705@var{COMMAND} specifies the name of an existing command
24706that is being aliased.
24707
24708The @samp{-a} option specifies that the new alias is an abbreviation
24709of the command. Abbreviations are not shown in command
24710lists displayed by the @samp{help} command.
24711
24712The @samp{--} option specifies the end of options,
24713and is useful when @var{ALIAS} begins with a dash.
24714
24715Here is a simple example showing how to make an abbreviation
24716of a command so that there is less to type.
24717Suppose you were tired of typing @samp{disas}, the current
24718shortest unambiguous abbreviation of the @samp{disassemble} command
24719and you wanted an even shorter version named @samp{di}.
24720The following will accomplish this.
24721
24722@smallexample
24723(gdb) alias -a di = disas
24724@end smallexample
24725
24726Note that aliases are different from user-defined commands.
24727With a user-defined command, you also need to write documentation
24728for it with the @samp{document} command.
24729An alias automatically picks up the documentation of the existing command.
24730
24731Here is an example where we make @samp{elms} an abbreviation of
24732@samp{elements} in the @samp{set print elements} command.
24733This is to show that you can make an abbreviation of any part
24734of a command.
24735
24736@smallexample
24737(gdb) alias -a set print elms = set print elements
24738(gdb) alias -a show print elms = show print elements
24739(gdb) set p elms 20
24740(gdb) show p elms
24741Limit on string chars or array elements to print is 200.
24742@end smallexample
24743
24744Note that if you are defining an alias of a @samp{set} command,
24745and you want to have an alias for the corresponding @samp{show}
24746command, then you need to define the latter separately.
24747
24748Unambiguously abbreviated commands are allowed in @var{COMMAND} and
24749@var{ALIAS}, just as they are normally.
24750
24751@smallexample
24752(gdb) alias -a set pr elms = set p ele
24753@end smallexample
24754
24755Finally, here is an example showing the creation of a one word
24756alias for a more complex command.
24757This creates alias @samp{spe} of the command @samp{set print elements}.
24758
24759@smallexample
24760(gdb) alias spe = set print elements
24761(gdb) spe 20
24762@end smallexample
24763
24764@node Interpreters
24765@chapter Command Interpreters
24766@cindex command interpreters
24767
24768@value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
24769infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
24770between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
24771
24772@value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
24773interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
24774and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
24775describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
24776
24777By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
24778However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
24779interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
24780startup options. Defined interpreters include:
24781
24782@table @code
24783@item console
24784@cindex console interpreter
24785The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
24786used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
24787@value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
24788
24789@item mi
24790@cindex mi interpreter
24791The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
24792by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
24793or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
24794Interface}.
24795
24796@item mi2
24797@cindex mi2 interpreter
24798The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
24799
24800@item mi1
24801@cindex mi1 interpreter
24802The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
24803
24804@end table
24805
24806@cindex invoke another interpreter
24807The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
24808switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
24809precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
24810enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
24811@value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
24812the IDE inoperable!
24813
24814@kindex interpreter-exec
24815Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
24816commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
24817command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
24818@code{interpreter-exec} command:
24819
24820@smallexample
24821interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
24822@end smallexample
24823
24824@sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
24825@value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
24826
24827@node TUI
24828@chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
24829@cindex TUI
24830@cindex Text User Interface
24831
24832@menu
24833* TUI Overview:: TUI overview
24834* TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
24835* TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
24836* TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
24837* TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
24838@end menu
24839
24840The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
24841interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
24842file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
24843commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
24844on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
24845is available.
24846
24847The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
24848@samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
24849You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
24850using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @command{tui
24851enable} or @kbd{C-x C-a}. @xref{TUI Commands, ,TUI Commands}, and
24852@ref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
24853
24854@node TUI Overview
24855@section TUI Overview
24856
24857In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
24858
24859@table @emph
24860@item command
24861This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
24862prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
24863managed using readline.
24864
24865@item source
24866The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
24867line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
24868
24869@item assembly
24870The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
24871
24872@item register
24873This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
24874when their values change.
24875@end table
24876
24877The source and assembly windows show the current program position
24878by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
24879Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
24880indicates the breakpoint type:
24881
24882@table @code
24883@item B
24884Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
24885
24886@item b
24887Breakpoint which was never hit.
24888
24889@item H
24890Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
24891
24892@item h
24893Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
24894@end table
24895
24896The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
24897
24898@table @code
24899@item +
24900Breakpoint is enabled.
24901
24902@item -
24903Breakpoint is disabled.
24904@end table
24905
24906The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
24907thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
24908changes.
24909
24910These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
24911window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
24912layouts:
24913
24914@itemize @bullet
24915@item
24916source only,
24917
24918@item
24919assembly only,
24920
24921@item
24922source and assembly,
24923
24924@item
24925source and registers, or
24926
24927@item
24928assembly and registers.
24929@end itemize
24930
24931A status line above the command window shows the following information:
24932
24933@table @emph
24934@item target
24935Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
24936(@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
24937
24938@item process
24939Gives the current process or thread number.
24940When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
24941
24942@item function
24943Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
24944The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
24945When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
24946the string @code{??} is displayed.
24947
24948@item line
24949Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
24950When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
24951
24952@item pc
24953Indicates the current program counter address.
24954@end table
24955
24956@node TUI Keys
24957@section TUI Key Bindings
24958@cindex TUI key bindings
24959
24960The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
24961@ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
24962(@pxref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library}).
24963@end ifset
24964@ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
24965(@pxref{Command Line Editing}).
24966@end ifclear
24967The following key bindings are installed for both TUI mode and the
24968@value{GDBN} standard mode.
24969
24970@table @kbd
24971@kindex C-x C-a
24972@item C-x C-a
24973@kindex C-x a
24974@itemx C-x a
24975@kindex C-x A
24976@itemx C-x A
24977Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
24978the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
24979its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
24980the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
24981The screen is then refreshed.
24982
24983@kindex C-x 1
24984@item C-x 1
24985Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
24986either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
24987is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
24988
24989Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
24990
24991@kindex C-x 2
24992@item C-x 2
24993Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
24994layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
24995When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
24996previous layout and the new one.
24997
24998Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
24999
25000@kindex C-x o
25001@item C-x o
25002Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
25003(like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
25004gives the focus to the next TUI window.
25005
25006Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
25007
25008@kindex C-x s
25009@item C-x s
25010Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
25011keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
25012@end table
25013
25014The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
25015
25016@table @asis
25017@kindex PgUp
25018@item @key{PgUp}
25019Scroll the active window one page up.
25020
25021@kindex PgDn
25022@item @key{PgDn}
25023Scroll the active window one page down.
25024
25025@kindex Up
25026@item @key{Up}
25027Scroll the active window one line up.
25028
25029@kindex Down
25030@item @key{Down}
25031Scroll the active window one line down.
25032
25033@kindex Left
25034@item @key{Left}
25035Scroll the active window one column left.
25036
25037@kindex Right
25038@item @key{Right}
25039Scroll the active window one column right.
25040
25041@kindex C-L
25042@item @kbd{C-L}
25043Refresh the screen.
25044@end table
25045
25046Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
25047are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
25048window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
25049other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
25050and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
25051
25052@node TUI Single Key Mode
25053@section TUI Single Key Mode
25054@cindex TUI single key mode
25055
25056The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
25057frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
25058switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
25059
25060@table @kbd
25061@kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25062@item c
25063continue
25064
25065@kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25066@item d
25067down
25068
25069@kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25070@item f
25071finish
25072
25073@kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25074@item n
25075next
25076
25077@kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25078@item q
25079exit the SingleKey mode.
25080
25081@kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25082@item r
25083run
25084
25085@kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25086@item s
25087step
25088
25089@kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25090@item u
25091up
25092
25093@kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25094@item v
25095info locals
25096
25097@kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25098@item w
25099where
25100@end table
25101
25102Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
25103The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
25104it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
25105with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
25106SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
25107this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
25108
25109
25110@node TUI Commands
25111@section TUI-specific Commands
25112@cindex TUI commands
25113
25114The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
25115These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
25116the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
25117of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
25118
25119Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
25120terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
25121interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
25122these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
25123possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
25124
25125@table @code
25126@item tui enable
25127@kindex tui enable
25128Activate TUI mode. The last active TUI window layout will be used if
25129TUI mode has prevsiouly been used in the current debugging session,
25130otherwise a default layout is used.
25131
25132@item tui disable
25133@kindex tui disable
25134Disable TUI mode, returning to the console interpreter.
25135
25136@item info win
25137@kindex info win
25138List and give the size of all displayed windows.
25139
25140@item layout @var{name}
25141@kindex layout
25142Changes which TUI windows are displayed. In each layout the command
25143window is always displayed, the @var{name} parameter controls which
25144additional windows are displayed, and can be any of the following:
25145
25146@table @code
25147@item next
25148Display the next layout.
25149
25150@item prev
25151Display the previous layout.
25152
25153@item src
25154Display the source and command windows.
25155
25156@item asm
25157Display the assembly and command windows.
25158
25159@item split
25160Display the source, assembly, and command windows.
25161
25162@item regs
25163When in @code{src} layout display the register, source, and command
25164windows. When in @code{asm} or @code{split} layout display the
25165register, assembler, and command windows.
25166@end table
25167
25168@item focus @var{name}
25169@kindex focus
25170Changes which TUI window is currently active for scrolling. The
25171@var{name} parameter can be any of the following:
25172
25173@table @code
25174@item next
25175Make the next window active for scrolling.
25176
25177@item prev
25178Make the previous window active for scrolling.
25179
25180@item src
25181Make the source window active for scrolling.
25182
25183@item asm
25184Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
25185
25186@item regs
25187Make the register window active for scrolling.
25188
25189@item cmd
25190Make the command window active for scrolling.
25191@end table
25192
25193@item refresh
25194@kindex refresh
25195Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
25196
25197@item tui reg @var{group}
25198@kindex tui reg
25199Changes the register group displayed in the tui register window to
25200@var{group}. If the register window is not currently displayed this
25201command will cause the register window to be displayed. The list of
25202register groups, as well as their order is target specific. The
25203following groups are available on most targets:
25204@table @code
25205@item next
25206Repeatedly selecting this group will cause the display to cycle
25207through all of the available register groups.
25208
25209@item prev
25210Repeatedly selecting this group will cause the display to cycle
25211through all of the available register groups in the reverse order to
25212@var{next}.
25213
25214@item general
25215Display the general registers.
25216@item float
25217Display the floating point registers.
25218@item system
25219Display the system registers.
25220@item vector
25221Display the vector registers.
25222@item all
25223Display all registers.
25224@end table
25225
25226@item update
25227@kindex update
25228Update the source window and the current execution point.
25229
25230@item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
25231@itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
25232@kindex winheight
25233Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
25234lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
25235decrease it. The @var{name} parameter can be one of @code{src} (the
25236source window), @code{cmd} (the command window), @code{asm} (the
25237disassembly window), or @code{regs} (the register display window).
25238
25239@item tabset @var{nchars}
25240@kindex tabset
25241Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters. This
25242setting affects the display of TAB characters in the source and
25243assembly windows.
25244@end table
25245
25246@node TUI Configuration
25247@section TUI Configuration Variables
25248@cindex TUI configuration variables
25249
25250Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
25251
25252@table @code
25253@item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
25254@kindex set tui border-kind
25255Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
25256The possible values are the following:
25257@table @code
25258@item space
25259Use a space character to draw the border.
25260
25261@item ascii
25262Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
25263
25264@item acs
25265Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
25266drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
25267@end table
25268
25269@item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
25270@kindex set tui border-mode
25271@itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
25272@kindex set tui active-border-mode
25273Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
25274or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
25275@table @code
25276@item normal
25277Use normal attributes to display the border.
25278
25279@item standout
25280Use standout mode.
25281
25282@item reverse
25283Use reverse video mode.
25284
25285@item half
25286Use half bright mode.
25287
25288@item half-standout
25289Use half bright and standout mode.
25290
25291@item bold
25292Use extra bright or bold mode.
25293
25294@item bold-standout
25295Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
25296@end table
25297@end table
25298
25299@node Emacs
25300@chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
25301
25302@cindex Emacs
25303@cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
25304A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
25305edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
25306@value{GDBN}.
25307
25308To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
25309executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
25310@value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
25311created Emacs buffer.
25312@c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
25313
25314Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
25315things:
25316
25317@itemize @bullet
25318@item
25319All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
25320the GUD buffer.
25321
25322This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
25323and output done by the program you are debugging.
25324
25325This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
25326commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
25327in this way.
25328
25329All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
25330with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
25331way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
25332stop.
25333
25334@item
25335@value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
25336
25337Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
25338source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
25339left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
25340source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
25341and the source.
25342
25343Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
25344usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
25345@end itemize
25346
25347We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
25348a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
25349that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
25350@xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
25351
25352If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
25353gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
25354your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
25355sets your current working directory to the directory associated
25356with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
25357program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
25358some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
25359@value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
25360buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
25361
25362The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
25363line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
25364that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
25365,Commands to Specify Files}.
25366
25367By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
25368need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
25369keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
25370customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
25371one you want.
25372
25373In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
25374addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
25375
25376@table @kbd
25377@item C-h m
25378Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
25379
25380@item C-c C-s
25381Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
25382update the display window to show the current file and location.
25383
25384@item C-c C-n
25385Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
25386calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
25387to show the current file and location.
25388
25389@item C-c C-i
25390Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
25391display window accordingly.
25392
25393@item C-c C-f
25394Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
25395@code{finish} command.
25396
25397@item C-c C-r
25398Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
25399command.
25400
25401@item C-c <
25402Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
25403(@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
25404like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
25405
25406@item C-c >
25407Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
25408@value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
25409@end table
25410
25411In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
25412tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
25413
25414In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
25415separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
25416Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
25417become the current frame and display the associated source in the
25418source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
25419selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
25420speedbar displays watch expressions.
25421
25422If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
25423it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
25424request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
25425the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
25426frame.
25427
25428The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
25429which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
25430the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
25431communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
25432delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
25433to correspond properly with the code.
25434
25435A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
25436given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
25437Emacs Manual}).
25438
25439@node GDB/MI
25440@chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
25441
25442@unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
25443
25444@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
25445@sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
25446@value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
25447@option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
25448is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
25449use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
25450
25451This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
25452in the form of a reference manual.
25453
25454Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
25455features described below are incomplete and subject to change
25456(@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
25457
25458@unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
25459
25460@cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
25461This chapter uses the following notation:
25462
25463@itemize @bullet
25464@item
25465@code{|} separates two alternatives.
25466
25467@item
25468@code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
25469it may or may not be given.
25470
25471@item
25472@code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
25473may repeat zero or more times.
25474
25475@item
25476@code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
25477may repeat one or more times.
25478
25479@item
25480@code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
25481@end itemize
25482
25483@ignore
25484@heading Dependencies
25485@end ignore
25486
25487@menu
25488* GDB/MI General Design::
25489* GDB/MI Command Syntax::
25490* GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
25491* GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
25492* GDB/MI Output Records::
25493* GDB/MI Simple Examples::
25494* GDB/MI Command Description Format::
25495* GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
25496* GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
25497* GDB/MI Program Context::
25498* GDB/MI Thread Commands::
25499* GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands::
25500* GDB/MI Program Execution::
25501* GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
25502* GDB/MI Variable Objects::
25503* GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
25504* GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
25505* GDB/MI Symbol Query::
25506* GDB/MI File Commands::
25507@ignore
25508* GDB/MI Kod Commands::
25509* GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
25510* GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
25511@end ignore
25512* GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
25513* GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
25514* GDB/MI Ada Exceptions Commands::
25515* GDB/MI Support Commands::
25516* GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
25517@end menu
25518
25519@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25520@node GDB/MI General Design
25521@section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
25522@cindex GDB/MI General Design
25523
25524Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
25525parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
25526and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
25527indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
25528For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
25529requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
25530response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
25531Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
25532target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
25533a command and reported as part of that command response.
25534
25535The important examples of notifications are:
25536@itemize @bullet
25537
25538@item
25539Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
25540target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
25541be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
25542commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
25543different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
25544happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
25545command itself was successfully executed.
25546
25547@item
25548Console output, and status notifications. Console output
25549notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
25550diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
25551report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
25552this information in command response would mean no output is produced
25553until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
25554
25555@item
25556General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
25557the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
25558a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
25559be included in command response, using notification allows for more
25560orthogonal frontend design.
25561
25562@end itemize
25563
25564There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
25565@value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
25566the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
25567processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
25568we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
25569the user interface.
25570
25571
25572@menu
25573* Context management::
25574* Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
25575* Thread groups::
25576@end menu
25577
25578@node Context management
25579@subsection Context management
25580
25581@subsubsection Threads and Frames
25582
25583In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
25584done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
25585Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
25586be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
25587and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
25588because a command line user would not want to specify that information
25589explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
25590@value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
25591to what thread and frame are the current ones.
25592
25593In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
25594useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
25595itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
25596each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
25597want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
25598increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
25599frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
25600should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
25601make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
25602@samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} global
25603identifier for thread and frame to operate on.
25604
25605Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
25606a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
25607operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
25608current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
25609it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
25610another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
25611the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
25612one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
25613change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
25614No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
25615
25616Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
25617frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
25618right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
25619simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
25620before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
25621to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
25622if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
25623thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
25624optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
25625sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
25626selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
25627change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
25628problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
25629all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
25630right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
25631@samp{--frame} options.
25632
25633@subsubsection Language
25634
25635The execution of several commands depends on which language is selected.
25636By default, the current language (@pxref{show language}) is used.
25637But for commands known to be language-sensitive, it is recommended
25638to use the @samp{--language} option. This option takes one argument,
25639which is the name of the language to use while executing the command.
25640For instance:
25641
25642@smallexample
25643-data-evaluate-expression --language c "sizeof (void*)"
25644^done,value="4"
25645(gdb)
25646@end smallexample
25647
25648The valid language names are the same names accepted by the
25649@samp{set language} command (@pxref{Manually}), excluding @samp{auto},
25650@samp{local} or @samp{unknown}.
25651
25652@node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
25653@subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
25654
25655On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
25656even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
25657command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
25658specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
25659@code{-gdb-set mi-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
25660either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
25661frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
25662find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
25663@code{-list-target-features} command.
25664
25665@table @code
25666@item -gdb-set mi-async on
25667@item -gdb-set mi-async off
25668Set whether MI is in asynchronous mode.
25669
25670When @code{off}, which is the default, MI execution commands (e.g.,
25671@code{-exec-continue}) are foreground commands, and @value{GDBN} waits
25672for the program to stop before processing further commands.
25673
25674When @code{on}, MI execution commands are background execution
25675commands (e.g., @code{-exec-continue} becomes the equivalent of the
25676@code{c&} CLI command), and so @value{GDBN} is capable of processing
25677MI commands even while the target is running.
25678
25679@item -gdb-show mi-async
25680Show whether MI asynchronous mode is enabled.
25681@end table
25682
25683Note: In @value{GDBN} version 7.7 and earlier, this option was called
25684@code{target-async} instead of @code{mi-async}, and it had the effect
25685of both putting MI in asynchronous mode and making CLI background
25686commands possible. CLI background commands are now always possible
25687``out of the box'' if the target supports them. The old spelling is
25688kept as a deprecated alias for backwards compatibility.
25689
25690Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
25691many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
25692running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
25693when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
25694it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
25695are running.
25696
25697When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
25698target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
25699some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
25700stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
25701modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
25702that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
25703@code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
25704context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
25705stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
25706@samp{--thread} option).
25707
25708Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
25709highly target dependent. However, the two commands
25710@code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
25711to find the state of a thread, will always work.
25712
25713@node Thread groups
25714@subsection Thread groups
25715@value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
25716On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
25717hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
25718processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
25719mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
25720
25721The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
25722target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
25723accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
25724thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
25725neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
25726current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
25727that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
25728into processes.
25729
25730To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
25731hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
25732@dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
25733thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
25734and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
25735command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
25736thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
25737debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
25738to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
25739the members of specific thread group.
25740
25741To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
25742wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
25743introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
25744@value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
25745@code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
25746groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
25747In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
25748after attaching to that thread group.
25749
25750Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
25751Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
25752type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
25753such thread groups.
25754
25755@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25756@node GDB/MI Command Syntax
25757@section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
25758
25759@menu
25760* GDB/MI Input Syntax::
25761* GDB/MI Output Syntax::
25762@end menu
25763
25764@node GDB/MI Input Syntax
25765@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
25766
25767@cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
25768@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
25769@table @code
25770@item @var{command} @expansion{}
25771@code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
25772
25773@item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
25774@code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
25775@var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
25776
25777@item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
25778@code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
25779@code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
25780
25781@item @var{token} @expansion{}
25782"any sequence of digits"
25783
25784@item @var{option} @expansion{}
25785@code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
25786
25787@item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
25788@code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
25789
25790@item @var{operation} @expansion{}
25791@emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
25792
25793@item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
25794@emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
25795"-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
25796
25797@item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
25798@code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
25799
25800@item @var{nl} @expansion{}
25801@code{CR | CR-LF}
25802@end table
25803
25804@noindent
25805Notes:
25806
25807@itemize @bullet
25808@item
25809The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
25810output is described below.
25811
25812@item
25813The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
25814finishes.
25815
25816@item
25817Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
25818list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
25819followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
25820parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
25821@samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
25822@end itemize
25823
25824Pragmatics:
25825
25826@itemize @bullet
25827@item
25828We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
25829
25830@item
25831We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
25832@end itemize
25833
25834@node GDB/MI Output Syntax
25835@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
25836
25837@cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
25838@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
25839The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
25840followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
25841is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
25842terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
25843
25844If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
25845corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
25846@var{token}.
25847
25848@table @code
25849@item @var{output} @expansion{}
25850@code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
25851
25852@item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
25853@code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
25854
25855@item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
25856@code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
25857
25858@item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
25859@code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
25860
25861@item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
25862@code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output nl}}
25863
25864@item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
25865@code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output nl}}
25866
25867@item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
25868@code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output nl}}
25869
25870@item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
25871@code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )*}
25872
25873@item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
25874@code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
25875
25876@item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
25877@code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
25878depending on the needs---this is still in development).
25879
25880@item @var{result} @expansion{}
25881@code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
25882
25883@item @var{variable} @expansion{}
25884@code{ @var{string} }
25885
25886@item @var{value} @expansion{}
25887@code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
25888
25889@item @var{const} @expansion{}
25890@code{@var{c-string}}
25891
25892@item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
25893@code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
25894
25895@item @var{list} @expansion{}
25896@code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
25897@var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
25898
25899@item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
25900@code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
25901
25902@item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
25903@code{"~" @var{c-string nl}}
25904
25905@item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
25906@code{"@@" @var{c-string nl}}
25907
25908@item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
25909@code{"&" @var{c-string nl}}
25910
25911@item @var{nl} @expansion{}
25912@code{CR | CR-LF}
25913
25914@item @var{token} @expansion{}
25915@emph{any sequence of digits}.
25916@end table
25917
25918@noindent
25919Notes:
25920
25921@itemize @bullet
25922@item
25923All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
25924
25925@item
25926The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
25927for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
25928may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
25929output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
25930all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
25931target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
25932prior command.
25933
25934@item
25935@cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
25936@var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
25937progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
25938prefixed by @samp{+}.
25939
25940@item
25941@cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
25942@var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
25943(stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
25944@samp{*}.
25945
25946@item
25947@cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
25948@var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
25949client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
25950output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
25951
25952@item
25953@cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
25954@var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
25955console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
25956output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
25957
25958@item
25959@cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
25960@var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
25961All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
25962
25963@item
25964@cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
25965@var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
25966instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
25967the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
25968
25969@item
25970@cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
25971New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
25972@var{values}.
25973
25974
25975@end itemize
25976
25977@xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
25978details about the various output records.
25979
25980@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25981@node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
25982@section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
25983
25984@cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
25985@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
25986
25987For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
25988but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
25989that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
25990command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
25991@code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
25992@samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
25993
25994This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
25995recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
25996(@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
25997
25998@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25999@node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
26000@section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
26001@cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
26002
26003The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
26004program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
26005
26006Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
26007by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
26008to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
26009section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
26010might change.
26011
26012Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
26013for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
26014list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
26015parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
26016
26017@itemize @bullet
26018@item
26019New MI commands may be added.
26020
26021@item
26022New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
26023
26024@item
26025The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
26026@code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
26027
26028@c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
26029@c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
26030
26031@c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
26032@c resolve inconsistencies.
26033@end itemize
26034
26035If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
26036will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
26037output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
26038@value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
26039responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
26040
26041@c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
26042@c version?
26043
26044The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
26045end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
26046follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
26047@email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
26048@cindex mailing lists
26049
26050@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26051@node GDB/MI Output Records
26052@section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
26053
26054@menu
26055* GDB/MI Result Records::
26056* GDB/MI Stream Records::
26057* GDB/MI Async Records::
26058* GDB/MI Breakpoint Information::
26059* GDB/MI Frame Information::
26060* GDB/MI Thread Information::
26061* GDB/MI Ada Exception Information::
26062@end menu
26063
26064@node GDB/MI Result Records
26065@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
26066
26067@cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
26068@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
26069In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
26070@sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
26071
26072@table @code
26073@findex ^done
26074@item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
26075The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
26076values.
26077
26078@item "^running"
26079@findex ^running
26080This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
26081was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
26082target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
26083all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
26084identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
26085which threads are resumed.
26086
26087@item "^connected"
26088@findex ^connected
26089@value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
26090
26091@item "^error" "," "msg=" @var{c-string} [ "," "code=" @var{c-string} ]
26092@findex ^error
26093The operation failed. The @code{msg=@var{c-string}} variable contains
26094the corresponding error message.
26095
26096If present, the @code{code=@var{c-string}} variable provides an error
26097code on which consumers can rely on to detect the corresponding
26098error condition. At present, only one error code is defined:
26099
26100@table @samp
26101@item "undefined-command"
26102Indicates that the command causing the error does not exist.
26103@end table
26104
26105@item "^exit"
26106@findex ^exit
26107@value{GDBN} has terminated.
26108
26109@end table
26110
26111@node GDB/MI Stream Records
26112@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
26113
26114@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
26115@cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
26116@value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
26117target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
26118funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
26119
26120Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
26121identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
26122Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
26123@code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
26124line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
26125
26126@table @code
26127@item "~" @var{string-output}
26128The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
26129CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
26130
26131@item "@@" @var{string-output}
26132The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
26133target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
26134asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
26135
26136@item "&" @var{string-output}
26137The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
26138internals.
26139@end table
26140
26141@node GDB/MI Async Records
26142@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
26143
26144@cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
26145@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
26146@dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
26147additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
26148consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
26149target activity (e.g., target stopped).
26150
26151The following is the list of possible async records:
26152
26153@table @code
26154
26155@item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
26156The target is now running. The @var{thread} field can be the global
26157thread ID of the the thread that is now running, and it can be
26158@samp{all} if all threads are running. The frontend should assume
26159that no interaction with a running thread is possible after this
26160notification is produced. The frontend should not assume that this
26161notification is output only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may
26162emit this notification several times, either for different threads,
26163because it cannot resume all threads together, or even for a single
26164thread, if the thread must be stepped though some code before letting
26165it run freely.
26166
26167@item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
26168The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
26169following values:
26170
26171@table @code
26172@item breakpoint-hit
26173A breakpoint was reached.
26174@item watchpoint-trigger
26175A watchpoint was triggered.
26176@item read-watchpoint-trigger
26177A read watchpoint was triggered.
26178@item access-watchpoint-trigger
26179An access watchpoint was triggered.
26180@item function-finished
26181An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
26182@item location-reached
26183An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
26184@item watchpoint-scope
26185A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
26186@item end-stepping-range
26187An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
26188similar CLI command was accomplished.
26189@item exited-signalled
26190The inferior exited because of a signal.
26191@item exited
26192The inferior exited.
26193@item exited-normally
26194The inferior exited normally.
26195@item signal-received
26196A signal was received by the inferior.
26197@item solib-event
26198The inferior has stopped due to a library being loaded or unloaded.
26199This can happen when @code{stop-on-solib-events} (@pxref{Files}) is
26200set or when a @code{catch load} or @code{catch unload} catchpoint is
26201in use (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}).
26202@item fork
26203The inferior has forked. This is reported when @code{catch fork}
26204(@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
26205@item vfork
26206The inferior has vforked. This is reported in when @code{catch vfork}
26207(@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
26208@item syscall-entry
26209The inferior entered a system call. This is reported when @code{catch
26210syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
26211@item syscall-return
26212The inferior returned from a system call. This is reported when
26213@code{catch syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
26214@item exec
26215The inferior called @code{exec}. This is reported when @code{catch exec}
26216(@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
26217@end table
26218
26219The @var{id} field identifies the global thread ID of the thread
26220that directly caused the stop -- for example by hitting a breakpoint.
26221Depending on whether all-stop
26222mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
26223stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
26224If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
26225value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
26226field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
26227always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
26228several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
26229processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
26230if such information is not available.
26231
26232@item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
26233@itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
26234A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
26235contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
26236group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
26237process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
26238cannot be used in any way.
26239
26240@item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
26241A thread group became associated with a running program,
26242either because the program was just started or the thread group
26243was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
26244@value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
26245contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
26246
26247@item =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"[,exit-code="@var{code}"]
26248A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
26249either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
26250from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
26251thread group. The @var{code} field is the exit code of the inferior; it exists
26252only when the inferior exited with some code.
26253
26254@item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
26255@itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
26256A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
26257contains the global @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
26258field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
26259
26260@item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
26261Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
26262command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
26263command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
26264to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
26265invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
26266@code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
26267
26268We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
26269highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
26270that thread.
26271
26272@item =library-loaded,...
26273Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
26274notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
26275@var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
26276opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
26277@var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
26278library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
26279debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
26280@var{symbols-loaded} field is emitted only for backward compatibility
26281and should not be relied on to convey any useful information. The
26282@var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the thread
26283group in whose context the library was loaded. If the field is
26284absent, it means the library was loaded in the context of all present
26285thread groups.
26286
26287@item =library-unloaded,...
26288Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
26289has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
26290the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
26291The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
26292thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
26293absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
26294thread groups.
26295
26296@item =traceframe-changed,num=@var{tfnum},tracepoint=@var{tpnum}
26297@itemx =traceframe-changed,end
26298Reports that the trace frame was changed and its new number is
26299@var{tfnum}. The number of the tracepoint associated with this trace
26300frame is @var{tpnum}.
26301
26302@item =tsv-created,name=@var{name},initial=@var{initial}
26303Reports that the new trace state variable @var{name} is created with
26304initial value @var{initial}.
26305
26306@item =tsv-deleted,name=@var{name}
26307@itemx =tsv-deleted
26308Reports that the trace state variable @var{name} is deleted or all
26309trace state variables are deleted.
26310
26311@item =tsv-modified,name=@var{name},initial=@var{initial}[,current=@var{current}]
26312Reports that the trace state variable @var{name} is modified with
26313the initial value @var{initial}. The current value @var{current} of
26314trace state variable is optional and is reported if the current
26315value of trace state variable is known.
26316
26317@item =breakpoint-created,bkpt=@{...@}
26318@itemx =breakpoint-modified,bkpt=@{...@}
26319@itemx =breakpoint-deleted,id=@var{number}
26320Reports that a breakpoint was created, modified, or deleted,
26321respectively. Only user-visible breakpoints are reported to the MI
26322user.
26323
26324The @var{bkpt} argument is of the same form as returned by the various
26325breakpoint commands; @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}. The
26326@var{number} is the ordinal number of the breakpoint.
26327
26328Note that if a breakpoint is emitted in the result record of a
26329command, then it will not also be emitted in an async record.
26330
26331@item =record-started,thread-group="@var{id}"
26332@itemx =record-stopped,thread-group="@var{id}"
26333Execution log recording was either started or stopped on an
26334inferior. The @var{id} is the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread
26335group corresponding to the affected inferior.
26336
26337@item =cmd-param-changed,param=@var{param},value=@var{value}
26338Reports that a parameter of the command @code{set @var{param}} is
26339changed to @var{value}. In the multi-word @code{set} command,
26340the @var{param} is the whole parameter list to @code{set} command.
26341For example, In command @code{set check type on}, @var{param}
26342is @code{check type} and @var{value} is @code{on}.
26343
26344@item =memory-changed,thread-group=@var{id},addr=@var{addr},len=@var{len}[,type="code"]
26345Reports that bytes from @var{addr} to @var{data} + @var{len} were
26346written in an inferior. The @var{id} is the identifier of the
26347thread group corresponding to the affected inferior. The optional
26348@code{type="code"} part is reported if the memory written to holds
26349executable code.
26350@end table
26351
26352@node GDB/MI Breakpoint Information
26353@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Information
26354
26355When @value{GDBN} reports information about a breakpoint, a
26356tracepoint, a watchpoint, or a catchpoint, it uses a tuple with the
26357following fields:
26358
26359@table @code
26360@item number
26361The breakpoint number. For a breakpoint that represents one location
26362of a multi-location breakpoint, this will be a dotted pair, like
26363@samp{1.2}.
26364
26365@item type
26366The type of the breakpoint. For ordinary breakpoints this will be
26367@samp{breakpoint}, but many values are possible.
26368
26369@item catch-type
26370If the type of the breakpoint is @samp{catchpoint}, then this
26371indicates the exact type of catchpoint.
26372
26373@item disp
26374This is the breakpoint disposition---either @samp{del}, meaning that
26375the breakpoint will be deleted at the next stop, or @samp{keep},
26376meaning that the breakpoint will not be deleted.
26377
26378@item enabled
26379This indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled, in which case the
26380value is @samp{y}, or disabled, in which case the value is @samp{n}.
26381Note that this is not the same as the field @code{enable}.
26382
26383@item addr
26384The address of the breakpoint. This may be a hexidecimal number,
26385giving the address; or the string @samp{<PENDING>}, for a pending
26386breakpoint; or the string @samp{<MULTIPLE>}, for a breakpoint with
26387multiple locations. This field will not be present if no address can
26388be determined. For example, a watchpoint does not have an address.
26389
26390@item func
26391If known, the function in which the breakpoint appears.
26392If not known, this field is not present.
26393
26394@item filename
26395The name of the source file which contains this function, if known.
26396If not known, this field is not present.
26397
26398@item fullname
26399The full file name of the source file which contains this function, if
26400known. If not known, this field is not present.
26401
26402@item line
26403The line number at which this breakpoint appears, if known.
26404If not known, this field is not present.
26405
26406@item at
26407If the source file is not known, this field may be provided. If
26408provided, this holds the address of the breakpoint, possibly followed
26409by a symbol name.
26410
26411@item pending
26412If this breakpoint is pending, this field is present and holds the
26413text used to set the breakpoint, as entered by the user.
26414
26415@item evaluated-by
26416Where this breakpoint's condition is evaluated, either @samp{host} or
26417@samp{target}.
26418
26419@item thread
26420If this is a thread-specific breakpoint, then this identifies the
26421thread in which the breakpoint can trigger.
26422
26423@item task
26424If this breakpoint is restricted to a particular Ada task, then this
26425field will hold the task identifier.
26426
26427@item cond
26428If the breakpoint is conditional, this is the condition expression.
26429
26430@item ignore
26431The ignore count of the breakpoint.
26432
26433@item enable
26434The enable count of the breakpoint.
26435
26436@item traceframe-usage
26437FIXME.
26438
26439@item static-tracepoint-marker-string-id
26440For a static tracepoint, the name of the static tracepoint marker.
26441
26442@item mask
26443For a masked watchpoint, this is the mask.
26444
26445@item pass
26446A tracepoint's pass count.
26447
26448@item original-location
26449The location of the breakpoint as originally specified by the user.
26450This field is optional.
26451
26452@item times
26453The number of times the breakpoint has been hit.
26454
26455@item installed
26456This field is only given for tracepoints. This is either @samp{y},
26457meaning that the tracepoint is installed, or @samp{n}, meaning that it
26458is not.
26459
26460@item what
26461Some extra data, the exact contents of which are type-dependent.
26462
26463@end table
26464
26465For example, here is what the output of @code{-break-insert}
26466(@pxref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}) might be:
26467
26468@smallexample
26469-> -break-insert main
26470<- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
26471 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
26472 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",thread-groups=["i1"],
26473 times="0"@}
26474<- (gdb)
26475@end smallexample
26476
26477@node GDB/MI Frame Information
26478@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
26479
26480Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
26481frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
26482fields:
26483
26484@table @code
26485@item level
26486The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
26487zero. This field is always present.
26488
26489@item func
26490The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
26491be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
26492
26493@item addr
26494The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
26495
26496@item file
26497The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
26498address. This field may be absent.
26499
26500@item line
26501The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
26502may be absent.
26503
26504@item from
26505The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
26506corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
26507
26508@end table
26509
26510@node GDB/MI Thread Information
26511@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
26512
26513Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
26514uses a tuple with the following fields:
26515
26516@table @code
26517@item id
26518The global numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
26519always present.
26520
26521@item target-id
26522Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
26523
26524@item details
26525Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
26526It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
26527frontend. This field is optional.
26528
26529@item state
26530Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
26531thread is presently running. This field is always present.
26532
26533@item core
26534The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
26535thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
26536@end table
26537
26538@node GDB/MI Ada Exception Information
26539@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Exception Information
26540
26541Whenever a @code{*stopped} record is emitted because the program
26542stopped after hitting an exception catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}),
26543@value{GDBN} provides the name of the exception that was raised via
26544the @code{exception-name} field.
26545
26546@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26547@node GDB/MI Simple Examples
26548@section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
26549@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
26550
26551This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
26552the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
26553following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
26554the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
26555
26556Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
26557readability, they don't appear in the real output.
26558
26559@subheading Setting a Breakpoint
26560
26561Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
26562information of the breakpoint.
26563
26564@smallexample
26565-> -break-insert main
26566<- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
26567 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
26568 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",thread-groups=["i1"],
26569 times="0"@}
26570<- (gdb)
26571@end smallexample
26572
26573@subheading Program Execution
26574
26575Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
26576reason that execution stopped.
26577
26578@smallexample
26579-> -exec-run
26580<- ^running
26581<- (gdb)
26582<- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
26583 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
26584 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
26585 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
26586<- (gdb)
26587-> -exec-continue
26588<- ^running
26589<- (gdb)
26590<- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
26591<- (gdb)
26592@end smallexample
26593
26594@subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
26595
26596Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
26597
26598@smallexample
26599-> (gdb)
26600<- -gdb-exit
26601<- ^exit
26602@end smallexample
26603
26604Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
26605take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
26606performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
26607or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
26608@value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
26609fails to exit in reasonable time.
26610
26611@subheading A Bad Command
26612
26613Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
26614
26615@smallexample
26616-> -rubbish
26617<- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
26618<- (gdb)
26619@end smallexample
26620
26621
26622@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26623@node GDB/MI Command Description Format
26624@section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
26625
26626The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
26627commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
26628
26629@subheading Motivation
26630
26631The motivation for this collection of commands.
26632
26633@subheading Introduction
26634
26635A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
26636
26637@subheading Commands
26638
26639For each command in the block, the following is described:
26640
26641@subsubheading Synopsis
26642
26643@smallexample
26644 -command @var{args}@dots{}
26645@end smallexample
26646
26647@subsubheading Result
26648
26649@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26650
26651The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
26652
26653@subsubheading Example
26654
26655Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
26656not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
26657
26658
26659@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26660@node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
26661@section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
26662
26663@cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
26664@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
26665This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
26666breakpoints.
26667
26668@subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
26669@findex -break-after
26670
26671@subsubheading Synopsis
26672
26673@smallexample
26674 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
26675@end smallexample
26676
26677The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
26678hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
26679the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
26680@samp{-break-list} command below.
26681
26682@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26683
26684The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
26685
26686@subsubheading Example
26687
26688@smallexample
26689(gdb)
26690-break-insert main
26691^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
26692enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
26693fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
26694times="0"@}
26695(gdb)
26696-break-after 1 3
26697~
26698^done
26699(gdb)
26700-break-list
26701^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26702hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26703@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26704@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26705@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26706@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26707@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26708body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26709addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26710line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
26711(gdb)
26712@end smallexample
26713
26714@ignore
26715@subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
26716@findex -break-catch
26717@end ignore
26718
26719@subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
26720@findex -break-commands
26721
26722@subsubheading Synopsis
26723
26724@smallexample
26725 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
26726@end smallexample
26727
26728Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
26729@var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
26730are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
26731commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
26732functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
26733some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
26734
26735@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26736
26737The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
26738
26739@subsubheading Example
26740
26741@smallexample
26742(gdb)
26743-break-insert main
26744^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
26745enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
26746fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
26747times="0"@}
26748(gdb)
26749-break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
26750^done
26751(gdb)
26752@end smallexample
26753
26754@subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
26755@findex -break-condition
26756
26757@subsubheading Synopsis
26758
26759@smallexample
26760 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
26761@end smallexample
26762
26763Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
26764@var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
26765@samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
26766command below).
26767
26768@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26769
26770The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
26771
26772@subsubheading Example
26773
26774@smallexample
26775(gdb)
26776-break-condition 1 1
26777^done
26778(gdb)
26779-break-list
26780^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26781hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26782@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26783@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26784@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26785@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26786@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26787body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26788addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26789line="5",cond="1",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
26790(gdb)
26791@end smallexample
26792
26793@subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
26794@findex -break-delete
26795
26796@subsubheading Synopsis
26797
26798@smallexample
26799 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
26800@end smallexample
26801
26802Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
26803list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
26804
26805@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26806
26807The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
26808
26809@subsubheading Example
26810
26811@smallexample
26812(gdb)
26813-break-delete 1
26814^done
26815(gdb)
26816-break-list
26817^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
26818hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26819@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26820@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26821@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26822@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26823@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26824body=[]@}
26825(gdb)
26826@end smallexample
26827
26828@subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
26829@findex -break-disable
26830
26831@subsubheading Synopsis
26832
26833@smallexample
26834 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
26835@end smallexample
26836
26837Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
26838break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
26839
26840@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26841
26842The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
26843
26844@subsubheading Example
26845
26846@smallexample
26847(gdb)
26848-break-disable 2
26849^done
26850(gdb)
26851-break-list
26852^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26853hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26854@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26855@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26856@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26857@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26858@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26859body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
26860addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26861line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
26862(gdb)
26863@end smallexample
26864
26865@subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
26866@findex -break-enable
26867
26868@subsubheading Synopsis
26869
26870@smallexample
26871 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
26872@end smallexample
26873
26874Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
26875
26876@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26877
26878The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
26879
26880@subsubheading Example
26881
26882@smallexample
26883(gdb)
26884-break-enable 2
26885^done
26886(gdb)
26887-break-list
26888^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26889hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26890@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26891@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26892@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26893@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26894@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26895body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26896addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26897line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
26898(gdb)
26899@end smallexample
26900
26901@subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
26902@findex -break-info
26903
26904@subsubheading Synopsis
26905
26906@smallexample
26907 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
26908@end smallexample
26909
26910@c REDUNDANT???
26911Get information about a single breakpoint.
26912
26913The result is a table of breakpoints. @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint
26914Information}, for details on the format of each breakpoint in the
26915table.
26916
26917@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26918
26919The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
26920
26921@subsubheading Example
26922N.A.
26923
26924@subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
26925@findex -break-insert
26926@anchor{-break-insert}
26927
26928@subsubheading Synopsis
26929
26930@smallexample
26931 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
26932 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
26933 [ -p @var{thread-id} ] [ @var{location} ]
26934@end smallexample
26935
26936@noindent
26937If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
26938
26939@table @var
26940@item linespec location
26941A linespec location. @xref{Linespec Locations}.
26942
26943@item explicit location
26944An explicit location. @sc{gdb/mi} explicit locations are
26945analogous to the CLI's explicit locations using the option names
26946listed below. @xref{Explicit Locations}.
26947
26948@table @samp
26949@item --source @var{filename}
26950The source file name of the location. This option requires the use
26951of either @samp{--function} or @samp{--line}.
26952
26953@item --function @var{function}
26954The name of a function or method.
26955
26956@item --label @var{label}
26957The name of a label.
26958
26959@item --line @var{lineoffset}
26960An absolute or relative line offset from the start of the location.
26961@end table
26962
26963@item address location
26964An address location, *@var{address}. @xref{Address Locations}.
26965@end table
26966
26967@noindent
26968The possible optional parameters of this command are:
26969
26970@table @samp
26971@item -t
26972Insert a temporary breakpoint.
26973@item -h
26974Insert a hardware breakpoint.
26975@item -f
26976If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
26977refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
26978breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
26979an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
26980cannot be parsed.
26981@item -d
26982Create a disabled breakpoint.
26983@item -a
26984Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
26985is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
26986@item -c @var{condition}
26987Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
26988@item -i @var{ignore-count}
26989Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
26990@item -p @var{thread-id}
26991Restrict the breakpoint to the thread with the specified global
26992@var{thread-id}.
26993@end table
26994
26995@subsubheading Result
26996
26997@xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Information}, for details on the format of the
26998resulting breakpoint.
26999
27000Note: this format is open to change.
27001@c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
27002
27003@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27004
27005The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
27006@samp{hbreak}, and @samp{thbreak}. @c and @samp{rbreak}.
27007
27008@subsubheading Example
27009
27010@smallexample
27011(gdb)
27012-break-insert main
27013^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
27014fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],
27015times="0"@}
27016(gdb)
27017-break-insert -t foo
27018^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
27019fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
27020times="0"@}
27021(gdb)
27022-break-list
27023^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
27024hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27025@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27026@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27027@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27028@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27029@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27030body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27031addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
27032fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],
27033times="0"@},
27034bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
27035addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
27036fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
27037times="0"@}]@}
27038(gdb)
27039@c -break-insert -r foo.*
27040@c ~int foo(int, int);
27041@c ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
27042@c "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
27043@c times="0"@}
27044@c (gdb)
27045@end smallexample
27046
27047@subheading The @code{-dprintf-insert} Command
27048@findex -dprintf-insert
27049
27050@subsubheading Synopsis
27051
27052@smallexample
27053 -dprintf-insert [ -t ] [ -f ] [ -d ]
27054 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
27055 [ -p @var{thread-id} ] [ @var{location} ] [ @var{format} ]
27056 [ @var{argument} ]
27057@end smallexample
27058
27059@noindent
27060If supplied, @var{location} may be specified the same way as for
27061the @code{-break-insert} command. @xref{-break-insert}.
27062
27063The possible optional parameters of this command are:
27064
27065@table @samp
27066@item -t
27067Insert a temporary breakpoint.
27068@item -f
27069If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example, if it
27070refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
27071breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
27072an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
27073cannot be parsed.
27074@item -d
27075Create a disabled breakpoint.
27076@item -c @var{condition}
27077Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
27078@item -i @var{ignore-count}
27079Set the ignore count of the breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ignore count})
27080to @var{ignore-count}.
27081@item -p @var{thread-id}
27082Restrict the breakpoint to the thread with the specified global
27083@var{thread-id}.
27084@end table
27085
27086@subsubheading Result
27087
27088@xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Information}, for details on the format of the
27089resulting breakpoint.
27090
27091@c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
27092
27093@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27094
27095The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dprintf}.
27096
27097@subsubheading Example
27098
27099@smallexample
27100(gdb)
271014-dprintf-insert foo "At foo entry\n"
271024^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="dprintf",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27103addr="0x000000000040061b",func="foo",file="mi-dprintf.c",
27104fullname="mi-dprintf.c",line="25",thread-groups=["i1"],
27105times="0",script=@{"printf \"At foo entry\\n\"","continue"@},
27106original-location="foo"@}
27107(gdb)
271085-dprintf-insert 26 "arg=%d, g=%d\n" arg g
271095^done,bkpt=@{number="2",type="dprintf",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27110addr="0x000000000040062a",func="foo",file="mi-dprintf.c",
27111fullname="mi-dprintf.c",line="26",thread-groups=["i1"],
27112times="0",script=@{"printf \"arg=%d, g=%d\\n\", arg, g","continue"@},
27113original-location="mi-dprintf.c:26"@}
27114(gdb)
27115@end smallexample
27116
27117@subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
27118@findex -break-list
27119
27120@subsubheading Synopsis
27121
27122@smallexample
27123 -break-list
27124@end smallexample
27125
27126Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
27127
27128@table @samp
27129@item Number
27130number of the breakpoint
27131@item Type
27132type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
27133@item Disposition
27134should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
27135or @samp{nokeep}
27136@item Enabled
27137is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
27138@item Address
27139memory location at which the breakpoint is set
27140@item What
27141logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
27142name, line number
27143@item Thread-groups
27144list of thread groups to which this breakpoint applies
27145@item Times
27146number of times the breakpoint has been hit
27147@end table
27148
27149If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
27150@code{body} field is an empty list.
27151
27152@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27153
27154The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
27155
27156@subsubheading Example
27157
27158@smallexample
27159(gdb)
27160-break-list
27161^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
27162hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27163@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27164@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27165@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27166@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27167@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27168body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27169addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
27170times="0"@},
27171bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27172addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
27173line="13",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
27174(gdb)
27175@end smallexample
27176
27177Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
27178
27179@smallexample
27180(gdb)
27181-break-list
27182^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
27183hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27184@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27185@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27186@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27187@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27188@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27189body=[]@}
27190(gdb)
27191@end smallexample
27192
27193@subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
27194@findex -break-passcount
27195
27196@subsubheading Synopsis
27197
27198@smallexample
27199 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
27200@end smallexample
27201
27202Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
27203@var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
27204is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
27205command @samp{passcount}.
27206
27207@subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
27208@findex -break-watch
27209
27210@subsubheading Synopsis
27211
27212@smallexample
27213 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
27214@end smallexample
27215
27216Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
27217@dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
27218read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
27219option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
27220trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
27221either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
27222i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
27223@xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
27224
27225Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
27226breakpoints inserted.
27227
27228@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27229
27230The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
27231@samp{rwatch}.
27232
27233@subsubheading Example
27234
27235Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
27236
27237@smallexample
27238(gdb)
27239-break-watch x
27240^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
27241(gdb)
27242-exec-continue
27243^running
27244(gdb)
27245*stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
27246value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
27247frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
27248fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
27249(gdb)
27250@end smallexample
27251
27252Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
27253the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
27254for the watchpoint going out of scope.
27255
27256@smallexample
27257(gdb)
27258-break-watch C
27259^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
27260(gdb)
27261-exec-continue
27262^running
27263(gdb)
27264*stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
27265wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
27266frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
27267file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27268fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
27269(gdb)
27270-exec-continue
27271^running
27272(gdb)
27273*stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
27274frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
27275value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
27276file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27277fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
27278(gdb)
27279@end smallexample
27280
27281Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
27282execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
27283deleted.
27284
27285@smallexample
27286(gdb)
27287-break-watch C
27288^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
27289(gdb)
27290-break-list
27291^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
27292hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27293@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27294@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27295@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27296@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27297@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27298body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27299addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
27300file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27301fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",thread-groups=["i1"],
27302times="1"@},
27303bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
27304enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
27305(gdb)
27306-exec-continue
27307^running
27308(gdb)
27309*stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
27310value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
27311frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
27312file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27313fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
27314(gdb)
27315-break-list
27316^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
27317hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27318@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27319@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27320@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27321@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27322@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27323body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27324addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
27325file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27326fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",thread-groups=["i1"],
27327times="1"@},
27328bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
27329enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],times="-5"@}]@}
27330(gdb)
27331-exec-continue
27332^running
27333^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
27334frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
27335value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
27336file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27337fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
27338(gdb)
27339-break-list
27340^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
27341hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27342@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27343@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27344@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27345@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27346@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27347body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27348addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
27349file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27350fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
27351thread-groups=["i1"],times="1"@}]@}
27352(gdb)
27353@end smallexample
27354
27355
27356@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27357@node GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
27358@section @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoint Commands
27359
27360This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
27361catchpoints.
27362
27363@menu
27364* Shared Library GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
27365* Ada Exception GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
27366@end menu
27367
27368@node Shared Library GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
27369@subsection Shared Library @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoints
27370
27371@subheading The @code{-catch-load} Command
27372@findex -catch-load
27373
27374@subsubheading Synopsis
27375
27376@smallexample
27377 -catch-load [ -t ] [ -d ] @var{regexp}
27378@end smallexample
27379
27380Add a catchpoint for library load events. If the @samp{-t} option is used,
27381the catchpoint is a temporary one (@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting
27382Breakpoints}). If the @samp{-d} option is used, the catchpoint is created
27383in a disabled state. The @samp{regexp} argument is a regular
27384expression used to match the name of the loaded library.
27385
27386
27387@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27388
27389The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch load}.
27390
27391@subsubheading Example
27392
27393@smallexample
27394-catch-load -t foo.so
27395^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="catchpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
27396what="load of library matching foo.so",catch-type="load",times="0"@}
27397(gdb)
27398@end smallexample
27399
27400
27401@subheading The @code{-catch-unload} Command
27402@findex -catch-unload
27403
27404@subsubheading Synopsis
27405
27406@smallexample
27407 -catch-unload [ -t ] [ -d ] @var{regexp}
27408@end smallexample
27409
27410Add a catchpoint for library unload events. If the @samp{-t} option is
27411used, the catchpoint is a temporary one (@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting
27412Breakpoints}). If the @samp{-d} option is used, the catchpoint is
27413created in a disabled state. The @samp{regexp} argument is a regular
27414expression used to match the name of the unloaded library.
27415
27416@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27417
27418The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch unload}.
27419
27420@subsubheading Example
27421
27422@smallexample
27423-catch-unload -d bar.so
27424^done,bkpt=@{number="2",type="catchpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
27425what="load of library matching bar.so",catch-type="unload",times="0"@}
27426(gdb)
27427@end smallexample
27428
27429@node Ada Exception GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
27430@subsection Ada Exception @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoints
27431
27432The following @sc{gdb/mi} commands can be used to create catchpoints
27433that stop the execution when Ada exceptions are being raised.
27434
27435@subheading The @code{-catch-assert} Command
27436@findex -catch-assert
27437
27438@subsubheading Synopsis
27439
27440@smallexample
27441 -catch-assert [ -c @var{condition}] [ -d ] [ -t ]
27442@end smallexample
27443
27444Add a catchpoint for failed Ada assertions.
27445
27446The possible optional parameters for this command are:
27447
27448@table @samp
27449@item -c @var{condition}
27450Make the catchpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
27451@item -d
27452Create a disabled catchpoint.
27453@item -t
27454Create a temporary catchpoint.
27455@end table
27456
27457@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27458
27459The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch assert}.
27460
27461@subsubheading Example
27462
27463@smallexample
27464-catch-assert
27465^done,bkptno="5",bkpt=@{number="5",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
27466enabled="y",addr="0x0000000000404888",what="failed Ada assertions",
27467thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",
27468original-location="__gnat_debug_raise_assert_failure"@}
27469(gdb)
27470@end smallexample
27471
27472@subheading The @code{-catch-exception} Command
27473@findex -catch-exception
27474
27475@subsubheading Synopsis
27476
27477@smallexample
27478 -catch-exception [ -c @var{condition}] [ -d ] [ -e @var{exception-name} ]
27479 [ -t ] [ -u ]
27480@end smallexample
27481
27482Add a catchpoint stopping when Ada exceptions are raised.
27483By default, the command stops the program when any Ada exception
27484gets raised. But it is also possible, by using some of the
27485optional parameters described below, to create more selective
27486catchpoints.
27487
27488The possible optional parameters for this command are:
27489
27490@table @samp
27491@item -c @var{condition}
27492Make the catchpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
27493@item -d
27494Create a disabled catchpoint.
27495@item -e @var{exception-name}
27496Only stop when @var{exception-name} is raised. This option cannot
27497be used combined with @samp{-u}.
27498@item -t
27499Create a temporary catchpoint.
27500@item -u
27501Stop only when an unhandled exception gets raised. This option
27502cannot be used combined with @samp{-e}.
27503@end table
27504
27505@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27506
27507The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{catch exception}
27508and @samp{catch exception unhandled}.
27509
27510@subsubheading Example
27511
27512@smallexample
27513-catch-exception -e Program_Error
27514^done,bkptno="4",bkpt=@{number="4",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
27515enabled="y",addr="0x0000000000404874",
27516what="`Program_Error' Ada exception", thread-groups=["i1"],
27517times="0",original-location="__gnat_debug_raise_exception"@}
27518(gdb)
27519@end smallexample
27520
27521@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27522@node GDB/MI Program Context
27523@section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
27524
27525@subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
27526@findex -exec-arguments
27527
27528
27529@subsubheading Synopsis
27530
27531@smallexample
27532 -exec-arguments @var{args}
27533@end smallexample
27534
27535Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
27536@samp{-exec-run}.
27537
27538@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27539
27540The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
27541
27542@subsubheading Example
27543
27544@smallexample
27545(gdb)
27546-exec-arguments -v word
27547^done
27548(gdb)
27549@end smallexample
27550
27551
27552@ignore
27553@subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
27554@findex -exec-show-arguments
27555
27556@subsubheading Synopsis
27557
27558@smallexample
27559 -exec-show-arguments
27560@end smallexample
27561
27562Print the arguments of the program.
27563
27564@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27565
27566The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
27567
27568@subsubheading Example
27569N.A.
27570@end ignore
27571
27572
27573@subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
27574@findex -environment-cd
27575
27576@subsubheading Synopsis
27577
27578@smallexample
27579 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
27580@end smallexample
27581
27582Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
27583
27584@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27585
27586The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
27587
27588@subsubheading Example
27589
27590@smallexample
27591(gdb)
27592-environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
27593^done
27594(gdb)
27595@end smallexample
27596
27597
27598@subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
27599@findex -environment-directory
27600
27601@subsubheading Synopsis
27602
27603@smallexample
27604 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
27605@end smallexample
27606
27607Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
27608If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
27609search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
27610@samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
27611occurs as normal.
27612Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
27613multiple directories in a single command
27614results in the directories added to the beginning of the
27615search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
27616If blanks are needed as
27617part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
27618the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
27619by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
27620character must not be used
27621in any directory name.
27622If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
27623
27624@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27625
27626The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
27627
27628@subsubheading Example
27629
27630@smallexample
27631(gdb)
27632-environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
27633^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
27634(gdb)
27635-environment-directory ""
27636^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
27637(gdb)
27638-environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
27639^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
27640(gdb)
27641-environment-directory -r
27642^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
27643(gdb)
27644@end smallexample
27645
27646
27647@subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
27648@findex -environment-path
27649
27650@subsubheading Synopsis
27651
27652@smallexample
27653 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
27654@end smallexample
27655
27656Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
27657If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
27658search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
27659supplied in addition to the
27660@samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
27661occurs as normal.
27662Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
27663multiple directories in a single command
27664results in the directories added to the beginning of the
27665search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
27666If blanks are needed as
27667part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
27668the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
27669by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
27670character must not be used
27671in any directory name.
27672If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
27673
27674
27675@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27676
27677The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
27678
27679@subsubheading Example
27680
27681@smallexample
27682(gdb)
27683-environment-path
27684^done,path="/usr/bin"
27685(gdb)
27686-environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
27687^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
27688(gdb)
27689-environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
27690^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
27691(gdb)
27692@end smallexample
27693
27694
27695@subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
27696@findex -environment-pwd
27697
27698@subsubheading Synopsis
27699
27700@smallexample
27701 -environment-pwd
27702@end smallexample
27703
27704Show the current working directory.
27705
27706@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27707
27708The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
27709
27710@subsubheading Example
27711
27712@smallexample
27713(gdb)
27714-environment-pwd
27715^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
27716(gdb)
27717@end smallexample
27718
27719@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27720@node GDB/MI Thread Commands
27721@section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
27722
27723
27724@subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
27725@findex -thread-info
27726
27727@subsubheading Synopsis
27728
27729@smallexample
27730 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
27731@end smallexample
27732
27733Reports information about either a specific thread, if the
27734@var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all threads.
27735@var{thread-id} is the thread's global thread ID. When printing
27736information about all threads, also reports the global ID of the
27737current thread.
27738
27739@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27740
27741The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
27742about all threads.
27743
27744@subsubheading Result
27745
27746The result is a list of threads. The following attributes are
27747defined for a given thread:
27748
27749@table @samp
27750@item current
27751This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
27752
27753@item id
27754The global identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the thread.
27755
27756@item target-id
27757The identifier that the target uses to refer to the thread.
27758
27759@item details
27760Extra information about the thread, in a target-specific format. This
27761field is optional.
27762
27763@item name
27764The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using the
27765@code{thread name} command, then this name is given. Otherwise, if
27766@value{GDBN} can extract the thread name from the target, then that
27767name is given. If @value{GDBN} cannot find the thread name, then this
27768field is omitted.
27769
27770@item frame
27771The stack frame currently executing in the thread.
27772
27773@item state
27774The thread's state. The @samp{state} field may have the following
27775values:
27776
27777@table @code
27778@item stopped
27779The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
27780threads.
27781
27782@item running
27783The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
27784threads.
27785
27786@end table
27787
27788@item core
27789If @value{GDBN} can find the CPU core on which this thread is running,
27790then this field is the core identifier. This field is optional.
27791
27792@end table
27793
27794@subsubheading Example
27795
27796@smallexample
27797-thread-info
27798^done,threads=[
27799@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
27800 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",
27801 args=[]@},state="running"@},
27802@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
27803 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",
27804 args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
27805 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},
27806 state="running"@}],
27807current-thread-id="1"
27808(gdb)
27809@end smallexample
27810
27811@subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
27812@findex -thread-list-ids
27813
27814@subsubheading Synopsis
27815
27816@smallexample
27817 -thread-list-ids
27818@end smallexample
27819
27820Produces a list of the currently known global @value{GDBN} thread ids.
27821At the end of the list it also prints the total number of such
27822threads.
27823
27824This command is retained for historical reasons, the
27825@code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
27826
27827@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27828
27829Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
27830
27831@subsubheading Example
27832
27833@smallexample
27834(gdb)
27835-thread-list-ids
27836^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
27837current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
27838(gdb)
27839@end smallexample
27840
27841
27842@subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
27843@findex -thread-select
27844
27845@subsubheading Synopsis
27846
27847@smallexample
27848 -thread-select @var{thread-id}
27849@end smallexample
27850
27851Make thread with global thread number @var{thread-id} the current
27852thread. It prints the number of the new current thread, and the
27853topmost frame for that thread.
27854
27855This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
27856@samp{--thread} option to each command.
27857
27858@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27859
27860The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
27861
27862@subsubheading Example
27863
27864@smallexample
27865(gdb)
27866-exec-next
27867^running
27868(gdb)
27869*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
27870file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
27871(gdb)
27872-thread-list-ids
27873^done,
27874thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
27875number-of-threads="3"
27876(gdb)
27877-thread-select 3
27878^done,new-thread-id="3",
27879frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
27880args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
27881@{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
27882(gdb)
27883@end smallexample
27884
27885@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27886@node GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands
27887@section @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Tasking Commands
27888
27889@subheading The @code{-ada-task-info} Command
27890@findex -ada-task-info
27891
27892@subsubheading Synopsis
27893
27894@smallexample
27895 -ada-task-info [ @var{task-id} ]
27896@end smallexample
27897
27898Reports information about either a specific Ada task, if the
27899@var{task-id} parameter is present, or about all Ada tasks.
27900
27901@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27902
27903The @samp{info tasks} command prints the same information
27904about all Ada tasks (@pxref{Ada Tasks}).
27905
27906@subsubheading Result
27907
27908The result is a table of Ada tasks. The following columns are
27909defined for each Ada task:
27910
27911@table @samp
27912@item current
27913This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
27914
27915@item id
27916The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the Ada task.
27917
27918@item task-id
27919The identifier that the target uses to refer to the Ada task.
27920
27921@item thread-id
27922The global thread identifier of the thread corresponding to the Ada
27923task.
27924
27925This field should always exist, as Ada tasks are always implemented
27926on top of a thread. But if @value{GDBN} cannot find this corresponding
27927thread for any reason, the field is omitted.
27928
27929@item parent-id
27930This field exists only when the task was created by another task.
27931In this case, it provides the ID of the parent task.
27932
27933@item priority
27934The base priority of the task.
27935
27936@item state
27937The current state of the task. For a detailed description of the
27938possible states, see @ref{Ada Tasks}.
27939
27940@item name
27941The name of the task.
27942
27943@end table
27944
27945@subsubheading Example
27946
27947@smallexample
27948-ada-task-info
27949^done,tasks=@{nr_rows="3",nr_cols="8",
27950hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr=""@},
27951@{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="id",colhdr="ID"@},
27952@{width="9",alignment="1",col_name="task-id",colhdr="TID"@},
27953@{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="thread-id",colhdr=""@},
27954@{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="parent-id",colhdr="P-ID"@},
27955@{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="priority",colhdr="Pri"@},
27956@{width="22",alignment="-1",col_name="state",colhdr="State"@},
27957@{width="1",alignment="2",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@}],
27958body=[@{current="*",id="1",task-id=" 644010",thread-id="1",priority="48",
27959state="Child Termination Wait",name="main_task"@}]@}
27960(gdb)
27961@end smallexample
27962
27963@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27964@node GDB/MI Program Execution
27965@section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
27966
27967These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
27968record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
27969asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
27970other cases.
27971
27972@subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
27973@findex -exec-continue
27974
27975@subsubheading Synopsis
27976
27977@smallexample
27978 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
27979@end smallexample
27980
27981Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
27982to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
27983@samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
27984it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
27985@itemize @bullet
27986@item
27987breakpoints or watchpoints
27988@item
27989signals or exceptions
27990@item
27991the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
27992@item
27993the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
27994@end itemize
27995In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
27996Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
27997value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
27998specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
27999ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
28000specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
28001
28002@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28003
28004The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
28005
28006@subsubheading Example
28007
28008@smallexample
28009-exec-continue
28010^running
28011(gdb)
28012@@Hello world
28013*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
28014func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
28015line="13"@}
28016(gdb)
28017@end smallexample
28018
28019
28020@subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
28021@findex -exec-finish
28022
28023@subsubheading Synopsis
28024
28025@smallexample
28026 -exec-finish [--reverse]
28027@end smallexample
28028
28029Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
28030function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
28031If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
28032execution of the inferior program until the point where current
28033function was called.
28034
28035@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28036
28037The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
28038
28039@subsubheading Example
28040
28041Function returning @code{void}.
28042
28043@smallexample
28044-exec-finish
28045^running
28046(gdb)
28047@@hello from foo
28048*stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
28049file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
28050(gdb)
28051@end smallexample
28052
28053Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
28054@value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
28055value itself.
28056
28057@smallexample
28058-exec-finish
28059^running
28060(gdb)
28061*stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
28062args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
28063file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28064gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
28065(gdb)
28066@end smallexample
28067
28068
28069@subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
28070@findex -exec-interrupt
28071
28072@subsubheading Synopsis
28073
28074@smallexample
28075 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
28076@end smallexample
28077
28078Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
28079associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
28080that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
28081appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
28082interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
28083
28084Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
28085asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
28086@samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
28087reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
28088
28089In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
28090All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
28091@samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
28092option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
28093
28094@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28095
28096The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
28097
28098@subsubheading Example
28099
28100@smallexample
28101(gdb)
28102111-exec-continue
28103111^running
28104
28105(gdb)
28106222-exec-interrupt
28107222^done
28108(gdb)
28109111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
28110frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
28111fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
28112(gdb)
28113
28114(gdb)
28115-exec-interrupt
28116^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
28117(gdb)
28118@end smallexample
28119
28120@subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
28121@findex -exec-jump
28122
28123@subsubheading Synopsis
28124
28125@smallexample
28126 -exec-jump @var{location}
28127@end smallexample
28128
28129Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
28130parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
28131different forms of @var{location}.
28132
28133@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28134
28135The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
28136
28137@subsubheading Example
28138
28139@smallexample
28140-exec-jump foo.c:10
28141*running,thread-id="all"
28142^running
28143@end smallexample
28144
28145
28146@subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
28147@findex -exec-next
28148
28149@subsubheading Synopsis
28150
28151@smallexample
28152 -exec-next [--reverse]
28153@end smallexample
28154
28155Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
28156of the next source line is reached.
28157
28158If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
28159of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
28160source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
28161function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
28162source line where the function was called.
28163
28164
28165@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28166
28167The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
28168
28169@subsubheading Example
28170
28171@smallexample
28172-exec-next
28173^running
28174(gdb)
28175*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
28176(gdb)
28177@end smallexample
28178
28179
28180@subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
28181@findex -exec-next-instruction
28182
28183@subsubheading Synopsis
28184
28185@smallexample
28186 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
28187@end smallexample
28188
28189Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
28190call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
28191instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
28192printed as well.
28193
28194If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
28195of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
28196previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
28197it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
28198(from the current stack frame) is reached.
28199
28200@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28201
28202The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
28203
28204@subsubheading Example
28205
28206@smallexample
28207(gdb)
28208-exec-next-instruction
28209^running
28210
28211(gdb)
28212*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
28213addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
28214(gdb)
28215@end smallexample
28216
28217
28218@subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
28219@findex -exec-return
28220
28221@subsubheading Synopsis
28222
28223@smallexample
28224 -exec-return
28225@end smallexample
28226
28227Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
28228Displays the new current frame.
28229
28230@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28231
28232The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
28233
28234@subsubheading Example
28235
28236@smallexample
28237(gdb)
28238200-break-insert callee4
28239200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
28240file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
28241(gdb)
28242000-exec-run
28243000^running
28244(gdb)
28245000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
28246frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
28247file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28248fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
28249(gdb)
28250205-break-delete
28251205^done
28252(gdb)
28253111-exec-return
28254111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
28255args=[@{name="strarg",
28256value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
28257file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28258fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
28259(gdb)
28260@end smallexample
28261
28262
28263@subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
28264@findex -exec-run
28265
28266@subsubheading Synopsis
28267
28268@smallexample
28269 -exec-run [ --all | --thread-group N ] [ --start ]
28270@end smallexample
28271
28272Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
28273executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
28274exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
28275the program has exited exceptionally.
28276
28277When neither the @samp{--all} nor the @samp{--thread-group} option
28278is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
28279@samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
28280group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
28281If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
28282
28283Using the @samp{--start} option instructs the debugger to stop
28284the execution at the start of the inferior's main subprogram,
28285following the same behavior as the @code{start} command
28286(@pxref{Starting}).
28287
28288@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28289
28290The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
28291
28292@subsubheading Examples
28293
28294@smallexample
28295(gdb)
28296-break-insert main
28297^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
28298(gdb)
28299-exec-run
28300^running
28301(gdb)
28302*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
28303frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
28304fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
28305(gdb)
28306@end smallexample
28307
28308@noindent
28309Program exited normally:
28310
28311@smallexample
28312(gdb)
28313-exec-run
28314^running
28315(gdb)
28316x = 55
28317*stopped,reason="exited-normally"
28318(gdb)
28319@end smallexample
28320
28321@noindent
28322Program exited exceptionally:
28323
28324@smallexample
28325(gdb)
28326-exec-run
28327^running
28328(gdb)
28329x = 55
28330*stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
28331(gdb)
28332@end smallexample
28333
28334Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
28335@code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
28336
28337@smallexample
28338(gdb)
28339*stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
28340signal-meaning="Interrupt"
28341@end smallexample
28342
28343
28344@c @subheading -exec-signal
28345
28346
28347@subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
28348@findex -exec-step
28349
28350@subsubheading Synopsis
28351
28352@smallexample
28353 -exec-step [--reverse]
28354@end smallexample
28355
28356Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
28357of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
28358function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
28359function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
28360execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
28361previously executed source line.
28362
28363@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28364
28365The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
28366
28367@subsubheading Example
28368
28369Stepping into a function:
28370
28371@smallexample
28372-exec-step
28373^running
28374(gdb)
28375*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
28376frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
28377@{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
28378fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
28379(gdb)
28380@end smallexample
28381
28382Regular stepping:
28383
28384@smallexample
28385-exec-step
28386^running
28387(gdb)
28388*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
28389(gdb)
28390@end smallexample
28391
28392
28393@subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
28394@findex -exec-step-instruction
28395
28396@subsubheading Synopsis
28397
28398@smallexample
28399 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
28400@end smallexample
28401
28402Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
28403@samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
28404inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
28405The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
28406whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
28407former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
28408as well.
28409
28410@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28411
28412The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
28413
28414@subsubheading Example
28415
28416@smallexample
28417(gdb)
28418-exec-step-instruction
28419^running
28420
28421(gdb)
28422*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
28423frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
28424fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
28425(gdb)
28426-exec-step-instruction
28427^running
28428
28429(gdb)
28430*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
28431frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
28432fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
28433(gdb)
28434@end smallexample
28435
28436
28437@subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
28438@findex -exec-until
28439
28440@subsubheading Synopsis
28441
28442@smallexample
28443 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
28444@end smallexample
28445
28446Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
28447argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
28448until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
28449reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
28450
28451@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28452
28453The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
28454
28455@subsubheading Example
28456
28457@smallexample
28458(gdb)
28459-exec-until recursive2.c:6
28460^running
28461(gdb)
28462x = 55
28463*stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
28464file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
28465(gdb)
28466@end smallexample
28467
28468@ignore
28469@subheading -file-clear
28470Is this going away????
28471@end ignore
28472
28473@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28474@node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
28475@section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
28476
28477@subheading The @code{-enable-frame-filters} Command
28478@findex -enable-frame-filters
28479
28480@smallexample
28481-enable-frame-filters
28482@end smallexample
28483
28484@value{GDBN} allows Python-based frame filters to affect the output of
28485the MI commands relating to stack traces. As there is no way to
28486implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
28487request that this functionality be enabled.
28488
28489Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
28490
28491Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
28492this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
28493
28494@subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
28495@findex -stack-info-frame
28496
28497@subsubheading Synopsis
28498
28499@smallexample
28500 -stack-info-frame
28501@end smallexample
28502
28503Get info on the selected frame.
28504
28505@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28506
28507The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
28508(without arguments).
28509
28510@subsubheading Example
28511
28512@smallexample
28513(gdb)
28514-stack-info-frame
28515^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
28516file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28517fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
28518(gdb)
28519@end smallexample
28520
28521@subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
28522@findex -stack-info-depth
28523
28524@subsubheading Synopsis
28525
28526@smallexample
28527 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
28528@end smallexample
28529
28530Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
28531is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
28532
28533@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28534
28535There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
28536
28537@subsubheading Example
28538
28539For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
28540
28541@smallexample
28542(gdb)
28543-stack-info-depth
28544^done,depth="12"
28545(gdb)
28546-stack-info-depth 4
28547^done,depth="4"
28548(gdb)
28549-stack-info-depth 12
28550^done,depth="12"
28551(gdb)
28552-stack-info-depth 11
28553^done,depth="11"
28554(gdb)
28555-stack-info-depth 13
28556^done,depth="12"
28557(gdb)
28558@end smallexample
28559
28560@anchor{-stack-list-arguments}
28561@subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
28562@findex -stack-list-arguments
28563
28564@subsubheading Synopsis
28565
28566@smallexample
28567 -stack-list-arguments [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
28568 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
28569@end smallexample
28570
28571Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
28572and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
28573@var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
28574call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
28575at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
28576larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
28577@var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
28578which case only existing frames will be returned.
28579
28580If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
28581the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
28582values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
28583type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
28584structures and unions. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is
28585supplied, then Python frame filters will not be executed.
28586
28587If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, arguments that
28588are not available are not listed. Partially available arguments
28589are still displayed, however.
28590
28591Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
28592deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
28593
28594@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28595
28596@value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
28597@samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
28598functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
28599
28600@subsubheading Example
28601
28602@smallexample
28603(gdb)
28604-stack-list-frames
28605^done,
28606stack=[
28607frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
28608file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28609fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
28610frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
28611file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28612fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
28613frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
28614file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28615fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
28616frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
28617file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28618fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
28619frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
28620file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28621fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
28622(gdb)
28623-stack-list-arguments 0
28624^done,
28625stack-args=[
28626frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
28627frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
28628frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
28629frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
28630frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
28631(gdb)
28632-stack-list-arguments 1
28633^done,
28634stack-args=[
28635frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
28636frame=@{level="1",
28637 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
28638frame=@{level="2",args=[
28639@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
28640@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
28641@{frame=@{level="3",args=[
28642@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
28643@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
28644@{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
28645frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
28646(gdb)
28647-stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
28648^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
28649(gdb)
28650-stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
28651^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
28652args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
28653@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
28654(gdb)
28655@end smallexample
28656
28657@c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
28658
28659
28660@anchor{-stack-list-frames}
28661@subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
28662@findex -stack-list-frames
28663
28664@subsubheading Synopsis
28665
28666@smallexample
28667 -stack-list-frames [ --no-frame-filters @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
28668@end smallexample
28669
28670List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
28671following info:
28672
28673@table @samp
28674@item @var{level}
28675The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
28676@item @var{addr}
28677The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
28678@item @var{func}
28679Function name.
28680@item @var{file}
28681File name of the source file where the function lives.
28682@item @var{fullname}
28683The full file name of the source file where the function lives.
28684@item @var{line}
28685Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
28686@item @var{from}
28687The shared library where this function is defined. This is only given
28688if the frame's function is not known.
28689@end table
28690
28691If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
28692whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
28693levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
28694are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
28695an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
28696frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
28697actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be
28698returned. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is supplied, then
28699Python frame filters will not be executed.
28700
28701@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28702
28703The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
28704
28705@subsubheading Example
28706
28707Full stack backtrace:
28708
28709@smallexample
28710(gdb)
28711-stack-list-frames
28712^done,stack=
28713[frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
28714 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
28715frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28716 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28717frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28718 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28719frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28720 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28721frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28722 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28723frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28724 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28725frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28726 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28727frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28728 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28729frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28730 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28731frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28732 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28733frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28734 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28735frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
28736 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
28737(gdb)
28738@end smallexample
28739
28740Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
28741
28742@smallexample
28743(gdb)
28744-stack-list-frames 3 5
28745^done,stack=
28746[frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28747 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28748frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28749 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28750frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28751 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
28752(gdb)
28753@end smallexample
28754
28755Show a single frame:
28756
28757@smallexample
28758(gdb)
28759-stack-list-frames 3 3
28760^done,stack=
28761[frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28762 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
28763(gdb)
28764@end smallexample
28765
28766
28767@subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
28768@findex -stack-list-locals
28769@anchor{-stack-list-locals}
28770
28771@subsubheading Synopsis
28772
28773@smallexample
28774 -stack-list-locals [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
28775@end smallexample
28776
28777Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
28778@var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
28779the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
28780values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
28781type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
28782structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
28783display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
28784other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
28785more detail. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is supplied, then
28786Python frame filters will not be executed.
28787
28788If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, local variables
28789that are not available are not listed. Partially available local
28790variables are still displayed, however.
28791
28792This command is deprecated in favor of the
28793@samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
28794
28795@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28796
28797@samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
28798
28799@subsubheading Example
28800
28801@smallexample
28802(gdb)
28803-stack-list-locals 0
28804^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
28805(gdb)
28806-stack-list-locals --all-values
28807^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
28808 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
28809-stack-list-locals --simple-values
28810^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
28811 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
28812(gdb)
28813@end smallexample
28814
28815@anchor{-stack-list-variables}
28816@subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
28817@findex -stack-list-variables
28818
28819@subsubheading Synopsis
28820
28821@smallexample
28822 -stack-list-variables [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
28823@end smallexample
28824
28825Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
28826@var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
28827the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
28828values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
28829type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
28830structures and unions. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is
28831supplied, then Python frame filters will not be executed.
28832
28833If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, local variables
28834and arguments that are not available are not listed. Partially
28835available arguments and local variables are still displayed, however.
28836
28837@subsubheading Example
28838
28839@smallexample
28840(gdb)
28841-stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
28842^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
28843(gdb)
28844@end smallexample
28845
28846
28847@subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
28848@findex -stack-select-frame
28849
28850@subsubheading Synopsis
28851
28852@smallexample
28853 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
28854@end smallexample
28855
28856Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
28857the stack.
28858
28859This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
28860option to every command.
28861
28862@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28863
28864The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
28865@samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
28866
28867@subsubheading Example
28868
28869@smallexample
28870(gdb)
28871-stack-select-frame 2
28872^done
28873(gdb)
28874@end smallexample
28875
28876@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28877@node GDB/MI Variable Objects
28878@section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
28879
28880@ignore
28881
28882@subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
28883
28884For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
28885expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
28886used by @code{Insight}.
28887
28888The two main reasons for that are:
28889
28890@enumerate 1
28891@item
28892It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
28893
28894@item
28895It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
28896now).
28897@end enumerate
28898
28899The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
28900slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
28901describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
28902hints about their use.
28903
28904@emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
28905expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
28906least, the following operations:
28907
28908@itemize @bullet
28909@item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
28910@item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
28911@item @code{-stack-list-locals}
28912@item @code{-stack-select-frame}
28913@end itemize
28914
28915@end ignore
28916
28917@subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
28918
28919@cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
28920
28921Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
28922changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
28923work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
28924simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
28925is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
28926frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
28927expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
28928expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
28929variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
28930operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
28931object, or to change display format.
28932
28933Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
28934that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
28935a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
28936element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
28937children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
28938leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
28939objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
28940is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
28941child will be created.
28942
28943For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
28944string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
28945obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
28946that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
28947contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
28948
28949A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
28950the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
28951variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
28952operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
28953be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
28954objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
28955real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
28956variables that frontend has created.
28957
28958The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
28959might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
28960and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
28961relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
28962to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
28963visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
28964called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
28965implicitly updated.
28966
28967Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
28968fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
28969object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
28970variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
28971variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
28972expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
28973frame. Consider this example:
28974
28975@smallexample
28976void do_work(...)
28977@{
28978 struct work_state state;
28979
28980 if (...)
28981 do_work(...);
28982@}
28983@end smallexample
28984
28985If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
28986this function, and we enter the recursive call, the variable
28987object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
28988@code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
28989object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
28990
28991If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
28992refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
28993thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
28994variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
28995thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
28996and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
28997
28998The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
28999access this functionality:
29000
29001@multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
29002@item @strong{Operation}
29003@tab @strong{Description}
29004
29005@item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
29006@tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
29007@item @code{-var-create}
29008@tab create a variable object
29009@item @code{-var-delete}
29010@tab delete the variable object and/or its children
29011@item @code{-var-set-format}
29012@tab set the display format of this variable
29013@item @code{-var-show-format}
29014@tab show the display format of this variable
29015@item @code{-var-info-num-children}
29016@tab tells how many children this object has
29017@item @code{-var-list-children}
29018@tab return a list of the object's children
29019@item @code{-var-info-type}
29020@tab show the type of this variable object
29021@item @code{-var-info-expression}
29022@tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
29023@item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
29024@tab print full expression that this variable object represents
29025@item @code{-var-show-attributes}
29026@tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
29027@item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
29028@tab get the value of this variable
29029@item @code{-var-assign}
29030@tab set the value of this variable
29031@item @code{-var-update}
29032@tab update the variable and its children
29033@item @code{-var-set-frozen}
29034@tab set frozeness attribute
29035@item @code{-var-set-update-range}
29036@tab set range of children to display on update
29037@end multitable
29038
29039In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
29040how it can be used.
29041
29042@subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
29043
29044@subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
29045@findex -enable-pretty-printing
29046
29047@smallexample
29048-enable-pretty-printing
29049@end smallexample
29050
29051@value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
29052MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
29053implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
29054request that this functionality be enabled.
29055
29056Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
29057
29058Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
29059this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
29060
29061This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
29062may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
29063
29064@subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
29065@findex -var-create
29066
29067@subsubheading Synopsis
29068
29069@smallexample
29070 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
29071 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
29072@end smallexample
29073
29074This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
29075a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
29076register.
29077
29078The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
29079referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
29080system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
29081unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
29082The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
29083
29084The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
29085specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
29086frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
29087object must be created.
29088
29089@var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
29090begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
29091
29092@itemize @bullet
29093@item
29094@samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
29095
29096@item
29097@samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
29098
29099@item
29100@samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
29101@end itemize
29102
29103@cindex dynamic varobj
29104A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
29105case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
29106have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
29107@code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
29108will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
29109compatibility for existing clients.
29110
29111@subsubheading Result
29112
29113This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
29114are:
29115
29116@table @samp
29117@item name
29118The name of the varobj.
29119
29120@item numchild
29121The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
29122reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
29123@samp{has_more} attribute.
29124
29125@item value
29126The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
29127aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
29128will not be interesting.
29129
29130@item type
29131The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
29132would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI. If @samp{print object}
29133(@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
29134@emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
29135@emph{declared} one.
29136
29137@item thread-id
29138If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
29139thread's global identifier.
29140
29141@item has_more
29142For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
29143children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
29144
29145@item dynamic
29146This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
29147varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
29148then this attribute will not be present.
29149
29150@item displayhint
29151A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
29152value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
29153@code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
29154@end table
29155
29156Typical output will look like this:
29157
29158@smallexample
29159 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
29160 has_more="@var{has_more}"
29161@end smallexample
29162
29163
29164@subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
29165@findex -var-delete
29166
29167@subsubheading Synopsis
29168
29169@smallexample
29170 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
29171@end smallexample
29172
29173Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
29174With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
29175
29176Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
29177
29178
29179@subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
29180@findex -var-set-format
29181
29182@subsubheading Synopsis
29183
29184@smallexample
29185 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
29186@end smallexample
29187
29188Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
29189@var{format-spec}.
29190
29191@anchor{-var-set-format}
29192The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
29193
29194@smallexample
29195 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
29196 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural | zero-hexadecimal@}
29197@end smallexample
29198
29199The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
29200based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
29201for pointers, etc.).
29202
29203The zero-hexadecimal format has a representation similar to hexadecimal
29204but with padding zeroes to the left of the value. For example, a 32-bit
29205hexadecimal value of 0x1234 would be represented as 0x00001234 in the
29206zero-hexadecimal format.
29207
29208For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
29209variable itself, and the children are not affected.
29210
29211@subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
29212@findex -var-show-format
29213
29214@subsubheading Synopsis
29215
29216@smallexample
29217 -var-show-format @var{name}
29218@end smallexample
29219
29220Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
29221
29222@smallexample
29223 @var{format} @expansion{}
29224 @var{format-spec}
29225@end smallexample
29226
29227
29228@subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
29229@findex -var-info-num-children
29230
29231@subsubheading Synopsis
29232
29233@smallexample
29234 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
29235@end smallexample
29236
29237Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
29238
29239@smallexample
29240 numchild=@var{n}
29241@end smallexample
29242
29243Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
29244It will return the current number of children, but more children may
29245be available.
29246
29247
29248@subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
29249@findex -var-list-children
29250
29251@subsubheading Synopsis
29252
29253@smallexample
29254 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
29255@end smallexample
29256@anchor{-var-list-children}
29257
29258Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
29259create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
29260a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value of 0 or
29261@code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
29262@var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
29263values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
29264value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
29265and unions.
29266
29267@var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
29268to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
29269reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
29270at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
29271reported.
29272
29273If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
29274@code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
29275For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
29276intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
29277update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
29278front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
29279then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
29280different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
29281the visible items.
29282
29283For each child the following results are returned:
29284
29285@table @var
29286
29287@item name
29288Name of the variable object created for this child.
29289
29290@item exp
29291The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
29292For example this may be the name of a structure member.
29293
29294For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
29295expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
29296
29297For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
29298designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
29299@samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
29300type and value are not present.
29301
29302A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
29303pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
29304available at all with a dynamic varobj.
29305
29306@item numchild
29307Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
293080.
29309
29310@item type
29311The type of the child. If @samp{print object}
29312(@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
29313@emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
29314@emph{declared} one.
29315
29316@item value
29317If values were requested, this is the value.
29318
29319@item thread-id
29320If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the
29321thread's global thread id. Otherwise this result is not present.
29322
29323@item frozen
29324If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
29325
29326@item displayhint
29327A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
29328value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
29329@code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
29330
29331@item dynamic
29332This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
29333varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
29334then this attribute will not be present.
29335
29336@end table
29337
29338The result may have its own attributes:
29339
29340@table @samp
29341@item displayhint
29342A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
29343value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
29344@code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
29345
29346@item has_more
29347This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
29348remaining after the end of the selected range.
29349@end table
29350
29351@subsubheading Example
29352
29353@smallexample
29354(gdb)
29355 -var-list-children n
29356 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
29357 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
29358(gdb)
29359 -var-list-children --all-values n
29360 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
29361 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
29362@end smallexample
29363
29364
29365@subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
29366@findex -var-info-type
29367
29368@subsubheading Synopsis
29369
29370@smallexample
29371 -var-info-type @var{name}
29372@end smallexample
29373
29374Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
29375returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
29376@value{GDBN} CLI:
29377
29378@smallexample
29379 type=@var{typename}
29380@end smallexample
29381
29382
29383@subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
29384@findex -var-info-expression
29385
29386@subsubheading Synopsis
29387
29388@smallexample
29389 -var-info-expression @var{name}
29390@end smallexample
29391
29392Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
29393variable object in user interface. The string is generally
29394not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
29395
29396For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
29397@code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
29398
29399@smallexample
29400(gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
29401^done,lang="C",exp="1"
29402@end smallexample
29403
29404@noindent
29405Here, the value of @code{lang} is the language name, which can be
29406found in @ref{Supported Languages}.
29407
29408Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
29409includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
29410is of limited use.
29411
29412@subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
29413@findex -var-info-path-expression
29414
29415@subsubheading Synopsis
29416
29417@smallexample
29418 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
29419@end smallexample
29420
29421Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
29422context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
29423Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
29424result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
29425the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
29426watchpoint from a variable object.
29427
29428This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
29429and will give an error when invoked on one.
29430
29431For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
29432@code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
29433@code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
29434@code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
29435@code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
29436@smallexample
29437(gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
29438^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
29439@end smallexample
29440
29441@subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
29442@findex -var-show-attributes
29443
29444@subsubheading Synopsis
29445
29446@smallexample
29447 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
29448@end smallexample
29449
29450List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
29451
29452@smallexample
29453 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
29454@end smallexample
29455
29456@noindent
29457where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
29458
29459@subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
29460@findex -var-evaluate-expression
29461
29462@subsubheading Synopsis
29463
29464@smallexample
29465 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
29466@end smallexample
29467
29468Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
29469object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
29470can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
29471this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
29472(@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
29473the current display format will be used. The current display format
29474can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
29475
29476@smallexample
29477 value=@var{value}
29478@end smallexample
29479
29480Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
29481before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
29482
29483@subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
29484@findex -var-assign
29485
29486@subsubheading Synopsis
29487
29488@smallexample
29489 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
29490@end smallexample
29491
29492Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
29493by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
29494value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
29495subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
29496
29497@subsubheading Example
29498
29499@smallexample
29500(gdb)
29501-var-assign var1 3
29502^done,value="3"
29503(gdb)
29504-var-update *
29505^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
29506(gdb)
29507@end smallexample
29508
29509@subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
29510@findex -var-update
29511
29512@subsubheading Synopsis
29513
29514@smallexample
29515 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
29516@end smallexample
29517
29518Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
29519@var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
29520list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
29521be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
29522@code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
29523@code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
29524object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
29525for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
29526@var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
29527names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
29528as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
29529recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
29530number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
29531
29532With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
29533currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
29534diagnostic.
29535
29536If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
29537only the selected range of children will be reported.
29538
29539@code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
29540@samp{changelist}.
29541
29542Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
29543
29544@table @samp
29545@item name
29546The name of the varobj.
29547
29548@item value
29549If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
29550present and will hold the value of the varobj.
29551
29552@item in_scope
29553@anchor{-var-update}
29554This field is a string which may take one of three values:
29555
29556@table @code
29557@item "true"
29558The variable object's current value is valid.
29559
29560@item "false"
29561The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
29562hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
29563scope.
29564
29565@item "invalid"
29566The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
29567This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
29568either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
29569command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
29570objects.
29571@end table
29572
29573In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
29574be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
29575
29576@item type_changed
29577This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
29578changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
29579be @samp{false}.
29580
29581When a varobj's type changes, its children are also likely to have
29582become incorrect. Therefore, the varobj's children are automatically
29583deleted when this attribute is @samp{true}. Also, the varobj's update
29584range, when set using the @code{-var-set-update-range} command, is
29585unset.
29586
29587@item new_type
29588If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
29589hold the new type.
29590
29591@item new_num_children
29592For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
29593type changed, this will be the new number of children.
29594
29595The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
29596valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
29597@value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
29598instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
29599children which may be available.
29600
29601The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
29602number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
29603detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
29604only happen at the end of the update range).
29605
29606@item displayhint
29607The display hint, if any.
29608
29609@item has_more
29610This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
29611available outside the varobj's update range.
29612
29613@item dynamic
29614This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
29615varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
29616then this attribute will not be present.
29617
29618@item new_children
29619If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
29620update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
29621be listed in this attribute.
29622@end table
29623
29624@subsubheading Example
29625
29626@smallexample
29627(gdb)
29628-var-assign var1 3
29629^done,value="3"
29630(gdb)
29631-var-update --all-values var1
29632^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
29633type_changed="false"@}]
29634(gdb)
29635@end smallexample
29636
29637@subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
29638@findex -var-set-frozen
29639@anchor{-var-set-frozen}
29640
29641@subsubheading Synopsis
29642
29643@smallexample
29644 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
29645@end smallexample
29646
29647Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
29648@var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
29649frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
29650frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
29651implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
29652a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
29653@code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
29654values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
29655implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
29656Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
29657@code{-var-update} does.
29658
29659@subsubheading Example
29660
29661@smallexample
29662(gdb)
29663-var-set-frozen V 1
29664^done
29665(gdb)
29666@end smallexample
29667
29668@subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
29669@findex -var-set-update-range
29670@anchor{-var-set-update-range}
29671
29672@subsubheading Synopsis
29673
29674@smallexample
29675 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
29676@end smallexample
29677
29678Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
29679@code{-var-update}.
29680
29681@var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
29682@var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
29683children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
29684(zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
29685
29686@subsubheading Example
29687
29688@smallexample
29689(gdb)
29690-var-set-update-range V 1 2
29691^done
29692@end smallexample
29693
29694@subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
29695@findex -var-set-visualizer
29696@anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
29697
29698@subsubheading Synopsis
29699
29700@smallexample
29701 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
29702@end smallexample
29703
29704Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
29705
29706@var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
29707@samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
29708
29709If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
29710This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
29711single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
29712the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
29713Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
29714When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
29715pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
29716
29717The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
29718select a visualizer by following the built-in process
29719(@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
29720a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
29721
29722This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
29723command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Support Commands})
29724can be used to check this.
29725
29726@subsubheading Example
29727
29728Resetting the visualizer:
29729
29730@smallexample
29731(gdb)
29732-var-set-visualizer V None
29733^done
29734@end smallexample
29735
29736Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
29737
29738@smallexample
29739(gdb)
29740-var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
29741^done
29742@end smallexample
29743
29744Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
29745can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
29746
29747@smallexample
29748(gdb)
29749-var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
29750^done
29751@end smallexample
29752
29753@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29754@node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
29755@section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
29756
29757@cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
29758@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
29759This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
29760examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
29761
29762For details about what an addressable memory unit is,
29763@pxref{addressable memory unit}.
29764
29765@c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
29766@c @subheading -data-assign
29767@c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
29768@c @subsubheading GDB Command
29769@c set variable
29770@c @subsubheading Example
29771@c N.A.
29772
29773@subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
29774@findex -data-disassemble
29775
29776@subsubheading Synopsis
29777
29778@smallexample
29779 -data-disassemble
29780 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
29781 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
29782 -- @var{mode}
29783@end smallexample
29784
29785@noindent
29786Where:
29787
29788@table @samp
29789@item @var{start-addr}
29790is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
29791@item @var{end-addr}
29792is the end address
29793@item @var{filename}
29794is the name of the file to disassemble
29795@item @var{linenum}
29796is the line number to disassemble around
29797@item @var{lines}
29798is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
29799the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
29800specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
29801@var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
29802@var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
29803displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
29804@var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
29805are displayed.
29806@item @var{mode}
29807is one of:
29808@itemize @bullet
29809@item 0 disassembly only
29810@item 1 mixed source and disassembly (deprecated)
29811@item 2 disassembly with raw opcodes
29812@item 3 mixed source and disassembly with raw opcodes (deprecated)
29813@item 4 mixed source and disassembly
29814@item 5 mixed source and disassembly with raw opcodes
29815@end itemize
29816
29817Modes 1 and 3 are deprecated. The output is ``source centric''
29818which hasn't proved useful in practice.
29819@xref{Machine Code}, for a discussion of the difference between
29820@code{/m} and @code{/s} output of the @code{disassemble} command.
29821@end table
29822
29823@subsubheading Result
29824
29825The result of the @code{-data-disassemble} command will be a list named
29826@samp{asm_insns}, the contents of this list depend on the @var{mode}
29827used with the @code{-data-disassemble} command.
29828
29829For modes 0 and 2 the @samp{asm_insns} list contains tuples with the
29830following fields:
29831
29832@table @code
29833@item address
29834The address at which this instruction was disassembled.
29835
29836@item func-name
29837The name of the function this instruction is within.
29838
29839@item offset
29840The decimal offset in bytes from the start of @samp{func-name}.
29841
29842@item inst
29843The text disassembly for this @samp{address}.
29844
29845@item opcodes
29846This field is only present for modes 2, 3 and 5. This contains the raw opcode
29847bytes for the @samp{inst} field.
29848
29849@end table
29850
29851For modes 1, 3, 4 and 5 the @samp{asm_insns} list contains tuples named
29852@samp{src_and_asm_line}, each of which has the following fields:
29853
29854@table @code
29855@item line
29856The line number within @samp{file}.
29857
29858@item file
29859The file name from the compilation unit. This might be an absolute
29860file name or a relative file name depending on the compile command
29861used.
29862
29863@item fullname
29864Absolute file name of @samp{file}. It is converted to a canonical form
29865using the source file search path
29866(@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories})
29867and after resolving all the symbolic links.
29868
29869If the source file is not found this field will contain the path as
29870present in the debug information.
29871
29872@item line_asm_insn
29873This is a list of tuples containing the disassembly for @samp{line} in
29874@samp{file}. The fields of each tuple are the same as for
29875@code{-data-disassemble} in @var{mode} 0 and 2, so @samp{address},
29876@samp{func-name}, @samp{offset}, @samp{inst}, and optionally
29877@samp{opcodes}.
29878
29879@end table
29880
29881Note that whatever included in the @samp{inst} field, is not
29882manipulated directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to
29883adjust its format.
29884
29885@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29886
29887The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disassemble}.
29888
29889@subsubheading Example
29890
29891Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
29892
29893@smallexample
29894(gdb)
29895-data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
29896^done,
29897asm_insns=[
29898@{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
29899inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29900@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29901inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
29902@{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
29903inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
29904@{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
29905inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
29906@{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
29907inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
29908(gdb)
29909@end smallexample
29910
29911Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
29912@code{main}.
29913
29914@smallexample
29915-data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
29916^done,asm_insns=[
29917@{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
29918inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
29919@{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
29920inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29921@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29922inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
29923[@dots{}]
29924@{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
29925@{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
29926(gdb)
29927@end smallexample
29928
29929Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
29930
29931@smallexample
29932(gdb)
29933-data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
29934^done,asm_insns=[
29935@{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
29936inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
29937@{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
29938inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29939@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29940inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
29941(gdb)
29942@end smallexample
29943
29944Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
29945
29946@smallexample
29947(gdb)
29948-data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
29949^done,asm_insns=[
29950src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
29951file="../../../src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29952fullname="/absolute/path/to/src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29953line_asm_insn=[@{address="0x000107bc",
29954func-name="main",offset="0",inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
29955src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
29956file="../../../src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29957fullname="/absolute/path/to/src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29958line_asm_insn=[@{address="0x000107c0",
29959func-name="main",offset="4",inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29960@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29961inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
29962(gdb)
29963@end smallexample
29964
29965
29966@subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
29967@findex -data-evaluate-expression
29968
29969@subsubheading Synopsis
29970
29971@smallexample
29972 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
29973@end smallexample
29974
29975Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
29976inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
29977If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
29978
29979@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29980
29981The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
29982@samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
29983@samp{gdb_eval} command.
29984
29985@subsubheading Example
29986
29987In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
29988@dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
29989Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
29990output.
29991
29992@smallexample
29993211-data-evaluate-expression A
29994211^done,value="1"
29995(gdb)
29996311-data-evaluate-expression &A
29997311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
29998(gdb)
29999411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
30000411^done,value="4"
30001(gdb)
30002511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
30003511^done,value="4"
30004(gdb)
30005@end smallexample
30006
30007
30008@subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
30009@findex -data-list-changed-registers
30010
30011@subsubheading Synopsis
30012
30013@smallexample
30014 -data-list-changed-registers
30015@end smallexample
30016
30017Display a list of the registers that have changed.
30018
30019@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30020
30021@value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
30022has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
30023
30024@subsubheading Example
30025
30026On a PPC MBX board:
30027
30028@smallexample
30029(gdb)
30030-exec-continue
30031^running
30032
30033(gdb)
30034*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
30035func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
30036line="5"@}
30037(gdb)
30038-data-list-changed-registers
30039^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
30040"10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
30041"24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
30042(gdb)
30043@end smallexample
30044
30045
30046@subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
30047@findex -data-list-register-names
30048
30049@subsubheading Synopsis
30050
30051@smallexample
30052 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
30053@end smallexample
30054
30055Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
30056are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
30057integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
30058names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
30059consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
30060include empty register names.
30061
30062@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30063
30064@value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
30065@samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
30066corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
30067
30068@subsubheading Example
30069
30070For the PPC MBX board:
30071@smallexample
30072(gdb)
30073-data-list-register-names
30074^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
30075"r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
30076"r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
30077"r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
30078"f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
30079"f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
30080"", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
30081(gdb)
30082-data-list-register-names 1 2 3
30083^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
30084(gdb)
30085@end smallexample
30086
30087@subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
30088@findex -data-list-register-values
30089
30090@subsubheading Synopsis
30091
30092@smallexample
30093 -data-list-register-values
30094 [ @code{--skip-unavailable} ] @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
30095@end smallexample
30096
30097Display the registers' contents. The format according to which the
30098registers' contents are to be returned is given by @var{fmt}, followed
30099by an optional list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A
30100missing list of numbers indicates that the contents of all the
30101registers must be returned. The @code{--skip-unavailable} option
30102indicates that only the available registers are to be returned.
30103
30104Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
30105
30106@table @code
30107@item x
30108Hexadecimal
30109@item o
30110Octal
30111@item t
30112Binary
30113@item d
30114Decimal
30115@item r
30116Raw
30117@item N
30118Natural
30119@end table
30120
30121@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30122
30123The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
30124all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
30125
30126@subsubheading Example
30127
30128For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
30129don't appear in the actual output):
30130
30131@smallexample
30132(gdb)
30133-data-list-register-values r 64 65
30134^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
30135@{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
30136(gdb)
30137-data-list-register-values x
30138^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
30139@{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
30140@{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
30141@{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
30142@{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
30143@{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
30144@{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
30145@{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
30146@{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
30147@{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
30148@{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
30149@{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
30150@{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
30151@{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
30152@{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
30153@{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
30154@{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
30155@{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
30156@{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
30157@{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
30158@{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
30159@{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
30160@{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
30161@{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
30162@{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
30163@{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
30164@{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
30165@{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
30166@{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
30167@{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
30168@{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
30169@{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
30170@{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
30171@{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
30172@{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
30173@{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
30174(gdb)
30175@end smallexample
30176
30177
30178@subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
30179@findex -data-read-memory
30180
30181This command is deprecated, use @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} instead.
30182
30183@subsubheading Synopsis
30184
30185@smallexample
30186 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
30187 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
30188 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
30189@end smallexample
30190
30191@noindent
30192where:
30193
30194@table @samp
30195@item @var{address}
30196An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
30197read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
30198quoted using the C convention.
30199
30200@item @var{word-format}
30201The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
30202same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
30203,Output Formats}).
30204
30205@item @var{word-size}
30206The size of each memory word in bytes.
30207
30208@item @var{nr-rows}
30209The number of rows in the output table.
30210
30211@item @var{nr-cols}
30212The number of columns in the output table.
30213
30214@item @var{aschar}
30215If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
30216value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
30217member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
30218characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
30219
30220@item @var{byte-offset}
30221An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
30222@end table
30223
30224This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
30225@var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
30226@code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
30227(returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
30228of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
30229using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
30230in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
30231@samp{addr}.
30232
30233The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
30234@samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
30235@samp{prev-page}.
30236
30237@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30238
30239The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
30240@samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
30241
30242@subsubheading Example
30243
30244Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
30245@code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
30246word. Display each word in hex.
30247
30248@smallexample
30249(gdb)
302509-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
302519^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
30252next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
30253prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
30254@{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
30255@{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
30256@{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
30257(gdb)
30258@end smallexample
30259
30260Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
30261display as a single word formatted in decimal.
30262
30263@smallexample
30264(gdb)
302655-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
302665^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
30267next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
30268next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
30269@{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
30270(gdb)
30271@end smallexample
30272
30273Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
30274as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
30275used as the non-printable character.
30276
30277@smallexample
30278(gdb)
302794-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
302804^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
30281next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
30282next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
30283@{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
30284@{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
30285@{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
30286@{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
30287@{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
30288@{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
30289@{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
30290@{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
30291(gdb)
30292@end smallexample
30293
30294@subheading The @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} Command
30295@findex -data-read-memory-bytes
30296
30297@subsubheading Synopsis
30298
30299@smallexample
30300 -data-read-memory-bytes [ -o @var{offset} ]
30301 @var{address} @var{count}
30302@end smallexample
30303
30304@noindent
30305where:
30306
30307@table @samp
30308@item @var{address}
30309An expression specifying the address of the first addressable memory unit
30310to be read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
30311quoted using the C convention.
30312
30313@item @var{count}
30314The number of addressable memory units to read. This should be an integer
30315literal.
30316
30317@item @var{offset}
30318The offset relative to @var{address} at which to start reading. This
30319should be an integer literal. This option is provided so that a frontend
30320is not required to first evaluate address and then perform address
30321arithmetics itself.
30322
30323@end table
30324
30325This command attempts to read all accessible memory regions in the
30326specified range. First, all regions marked as unreadable in the memory
30327map (if one is defined) will be skipped. @xref{Memory Region
30328Attributes}. Second, @value{GDBN} will attempt to read the remaining
30329regions. For each one, if reading full region results in an errors,
30330@value{GDBN} will try to read a subset of the region.
30331
30332In general, every single memory unit in the region may be readable or not,
30333and the only way to read every readable unit is to try a read at
30334every address, which is not practical. Therefore, @value{GDBN} will
30335attempt to read all accessible memory units at either beginning or the end
30336of the region, using a binary division scheme. This heuristic works
30337well for reading accross a memory map boundary. Note that if a region
30338has a readable range that is neither at the beginning or the end,
30339@value{GDBN} will not read it.
30340
30341The result record (@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}) that is output of
30342the command includes a field named @samp{memory} whose content is a
30343list of tuples. Each tuple represent a successfully read memory block
30344and has the following fields:
30345
30346@table @code
30347@item begin
30348The start address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
30349
30350@item end
30351The end address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
30352
30353@item offset
30354The offset of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal, relative to
30355the start address passed to @code{-data-read-memory-bytes}.
30356
30357@item contents
30358The contents of the memory block, in hex.
30359
30360@end table
30361
30362
30363
30364@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30365
30366The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}.
30367
30368@subsubheading Example
30369
30370@smallexample
30371(gdb)
30372-data-read-memory-bytes &a 10
30373^done,memory=[@{begin="0xbffff154",offset="0x00000000",
30374 end="0xbffff15e",
30375 contents="01000000020000000300"@}]
30376(gdb)
30377@end smallexample
30378
30379
30380@subheading The @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} Command
30381@findex -data-write-memory-bytes
30382
30383@subsubheading Synopsis
30384
30385@smallexample
30386 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents}
30387 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents} @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
30388@end smallexample
30389
30390@noindent
30391where:
30392
30393@table @samp
30394@item @var{address}
30395An expression specifying the address of the first addressable memory unit
30396to be written. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should
30397be quoted using the C convention.
30398
30399@item @var{contents}
30400The hex-encoded data to write. It is an error if @var{contents} does
30401not represent an integral number of addressable memory units.
30402
30403@item @var{count}
30404Optional argument indicating the number of addressable memory units to be
30405written. If @var{count} is greater than @var{contents}' length,
30406@value{GDBN} will repeatedly write @var{contents} until it fills
30407@var{count} memory units.
30408
30409@end table
30410
30411@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30412
30413There's no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
30414
30415@subsubheading Example
30416
30417@smallexample
30418(gdb)
30419-data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd"
30420^done
30421(gdb)
30422@end smallexample
30423
30424@smallexample
30425(gdb)
30426-data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd" 16e
30427^done
30428(gdb)
30429@end smallexample
30430
30431@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30432@node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
30433@section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
30434
30435The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
30436tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
30437
30438@subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
30439@findex -trace-find
30440
30441@subsubheading Synopsis
30442
30443@smallexample
30444 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
30445@end smallexample
30446
30447Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
30448@var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
30449modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
30450
30451@table @samp
30452
30453@item none
30454No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
30455
30456@item frame-number
30457An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
30458that index.
30459
30460@item tracepoint-number
30461An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
30462trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
30463
30464@item pc
30465An address is required as parameter. Finds
30466next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
30467address.
30468
30469@item pc-inside-range
30470Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
30471frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
30472specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
30473
30474@item pc-outside-range
30475Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
30476next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
30477the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
30478
30479@item line
30480Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
30481Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
30482the specified location.
30483
30484@end table
30485
30486If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
30487have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
30488
30489@table @samp
30490@item found
30491This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
30492on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
30493
30494@item traceframe
30495The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
30496the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
30497
30498@item tracepoint
30499The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
30500the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
30501
30502@item frame
30503The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
30504frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
30505@xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
30506
30507@end table
30508
30509@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30510
30511The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
30512
30513@subheading -trace-define-variable
30514@findex -trace-define-variable
30515
30516@subsubheading Synopsis
30517
30518@smallexample
30519 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
30520@end smallexample
30521
30522Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
30523@var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
30524trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
30525with the @samp{$} character.
30526
30527@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30528
30529The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
30530
30531@subheading The @code{-trace-frame-collected} Command
30532@findex -trace-frame-collected
30533
30534@subsubheading Synopsis
30535
30536@smallexample
30537 -trace-frame-collected
30538 [--var-print-values @var{var_pval}]
30539 [--comp-print-values @var{comp_pval}]
30540 [--registers-format @var{regformat}]
30541 [--memory-contents]
30542@end smallexample
30543
30544This command returns the set of collected objects, register names,
30545trace state variable names, memory ranges and computed expressions
30546that have been collected at a particular trace frame. The optional
30547parameters to the command affect the output format in different ways.
30548See the output description table below for more details.
30549
30550The reported names can be used in the normal manner to create
30551varobjs and inspect the objects themselves. The items returned by
30552this command are categorized so that it is clear which is a variable,
30553which is a register, which is a trace state variable, which is a
30554memory range and which is a computed expression.
30555
30556For instance, if the actions were
30557@smallexample
30558collect myVar, myArray[myIndex], myObj.field, myPtr->field, myCount + 2
30559collect *(int*)0xaf02bef0@@40
30560@end smallexample
30561
30562@noindent
30563the object collected in its entirety would be @code{myVar}. The
30564object @code{myArray} would be partially collected, because only the
30565element at index @code{myIndex} would be collected. The remaining
30566objects would be computed expressions.
30567
30568An example output would be:
30569
30570@smallexample
30571(gdb)
30572-trace-frame-collected
30573^done,
30574 explicit-variables=[@{name="myVar",value="1"@}],
30575 computed-expressions=[@{name="myArray[myIndex]",value="0"@},
30576 @{name="myObj.field",value="0"@},
30577 @{name="myPtr->field",value="1"@},
30578 @{name="myCount + 2",value="3"@},
30579 @{name="$tvar1 + 1",value="43970027"@}],
30580 registers=[@{number="0",value="0x7fe2c6e79ec8"@},
30581 @{number="1",value="0x0"@},
30582 @{number="2",value="0x4"@},
30583 ...
30584 @{number="125",value="0x0"@}],
30585 tvars=[@{name="$tvar1",current="43970026"@}],
30586 memory=[@{address="0x0000000000602264",length="4"@},
30587 @{address="0x0000000000615bc0",length="4"@}]
30588(gdb)
30589@end smallexample
30590
30591Where:
30592
30593@table @code
30594@item explicit-variables
30595The set of objects that have been collected in their entirety (as
30596opposed to collecting just a few elements of an array or a few struct
30597members). For each object, its name and value are printed.
30598The @code{--var-print-values} option affects how or whether the value
30599field is output. If @var{var_pval} is 0, then print only the names;
30600if it is 1, print also their values; and if it is 2, print the name,
30601type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for
30602arrays, structures and unions.
30603
30604@item computed-expressions
30605The set of computed expressions that have been collected at the
30606current trace frame. The @code{--comp-print-values} option affects
30607this set like the @code{--var-print-values} option affects the
30608@code{explicit-variables} set. See above.
30609
30610@item registers
30611The registers that have been collected at the current trace frame.
30612For each register collected, the name and current value are returned.
30613The value is formatted according to the @code{--registers-format}
30614option. See the @command{-data-list-register-values} command for a
30615list of the allowed formats. The default is @samp{x}.
30616
30617@item tvars
30618The trace state variables that have been collected at the current
30619trace frame. For each trace state variable collected, the name and
30620current value are returned.
30621
30622@item memory
30623The set of memory ranges that have been collected at the current trace
30624frame. Its content is a list of tuples. Each tuple represents a
30625collected memory range and has the following fields:
30626
30627@table @code
30628@item address
30629The start address of the memory range, as hexadecimal literal.
30630
30631@item length
30632The length of the memory range, as decimal literal.
30633
30634@item contents
30635The contents of the memory block, in hex. This field is only present
30636if the @code{--memory-contents} option is specified.
30637
30638@end table
30639
30640@end table
30641
30642@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30643
30644There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
30645
30646@subsubheading Example
30647
30648@subheading -trace-list-variables
30649@findex -trace-list-variables
30650
30651@subsubheading Synopsis
30652
30653@smallexample
30654 -trace-list-variables
30655@end smallexample
30656
30657Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
30658table has the following fields:
30659
30660@table @samp
30661@item name
30662The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
30663
30664@item initial
30665The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
30666field is always present.
30667
30668@item current
30669The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
30670signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
30671not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
30672presently running.
30673
30674@end table
30675
30676@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30677
30678The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
30679
30680@subsubheading Example
30681
30682@smallexample
30683(gdb)
30684-trace-list-variables
30685^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
30686hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
30687 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
30688 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
30689body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
30690 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
30691(gdb)
30692@end smallexample
30693
30694@subheading -trace-save
30695@findex -trace-save
30696
30697@subsubheading Synopsis
30698
30699@smallexample
30700 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
30701@end smallexample
30702
30703Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
30704@samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
30705in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
30706to perform the save.
30707
30708@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30709
30710The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
30711
30712
30713@subheading -trace-start
30714@findex -trace-start
30715
30716@subsubheading Synopsis
30717
30718@smallexample
30719 -trace-start
30720@end smallexample
30721
30722Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
30723have any fields.
30724
30725@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30726
30727The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
30728
30729@subheading -trace-status
30730@findex -trace-status
30731
30732@subsubheading Synopsis
30733
30734@smallexample
30735 -trace-status
30736@end smallexample
30737
30738Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
30739the following fields:
30740
30741@table @samp
30742
30743@item supported
30744May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
30745supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
30746@samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
30747of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
30748started. This field is always present.
30749
30750@item running
30751May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
30752tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
30753if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
30754
30755@item stop-reason
30756Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
30757may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
30758value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
30759the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
30760the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
30761tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
30762The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
30763tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
30764This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
30765
30766@item stopping-tracepoint
30767The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
30768present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
30769@samp{passcount}.
30770
30771@item frames
30772@itemx frames-created
30773The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
30774in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
30775during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
30776circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
30777
30778@item buffer-size
30779@itemx buffer-free
30780These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
30781remaining space. These fields are optional.
30782
30783@item circular
30784The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
30785trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
30786necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
30787and may fill up.
30788
30789@item disconnected
30790The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
30791tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
30792that the trace run will stop.
30793
30794@item trace-file
30795The filename of the trace file being examined. This field is
30796optional, and only present when examining a trace file.
30797
30798@end table
30799
30800@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30801
30802The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
30803
30804@subheading -trace-stop
30805@findex -trace-stop
30806
30807@subsubheading Synopsis
30808
30809@smallexample
30810 -trace-stop
30811@end smallexample
30812
30813Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
30814fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
30815@samp{running} fields are not output.
30816
30817@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30818
30819The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
30820
30821
30822@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30823@node GDB/MI Symbol Query
30824@section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
30825
30826
30827@ignore
30828@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
30829@findex -symbol-info-address
30830
30831@subsubheading Synopsis
30832
30833@smallexample
30834 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
30835@end smallexample
30836
30837Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
30838
30839@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30840
30841The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
30842
30843@subsubheading Example
30844N.A.
30845
30846
30847@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
30848@findex -symbol-info-file
30849
30850@subsubheading Synopsis
30851
30852@smallexample
30853 -symbol-info-file
30854@end smallexample
30855
30856Show the file for the symbol.
30857
30858@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30859
30860There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
30861@samp{gdb_find_file}.
30862
30863@subsubheading Example
30864N.A.
30865
30866
30867@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
30868@findex -symbol-info-function
30869
30870@subsubheading Synopsis
30871
30872@smallexample
30873 -symbol-info-function
30874@end smallexample
30875
30876Show which function the symbol lives in.
30877
30878@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30879
30880@samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
30881
30882@subsubheading Example
30883N.A.
30884
30885
30886@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
30887@findex -symbol-info-line
30888
30889@subsubheading Synopsis
30890
30891@smallexample
30892 -symbol-info-line
30893@end smallexample
30894
30895Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
30896
30897@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30898
30899The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
30900@code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
30901
30902@subsubheading Example
30903N.A.
30904
30905
30906@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
30907@findex -symbol-info-symbol
30908
30909@subsubheading Synopsis
30910
30911@smallexample
30912 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
30913@end smallexample
30914
30915Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
30916
30917@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30918
30919The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
30920
30921@subsubheading Example
30922N.A.
30923
30924
30925@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
30926@findex -symbol-list-functions
30927
30928@subsubheading Synopsis
30929
30930@smallexample
30931 -symbol-list-functions
30932@end smallexample
30933
30934List the functions in the executable.
30935
30936@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30937
30938@samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
30939@samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
30940
30941@subsubheading Example
30942N.A.
30943@end ignore
30944
30945
30946@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
30947@findex -symbol-list-lines
30948
30949@subsubheading Synopsis
30950
30951@smallexample
30952 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
30953@end smallexample
30954
30955Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
30956addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
30957ascending PC order.
30958
30959@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30960
30961There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
30962
30963@subsubheading Example
30964@smallexample
30965(gdb)
30966-symbol-list-lines basics.c
30967^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
30968(gdb)
30969@end smallexample
30970
30971
30972@ignore
30973@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
30974@findex -symbol-list-types
30975
30976@subsubheading Synopsis
30977
30978@smallexample
30979 -symbol-list-types
30980@end smallexample
30981
30982List all the type names.
30983
30984@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30985
30986The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
30987@samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
30988
30989@subsubheading Example
30990N.A.
30991
30992
30993@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
30994@findex -symbol-list-variables
30995
30996@subsubheading Synopsis
30997
30998@smallexample
30999 -symbol-list-variables
31000@end smallexample
31001
31002List all the global and static variable names.
31003
31004@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31005
31006@samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
31007
31008@subsubheading Example
31009N.A.
31010
31011
31012@subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
31013@findex -symbol-locate
31014
31015@subsubheading Synopsis
31016
31017@smallexample
31018 -symbol-locate
31019@end smallexample
31020
31021@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31022
31023@samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
31024
31025@subsubheading Example
31026N.A.
31027
31028
31029@subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
31030@findex -symbol-type
31031
31032@subsubheading Synopsis
31033
31034@smallexample
31035 -symbol-type @var{variable}
31036@end smallexample
31037
31038Show type of @var{variable}.
31039
31040@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31041
31042The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
31043@samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
31044
31045@subsubheading Example
31046N.A.
31047@end ignore
31048
31049
31050@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31051@node GDB/MI File Commands
31052@section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
31053
31054This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
31055and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
31056
31057@subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
31058@findex -file-exec-and-symbols
31059
31060@subsubheading Synopsis
31061
31062@smallexample
31063 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
31064@end smallexample
31065
31066Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
31067which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
31068command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
31069are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
31070error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
31071notification.
31072
31073@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31074
31075The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
31076
31077@subsubheading Example
31078
31079@smallexample
31080(gdb)
31081-file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
31082^done
31083(gdb)
31084@end smallexample
31085
31086
31087@subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
31088@findex -file-exec-file
31089
31090@subsubheading Synopsis
31091
31092@smallexample
31093 -file-exec-file @var{file}
31094@end smallexample
31095
31096Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
31097@samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
31098from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
31099about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
31100notification.
31101
31102@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31103
31104The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
31105
31106@subsubheading Example
31107
31108@smallexample
31109(gdb)
31110-file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
31111^done
31112(gdb)
31113@end smallexample
31114
31115
31116@ignore
31117@subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
31118@findex -file-list-exec-sections
31119
31120@subsubheading Synopsis
31121
31122@smallexample
31123 -file-list-exec-sections
31124@end smallexample
31125
31126List the sections of the current executable file.
31127
31128@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31129
31130The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
31131information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
31132@samp{gdb_load_info}.
31133
31134@subsubheading Example
31135N.A.
31136@end ignore
31137
31138
31139@subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
31140@findex -file-list-exec-source-file
31141
31142@subsubheading Synopsis
31143
31144@smallexample
31145 -file-list-exec-source-file
31146@end smallexample
31147
31148List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
31149to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
31150information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
31151whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
31152
31153@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31154
31155The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
31156
31157@subsubheading Example
31158
31159@smallexample
31160(gdb)
31161123-file-list-exec-source-file
31162123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
31163(gdb)
31164@end smallexample
31165
31166
31167@subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
31168@findex -file-list-exec-source-files
31169
31170@subsubheading Synopsis
31171
31172@smallexample
31173 -file-list-exec-source-files
31174@end smallexample
31175
31176List the source files for the current executable.
31177
31178It will always output both the filename and fullname (absolute file
31179name) of a source file.
31180
31181@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31182
31183The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
31184@code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
31185
31186@subsubheading Example
31187@smallexample
31188(gdb)
31189-file-list-exec-source-files
31190^done,files=[
31191@{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
31192@{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
31193@{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
31194(gdb)
31195@end smallexample
31196
31197@ignore
31198@subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
31199@findex -file-list-shared-libraries
31200
31201@subsubheading Synopsis
31202
31203@smallexample
31204 -file-list-shared-libraries
31205@end smallexample
31206
31207List the shared libraries in the program.
31208
31209@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31210
31211The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
31212
31213@subsubheading Example
31214N.A.
31215
31216
31217@subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
31218@findex -file-list-symbol-files
31219
31220@subsubheading Synopsis
31221
31222@smallexample
31223 -file-list-symbol-files
31224@end smallexample
31225
31226List symbol files.
31227
31228@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31229
31230The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
31231
31232@subsubheading Example
31233N.A.
31234@end ignore
31235
31236
31237@subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
31238@findex -file-symbol-file
31239
31240@subsubheading Synopsis
31241
31242@smallexample
31243 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
31244@end smallexample
31245
31246Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
31247used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
31248produced, except for a completion notification.
31249
31250@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31251
31252The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
31253
31254@subsubheading Example
31255
31256@smallexample
31257(gdb)
31258-file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
31259^done
31260(gdb)
31261@end smallexample
31262
31263@ignore
31264@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31265@node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
31266@section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
31267
31268The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
31269
31270@c @subheading -overlay-auto
31271
31272@c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
31273
31274@c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
31275
31276@c @subheading -overlay-map
31277
31278@c @subheading -overlay-off
31279
31280@c @subheading -overlay-on
31281
31282@c @subheading -overlay-unmap
31283
31284@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31285@node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
31286@section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
31287
31288Signal handling commands are not implemented.
31289
31290@c @subheading -signal-handle
31291
31292@c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
31293
31294@c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
31295@end ignore
31296
31297
31298@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31299@node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
31300@section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
31301
31302
31303@subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
31304@findex -target-attach
31305
31306@subsubheading Synopsis
31307
31308@smallexample
31309 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
31310@end smallexample
31311
31312Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
31313@value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
31314group, the id previously returned by
31315@samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
31316
31317@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31318
31319The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
31320
31321@subsubheading Example
31322@smallexample
31323(gdb)
31324-target-attach 34
31325=thread-created,id="1"
31326*stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
31327^done
31328(gdb)
31329@end smallexample
31330
31331@ignore
31332@subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
31333@findex -target-compare-sections
31334
31335@subsubheading Synopsis
31336
31337@smallexample
31338 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
31339@end smallexample
31340
31341Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
31342Without the argument, all sections are compared.
31343
31344@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31345
31346The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
31347
31348@subsubheading Example
31349N.A.
31350@end ignore
31351
31352
31353@subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
31354@findex -target-detach
31355
31356@subsubheading Synopsis
31357
31358@smallexample
31359 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
31360@end smallexample
31361
31362Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
31363If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
31364the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
31365
31366@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31367
31368The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
31369
31370@subsubheading Example
31371
31372@smallexample
31373(gdb)
31374-target-detach
31375^done
31376(gdb)
31377@end smallexample
31378
31379
31380@subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
31381@findex -target-disconnect
31382
31383@subsubheading Synopsis
31384
31385@smallexample
31386 -target-disconnect
31387@end smallexample
31388
31389Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
31390generally not resumed.
31391
31392@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31393
31394The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
31395
31396@subsubheading Example
31397
31398@smallexample
31399(gdb)
31400-target-disconnect
31401^done
31402(gdb)
31403@end smallexample
31404
31405
31406@subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
31407@findex -target-download
31408
31409@subsubheading Synopsis
31410
31411@smallexample
31412 -target-download
31413@end smallexample
31414
31415Loads the executable onto the remote target.
31416It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
31417
31418@table @samp
31419@item section
31420The name of the section.
31421@item section-sent
31422The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
31423@item section-size
31424The size of the section.
31425@item total-sent
31426The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
31427@item total-size
31428The size of the overall executable to download.
31429@end table
31430
31431@noindent
31432Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
31433@sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
31434
31435In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
31436downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
31437
31438@table @samp
31439@item section
31440The name of the section.
31441@item section-size
31442The size of the section.
31443@item total-size
31444The size of the overall executable to download.
31445@end table
31446
31447@noindent
31448At the end, a summary is printed.
31449
31450@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31451
31452The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
31453
31454@subsubheading Example
31455
31456Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
31457have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
31458
31459@smallexample
31460(gdb)
31461-target-download
31462+download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
31463+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
31464total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
31465+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
31466total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
31467+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
31468total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
31469+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
31470total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
31471+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
31472total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
31473+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
31474total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
31475+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
31476total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
31477+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
31478total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
31479+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
31480total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
31481+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
31482total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
31483+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
31484total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
31485+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
31486total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
31487+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
31488total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
31489+download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
31490+download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
31491+download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
31492+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
31493total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
31494+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
31495total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
31496+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
31497total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
31498+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
31499total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
31500+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
31501total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
31502+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
31503total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
31504^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
31505write-rate="429"
31506(gdb)
31507@end smallexample
31508
31509
31510@ignore
31511@subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
31512@findex -target-exec-status
31513
31514@subsubheading Synopsis
31515
31516@smallexample
31517 -target-exec-status
31518@end smallexample
31519
31520Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
31521not, for instance).
31522
31523@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31524
31525There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
31526
31527@subsubheading Example
31528N.A.
31529
31530
31531@subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
31532@findex -target-list-available-targets
31533
31534@subsubheading Synopsis
31535
31536@smallexample
31537 -target-list-available-targets
31538@end smallexample
31539
31540List the possible targets to connect to.
31541
31542@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31543
31544The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
31545
31546@subsubheading Example
31547N.A.
31548
31549
31550@subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
31551@findex -target-list-current-targets
31552
31553@subsubheading Synopsis
31554
31555@smallexample
31556 -target-list-current-targets
31557@end smallexample
31558
31559Describe the current target.
31560
31561@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31562
31563The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
31564other things).
31565
31566@subsubheading Example
31567N.A.
31568
31569
31570@subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
31571@findex -target-list-parameters
31572
31573@subsubheading Synopsis
31574
31575@smallexample
31576 -target-list-parameters
31577@end smallexample
31578
31579@c ????
31580@end ignore
31581
31582@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31583
31584No equivalent.
31585
31586@subsubheading Example
31587N.A.
31588
31589
31590@subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
31591@findex -target-select
31592
31593@subsubheading Synopsis
31594
31595@smallexample
31596 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
31597@end smallexample
31598
31599Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
31600
31601@table @samp
31602@item @var{type}
31603The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
31604@item @var{parameters}
31605Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
31606Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
31607@end table
31608
31609The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
31610which the target program is, in the following form:
31611
31612@smallexample
31613^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
31614 args=[@var{arg list}]
31615@end smallexample
31616
31617@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31618
31619The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
31620
31621@subsubheading Example
31622
31623@smallexample
31624(gdb)
31625-target-select remote /dev/ttya
31626^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
31627(gdb)
31628@end smallexample
31629
31630@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31631@node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
31632@section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
31633
31634
31635@subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
31636@findex -target-file-put
31637
31638@subsubheading Synopsis
31639
31640@smallexample
31641 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
31642@end smallexample
31643
31644Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
31645@value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
31646
31647@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31648
31649The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
31650
31651@subsubheading Example
31652
31653@smallexample
31654(gdb)
31655-target-file-put localfile remotefile
31656^done
31657(gdb)
31658@end smallexample
31659
31660
31661@subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
31662@findex -target-file-get
31663
31664@subsubheading Synopsis
31665
31666@smallexample
31667 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
31668@end smallexample
31669
31670Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
31671on the host system.
31672
31673@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31674
31675The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
31676
31677@subsubheading Example
31678
31679@smallexample
31680(gdb)
31681-target-file-get remotefile localfile
31682^done
31683(gdb)
31684@end smallexample
31685
31686
31687@subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
31688@findex -target-file-delete
31689
31690@subsubheading Synopsis
31691
31692@smallexample
31693 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
31694@end smallexample
31695
31696Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
31697
31698@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31699
31700The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
31701
31702@subsubheading Example
31703
31704@smallexample
31705(gdb)
31706-target-file-delete remotefile
31707^done
31708(gdb)
31709@end smallexample
31710
31711
31712@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31713@node GDB/MI Ada Exceptions Commands
31714@section Ada Exceptions @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
31715
31716@subheading The @code{-info-ada-exceptions} Command
31717@findex -info-ada-exceptions
31718
31719@subsubheading Synopsis
31720
31721@smallexample
31722 -info-ada-exceptions [ @var{regexp}]
31723@end smallexample
31724
31725List all Ada exceptions defined within the program being debugged.
31726With a regular expression @var{regexp}, only those exceptions whose
31727names match @var{regexp} are listed.
31728
31729@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31730
31731The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info exceptions}.
31732
31733@subsubheading Result
31734
31735The result is a table of Ada exceptions. The following columns are
31736defined for each exception:
31737
31738@table @samp
31739@item name
31740The name of the exception.
31741
31742@item address
31743The address of the exception.
31744
31745@end table
31746
31747@subsubheading Example
31748
31749@smallexample
31750-info-ada-exceptions aint
31751^done,ada-exceptions=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="2",
31752hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
31753@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="address",colhdr="Address"@}],
31754body=[@{name="constraint_error",address="0x0000000000613da0"@},
31755@{name="const.aint_global_e",address="0x0000000000613b00"@}]@}
31756@end smallexample
31757
31758@subheading Catching Ada Exceptions
31759
31760The commands describing how to ask @value{GDBN} to stop when a program
31761raises an exception are described at @ref{Ada Exception GDB/MI
31762Catchpoint Commands}.
31763
31764
31765@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31766@node GDB/MI Support Commands
31767@section @sc{gdb/mi} Support Commands
31768
31769Since new commands and features get regularly added to @sc{gdb/mi},
31770some commands are available to help front-ends query the debugger
31771about support for these capabilities. Similarly, it is also possible
31772to query @value{GDBN} about target support of certain features.
31773
31774@subheading The @code{-info-gdb-mi-command} Command
31775@cindex @code{-info-gdb-mi-command}
31776@findex -info-gdb-mi-command
31777
31778@subsubheading Synopsis
31779
31780@smallexample
31781 -info-gdb-mi-command @var{cmd_name}
31782@end smallexample
31783
31784Query support for the @sc{gdb/mi} command named @var{cmd_name}.
31785
31786Note that the dash (@code{-}) starting all @sc{gdb/mi} commands
31787is technically not part of the command name (@pxref{GDB/MI Input
31788Syntax}), and thus should be omitted in @var{cmd_name}. However,
31789for ease of use, this command also accepts the form with the leading
31790dash.
31791
31792@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31793
31794There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
31795
31796@subsubheading Result
31797
31798The result is a tuple. There is currently only one field:
31799
31800@table @samp
31801@item exists
31802This field is equal to @code{"true"} if the @sc{gdb/mi} command exists,
31803@code{"false"} otherwise.
31804
31805@end table
31806
31807@subsubheading Example
31808
31809Here is an example where the @sc{gdb/mi} command does not exist:
31810
31811@smallexample
31812-info-gdb-mi-command unsupported-command
31813^done,command=@{exists="false"@}
31814@end smallexample
31815
31816@noindent
31817And here is an example where the @sc{gdb/mi} command is known
31818to the debugger:
31819
31820@smallexample
31821-info-gdb-mi-command symbol-list-lines
31822^done,command=@{exists="true"@}
31823@end smallexample
31824
31825@subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
31826@findex -list-features
31827@cindex supported @sc{gdb/mi} features, list
31828
31829Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
31830this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
31831or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
31832important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
31833of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
31834startup.
31835
31836The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
31837available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
31838have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
31839is given below.
31840
31841Example output:
31842
31843@smallexample
31844(gdb) -list-features
31845^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
31846@end smallexample
31847
31848The current list of features is:
31849
31850@ftable @samp
31851@item frozen-varobjs
31852Indicates support for the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
31853as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
31854of @code{-varobj-create}.
31855@item pending-breakpoints
31856Indicates support for the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert}
31857command.
31858@item python
31859Indicates Python scripting support, Python-based
31860pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
31861@samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
31862@item thread-info
31863Indicates support for the @code{-thread-info} command.
31864@item data-read-memory-bytes
31865Indicates support for the @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} and the
31866@code{-data-write-memory-bytes} commands.
31867@item breakpoint-notifications
31868Indicates that changes to breakpoints and breakpoints created via the
31869CLI will be announced via async records.
31870@item ada-task-info
31871Indicates support for the @code{-ada-task-info} command.
31872@item language-option
31873Indicates that all @sc{gdb/mi} commands accept the @option{--language}
31874option (@pxref{Context management}).
31875@item info-gdb-mi-command
31876Indicates support for the @code{-info-gdb-mi-command} command.
31877@item undefined-command-error-code
31878Indicates support for the "undefined-command" error code in error result
31879records, produced when trying to execute an undefined @sc{gdb/mi} command
31880(@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}).
31881@item exec-run-start-option
31882Indicates that the @code{-exec-run} command supports the @option{--start}
31883option (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}).
31884@end ftable
31885
31886@subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
31887@findex -list-target-features
31888
31889Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
31890target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
31891unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
31892features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
31893a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
31894@code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
31895may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
31896Example output:
31897
31898@smallexample
31899(gdb) -list-target-features
31900^done,result=["async"]
31901@end smallexample
31902
31903The current list of features is:
31904
31905@table @samp
31906@item async
31907Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
31908execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
31909while the target is running.
31910
31911@item reverse
31912Indicates that the target is capable of reverse execution.
31913@xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
31914
31915@end table
31916
31917@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31918@node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
31919@section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
31920
31921@c @subheading -gdb-complete
31922
31923@subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
31924@findex -gdb-exit
31925
31926@subsubheading Synopsis
31927
31928@smallexample
31929 -gdb-exit
31930@end smallexample
31931
31932Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
31933
31934@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31935
31936Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
31937
31938@subsubheading Example
31939
31940@smallexample
31941(gdb)
31942-gdb-exit
31943^exit
31944@end smallexample
31945
31946
31947@ignore
31948@subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
31949@findex -exec-abort
31950
31951@subsubheading Synopsis
31952
31953@smallexample
31954 -exec-abort
31955@end smallexample
31956
31957Kill the inferior running program.
31958
31959@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31960
31961The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
31962
31963@subsubheading Example
31964N.A.
31965@end ignore
31966
31967
31968@subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
31969@findex -gdb-set
31970
31971@subsubheading Synopsis
31972
31973@smallexample
31974 -gdb-set
31975@end smallexample
31976
31977Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
31978@c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
31979
31980@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31981
31982The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
31983
31984@subsubheading Example
31985
31986@smallexample
31987(gdb)
31988-gdb-set $foo=3
31989^done
31990(gdb)
31991@end smallexample
31992
31993
31994@subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
31995@findex -gdb-show
31996
31997@subsubheading Synopsis
31998
31999@smallexample
32000 -gdb-show
32001@end smallexample
32002
32003Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
32004
32005@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32006
32007The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
32008
32009@subsubheading Example
32010
32011@smallexample
32012(gdb)
32013-gdb-show annotate
32014^done,value="0"
32015(gdb)
32016@end smallexample
32017
32018@c @subheading -gdb-source
32019
32020
32021@subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
32022@findex -gdb-version
32023
32024@subsubheading Synopsis
32025
32026@smallexample
32027 -gdb-version
32028@end smallexample
32029
32030Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
32031
32032@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32033
32034The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
32035default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
32036
32037@subsubheading Example
32038
32039@c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
32040@c box in TeX.
32041@smallexample
32042(gdb)
32043-gdb-version
32044~GNU gdb 5.2.1
32045~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
32046~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
32047~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
32048~ certain conditions.
32049~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
32050~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
32051~ details.
32052~This GDB was configured as
32053 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
32054^done
32055(gdb)
32056@end smallexample
32057
32058@subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
32059@findex -list-thread-groups
32060
32061@subheading Synopsis
32062
32063@smallexample
32064-list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
32065@end smallexample
32066
32067Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
32068group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
32069When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
32070thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
32071top-level thread groups.
32072
32073Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
32074With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
32075available on the target.
32076
32077The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
32078a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
32079as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
32080Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
32081each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
32082requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
32083are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
32084of the @samp{group} result is described below.
32085
32086To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
32087together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
32088and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
32089permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
32090will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
32091@samp{threads} field.
32092
32093In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
32094the following caveats:
32095
32096@itemize @bullet
32097@item
32098When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
32099be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
32100anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
32101
32102@item
32103When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
32104be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
32105be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
32106not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
32107The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
32108is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
32109
32110@end itemize
32111
32112The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
32113have the following fields:
32114
32115@table @code
32116@item id
32117Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
32118The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
32119convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
32120
32121@item type
32122The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
32123valid type.
32124
32125@item pid
32126The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
32127for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
32128
32129@item exit-code
32130The exit code of this group's last exited thread, formatted in octal.
32131This field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process} and
32132only if the process is not running.
32133
32134@item num_children
32135The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
32136absent for an available thread group.
32137
32138@item threads
32139This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
32140thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
32141specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
32142
32143@item cores
32144This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
32145thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
32146such information is not available.
32147
32148@item executable
32149The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
32150The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
32151and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
32152
32153@end table
32154
32155@subheading Example
32156
32157@smallexample
32158@value{GDBP}
32159-list-thread-groups
32160^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
32161-list-thread-groups 17
32162^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
32163 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
32164@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
32165 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
32166 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
32167-list-thread-groups --available
32168^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
32169-list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
32170 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
32171 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
32172 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
32173-list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
32174^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
32175 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
32176 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
32177@end smallexample
32178
32179@subheading The @code{-info-os} Command
32180@findex -info-os
32181
32182@subsubheading Synopsis
32183
32184@smallexample
32185-info-os [ @var{type} ]
32186@end smallexample
32187
32188If no argument is supplied, the command returns a table of available
32189operating-system-specific information types. If one of these types is
32190supplied as an argument @var{type}, then the command returns a table
32191of data of that type.
32192
32193The types of information available depend on the target operating
32194system.
32195
32196@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32197
32198The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info os}.
32199
32200@subsubheading Example
32201
32202When run on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, the output will look something
32203like this:
32204
32205@smallexample
32206@value{GDBP}
32207-info-os
32208^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="10",nr_cols="3",
32209hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="Type"@},
32210 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="Description"@},
32211 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="Title"@}],
32212body=[item=@{col0="cpus",col1="Listing of all cpus/cores on the system",
32213 col2="CPUs"@},
32214 item=@{col0="files",col1="Listing of all file descriptors",
32215 col2="File descriptors"@},
32216 item=@{col0="modules",col1="Listing of all loaded kernel modules",
32217 col2="Kernel modules"@},
32218 item=@{col0="msg",col1="Listing of all message queues",
32219 col2="Message queues"@},
32220 item=@{col0="processes",col1="Listing of all processes",
32221 col2="Processes"@},
32222 item=@{col0="procgroups",col1="Listing of all process groups",
32223 col2="Process groups"@},
32224 item=@{col0="semaphores",col1="Listing of all semaphores",
32225 col2="Semaphores"@},
32226 item=@{col0="shm",col1="Listing of all shared-memory regions",
32227 col2="Shared-memory regions"@},
32228 item=@{col0="sockets",col1="Listing of all internet-domain sockets",
32229 col2="Sockets"@},
32230 item=@{col0="threads",col1="Listing of all threads",
32231 col2="Threads"@}]
32232@value{GDBP}
32233-info-os processes
32234^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="190",nr_cols="4",
32235hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="pid"@},
32236 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="user"@},
32237 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="command"@},
32238 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col3",colhdr="cores"@}],
32239body=[item=@{col0="1",col1="root",col2="/sbin/init",col3="0"@},
32240 item=@{col0="2",col1="root",col2="[kthreadd]",col3="1"@},
32241 item=@{col0="3",col1="root",col2="[ksoftirqd/0]",col3="0"@},
32242 ...
32243 item=@{col0="26446",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="0"@},
32244 item=@{col0="28152",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="1"@}]@}
32245(gdb)
32246@end smallexample
32247
32248(Note that the MI output here includes a @code{"Title"} column that
32249does not appear in command-line @code{info os}; this column is useful
32250for MI clients that want to enumerate the types of data, such as in a
32251popup menu, but is needless clutter on the command line, and
32252@code{info os} omits it.)
32253
32254@subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
32255@findex -add-inferior
32256
32257@subheading Synopsis
32258
32259@smallexample
32260-add-inferior
32261@end smallexample
32262
32263Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
32264inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
32265be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
32266(@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
32267field, @samp{inferior}, whose value is the identifier of the
32268thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
32269
32270@subheading Example
32271
32272@smallexample
32273@value{GDBP}
32274-add-inferior
32275^done,inferior="i3"
32276@end smallexample
32277
32278@subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
32279@findex -interpreter-exec
32280
32281@subheading Synopsis
32282
32283@smallexample
32284-interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
32285@end smallexample
32286@anchor{-interpreter-exec}
32287
32288Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
32289
32290@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
32291
32292The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
32293
32294@subheading Example
32295
32296@smallexample
32297(gdb)
32298-interpreter-exec console "break main"
32299&"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
32300&"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
32301~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
32302^done
32303(gdb)
32304@end smallexample
32305
32306@subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
32307@findex -inferior-tty-set
32308
32309@subheading Synopsis
32310
32311@smallexample
32312-inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
32313@end smallexample
32314
32315Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
32316
32317@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
32318
32319The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
32320
32321@subheading Example
32322
32323@smallexample
32324(gdb)
32325-inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
32326^done
32327(gdb)
32328@end smallexample
32329
32330@subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
32331@findex -inferior-tty-show
32332
32333@subheading Synopsis
32334
32335@smallexample
32336-inferior-tty-show
32337@end smallexample
32338
32339Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
32340
32341@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
32342
32343The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
32344
32345@subheading Example
32346
32347@smallexample
32348(gdb)
32349-inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
32350^done
32351(gdb)
32352-inferior-tty-show
32353^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
32354(gdb)
32355@end smallexample
32356
32357@subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
32358@findex -enable-timings
32359
32360@subheading Synopsis
32361
32362@smallexample
32363-enable-timings [yes | no]
32364@end smallexample
32365
32366Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
32367command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
32368developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
32369equivalent to @samp{yes}.
32370
32371@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
32372
32373No equivalent.
32374
32375@subheading Example
32376
32377@smallexample
32378(gdb)
32379-enable-timings
32380^done
32381(gdb)
32382-break-insert main
32383^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
32384addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
32385fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",thread-groups=["i1"],
32386times="0"@},
32387time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
32388(gdb)
32389-enable-timings no
32390^done
32391(gdb)
32392-exec-run
32393^running
32394(gdb)
32395*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
32396frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
32397@{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
32398fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
32399(gdb)
32400@end smallexample
32401
32402@node Annotations
32403@chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
32404
32405This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
32406designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
32407similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
32408relatively high level.
32409
32410The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
32411(@pxref{GDB/MI}).
32412
32413@ignore
32414This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
32415@end ignore
32416
32417@menu
32418* Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
32419* Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
32420* Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
32421* Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
32422* Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
32423* Annotations for Running::
32424 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
32425* Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
32426@end menu
32427
32428@node Annotations Overview
32429@section What is an Annotation?
32430@cindex annotations
32431
32432Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
32433characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
32434information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
32435is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
32436information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
32437additional information, and a newline. The additional information
32438cannot contain newline characters.
32439
32440Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
32441characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
32442no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
32443@samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
32444annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
32445means those three characters as output.
32446
32447The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
32448@option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
32449how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
32450values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
32451is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
32452subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
32453for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
32454been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
32455Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
32456
32457@table @code
32458@kindex set annotate
32459@item set annotate @var{level}
32460The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
32461annotations to the specified @var{level}.
32462
32463@item show annotate
32464@kindex show annotate
32465Show the current annotation level.
32466@end table
32467
32468This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
32469
32470A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
32471
32472@smallexample
32473$ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
32474GNU gdb 6.0
32475Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
32476GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
32477and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
32478under certain conditions.
32479Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
32480There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
32481for details.
32482This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
32483
32484^Z^Zpre-prompt
32485(@value{GDBP})
32486^Z^Zprompt
32487@kbd{quit}
32488
32489^Z^Zpost-prompt
32490$
32491@end smallexample
32492
32493Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
32494@value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
32495denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
32496output from @value{GDBN}.
32497
32498@node Server Prefix
32499@section The Server Prefix
32500@cindex server prefix
32501
32502If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
32503the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
32504command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
32505means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
32506a transparent manner.
32507
32508The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
32509the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
32510value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
32511@code{print} command.
32512
32513Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
32514(@pxref{confirmation requests}).
32515
32516@node Prompting
32517@section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
32518
32519@cindex annotations for prompts
32520When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
32521to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
32522over, etc.
32523
32524Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
32525input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
32526denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
32527annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
32528annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
32529associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
32530features the following annotations:
32531
32532@smallexample
32533^Z^Zpre-prompt
32534^Z^Zprompt
32535^Z^Zpost-prompt
32536@end smallexample
32537
32538The input types are
32539
32540@table @code
32541@findex pre-prompt annotation
32542@findex prompt annotation
32543@findex post-prompt annotation
32544@item prompt
32545When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
32546
32547@findex pre-commands annotation
32548@findex commands annotation
32549@findex post-commands annotation
32550@item commands
32551When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
32552command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
32553
32554@findex pre-overload-choice annotation
32555@findex overload-choice annotation
32556@findex post-overload-choice annotation
32557@item overload-choice
32558When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
32559
32560@findex pre-query annotation
32561@findex query annotation
32562@findex post-query annotation
32563@item query
32564When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
32565
32566@findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
32567@findex prompt-for-continue annotation
32568@findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
32569@item prompt-for-continue
32570When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
32571expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
32572prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
32573presence of annotations.
32574@end table
32575
32576@node Errors
32577@section Errors
32578@cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
32579
32580@findex quit annotation
32581@smallexample
32582^Z^Zquit
32583@end smallexample
32584
32585This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
32586
32587@findex error annotation
32588@smallexample
32589^Z^Zerror
32590@end smallexample
32591
32592This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
32593
32594Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
32595in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
32596@code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
32597cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
32598cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
32599does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
32600to the top level.
32601
32602@findex error-begin annotation
32603A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
32604
32605@smallexample
32606^Z^Zerror-begin
32607@end smallexample
32608
32609Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
32610message.
32611
32612Warning messages are not yet annotated.
32613@c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
32614@c range_error(), and possibly other places.
32615
32616@node Invalidation
32617@section Invalidation Notices
32618
32619@cindex annotations for invalidation messages
32620The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
32621changed.
32622
32623@table @code
32624@findex frames-invalid annotation
32625@item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
32626
32627The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
32628have changed.
32629
32630@findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
32631@item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
32632
32633The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
32634deleted a breakpoint.
32635@end table
32636
32637@node Annotations for Running
32638@section Running the Program
32639@cindex annotations for running programs
32640
32641@findex starting annotation
32642@findex stopping annotation
32643When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
32644@code{step} or @code{continue},
32645
32646@smallexample
32647^Z^Zstarting
32648@end smallexample
32649
32650is output. When the program stops,
32651
32652@smallexample
32653^Z^Zstopped
32654@end smallexample
32655
32656is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
32657annotations describe how the program stopped.
32658
32659@table @code
32660@findex exited annotation
32661@item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
32662The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
32663successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
32664
32665@findex signalled annotation
32666@findex signal-name annotation
32667@findex signal-name-end annotation
32668@findex signal-string annotation
32669@findex signal-string-end annotation
32670@item ^Z^Zsignalled
32671The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
32672annotation continues:
32673
32674@smallexample
32675@var{intro-text}
32676^Z^Zsignal-name
32677@var{name}
32678^Z^Zsignal-name-end
32679@var{middle-text}
32680^Z^Zsignal-string
32681@var{string}
32682^Z^Zsignal-string-end
32683@var{end-text}
32684@end smallexample
32685
32686@noindent
32687where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
32688@code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
32689as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}. The arguments
32690@var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
32691user's benefit and have no particular format.
32692
32693@findex signal annotation
32694@item ^Z^Zsignal
32695The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
32696just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
32697terminated with it.
32698
32699@findex breakpoint annotation
32700@item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
32701The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
32702
32703@findex watchpoint annotation
32704@item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
32705The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
32706@end table
32707
32708@node Source Annotations
32709@section Displaying Source
32710@cindex annotations for source display
32711
32712@findex source annotation
32713The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
32714
32715@smallexample
32716^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
32717@end smallexample
32718
32719where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
32720file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
32721first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
32722within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
32723debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
32724@var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
32725line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
32726@var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
32727source which is being displayed. The @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
32728followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
32729depend on the language).
32730
32731@node JIT Interface
32732@chapter JIT Compilation Interface
32733@cindex just-in-time compilation
32734@cindex JIT compilation interface
32735
32736This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
32737interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
32738executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
32739performance while maintaining platform independence.
32740
32741Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
32742portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
32743object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
32744and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
32745@value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
32746symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
32747
32748If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
32749it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
32750you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
32751of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
32752LLVM JIT.
32753
32754Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
32755JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
32756variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
32757attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
32758find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
32759out about additional code.
32760
32761@menu
32762* Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
32763* Registering Code:: Steps to register code
32764* Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
32765* Custom Debug Info:: Emit debug information in a custom format
32766@end menu
32767
32768@node Declarations
32769@section JIT Declarations
32770
32771These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
32772implement the interface:
32773
32774@smallexample
32775typedef enum
32776@{
32777 JIT_NOACTION = 0,
32778 JIT_REGISTER_FN,
32779 JIT_UNREGISTER_FN
32780@} jit_actions_t;
32781
32782struct jit_code_entry
32783@{
32784 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
32785 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
32786 const char *symfile_addr;
32787 uint64_t symfile_size;
32788@};
32789
32790struct jit_descriptor
32791@{
32792 uint32_t version;
32793 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
32794 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
32795 uint32_t action_flag;
32796 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
32797 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
32798@};
32799
32800/* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
32801void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
32802
32803/* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
32804 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
32805struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
32806@end smallexample
32807
32808If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
32809modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
32810a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
32811
32812@node Registering Code
32813@section Registering Code
32814
32815To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
32816
32817@itemize @bullet
32818@item
32819Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
32820information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
32821
32822@item
32823Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
32824file.
32825
32826@item
32827Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
32828
32829@item
32830Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
32831
32832@item
32833Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
32834@code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
32835@end itemize
32836
32837When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
32838@code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
32839new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
32840@value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
32841
32842@node Unregistering Code
32843@section Unregistering Code
32844
32845If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
32846
32847@itemize @bullet
32848@item
32849Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
32850
32851@item
32852Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
32853
32854@item
32855Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
32856@code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
32857@end itemize
32858
32859If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
32860and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
32861
32862@node Custom Debug Info
32863@section Custom Debug Info
32864@cindex custom JIT debug info
32865@cindex JIT debug info reader
32866
32867Generating debug information in platform-native file formats (like ELF
32868or COFF) may be an overkill for JIT compilers; especially if all the
32869debug info is used for is displaying a meaningful backtrace. The
32870issue can be resolved by having the JIT writers decide on a debug info
32871format and also provide a reader that parses the debug info generated
32872by the JIT compiler. This section gives a brief overview on writing
32873such a parser. More specific details can be found in the source file
32874@file{gdb/jit-reader.in}, which is also installed as a header at
32875@file{@var{includedir}/gdb/jit-reader.h} for easy inclusion.
32876
32877The reader is implemented as a shared object (so this functionality is
32878not available on platforms which don't allow loading shared objects at
32879runtime). Two @value{GDBN} commands, @code{jit-reader-load} and
32880@code{jit-reader-unload} are provided, to be used to load and unload
32881the readers from a preconfigured directory. Once loaded, the shared
32882object is used the parse the debug information emitted by the JIT
32883compiler.
32884
32885@menu
32886* Using JIT Debug Info Readers:: How to use supplied readers correctly
32887* Writing JIT Debug Info Readers:: Creating a debug-info reader
32888@end menu
32889
32890@node Using JIT Debug Info Readers
32891@subsection Using JIT Debug Info Readers
32892@kindex jit-reader-load
32893@kindex jit-reader-unload
32894
32895Readers can be loaded and unloaded using the @code{jit-reader-load}
32896and @code{jit-reader-unload} commands.
32897
32898@table @code
32899@item jit-reader-load @var{reader}
32900Load the JIT reader named @var{reader}, which is a shared
32901object specified as either an absolute or a relative file name. In
32902the latter case, @value{GDBN} will try to load the reader from a
32903pre-configured directory, usually @file{@var{libdir}/gdb/} on a UNIX
32904system (here @var{libdir} is the system library directory, often
32905@file{/usr/local/lib}).
32906
32907Only one reader can be active at a time; trying to load a second
32908reader when one is already loaded will result in @value{GDBN}
32909reporting an error. A new JIT reader can be loaded by first unloading
32910the current one using @code{jit-reader-unload} and then invoking
32911@code{jit-reader-load}.
32912
32913@item jit-reader-unload
32914Unload the currently loaded JIT reader.
32915
32916@end table
32917
32918@node Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
32919@subsection Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
32920@cindex writing JIT debug info readers
32921
32922As mentioned, a reader is essentially a shared object conforming to a
32923certain ABI. This ABI is described in @file{jit-reader.h}.
32924
32925@file{jit-reader.h} defines the structures, macros and functions
32926required to write a reader. It is installed (along with
32927@value{GDBN}), in @file{@var{includedir}/gdb} where @var{includedir} is
32928the system include directory.
32929
32930Readers need to be released under a GPL compatible license. A reader
32931can be declared as released under such a license by placing the macro
32932@code{GDB_DECLARE_GPL_COMPATIBLE_READER} in a source file.
32933
32934The entry point for readers is the symbol @code{gdb_init_reader},
32935which is expected to be a function with the prototype
32936
32937@findex gdb_init_reader
32938@smallexample
32939extern struct gdb_reader_funcs *gdb_init_reader (void);
32940@end smallexample
32941
32942@cindex @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs}
32943
32944@code{struct gdb_reader_funcs} contains a set of pointers to callback
32945functions. These functions are executed to read the debug info
32946generated by the JIT compiler (@code{read}), to unwind stack frames
32947(@code{unwind}) and to create canonical frame IDs
32948(@code{get_Frame_id}). It also has a callback that is called when the
32949reader is being unloaded (@code{destroy}). The struct looks like this
32950
32951@smallexample
32952struct gdb_reader_funcs
32953@{
32954 /* Must be set to GDB_READER_INTERFACE_VERSION. */
32955 int reader_version;
32956
32957 /* For use by the reader. */
32958 void *priv_data;
32959
32960 gdb_read_debug_info *read;
32961 gdb_unwind_frame *unwind;
32962 gdb_get_frame_id *get_frame_id;
32963 gdb_destroy_reader *destroy;
32964@};
32965@end smallexample
32966
32967@cindex @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks}
32968@cindex @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}
32969
32970The callbacks are provided with another set of callbacks by
32971@value{GDBN} to do their job. For @code{read}, these callbacks are
32972passed in a @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} and for @code{unwind}
32973and @code{get_frame_id}, in a @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}.
32974@code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} has callbacks to create new object
32975files and new symbol tables inside those object files. @code{struct
32976gdb_unwind_callbacks} has callbacks to read registers off the current
32977frame and to write out the values of the registers in the previous
32978frame. Both have a callback (@code{target_read}) to read bytes off the
32979target's address space.
32980
32981@node In-Process Agent
32982@chapter In-Process Agent
32983@cindex debugging agent
32984The traditional debugging model is conceptually low-speed, but works fine,
32985because most bugs can be reproduced in debugging-mode execution. However,
32986as multi-core or many-core processors are becoming mainstream, and
32987multi-threaded programs become more and more popular, there should be more
32988and more bugs that only manifest themselves at normal-mode execution, for
32989example, thread races, because debugger's interference with the program's
32990timing may conceal the bugs. On the other hand, in some applications,
32991it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt the program's execution
32992long enough for the developer to learn anything helpful about its behavior.
32993If the program's correctness depends on its real-time behavior, delays
32994introduced by a debugger might cause the program to fail, even when the
32995code itself is correct. It is useful to be able to observe the program's
32996behavior without interrupting it.
32997
32998Therefore, traditional debugging model is too intrusive to reproduce
32999some bugs. In order to reduce the interference with the program, we can
33000reduce the number of operations performed by debugger. The
33001@dfn{In-Process Agent}, a shared library, is running within the same
33002process with inferior, and is able to perform some debugging operations
33003itself. As a result, debugger is only involved when necessary, and
33004performance of debugging can be improved accordingly. Note that
33005interference with program can be reduced but can't be removed completely,
33006because the in-process agent will still stop or slow down the program.
33007
33008The in-process agent can interpret and execute Agent Expressions
33009(@pxref{Agent Expressions}) during performing debugging operations. The
33010agent expressions can be used for different purposes, such as collecting
33011data in tracepoints, and condition evaluation in breakpoints.
33012
33013@anchor{Control Agent}
33014You can control whether the in-process agent is used as an aid for
33015debugging with the following commands:
33016
33017@table @code
33018@kindex set agent on
33019@item set agent on
33020Causes the in-process agent to perform some operations on behalf of the
33021debugger. Just which operations requested by the user will be done
33022by the in-process agent depends on the its capabilities. For example,
33023if you request to evaluate breakpoint conditions in the in-process agent,
33024and the in-process agent has such capability as well, then breakpoint
33025conditions will be evaluated in the in-process agent.
33026
33027@kindex set agent off
33028@item set agent off
33029Disables execution of debugging operations by the in-process agent. All
33030of the operations will be performed by @value{GDBN}.
33031
33032@kindex show agent
33033@item show agent
33034Display the current setting of execution of debugging operations by
33035the in-process agent.
33036@end table
33037
33038@menu
33039* In-Process Agent Protocol::
33040@end menu
33041
33042@node In-Process Agent Protocol
33043@section In-Process Agent Protocol
33044@cindex in-process agent protocol
33045
33046The in-process agent is able to communicate with both @value{GDBN} and
33047GDBserver (@pxref{In-Process Agent}). This section documents the protocol
33048used for communications between @value{GDBN} or GDBserver and the IPA.
33049In general, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver sends commands
33050(@pxref{IPA Protocol Commands}) and data to in-process agent, and then
33051in-process agent replies back with the return result of the command, or
33052some other information. The data sent to in-process agent is composed
33053of primitive data types, such as 4-byte or 8-byte type, and composite
33054types, which are called objects (@pxref{IPA Protocol Objects}).
33055
33056@menu
33057* IPA Protocol Objects::
33058* IPA Protocol Commands::
33059@end menu
33060
33061@node IPA Protocol Objects
33062@subsection IPA Protocol Objects
33063@cindex ipa protocol objects
33064
33065The commands sent to and results received from agent may contain some
33066complex data types called @dfn{objects}.
33067
33068The in-process agent is running on the same machine with @value{GDBN}
33069or GDBserver, so it doesn't have to handle as much differences between
33070two ends as remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}) tries to handle.
33071However, there are still some differences of two ends in two processes:
33072
33073@enumerate
33074@item
33075word size. On some 64-bit machines, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver can be
33076compiled as a 64-bit executable, while in-process agent is a 32-bit one.
33077@item
33078ABI. Some machines may have multiple types of ABI, @value{GDBN} or
33079GDBserver is compiled with one, and in-process agent is compiled with
33080the other one.
33081@end enumerate
33082
33083Here are the IPA Protocol Objects:
33084
33085@enumerate
33086@item
33087agent expression object. It represents an agent expression
33088(@pxref{Agent Expressions}).
33089@anchor{agent expression object}
33090@item
33091tracepoint action object. It represents a tracepoint action
33092(@pxref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}) to collect registers,
33093memory, static trace data and to evaluate expression.
33094@anchor{tracepoint action object}
33095@item
33096tracepoint object. It represents a tracepoint (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
33097@anchor{tracepoint object}
33098
33099@end enumerate
33100
33101The following table describes important attributes of each IPA protocol
33102object:
33103
33104@multitable @columnfractions .30 .20 .50
33105@headitem Name @tab Size @tab Description
33106@item @emph{agent expression object} @tab @tab
33107@item length @tab 4 @tab length of bytes code
33108@item byte code @tab @var{length} @tab contents of byte code
33109@item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting memory} @tab @tab
33110@item 'M' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
33111@item addr @tab 8 @tab if @var{basereg} is @samp{-1}, @var{addr} is the
33112address of the lowest byte to collect, otherwise @var{addr} is the offset
33113of @var{basereg} for memory collecting.
33114@item len @tab 8 @tab length of memory for collecting
33115@item basereg @tab 4 @tab the register number containing the starting
33116memory address for collecting.
33117@item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting registers} @tab @tab
33118@item 'R' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
33119@item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting static trace data} @tab @tab
33120@item 'L' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
33121@item @emph{tracepoint action for expression evaluation} @tab @tab
33122@item 'X' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
33123@item agent expression @tab length of @tab @ref{agent expression object}
33124@item @emph{tracepoint object} @tab @tab
33125@item number @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint
33126@item address @tab 8 @tab address of tracepoint inserted on
33127@item type @tab 4 @tab type of tracepoint
33128@item enabled @tab 1 @tab enable or disable of tracepoint
33129@item step_count @tab 8 @tab step
33130@item pass_count @tab 8 @tab pass
33131@item numactions @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint actions
33132@item hit count @tab 8 @tab hit count
33133@item trace frame usage @tab 8 @tab trace frame usage
33134@item compiled_cond @tab 8 @tab compiled condition
33135@item orig_size @tab 8 @tab orig size
33136@item condition @tab 4 if condition is NULL otherwise length of
33137@ref{agent expression object}
33138@tab zero if condition is NULL, otherwise is
33139@ref{agent expression object}
33140@item actions @tab variable
33141@tab numactions number of @ref{tracepoint action object}
33142@end multitable
33143
33144@node IPA Protocol Commands
33145@subsection IPA Protocol Commands
33146@cindex ipa protocol commands
33147
33148The spaces in each command are delimiters to ease reading this commands
33149specification. They don't exist in real commands.
33150
33151@table @samp
33152
33153@item FastTrace:@var{tracepoint_object} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}
33154Installs a new fast tracepoint described by @var{tracepoint_object}
33155(@pxref{tracepoint object}). The @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}, 8-byte long, is the
33156head of @dfn{jumppad}, which is used to jump to data collection routine
33157in IPA finally.
33158
33159Replies:
33160@table @samp
33161@item OK @var{target_address} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} @var{fjump_size} @var{fjump}
33162@var{target_address} is address of tracepoint in the inferior.
33163The @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} is updated head of jumppad. Both of
33164@var{target_address} and @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} are 8-byte long.
33165The @var{fjump} contains a sequence of instructions jump to jumppad entry.
33166The @var{fjump_size}, 4-byte long, is the size of @var{fjump}.
33167@item E @var{NN}
33168for an error
33169
33170@end table
33171
33172@item close
33173Closes the in-process agent. This command is sent when @value{GDBN} or GDBserver
33174is about to kill inferiors.
33175
33176@item qTfSTM
33177@xref{qTfSTM}.
33178@item qTsSTM
33179@xref{qTsSTM}.
33180@item qTSTMat
33181@xref{qTSTMat}.
33182@item probe_marker_at:@var{address}
33183Asks in-process agent to probe the marker at @var{address}.
33184
33185Replies:
33186@table @samp
33187@item E @var{NN}
33188for an error
33189@end table
33190@item unprobe_marker_at:@var{address}
33191Asks in-process agent to unprobe the marker at @var{address}.
33192@end table
33193
33194@node GDB Bugs
33195@chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
33196@cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
33197@cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
33198
33199Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
33200
33201Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
33202may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
33203the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
33204reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
33205
33206In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
33207information that enables us to fix the bug.
33208
33209@menu
33210* Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
33211* Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
33212@end menu
33213
33214@node Bug Criteria
33215@section Have You Found a Bug?
33216@cindex bug criteria
33217
33218If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
33219
33220@itemize @bullet
33221@cindex fatal signal
33222@cindex debugger crash
33223@cindex crash of debugger
33224@item
33225If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
33226@value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
33227
33228@cindex error on valid input
33229@item
33230If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
33231bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
33232somewhere in the connection to the target.)
33233
33234@cindex invalid input
33235@item
33236If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
33237that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
33238``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
33239for traditional practice''.
33240
33241@item
33242If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
33243for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
33244@end itemize
33245
33246@node Bug Reporting
33247@section How to Report Bugs
33248@cindex bug reports
33249@cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
33250
33251A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
33252If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
33253contact that organization first.
33254
33255You can find contact information for many support companies and
33256individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
33257distribution.
33258@c should add a web page ref...
33259
33260@ifset BUGURL
33261@ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
33262In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
33263@value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
33264@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
33265page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
33266be used.
33267
33268@strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
33269@samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
33270not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
33271@samp{bug-gdb}.
33272
33273The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
33274serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
33275the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
33276newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
33277problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
33278path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
33279we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
33280bug reports to the mailing list.
33281@end ifset
33282@ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
33283In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
33284@value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
33285@end ifclear
33286@end ifset
33287
33288The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
33289@strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
33290fact or leave it out, state it!
33291
33292Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
33293problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
33294assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
33295Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
33296stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
33297name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
33298of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
33299the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
33300easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
33301
33302Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
33303bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
33304you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
33305self-contained.
33306
33307Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
33308bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
33309@emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
33310bugs properly.
33311
33312To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
33313
33314@itemize @bullet
33315@item
33316The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
33317with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
33318version}.
33319
33320Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
33321the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
33322
33323@item
33324The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
33325version number.
33326
33327@item
33328The details of the @value{GDBN} build-time configuration.
33329@value{GDBN} shows these details if you invoke it with the
33330@option{--configuration} command-line option, or if you type
33331@code{show configuration} at @value{GDBN}'s prompt.
33332
33333@item
33334What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
33335``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
33336
33337@item
33338What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
33339debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
33340C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
33341to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
33342those compilers.
33343
33344@item
33345The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
33346observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
33347you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
33348Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
33349
33350If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
33351and then we might not encounter the bug.
33352
33353@item
33354A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
33355reproduce the bug.
33356
33357@item
33358A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
33359incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
33360
33361Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
33362will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
33363not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
33364a chance to make a mistake.
33365
33366Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
33367say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
33368copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
33369the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
33370crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
33371ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
33372us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
33373to draw any conclusion from our observations.
33374
33375@pindex script
33376@cindex recording a session script
33377To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
33378such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
33379Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
33380include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
33381
33382Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
33383inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
33384
33385@item
33386If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
33387diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
33388it by context, not by line number.
33389
33390The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
33391sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
33392
33393@end itemize
33394
33395Here are some things that are not necessary:
33396
33397@itemize @bullet
33398@item
33399A description of the envelope of the bug.
33400
33401Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
33402which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
33403changes will not affect it.
33404
33405This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
33406will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
33407with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
33408We recommend that you save your time for something else.
33409
33410Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
33411of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
33412output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
33413less time, and so on.
33414
33415However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
33416report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
33417
33418@item
33419A patch for the bug.
33420
33421A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
33422the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
33423a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
33424to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
33425
33426Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
33427construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
33428through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
33429to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
33430
33431And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
33432patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
33433help us to understand.
33434
33435@item
33436A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
33437
33438Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
33439things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
33440@end itemize
33441
33442@c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
33443@c and consists of the two following files:
33444@c rluser.texi
33445@c hsuser.texi
33446@c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
33447@c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
33448@ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
33449@include rluser.texi
33450@include hsuser.texi
33451@end ifclear
33452
33453@node In Memoriam
33454@appendix In Memoriam
33455
33456The @value{GDBN} project mourns the loss of the following long-time
33457contributors:
33458
33459@table @code
33460@item Fred Fish
33461Fred was a long-standing contributor to @value{GDBN} (1991-2006), and
33462to Free Software in general. Outside of @value{GDBN}, he was known in
33463the Amiga world for his series of Fish Disks, and the GeekGadget project.
33464
33465@item Michael Snyder
33466Michael was one of the Global Maintainers of the @value{GDBN} project,
33467with contributions recorded as early as 1996, until 2011. In addition
33468to his day to day participation, he was a large driving force behind
33469adding Reverse Debugging to @value{GDBN}.
33470@end table
33471
33472Beyond their technical contributions to the project, they were also
33473enjoyable members of the Free Software Community. We will miss them.
33474
33475@node Formatting Documentation
33476@appendix Formatting Documentation
33477
33478@cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
33479@cindex reference card
33480The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
33481for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
33482subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
33483@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
33484release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
33485you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
33486
33487The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
33488can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
33489
33490@smallexample
33491make refcard.dvi
33492@end smallexample
33493
33494The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
33495mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
33496that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
33497high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
33498your @sc{dvi} output program.
33499
33500@cindex documentation
33501
33502All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
33503distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
33504a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
33505on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
33506formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
33507and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
33508
33509@value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
33510version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
33511file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
33512subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
33513necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
33514but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
33515Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
33516@sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
33517
33518If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
33519Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
33520@code{makeinfo}.
33521
33522If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
33523@value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
33524version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
33525
33526@smallexample
33527cd gdb
33528make gdb.info
33529@end smallexample
33530
33531If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
33532a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
33533Texinfo definitions file.
33534
33535@TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
33536produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
33537document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
33538has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
33539command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
33540(for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
33541require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
33542
33543@TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
33544@file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
33545written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
33546typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
33547and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
33548directory.
33549
33550If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
33551typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
33552subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
33553@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
33554
33555@smallexample
33556make gdb.dvi
33557@end smallexample
33558
33559Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
33560
33561@node Installing GDB
33562@appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
33563@cindex installation
33564
33565@menu
33566* Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
33567* Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
33568* Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
33569* Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
33570* Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
33571* System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
33572@end menu
33573
33574@node Requirements
33575@section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
33576@cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
33577
33578Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
33579Other packages will be used only if they are found.
33580
33581@heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
33582@table @asis
33583@item ISO C90 compiler
33584@value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
33585working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
33586
33587@end table
33588
33589@heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
33590@table @asis
33591@item Expat
33592@anchor{Expat}
33593@value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
33594included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
33595can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
33596The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
33597standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
33598use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
33599
33600Expat is used for:
33601
33602@itemize @bullet
33603@item
33604Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
33605@item
33606Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
33607@item
33608Remote shared library lists (@xref{Library List Format},
33609or alternatively @pxref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets})
33610@item
33611MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
33612@item
33613Traceframe info (@pxref{Traceframe Info Format})
33614@item
33615Branch trace (@pxref{Branch Trace Format},
33616@pxref{Branch Trace Configuration Format})
33617@end itemize
33618
33619@item zlib
33620@cindex compressed debug sections
33621@value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
33622compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
33623of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
33624is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
33625information in such binaries.
33626
33627The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
33628distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
33629@url{http://zlib.net}.
33630
33631@item iconv
33632@value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
33633Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
33634on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
33635other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
33636
33637If @value{GDBN} is using the @code{iconv} program which is installed
33638in a non-standard place, you will need to tell @value{GDBN} where to find it.
33639This is done with @option{--with-iconv-bin} which specifies the
33640directory that contains the @code{iconv} program.
33641
33642On systems without @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
33643have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
33644@option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
33645
33646@value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
33647arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
33648in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
33649if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
33650implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
33651by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
33652Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
33653Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
33654@end table
33655
33656@node Running Configure
33657@section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
33658@cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
33659@value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
33660of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
33661build the @code{gdb} program.
33662@iftex
33663@c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
33664@footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
33665look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
33666installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
33667@end iftex
33668
33669The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
33670@value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
33671appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
33672
33673For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
33674@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
33675
33676@table @code
33677@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
33678script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
33679
33680@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
33681the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
33682
33683@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
33684source for the Binary File Descriptor library
33685
33686@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
33687@sc{gnu} include files
33688
33689@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
33690source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
33691
33692@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
33693source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
33694
33695@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
33696source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
33697
33698@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
33699source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
33700
33701@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
33702source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
33703@end table
33704
33705The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
33706from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
33707this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
33708
33709First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
33710if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
33711identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
33712argument.
33713
33714For example:
33715
33716@smallexample
33717cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
33718./configure @var{host}
33719make
33720@end smallexample
33721
33722@noindent
33723where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
33724@samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
33725(You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
33726correct value by examining your system.)
33727
33728Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
33729@file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
33730libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
33731binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
33732
33733@need 750
33734@file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
33735system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
33736shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
33737
33738@smallexample
33739sh configure @var{host}
33740@end smallexample
33741
33742If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
33743directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
33744@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
33745@file{configure}
33746creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
33747you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
33748
33749You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
33750source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
33751@file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
33752that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
33753if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
33754of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
33755configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
33756directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
33757about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
33758
33759You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
33760However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
33761the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
33762that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
33763let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
33764
33765@node Separate Objdir
33766@section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
33767
33768If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
33769you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
33770host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
33771allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
33772rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
33773handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
33774@code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
33775program specified there.
33776
33777To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
33778with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
33779(You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
33780itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
33781would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
33782the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
33783
33784For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
33785separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
33786
33787@smallexample
33788@group
33789cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
33790mkdir ../gdb-sun4
33791cd ../gdb-sun4
33792../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
33793make
33794@end group
33795@end smallexample
33796
33797When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
33798directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
33799(and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
33800the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
33801directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
33802@file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
33803
33804Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
33805instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
33806like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
33807one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
33808build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
33809
33810One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
33811directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
33812@value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
33813programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
33814You specify a cross-debugging target by
33815giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
33816
33817When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
33818it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
33819called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
33820
33821The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
33822directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
33823directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
33824directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
33825will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
33826
33827When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
33828directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
33829if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
33830with each other.
33831
33832@node Config Names
33833@section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
33834
33835The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
33836script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
33837aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
33838of information in the following pattern:
33839
33840@smallexample
33841@var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
33842@end smallexample
33843
33844For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
33845or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
33846option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
33847
33848The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
33849any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
33850aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
33851@code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
33852script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
33853abbreviations---for example:
33854
33855@smallexample
33856% sh config.sub i386-linux
33857i386-pc-linux-gnu
33858% sh config.sub alpha-linux
33859alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
33860% sh config.sub hp9k700
33861hppa1.1-hp-hpux
33862% sh config.sub sun4
33863sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
33864% sh config.sub sun3
33865m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
33866% sh config.sub i986v
33867Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
33868@end smallexample
33869
33870@noindent
33871@code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
33872directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
33873
33874@node Configure Options
33875@section @file{configure} Options
33876
33877Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
33878are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
33879several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
33880Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
33881
33882@smallexample
33883configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
33884 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
33885 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
33886 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
33887 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
33888 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
33889 @var{host}
33890@end smallexample
33891
33892@noindent
33893You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
33894@samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
33895@samp{--}.
33896
33897@table @code
33898@item --help
33899Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
33900
33901@item --prefix=@var{dir}
33902Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
33903@file{@var{dir}}.
33904
33905@item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
33906Configure the source to install programs under directory
33907@file{@var{dir}}.
33908
33909@c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
33910@need 2000
33911@item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
33912@strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
33913@code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
33914Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
33915@value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
33916build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
33917directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
33918the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
33919directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
33920the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
33921@var{dirname}.
33922
33923@item --norecursion
33924Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
33925propagate configuration to subdirectories.
33926
33927@item --target=@var{target}
33928Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
33929@var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
33930programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
33931
33932There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
33933
33934@item @var{host} @dots{}
33935Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
33936
33937There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
33938@end table
33939
33940There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
33941needed for special purposes only.
33942
33943@node System-wide configuration
33944@section System-wide configuration and settings
33945@cindex system-wide init file
33946
33947@value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
33948this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
33949@value{GDBN} does during startup}).
33950
33951Here is the corresponding configure option:
33952
33953@table @code
33954@item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
33955Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
33956@var{file}.
33957@end table
33958
33959If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
33960it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
33961
33962@itemize @bullet
33963@item
33964If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
33965it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
33966are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
33967if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
33968init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
33969@file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
33970
33971@item
33972By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
33973it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
33974@option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
33975then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
33976wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
33977@end itemize
33978
33979If the configured location of the system-wide init file (as given by the
33980@option{--with-system-gdbinit} option at configure time) is in the
33981data-directory (as specified by @option{--with-gdb-datadir} at configure
33982time) or in one of its subdirectories, then @value{GDBN} will look for the
33983system-wide init file in the directory specified by the
33984@option{--data-directory} command-line option.
33985Note that the system-wide init file is only read once, during @value{GDBN}
33986initialization. If the data-directory is changed after @value{GDBN} has
33987started with the @code{set data-directory} command, the file will not be
33988reread.
33989
33990@menu
33991* System-wide Configuration Scripts:: Installed System-wide Configuration Scripts
33992@end menu
33993
33994@node System-wide Configuration Scripts
33995@subsection Installed System-wide Configuration Scripts
33996@cindex system-wide configuration scripts
33997
33998The @file{system-gdbinit} directory, located inside the data-directory
33999(as specified by @option{--with-gdb-datadir} at configure time) contains
34000a number of scripts which can be used as system-wide init files. To
34001automatically source those scripts at startup, @value{GDBN} should be
34002configured with @option{--with-system-gdbinit}. Otherwise, any user
34003should be able to source them by hand as needed.
34004
34005The following scripts are currently available:
34006@itemize @bullet
34007
34008@item @file{elinos.py}
34009@pindex elinos.py
34010@cindex ELinOS system-wide configuration script
34011This script is useful when debugging a program on an ELinOS target.
34012It takes advantage of the environment variables defined in a standard
34013ELinOS environment in order to determine the location of the system
34014shared libraries, and then sets the @samp{solib-absolute-prefix}
34015and @samp{solib-search-path} variables appropriately.
34016
34017@item @file{wrs-linux.py}
34018@pindex wrs-linux.py
34019@cindex Wind River Linux system-wide configuration script
34020This script is useful when debugging a program on a target running
34021Wind River Linux. It expects the @env{ENV_PREFIX} to be set to
34022the host-side sysroot used by the target system.
34023
34024@end itemize
34025
34026@node Maintenance Commands
34027@appendix Maintenance Commands
34028@cindex maintenance commands
34029@cindex internal commands
34030
34031In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
34032includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
34033that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
34034provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
34035messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
34036
34037@table @code
34038@kindex maint agent
34039@kindex maint agent-eval
34040@item maint agent @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
34041@itemx maint agent-eval @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
34042Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
34043This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
34044(@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
34045expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
34046@samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
34047to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
34048globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
34049of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
34050the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
34051addition and return the sum.
34052If @code{-at} is given, generate remote agent bytecode for @var{location}.
34053If not, generate remote agent bytecode for current frame PC address.
34054
34055@kindex maint agent-printf
34056@item maint agent-printf @var{format},@var{expr},...
34057Translate the given format string and list of argument expressions
34058into remote agent bytecodes and display them as a disassembled list.
34059This command is useful for debugging the agent version of dynamic
34060printf (@pxref{Dynamic Printf}).
34061
34062@kindex maint info breakpoints
34063@item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
34064Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
34065breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
34066internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
34067breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
34068is shown:
34069
34070@table @code
34071@item breakpoint
34072Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
34073
34074@item watchpoint
34075Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
34076
34077@item longjmp
34078Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
34079@code{longjmp} calls.
34080
34081@item longjmp resume
34082Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
34083
34084@item until
34085Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
34086
34087@item finish
34088Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
34089
34090@item shlib events
34091Shared library events.
34092
34093@end table
34094
34095@kindex maint info btrace
34096@item maint info btrace
34097Pint information about raw branch tracing data.
34098
34099@kindex maint btrace packet-history
34100@item maint btrace packet-history
34101Print the raw branch trace packets that are used to compute the
34102execution history for the @samp{record btrace} command. Both the
34103information and the format in which it is printed depend on the btrace
34104recording format.
34105
34106@table @code
34107@item bts
34108For the BTS recording format, print a list of blocks of sequential
34109code. For each block, the following information is printed:
34110
34111@table @asis
34112@item Block number
34113Newer blocks have higher numbers. The oldest block has number zero.
34114@item Lowest @samp{PC}
34115@item Highest @samp{PC}
34116@end table
34117
34118@item pt
34119For the Intel Processor Trace recording format, print a list of
34120Intel Processor Trace packets. For each packet, the following
34121information is printed:
34122
34123@table @asis
34124@item Packet number
34125Newer packets have higher numbers. The oldest packet has number zero.
34126@item Trace offset
34127The packet's offset in the trace stream.
34128@item Packet opcode and payload
34129@end table
34130@end table
34131
34132@kindex maint btrace clear-packet-history
34133@item maint btrace clear-packet-history
34134Discards the cached packet history printed by the @samp{maint btrace
34135packet-history} command. The history will be computed again when
34136needed.
34137
34138@kindex maint btrace clear
34139@item maint btrace clear
34140Discard the branch trace data. The data will be fetched anew and the
34141branch trace will be recomputed when needed.
34142
34143This implicitly truncates the branch trace to a single branch trace
34144buffer. When updating branch trace incrementally, the branch trace
34145available to @value{GDBN} may be bigger than a single branch trace
34146buffer.
34147
34148@kindex maint set btrace pt skip-pad
34149@item maint set btrace pt skip-pad
34150@kindex maint show btrace pt skip-pad
34151@item maint show btrace pt skip-pad
34152Control whether @value{GDBN} will skip PAD packets when computing the
34153packet history.
34154
34155@kindex set displaced-stepping
34156@kindex show displaced-stepping
34157@cindex displaced stepping support
34158@cindex out-of-line single-stepping
34159@item set displaced-stepping
34160@itemx show displaced-stepping
34161Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
34162if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
34163over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
34164an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
34165breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
34166
34167@table @code
34168@item set displaced-stepping on
34169If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
34170displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
34171
34172@item set displaced-stepping off
34173@value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
34174even if such is supported by the target architecture.
34175
34176@cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
34177@item set displaced-stepping auto
34178This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
34179only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
34180architecture supports displaced stepping.
34181@end table
34182
34183@kindex maint check-psymtabs
34184@item maint check-psymtabs
34185Check the consistency of currently expanded psymtabs versus symtabs.
34186Use this to check, for example, whether a symbol is in one but not the other.
34187
34188@kindex maint check-symtabs
34189@item maint check-symtabs
34190Check the consistency of currently expanded symtabs.
34191
34192@kindex maint expand-symtabs
34193@item maint expand-symtabs [@var{regexp}]
34194Expand symbol tables.
34195If @var{regexp} is specified, only expand symbol tables for file
34196names matching @var{regexp}.
34197
34198@kindex maint set catch-demangler-crashes
34199@kindex maint show catch-demangler-crashes
34200@cindex demangler crashes
34201@item maint set catch-demangler-crashes [on|off]
34202@itemx maint show catch-demangler-crashes
34203Control whether @value{GDBN} should attempt to catch crashes in the
34204symbol name demangler. The default is to attempt to catch crashes.
34205If enabled, the first time a crash is caught, a core file is created,
34206the offending symbol is displayed and the user is presented with the
34207option to terminate the current session.
34208
34209@kindex maint cplus first_component
34210@item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
34211Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
34212
34213@kindex maint cplus namespace
34214@item maint cplus namespace
34215Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
34216
34217@kindex maint deprecate
34218@kindex maint undeprecate
34219@cindex deprecated commands
34220@item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
34221@itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
34222Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
34223cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
34224argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
34225favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
34226the replacement as part of the warning.
34227
34228@kindex maint dump-me
34229@item maint dump-me
34230@cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
34231Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
34232This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
34233with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
34234
34235@kindex maint internal-error
34236@kindex maint internal-warning
34237@kindex maint demangler-warning
34238@cindex demangler crashes
34239@item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
34240@itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
34241@itemx maint demangler-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
34242
34243Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error},
34244@code{internal_warning} or @code{demangler_warning} and hence behave
34245as though an internal problem has been detected. In addition to
34246reporting the internal problem, these functions give the user the
34247opportunity to either quit @value{GDBN} or (for @code{internal_error}
34248and @code{internal_warning}) create a core file of the current
34249@value{GDBN} session.
34250
34251These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
34252used as the text of the error or warning message.
34253
34254Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
34255
34256@smallexample
34257(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
34258@dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
34259A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
34260debugging may prove unreliable.
34261Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
34262Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
34263(@value{GDBP})
34264@end smallexample
34265
34266@cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
34267@cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
34268@cindex demangler crashes
34269
34270@kindex maint set internal-error
34271@kindex maint show internal-error
34272@kindex maint set internal-warning
34273@kindex maint show internal-warning
34274@kindex maint set demangler-warning
34275@kindex maint show demangler-warning
34276@item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
34277@itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
34278@itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
34279@itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
34280@itemx maint set demangler-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
34281@itemx maint show demangler-warning @var{action}
34282When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
34283gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
34284core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
34285override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
34286described in the table below.
34287
34288@table @samp
34289@item quit
34290You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
34291quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
34292
34293@item corefile
34294You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
34295create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do. Note
34296that there is no @code{corefile} option for @code{demangler-warning}:
34297demangler warnings always create a core file and this cannot be
34298disabled.
34299@end table
34300
34301@kindex maint packet
34302@item maint packet @var{text}
34303If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
34304then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
34305displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
34306@samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
34307checksum.
34308
34309@kindex maint print architecture
34310@item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34311Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
34312@var{file} names the file where the output goes.
34313
34314@kindex maint print c-tdesc
34315@item maint print c-tdesc
34316Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
34317a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
34318when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
34319
34320@kindex maint print dummy-frames
34321@item maint print dummy-frames
34322Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
34323
34324@smallexample
34325(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
34326@dots{}
34327(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
34328Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
3432958 return (a + b);
34330The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
34331@dots{}
34332(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
343330xa8206d8: id=@{stack=0xbfffe734,code=0xbfffe73f,!special@}, ptid=process 9353
34334(@value{GDBP})
34335@end smallexample
34336
34337Takes an optional file parameter.
34338
34339@kindex maint print registers
34340@kindex maint print raw-registers
34341@kindex maint print cooked-registers
34342@kindex maint print register-groups
34343@kindex maint print remote-registers
34344@item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34345@itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34346@itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34347@itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34348@itemx maint print remote-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34349Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
34350
34351The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
34352the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print
34353cooked-registers} includes the (cooked) value of all registers,
34354including registers which aren't available on the target nor visible
34355to user; the command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the
34356groups that each register is a member of; and the command @code{maint
34357print remote-registers} includes the remote target's register numbers
34358and offsets in the `G' packets.
34359
34360These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
34361write the information.
34362
34363@kindex maint print reggroups
34364@item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34365Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
34366optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
34367information.
34368
34369The register groups info looks like this:
34370
34371@smallexample
34372(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
34373 Group Type
34374 general user
34375 float user
34376 all user
34377 vector user
34378 system user
34379 save internal
34380 restore internal
34381@end smallexample
34382
34383@kindex flushregs
34384@item flushregs
34385This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
34386
34387@kindex maint print objfiles
34388@cindex info for known object files
34389@item maint print objfiles @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
34390Print a dump of all known object files.
34391If @var{regexp} is specified, only print object files whose names
34392match @var{regexp}. For each object file, this command prints its name,
34393address in memory, and all of its psymtabs and symtabs.
34394
34395@kindex maint print user-registers
34396@cindex user registers
34397@item maint print user-registers
34398List all currently available @dfn{user registers}. User registers
34399typically provide alternate names for actual hardware registers. They
34400include the four ``standard'' registers @code{$fp}, @code{$pc},
34401@code{$sp}, and @code{$ps}. @xref{standard registers}. User
34402registers can be used in expressions in the same way as the canonical
34403register names, but only the latter are listed by the @code{info
34404registers} and @code{maint print registers} commands.
34405
34406@kindex maint print section-scripts
34407@cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
34408@item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
34409Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
34410If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
34411matching @var{regexp}.
34412For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
34413and the full path if known.
34414@xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}.
34415
34416@kindex maint print statistics
34417@cindex bcache statistics
34418@item maint print statistics
34419This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
34420about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
34421statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
34422of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
34423defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
34424the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
34425used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
34426sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
34427average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
34428savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
34429lengths.
34430
34431@kindex maint print target-stack
34432@cindex target stack description
34433@item maint print target-stack
34434A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
34435kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
34436so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
34437In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
34438until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
34439address.
34440
34441This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
34442the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
34443
34444@kindex maint print type
34445@cindex type chain of a data type
34446@item maint print type @var{expr}
34447Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
34448can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
34449that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
34450a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
34451data structures, including its flags and contained types.
34452
34453@kindex maint set dwarf always-disassemble
34454@kindex maint show dwarf always-disassemble
34455@item maint set dwarf always-disassemble
34456@item maint show dwarf always-disassemble
34457Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
34458information.
34459
34460The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
34461describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
34462@code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
34463expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
34464too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
34465always see the disassembly form.
34466
34467Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
34468
34469@smallexample
34470(gdb) info addr argc
34471Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
34472 1: DW_OP_fbreg 0
34473@end smallexample
34474
34475For more information on these expressions, see
34476@uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
34477
34478@kindex maint set dwarf max-cache-age
34479@kindex maint show dwarf max-cache-age
34480@item maint set dwarf max-cache-age
34481@itemx maint show dwarf max-cache-age
34482Control the DWARF compilation unit cache.
34483
34484@cindex DWARF compilation units cache
34485In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
34486produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF
34487reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
34488This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
34489cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
34490compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
34491memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
34492slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
34493
34494@kindex maint set profile
34495@kindex maint show profile
34496@cindex profiling GDB
34497@item maint set profile
34498@itemx maint show profile
34499Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
34500
34501Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
34502command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
34503collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
34504exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
34505if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
34506(often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
34507data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
34508
34509Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
34510compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
34511
34512@kindex maint set show-debug-regs
34513@kindex maint show show-debug-regs
34514@cindex hardware debug registers
34515@item maint set show-debug-regs
34516@itemx maint show show-debug-regs
34517Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
34518registers. Use @code{on} to enable, @code{off} to disable. If
34519enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
34520removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
34521triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
34522
34523@kindex maint set show-all-tib
34524@kindex maint show show-all-tib
34525@item maint set show-all-tib
34526@itemx maint show show-all-tib
34527Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
34528at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
34529command.
34530
34531@kindex maint set target-async
34532@kindex maint show target-async
34533@item maint set target-async
34534@itemx maint show target-async
34535This controls whether @value{GDBN} targets operate in synchronous or
34536asynchronous mode (@pxref{Background Execution}). Normally the
34537default is asynchronous, if it is available; but this can be changed
34538to more easily debug problems occurring only in synchronous mode.
34539
34540@kindex maint set target-non-stop @var{mode} [on|off|auto]
34541@kindex maint show target-non-stop
34542@item maint set target-non-stop
34543@itemx maint show target-non-stop
34544
34545This controls whether @value{GDBN} targets always operate in non-stop
34546mode even if @code{set non-stop} is @code{off} (@pxref{Non-Stop
34547Mode}). The default is @code{auto}, meaning non-stop mode is enabled
34548if supported by the target.
34549
34550@table @code
34551@item maint set target-non-stop auto
34552This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} controls the target in
34553non-stop mode if the target supports it.
34554
34555@item maint set target-non-stop on
34556@value{GDBN} controls the target in non-stop mode even if the target
34557does not indicate support.
34558
34559@item maint set target-non-stop off
34560@value{GDBN} does not control the target in non-stop mode even if the
34561target supports it.
34562@end table
34563
34564@kindex maint set per-command
34565@kindex maint show per-command
34566@item maint set per-command
34567@itemx maint show per-command
34568@cindex resources used by commands
34569
34570@value{GDBN} can display the resources used by each command.
34571This is useful in debugging performance problems.
34572
34573@table @code
34574@item maint set per-command space [on|off]
34575@itemx maint show per-command space
34576Enable or disable the printing of the memory used by GDB for each command.
34577If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
34578took, following the command's own output.
34579This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
34580@option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
34581
34582@item maint set per-command time [on|off]
34583@itemx maint show per-command time
34584Enable or disable the printing of the execution time of @value{GDBN}
34585for each command.
34586If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
34587took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
34588Both CPU time and wallclock time are printed.
34589Printing both is useful when trying to determine whether the cost is
34590CPU or, e.g., disk/network latency.
34591Note that the CPU time printed is for @value{GDBN} only, it does not include
34592the execution time of the inferior because there's no mechanism currently
34593to compute how much time was spent by @value{GDBN} and how much time was
34594spent by the program been debugged.
34595This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
34596@option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
34597
34598@item maint set per-command symtab [on|off]
34599@itemx maint show per-command symtab
34600Enable or disable the printing of basic symbol table statistics
34601for each command.
34602If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display the following information:
34603
34604@enumerate a
34605@item
34606number of symbol tables
34607@item
34608number of primary symbol tables
34609@item
34610number of blocks in the blockvector
34611@end enumerate
34612@end table
34613
34614@kindex maint space
34615@cindex memory used by commands
34616@item maint space @var{value}
34617An alias for @code{maint set per-command space}.
34618A non-zero value enables it, zero disables it.
34619
34620@kindex maint time
34621@cindex time of command execution
34622@item maint time @var{value}
34623An alias for @code{maint set per-command time}.
34624A non-zero value enables it, zero disables it.
34625
34626@kindex maint translate-address
34627@item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
34628Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
34629@var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
34630@value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
34631the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
34632the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
34633command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
34634
34635If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
34636is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
34637executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
34638
34639@end table
34640
34641The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
34642@value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
34643
34644@table @code
34645@item set watchdog @var{nsec}
34646@kindex set watchdog
34647@cindex watchdog timer
34648@cindex timeout for commands
34649Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
34650target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
34651reports and error and the command is aborted.
34652
34653@item show watchdog
34654Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
34655@end table
34656
34657@node Remote Protocol
34658@appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
34659
34660@menu
34661* Overview::
34662* Packets::
34663* Stop Reply Packets::
34664* General Query Packets::
34665* Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
34666* Tracepoint Packets::
34667* Host I/O Packets::
34668* Interrupts::
34669* Notification Packets::
34670* Remote Non-Stop::
34671* Packet Acknowledgment::
34672* Examples::
34673* File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
34674* Library List Format::
34675* Library List Format for SVR4 Targets::
34676* Memory Map Format::
34677* Thread List Format::
34678* Traceframe Info Format::
34679* Branch Trace Format::
34680* Branch Trace Configuration Format::
34681@end menu
34682
34683@node Overview
34684@section Overview
34685
34686There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
34687protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
34688machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
34689recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
34690
34691In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
34692transmitted and received data, respectively.
34693
34694@cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
34695@cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
34696@cindex remote serial protocol
34697All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
34698and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
34699@var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
34700@samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
34701@samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
34702
34703@smallexample
34704@code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
34705@end smallexample
34706@noindent
34707
34708@cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
34709@noindent
34710The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
34711characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
34712eight bit unsigned checksum).
34713
34714Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
34715specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
34716
34717@smallexample
34718@code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
34719@end smallexample
34720
34721@cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
34722@noindent
34723That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
34724has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
34725since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
34726
34727When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
34728response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
34729the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
34730retransmission):
34731
34732@smallexample
34733-> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
34734<- @code{+}
34735@end smallexample
34736@noindent
34737
34738The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
34739once a connection is established.
34740@xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
34741
34742The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
34743debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
34744the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
34745when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
34746threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
34747behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
34748execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
34749
34750@var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
34751exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
34752exceptions).
34753
34754@cindex remote protocol, field separator
34755Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
34756@samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
34757@sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
34758
34759Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
34760@samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
34761would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
34762
34763@cindex remote protocol, binary data
34764@anchor{Binary Data}
34765Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
34766digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
34767protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
34768Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
34769connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
34770binary data.
34771
34772The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
34773as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
34774character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
34775For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
34776bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
34777@code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
34778@samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
34779must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
34780is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
34781(described next).
34782
34783Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
34784Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
34785instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
34786repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
34787binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
34788@code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
34789produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
34790code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
34791encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
34792@samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
34793after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
347943}} more times.
34795
34796The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
34797greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
34798seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
34799five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
34800@samp{0*"00}.
34801
34802The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
34803error number. That number is not well defined.
34804
34805@cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
34806For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
34807(@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
34808protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
34809on that response.
34810
34811At a minimum, a stub is required to support the @samp{g} and @samp{G}
34812commands for register access, and the @samp{m} and @samp{M} commands
34813for memory access. Stubs that only control single-threaded targets
34814can implement run control with the @samp{c} (continue), and @samp{s}
34815(step) commands. Stubs that support multi-threading targets should
34816support the @samp{vCont} command. All other commands are optional.
34817
34818@node Packets
34819@section Packets
34820
34821The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
34822@var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
34823@xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
34824I/O extension of the remote protocol.
34825
34826Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
34827syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
34828include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
34829part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
34830separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
34831@var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
34832bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
34833@var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
34834@samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
34835@var{baz}.
34836
34837@cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
34838@anchor{thread-id syntax}
34839Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
34840a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
34841interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
34842can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
34843pick any thread.
34844
34845In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
34846which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
34847process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
34848The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
34849format described above: a positive number with target-specific
34850interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
34851to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
34852indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
34853@samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
34854error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
34855@samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
34856for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
34857ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
34858
34859The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
34860@value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
34861feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
34862more information.
34863
34864Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
34865letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
34866
34867Here are the packet descriptions.
34868
34869@table @samp
34870
34871@item !
34872@cindex @samp{!} packet
34873@anchor{extended mode}
34874Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
34875persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
34876debugged.
34877
34878Reply:
34879@table @samp
34880@item OK
34881The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
34882@end table
34883
34884@item ?
34885@cindex @samp{?} packet
34886@anchor{? packet}
34887Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
34888step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
34889target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
34890
34891Reply:
34892@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34893
34894@item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
34895@cindex @samp{A} packet
34896Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
34897specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
34898@var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
34899
34900Reply:
34901@table @samp
34902@item OK
34903The arguments were set.
34904@item E @var{NN}
34905An error occurred.
34906@end table
34907
34908@item b @var{baud}
34909@cindex @samp{b} packet
34910(Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
34911Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
34912
34913JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
34914received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
34915problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
34916
34917Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
34918it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
34919some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
34920switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
34921of view, nothing actually happened.}
34922
34923@item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
34924@cindex @samp{B} packet
34925Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
34926breakpoint at @var{addr}.
34927
34928Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
34929(@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
34930
34931@cindex @samp{bc} packet
34932@anchor{bc}
34933@item bc
34934Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
34935@xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
34936
34937Reply:
34938@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34939
34940@cindex @samp{bs} packet
34941@anchor{bs}
34942@item bs
34943Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
34944@xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
34945
34946Reply:
34947@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34948
34949@item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
34950@cindex @samp{c} packet
34951Continue at @var{addr}, which is the address to resume. If @var{addr}
34952is omitted, resume at current address.
34953
34954This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
34955packet}.
34956
34957Reply:
34958@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34959
34960@item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
34961@cindex @samp{C} packet
34962Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
34963@samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
34964
34965This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
34966packet}.
34967
34968Reply:
34969@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34970
34971@item d
34972@cindex @samp{d} packet
34973Toggle debug flag.
34974
34975Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
34976(@pxref{General Query Packets}).
34977
34978@item D
34979@itemx D;@var{pid}
34980@cindex @samp{D} packet
34981The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
34982remote system. It is sent to the remote target
34983before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
34984
34985The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
34986protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
34987detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
34988big-endian hex string.
34989
34990Reply:
34991@table @samp
34992@item OK
34993for success
34994@item E @var{NN}
34995for an error
34996@end table
34997
34998@item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
34999@cindex @samp{F} packet
35000A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
35001This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
35002Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
35003
35004@item g
35005@anchor{read registers packet}
35006@cindex @samp{g} packet
35007Read general registers.
35008
35009Reply:
35010@table @samp
35011@item @var{XX@dots{}}
35012Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
35013with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
35014each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
35015determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
35016@code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
35017specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
35018
35019When reading registers from a trace frame (@pxref{Analyze Collected
35020Data,,Using the Collected Data}), the stub may also return a string of
35021literal @samp{x}'s in place of the register data digits, to indicate
35022that the corresponding register has not been collected, thus its value
35023is unavailable. For example, for an architecture with 4 registers of
350244 bytes each, the following reply indicates to @value{GDBN} that
35025registers 0 and 2 have not been collected, while registers 1 and 3
35026have been collected, and both have zero value:
35027
35028@smallexample
35029-> @code{g}
35030<- @code{xxxxxxxx00000000xxxxxxxx00000000}
35031@end smallexample
35032
35033@item E @var{NN}
35034for an error.
35035@end table
35036
35037@item G @var{XX@dots{}}
35038@cindex @samp{G} packet
35039Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
35040description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
35041
35042Reply:
35043@table @samp
35044@item OK
35045for success
35046@item E @var{NN}
35047for an error
35048@end table
35049
35050@item H @var{op} @var{thread-id}
35051@cindex @samp{H} packet
35052Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
35053@samp{G}, et.al.). Depending on the operation to be performed, @var{op}
35054should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations (note that this
35055is deprecated, supporting the @samp{vCont} command is a better
35056option), and @samp{g} for other operations. The thread designator
35057@var{thread-id} has the format and interpretation described in
35058@ref{thread-id syntax}.
35059
35060Reply:
35061@table @samp
35062@item OK
35063for success
35064@item E @var{NN}
35065for an error
35066@end table
35067
35068@c FIXME: JTC:
35069@c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
35070@c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
35071@c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
35072@c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
35073@c described. For example:
35074@c
35075@c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
35076@c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
35077@c otherwise returns current registers.
35078@c
35079@c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
35080@c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
35081@c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
35082
35083@item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
35084@anchor{cycle step packet}
35085@cindex @samp{i} packet
35086Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
35087present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
35088step starting at that address.
35089
35090@item I
35091@cindex @samp{I} packet
35092Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
35093step packet}.
35094
35095@item k
35096@cindex @samp{k} packet
35097Kill request.
35098
35099The exact effect of this packet is not specified.
35100
35101For a bare-metal target, it may power cycle or reset the target
35102system. For that reason, the @samp{k} packet has no reply.
35103
35104For a single-process target, it may kill that process if possible.
35105
35106A multiple-process target may choose to kill just one process, or all
35107that are under @value{GDBN}'s control. For more precise control, use
35108the vKill packet (@pxref{vKill packet}).
35109
35110If the target system immediately closes the connection in response to
35111@samp{k}, @value{GDBN} does not consider the lack of packet
35112acknowledgment to be an error, and assumes the kill was successful.
35113
35114If connected using @kbd{target extended-remote}, and the target does
35115not close the connection in response to a kill request, @value{GDBN}
35116probes the target state as if a new connection was opened
35117(@pxref{? packet}).
35118
35119@item m @var{addr},@var{length}
35120@cindex @samp{m} packet
35121Read @var{length} addressable memory units starting at address @var{addr}
35122(@pxref{addressable memory unit}). Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to
35123any particular boundary.
35124
35125The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
35126data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
35127and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
35128use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
35129suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
35130@cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
35131@cindex size of remote memory accesses
35132@cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
35133
35134Reply:
35135@table @samp
35136@item @var{XX@dots{}}
35137Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal number.
35138The reply may contain fewer addressable memory units than requested if the
35139server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
35140@item E @var{NN}
35141@var{NN} is errno
35142@end table
35143
35144@item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
35145@cindex @samp{M} packet
35146Write @var{length} addressable memory units starting at address @var{addr}
35147(@pxref{addressable memory unit}). The data is given by @var{XX@dots{}}; each
35148byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal number.
35149
35150Reply:
35151@table @samp
35152@item OK
35153for success
35154@item E @var{NN}
35155for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
35156written).
35157@end table
35158
35159@item p @var{n}
35160@cindex @samp{p} packet
35161Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
35162@xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
35163register value is encoded.
35164
35165Reply:
35166@table @samp
35167@item @var{XX@dots{}}
35168the register's value
35169@item E @var{NN}
35170for an error
35171@item @w{}
35172Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
35173@end table
35174
35175@item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
35176@anchor{write register packet}
35177@cindex @samp{P} packet
35178Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
35179number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
35180digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
35181
35182Reply:
35183@table @samp
35184@item OK
35185for success
35186@item E @var{NN}
35187for an error
35188@end table
35189
35190@item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
35191@itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
35192@cindex @samp{q} packet
35193@cindex @samp{Q} packet
35194General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
35195described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
35196
35197@item r
35198@cindex @samp{r} packet
35199Reset the entire system.
35200
35201Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
35202
35203@item R @var{XX}
35204@cindex @samp{R} packet
35205Restart the program being debugged. The @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
35206This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
35207
35208The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
35209
35210@item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
35211@cindex @samp{s} packet
35212Single step, resuming at @var{addr}. If
35213@var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
35214
35215This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
35216packet}.
35217
35218Reply:
35219@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35220
35221@item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
35222@anchor{step with signal packet}
35223@cindex @samp{S} packet
35224Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
35225requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
35226
35227This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
35228packet}.
35229
35230Reply:
35231@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35232
35233@item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
35234@cindex @samp{t} packet
35235Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
35236@var{PP} and mask @var{MM}, both of which are are 4 byte long.
35237There must be at least 3 digits in @var{addr}.
35238
35239@item T @var{thread-id}
35240@cindex @samp{T} packet
35241Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
35242
35243Reply:
35244@table @samp
35245@item OK
35246thread is still alive
35247@item E @var{NN}
35248thread is dead
35249@end table
35250
35251@item v
35252Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
35253up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
35254
35255@item vAttach;@var{pid}
35256@cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
35257Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
35258The process ID is a
35259hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
35260threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
35261attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
35262
35263@c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
35264@c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
35265@c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
35266@c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
35267@c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
35268@c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
35269@c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
35270@c stopping or restarting threads.
35271
35272This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
35273
35274Reply:
35275@table @samp
35276@item E @var{nn}
35277for an error
35278@item @r{Any stop packet}
35279for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
35280@item OK
35281for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
35282@end table
35283
35284@item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
35285@cindex @samp{vCont} packet
35286@anchor{vCont packet}
35287Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
35288If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
35289threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
35290specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
35291in their current state in non-stop mode.
35292Specifying multiple
35293default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
35294Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
35295
35296Currently supported actions are:
35297
35298@table @samp
35299@item c
35300Continue.
35301@item C @var{sig}
35302Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
35303@item s
35304Step.
35305@item S @var{sig}
35306Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
35307@item t
35308Stop.
35309@item r @var{start},@var{end}
35310Step once, and then keep stepping as long as the thread stops at
35311addresses between @var{start} (inclusive) and @var{end} (exclusive).
35312The remote stub reports a stop reply when either the thread goes out
35313of the range or is stopped due to an unrelated reason, such as hitting
35314a breakpoint. @xref{range stepping}.
35315
35316If the range is empty (@var{start} == @var{end}), then the action
35317becomes equivalent to the @samp{s} action. In other words,
35318single-step once, and report the stop (even if the stepped instruction
35319jumps to @var{start}).
35320
35321(A stop reply may be sent at any point even if the PC is still within
35322the stepping range; for example, it is valid to implement this packet
35323in a degenerate way as a single instruction step operation.)
35324
35325@end table
35326
35327The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
35328@samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
35329not supported in @samp{vCont}.
35330
35331The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
35332(@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
35333A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
35334When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
35335the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
35336signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
35337as an implementation detail.
35338
35339The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
35340multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
35341this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
35342in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
35343@var{thread-id}.
35344
35345Reply:
35346@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35347
35348@item vCont?
35349@cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
35350Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
35351
35352Reply:
35353@table @samp
35354@item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
35355The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
35356command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
35357@item @w{}
35358The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
35359@end table
35360
35361@anchor{vCtrlC packet}
35362@item vCtrlC
35363@cindex @samp{vCtrlC} packet
35364Interrupt remote target as if a control-C was pressed on the remote
35365terminal. This is the equivalent to reacting to the @code{^C}
35366(@samp{\003}, the control-C character) character in all-stop mode
35367while the target is running, except this works in non-stop mode.
35368@xref{interrupting remote targets}, for more info on the all-stop
35369variant.
35370
35371Reply:
35372@table @samp
35373@item E @var{nn}
35374for an error
35375@item OK
35376for success
35377@end table
35378
35379@item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
35380@cindex @samp{vFile} packet
35381Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
35382see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
35383
35384@item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
35385@cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
35386Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
35387@var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
35388its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
35389flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
35390Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
35391together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
35392stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
35393packet is received.
35394
35395Reply:
35396@table @samp
35397@item OK
35398for success
35399@item E @var{NN}
35400for an error
35401@end table
35402
35403@item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
35404@cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
35405Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
35406is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
35407packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
35408@samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
35409not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
35410(although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
35411have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
35412@samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
35413neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
35414target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
35415
35416
35417Reply:
35418@table @samp
35419@item OK
35420for success
35421@item E.memtype
35422for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
35423@item E @var{NN}
35424for an error
35425@end table
35426
35427@item vFlashDone
35428@cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
35429Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
35430The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
35431@samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
35432@samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
35433regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
35434request is completed.
35435
35436@item vKill;@var{pid}
35437@cindex @samp{vKill} packet
35438@anchor{vKill packet}
35439Kill the process with the specified process ID @var{pid}, which is a
35440hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
35441preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
35442supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
35443
35444Reply:
35445@table @samp
35446@item E @var{nn}
35447for an error
35448@item OK
35449for success
35450@end table
35451
35452@item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
35453@cindex @samp{vRun} packet
35454Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
35455command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
35456@var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
35457(e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
35458state.
35459
35460@c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
35461
35462This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
35463
35464Reply:
35465@table @samp
35466@item E @var{nn}
35467for an error
35468@item @r{Any stop packet}
35469for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
35470@end table
35471
35472@item vStopped
35473@cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
35474@xref{Notification Packets}.
35475
35476@item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
35477@anchor{X packet}
35478@cindex @samp{X} packet
35479Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
35480Memory is specified by its address @var{addr} and number of addressable memory
35481units @var{length} (@pxref{addressable memory unit});
35482@samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
35483
35484Reply:
35485@table @samp
35486@item OK
35487for success
35488@item E @var{NN}
35489for an error
35490@end table
35491
35492@item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
35493@itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
35494@anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
35495@cindex @samp{z} packet
35496@cindex @samp{Z} packets
35497Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
35498watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
35499
35500Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
35501separately.
35502
35503@emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
35504for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
35505remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
35506@samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
35507avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
35508be implemented in an idempotent way.}
35509
35510@item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35511@itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}@r{[};cmds:@var{persist},@var{cmd_list}@dots{}@r{]}
35512@cindex @samp{z0} packet
35513@cindex @samp{Z0} packet
35514Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
35515@var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
35516
35517A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
35518@var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
35519@var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
35520the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
35521and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
35522architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
35523@var{cond_list} is an optional list of conditional expressions in bytecode
35524form that should be evaluated on the target's side. These are the
35525conditions that should be taken into consideration when deciding if
35526the breakpoint trigger should be reported back to @var{GDBN}.
35527
35528See also the @samp{swbreak} stop reason (@pxref{swbreak stop reason})
35529for how to best report a memory breakpoint event to @value{GDBN}.
35530
35531The @var{cond_list} parameter is comprised of a series of expressions,
35532concatenated without separators. Each expression has the following form:
35533
35534@table @samp
35535
35536@item X @var{len},@var{expr}
35537@var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
35538actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
35539
35540@end table
35541
35542The optional @var{cmd_list} parameter introduces commands that may be
35543run on the target, rather than being reported back to @value{GDBN}.
35544The parameter starts with a numeric flag @var{persist}; if the flag is
35545nonzero, then the breakpoint may remain active and the commands
35546continue to be run even when @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target.
35547Following this flag is a series of expressions concatenated with no
35548separators. Each expression has the following form:
35549
35550@table @samp
35551
35552@item X @var{len},@var{expr}
35553@var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
35554actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
35555
35556@end table
35557
35558see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
35559
35560@emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
35561code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
35562overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
35563target, is not defined.}
35564
35565Reply:
35566@table @samp
35567@item OK
35568success
35569@item @w{}
35570not supported
35571@item E @var{NN}
35572for an error
35573@end table
35574
35575@item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35576@itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}
35577@cindex @samp{z1} packet
35578@cindex @samp{Z1} packet
35579Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
35580address @var{addr}.
35581
35582A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
35583dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. The @var{kind}
35584and @var{cond_list} have the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
35585
35586@emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
35587movement.}
35588
35589Reply:
35590@table @samp
35591@item OK
35592success
35593@item @w{}
35594not supported
35595@item E @var{NN}
35596for an error
35597@end table
35598
35599@item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35600@itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35601@cindex @samp{z2} packet
35602@cindex @samp{Z2} packet
35603Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
35604The number of bytes to watch is specified by @var{kind}.
35605
35606Reply:
35607@table @samp
35608@item OK
35609success
35610@item @w{}
35611not supported
35612@item E @var{NN}
35613for an error
35614@end table
35615
35616@item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35617@itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35618@cindex @samp{z3} packet
35619@cindex @samp{Z3} packet
35620Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
35621The number of bytes to watch is specified by @var{kind}.
35622
35623Reply:
35624@table @samp
35625@item OK
35626success
35627@item @w{}
35628not supported
35629@item E @var{NN}
35630for an error
35631@end table
35632
35633@item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35634@itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35635@cindex @samp{z4} packet
35636@cindex @samp{Z4} packet
35637Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
35638The number of bytes to watch is specified by @var{kind}.
35639
35640Reply:
35641@table @samp
35642@item OK
35643success
35644@item @w{}
35645not supported
35646@item E @var{NN}
35647for an error
35648@end table
35649
35650@end table
35651
35652@node Stop Reply Packets
35653@section Stop Reply Packets
35654@cindex stop reply packets
35655
35656The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
35657@samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
35658receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
35659and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
35660when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
35661number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
35662@value{GDBN} source code.
35663
35664As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
35665reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
35666syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
35667components.
35668
35669@table @samp
35670
35671@item S @var{AA}
35672The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
35673number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
35674@var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
35675
35676@item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
35677@cindex @samp{T} packet reply
35678The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
35679number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
35680@samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
35681and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
35682round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
35683this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
35684
35685@itemize @bullet
35686@item
35687If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
35688corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. The data @var{r} is a
35689series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
35690two-digit hex number.
35691
35692@item
35693If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
35694the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
35695
35696@item
35697If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
35698the core on which the stop event was detected.
35699
35700@item
35701If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
35702specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
35703reasons are listed below. The @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
35704signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
35705
35706@item
35707Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
35708and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
35709future.
35710@end itemize
35711
35712The currently defined stop reasons are:
35713
35714@table @samp
35715@item watch
35716@itemx rwatch
35717@itemx awatch
35718The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
35719hex.
35720
35721@item syscall_entry
35722@itemx syscall_return
35723The packet indicates a syscall entry or return, and @var{r} is the
35724syscall number, in hex.
35725
35726@cindex shared library events, remote reply
35727@item library
35728The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
35729@value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
35730list of loaded libraries. The @var{r} part is ignored.
35731
35732@cindex replay log events, remote reply
35733@item replaylog
35734The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
35735logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
35736beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
35737will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
35738for more information.
35739
35740@item swbreak
35741@anchor{swbreak stop reason}
35742The packet indicates a memory breakpoint instruction was executed,
35743irrespective of whether it was @value{GDBN} that planted the
35744breakpoint or the breakpoint is hardcoded in the program. The @var{r}
35745part must be left empty.
35746
35747On some architectures, such as x86, at the architecture level, when a
35748breakpoint instruction executes the program counter points at the
35749breakpoint address plus an offset. On such targets, the stub is
35750responsible for adjusting the PC to point back at the breakpoint
35751address.
35752
35753This packet should not be sent by default; older @value{GDBN} versions
35754did not support it. @value{GDBN} requests it, by supplying an
35755appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature (@pxref{qSupported}). The
35756remote stub must also supply the appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature
35757indicating support.
35758
35759This packet is required for correct non-stop mode operation.
35760
35761@item hwbreak
35762The packet indicates the target stopped for a hardware breakpoint.
35763The @var{r} part must be left empty.
35764
35765The same remarks about @samp{qSupported} and non-stop mode above
35766apply.
35767
35768@cindex fork events, remote reply
35769@item fork
35770The packet indicates that @code{fork} was called, and @var{r}
35771is the thread ID of the new child process. Refer to
35772@ref{thread-id syntax} for the format of the @var{thread-id}
35773field. This packet is only applicable to targets that support
35774fork events.
35775
35776This packet should not be sent by default; older @value{GDBN} versions
35777did not support it. @value{GDBN} requests it, by supplying an
35778appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature (@pxref{qSupported}). The
35779remote stub must also supply the appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature
35780indicating support.
35781
35782@cindex vfork events, remote reply
35783@item vfork
35784The packet indicates that @code{vfork} was called, and @var{r}
35785is the thread ID of the new child process. Refer to
35786@ref{thread-id syntax} for the format of the @var{thread-id}
35787field. This packet is only applicable to targets that support
35788vfork events.
35789
35790This packet should not be sent by default; older @value{GDBN} versions
35791did not support it. @value{GDBN} requests it, by supplying an
35792appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature (@pxref{qSupported}). The
35793remote stub must also supply the appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature
35794indicating support.
35795
35796@cindex vforkdone events, remote reply
35797@item vforkdone
35798The packet indicates that a child process created by a vfork
35799has either called @code{exec} or terminated, so that the
35800address spaces of the parent and child process are no longer
35801shared. The @var{r} part is ignored. This packet is only
35802applicable to targets that support vforkdone events.
35803
35804This packet should not be sent by default; older @value{GDBN} versions
35805did not support it. @value{GDBN} requests it, by supplying an
35806appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature (@pxref{qSupported}). The
35807remote stub must also supply the appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature
35808indicating support.
35809
35810@cindex exec events, remote reply
35811@item exec
35812The packet indicates that @code{execve} was called, and @var{r}
35813is the absolute pathname of the file that was executed, in hex.
35814This packet is only applicable to targets that support exec events.
35815
35816This packet should not be sent by default; older @value{GDBN} versions
35817did not support it. @value{GDBN} requests it, by supplying an
35818appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature (@pxref{qSupported}). The
35819remote stub must also supply the appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature
35820indicating support.
35821
35822@cindex thread create event, remote reply
35823@anchor{thread create event}
35824@item create
35825The packet indicates that the thread was just created. The new thread
35826is stopped until @value{GDBN} sets it running with a resumption packet
35827(@pxref{vCont packet}). This packet should not be sent by default;
35828@value{GDBN} requests it with the @ref{QThreadEvents} packet. See
35829also the @samp{w} (@ref{thread exit event}) remote reply below.
35830
35831@end table
35832
35833@item W @var{AA}
35834@itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
35835The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
35836applicable to certain targets.
35837
35838The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
35839process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
35840multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
35841The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
35842
35843@item X @var{AA}
35844@itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
35845The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
35846
35847The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
35848terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
35849support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
35850extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
35851
35852@anchor{thread exit event}
35853@cindex thread exit event, remote reply
35854@item w @var{AA} ; @var{tid}
35855
35856The thread exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This response
35857should not be sent by default; @value{GDBN} requests it with the
35858@ref{QThreadEvents} packet. See also @ref{thread create event} above.
35859
35860@item N
35861There are no resumed threads left in the target. In other words, even
35862though the process is alive, the last resumed thread has exited. For
35863example, say the target process has two threads: thread 1 and thread
358642. The client leaves thread 1 stopped, and resumes thread 2, which
35865subsequently exits. At this point, even though the process is still
35866alive, and thus no @samp{W} stop reply is sent, no thread is actually
35867executing either. The @samp{N} stop reply thus informs the client
35868that it can stop waiting for stop replies. This packet should not be
35869sent by default; older @value{GDBN} versions did not support it.
35870@value{GDBN} requests it, by supplying an appropriate
35871@samp{qSupported} feature (@pxref{qSupported}). The remote stub must
35872also supply the appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature indicating
35873support.
35874
35875@item O @var{XX}@dots{}
35876@samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
35877written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
35878while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
35879for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
35880
35881@item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
35882@var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
35883be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
35884correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
35885@xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
35886system calls.
35887
35888@samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
35889this very system call.
35890
35891The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
35892call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
35893with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
35894reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
35895or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
35896Protocol Extension}, for more details.
35897
35898@end table
35899
35900@node General Query Packets
35901@section General Query Packets
35902@cindex remote query requests
35903
35904Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
35905packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
35906query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
35907sending information to and from the stub.
35908
35909The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
35910indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
35911@value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
35912definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
35913conventions:
35914
35915@itemize @bullet
35916@item
35917The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
35918@item
35919Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
35920letter.
35921@item
35922The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
35923lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
35924the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
35925foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
35926@end itemize
35927
35928The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
35929parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
35930separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
35931full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
35932in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
35933with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
35934packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
35935for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
35936are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
35937existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
35938packet.}.
35939
35940Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
35941has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
35942explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
35943templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
35944@value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
35945
35946Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
35947
35948@table @samp
35949
35950@item QAgent:1
35951@itemx QAgent:0
35952Turn on or off the agent as a helper to perform some debugging operations
35953delegated from @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Control Agent}).
35954
35955@item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
35956@cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
35957Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
35958target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
35959pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
35960@samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
35961@samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
35962indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
35963indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
35964own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
35965insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
35966
35967@item qC
35968@cindex current thread, remote request
35969@cindex @samp{qC} packet
35970Return the current thread ID.
35971
35972Reply:
35973@table @samp
35974@item QC @var{thread-id}
35975Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
35976@ref{thread-id syntax}.
35977@item @r{(anything else)}
35978Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
35979@end table
35980
35981@item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
35982@cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
35983@cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
35984@anchor{qCRC packet}
35985Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
35986IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
35987significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
35988@code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
35989
35990@emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
35991files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
35992Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
35993separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
35994significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
35995detect trailing zeros.
35996
35997Reply:
35998@table @samp
35999@item E @var{NN}
36000An error (such as memory fault)
36001@item C @var{crc32}
36002The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
36003@end table
36004
36005@item QDisableRandomization:@var{value}
36006@cindex disable address space randomization, remote request
36007@cindex @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet
36008Some target operating systems will randomize the virtual address space
36009of the inferior process as a security feature, but provide a feature
36010to disable such randomization, e.g.@: to allow for a more deterministic
36011debugging experience. On such systems, this packet with a @var{value}
36012of 1 directs the target to disable address space randomization for
36013processes subsequently started via @samp{vRun} packets, while a packet
36014with a @var{value} of 0 tells the target to enable address space
36015randomization.
36016
36017This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
36018
36019Reply:
36020@table @samp
36021@item OK
36022The request succeeded.
36023
36024@item E @var{nn}
36025An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
36026
36027@item @w{}
36028An empty reply indicates that @samp{QDisableRandomization} is not supported
36029by the stub.
36030@end table
36031
36032This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36033by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36034This should only be done on targets that actually support disabling
36035address space randomization.
36036
36037@item qfThreadInfo
36038@itemx qsThreadInfo
36039@cindex list active threads, remote request
36040@cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
36041@cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
36042Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
36043may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
36044works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
36045obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
36046be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
36047sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
36048
36049NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
36050
36051Reply:
36052@table @samp
36053@item m @var{thread-id}
36054A single thread ID
36055@item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
36056a comma-separated list of thread IDs
36057@item l
36058(lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
36059@end table
36060
36061In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
36062more thread IDs, separated by commas.
36063@value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
36064ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
36065with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for @dfn{last}).
36066Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
36067fields.
36068
36069@emph{Note: @value{GDBN} will send the @code{qfThreadInfo} query during the
36070initial connection with the remote target, and the very first thread ID
36071mentioned in the reply will be stopped by @value{GDBN} in a subsequent
36072message. Therefore, the stub should ensure that the first thread ID in
36073the @code{qfThreadInfo} reply is suitable for being stopped by @value{GDBN}.}
36074
36075@item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
36076@cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
36077@cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
36078Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
36079by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
36080
36081@var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
36082thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
36083
36084@var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
36085thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
36086information associated with the variable.)
36087
36088@var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
36089load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
36090a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
36091object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
36092Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
36093differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
36094
36095Reply:
36096@table @samp
36097@item @var{XX}@dots{}
36098Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
36099local storage requested.
36100
36101@item E @var{nn}
36102An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
36103
36104@item @w{}
36105An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
36106@end table
36107
36108@item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
36109@cindex get thread information block address
36110@cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
36111Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
36112
36113@var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
36114
36115Reply:
36116@table @samp
36117@item @var{XX}@dots{}
36118Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
36119thread information block.
36120
36121@item E @var{nn}
36122An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
36123address could not be retrieved.
36124
36125@item @w{}
36126An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
36127@end table
36128
36129@item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
36130Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
36131digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
36132subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
36133number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
36134(eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
36135returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
36136
36137Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
36138
36139Reply:
36140@table @samp
36141@item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
36142Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
36143returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
36144and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
36145digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
36146is a sequence of thread IDs, @var{threadid} (eight hex
36147digits), from the target. See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
36148@end table
36149
36150@item qOffsets
36151@cindex section offsets, remote request
36152@cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
36153Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
36154image.
36155
36156Reply:
36157@table @samp
36158@item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
36159Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
36160Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
36161If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
36162@samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
36163segments by the supplied offsets.
36164
36165@emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
36166@value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
36167to the @code{Bss} section.}
36168
36169@item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
36170Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
36171contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
36172@samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
36173conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
36174@var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
36175does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
36176as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
36177kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
36178@end table
36179
36180@item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
36181@cindex thread information, remote request
36182@cindex @samp{qP} packet
36183Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
36184encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
36185(@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
36186
36187Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
36188(see below).
36189
36190Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
36191
36192@item QNonStop:1
36193@itemx QNonStop:0
36194@cindex non-stop mode, remote request
36195@cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
36196@anchor{QNonStop}
36197Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
36198@xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
36199
36200Reply:
36201@table @samp
36202@item OK
36203The request succeeded.
36204
36205@item E @var{nn}
36206An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
36207
36208@item @w{}
36209An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
36210the stub.
36211@end table
36212
36213This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36214by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36215Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
36216@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
36217
36218@item QCatchSyscalls:1 @r{[};@var{sysno}@r{]}@dots{}
36219@itemx QCatchSyscalls:0
36220@cindex catch syscalls from inferior, remote request
36221@cindex @samp{QCatchSyscalls} packet
36222@anchor{QCatchSyscalls}
36223Enable (@samp{QCatchSyscalls:1}) or disable (@samp{QCatchSyscalls:0})
36224catching syscalls from the inferior process.
36225
36226For @samp{QCatchSyscalls:1}, each listed syscall @var{sysno} (encoded
36227in hex) should be reported to @value{GDBN}. If no syscall @var{sysno}
36228is listed, every system call should be reported.
36229
36230Note that if a syscall not in the list is reported, @value{GDBN} will
36231still filter the event according to its own list from all corresponding
36232@code{catch syscall} commands. However, it is more efficient to only
36233report the requested syscalls.
36234
36235Multiple @samp{QCatchSyscalls:1} packets do not combine; any earlier
36236@samp{QCatchSyscalls:1} list is completely replaced by the new list.
36237
36238If the inferior process execs, the state of @samp{QCatchSyscalls} is
36239kept for the new process too. On targets where exec may affect syscall
36240numbers, for example with exec between 32 and 64-bit processes, the
36241client should send a new packet with the new syscall list.
36242
36243Reply:
36244@table @samp
36245@item OK
36246The request succeeded.
36247
36248@item E @var{nn}
36249An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
36250
36251@item @w{}
36252An empty reply indicates that @samp{QCatchSyscalls} is not supported by
36253the stub.
36254@end table
36255
36256Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote catch-syscalls}
36257command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote catch-syscalls}).
36258This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36259by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36260
36261@item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
36262@cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
36263@cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
36264@anchor{QPassSignals}
36265Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
36266Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
36267(@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
36268strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
36269the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
36270reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
36271combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
36272new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
36273@var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
36274
36275Reply:
36276@table @samp
36277@item OK
36278The request succeeded.
36279
36280@item E @var{nn}
36281An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
36282
36283@item @w{}
36284An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
36285the stub.
36286@end table
36287
36288Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
36289command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
36290This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36291by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36292
36293@item QProgramSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
36294@cindex signals the inferior may see, remote request
36295@cindex @samp{QProgramSignals} packet
36296@anchor{QProgramSignals}
36297Each listed @var{signal} may be delivered to the inferior process.
36298Others should be silently discarded.
36299
36300In some cases, the remote stub may need to decide whether to deliver a
36301signal to the program or not without @value{GDBN} involvement. One
36302example of that is while detaching --- the program's threads may have
36303stopped for signals that haven't yet had a chance of being reported to
36304@value{GDBN}, and so the remote stub can use the signal list specified
36305by this packet to know whether to deliver or ignore those pending
36306signals.
36307
36308This does not influence whether to deliver a signal as requested by a
36309resumption packet (@pxref{vCont packet}).
36310
36311Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
36312(@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
36313strictly greater than the previous item. Multiple
36314@samp{QProgramSignals} packets do not combine; any earlier
36315@samp{QProgramSignals} list is completely replaced by the new list.
36316
36317Reply:
36318@table @samp
36319@item OK
36320The request succeeded.
36321
36322@item E @var{nn}
36323An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
36324
36325@item @w{}
36326An empty reply indicates that @samp{QProgramSignals} is not supported
36327by the stub.
36328@end table
36329
36330Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote program-signals}
36331command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote program-signals}).
36332This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36333by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36334
36335@anchor{QThreadEvents}
36336@item QThreadEvents:1
36337@itemx QThreadEvents:0
36338@cindex thread create/exit events, remote request
36339@cindex @samp{QThreadEvents} packet
36340
36341Enable (@samp{QThreadEvents:1}) or disable (@samp{QThreadEvents:0})
36342reporting of thread create and exit events. @xref{thread create
36343event}, for the reply specifications. For example, this is used in
36344non-stop mode when @value{GDBN} stops a set of threads and
36345synchronously waits for the their corresponding stop replies. Without
36346exit events, if one of the threads exits, @value{GDBN} would hang
36347forever not knowing that it should no longer expect a stop for that
36348same thread. @value{GDBN} does not enable this feature unless the
36349stub reports that it supports it by including @samp{QThreadEvents+} in
36350its @samp{qSupported} reply.
36351
36352Reply:
36353@table @samp
36354@item OK
36355The request succeeded.
36356
36357@item E @var{nn}
36358An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
36359
36360@item @w{}
36361An empty reply indicates that @samp{QThreadEvents} is not supported by
36362the stub.
36363@end table
36364
36365Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote thread-events}
36366command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote thread-events}).
36367
36368@item qRcmd,@var{command}
36369@cindex execute remote command, remote request
36370@cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
36371@var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
36372execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
36373string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
36374with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
36375packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
36376stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
36377
36378Reply:
36379@table @samp
36380@item OK
36381A command response with no output.
36382@item @var{OUTPUT}
36383A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
36384@item E @var{NN}
36385Indicate a badly formed request.
36386@item @w{}
36387An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
36388@end table
36389
36390(Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
36391command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
36392conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
36393packets.)
36394
36395@item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
36396@cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
36397@ifnotinfo
36398@cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
36399@end ifnotinfo
36400@cindex @samp{qSearch memory} packet
36401@anchor{qSearch memory}
36402Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
36403Both @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex;
36404@var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, also hex encoded.
36405
36406Reply:
36407@table @samp
36408@item 0
36409The pattern was not found.
36410@item 1,address
36411The pattern was found at @var{address}.
36412@item E @var{NN}
36413A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
36414@item @w{}
36415An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
36416@end table
36417
36418@item QStartNoAckMode
36419@cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
36420@anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
36421Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
36422protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
36423
36424Reply:
36425@table @samp
36426@item OK
36427The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
36428@value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
36429but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
36430@samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
36431@item @w{}
36432An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
36433@end table
36434
36435@item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
36436@cindex supported packets, remote query
36437@cindex features of the remote protocol
36438@cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
36439@anchor{qSupported}
36440Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
36441query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
36442@value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
36443features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
36444at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
36445packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
36446high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
36447be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
36448stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
36449automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
36450reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
36451unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
36452helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
36453versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
36454
36455Reply:
36456@table @samp
36457@item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
36458The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
36459depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
36460possible forms).
36461@item @w{}
36462An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
36463or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
36464@end table
36465
36466The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
36467@samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
36468are:
36469
36470@table @samp
36471@item @var{name}=@var{value}
36472The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
36473with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
36474on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
36475@item @var{name}+
36476The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
36477need an associated value.
36478@item @var{name}-
36479The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
36480@item @var{name}?
36481The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
36482@value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
36483needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
36484but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
36485@end table
36486
36487Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
36488supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
36489request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
36490state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
36491a different version of @value{GDBN}.
36492
36493The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
36494are defined:
36495
36496@table @samp
36497@item multiprocess
36498This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
36499extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
36500extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
36501including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
36502@xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
36503
36504@item xmlRegisters
36505This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
36506description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
36507specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
36508description.
36509
36510@item qRelocInsn
36511This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
36512@samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
36513instruction reply packet}).
36514
36515@item swbreak
36516This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the swbreak stop
36517reason in stop replies. @xref{swbreak stop reason}, for details.
36518
36519@item hwbreak
36520This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the hwbreak stop
36521reason in stop replies. @xref{swbreak stop reason}, for details.
36522
36523@item fork-events
36524This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports fork event
36525extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
36526extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
36527including @samp{fork-events+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
36528
36529@item vfork-events
36530This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports vfork event
36531extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
36532extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
36533including @samp{vfork-events+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
36534
36535@item exec-events
36536This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports exec event
36537extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
36538extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
36539including @samp{exec-events+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
36540
36541@item vContSupported
36542This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} wants to know the
36543supported actions in the reply to @samp{vCont?} packet.
36544@end table
36545
36546Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
36547@var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
36548packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
36549versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
36550for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
36551advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
36552improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
36553an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
36554of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
36555describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
36556all the features it supports.
36557
36558Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
36559responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
36560
36561Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
36562should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
36563require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
36564form response.
36565
36566Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
36567@samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
36568in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
36569stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
36570
36571Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
36572mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
36573architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
36574about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
36575stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
36576
36577These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
36578
36579@multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
36580@c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
36581@c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
36582@item Feature Name
36583@tab Value Required
36584@tab Default
36585@tab Probe Allowed
36586
36587@item @samp{PacketSize}
36588@tab Yes
36589@tab @samp{-}
36590@tab No
36591
36592@item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
36593@tab No
36594@tab @samp{-}
36595@tab Yes
36596
36597@item @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
36598@tab No
36599@tab @samp{-}
36600@tab Yes
36601
36602@item @samp{qXfer:btrace-conf:read}
36603@tab No
36604@tab @samp{-}
36605@tab Yes
36606
36607@item @samp{qXfer:exec-file:read}
36608@tab No
36609@tab @samp{-}
36610@tab Yes
36611
36612@item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
36613@tab No
36614@tab @samp{-}
36615@tab Yes
36616
36617@item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
36618@tab No
36619@tab @samp{-}
36620@tab Yes
36621
36622@item @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read}
36623@tab No
36624@tab @samp{-}
36625@tab Yes
36626
36627@item @samp{augmented-libraries-svr4-read}
36628@tab No
36629@tab @samp{-}
36630@tab No
36631
36632@item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
36633@tab No
36634@tab @samp{-}
36635@tab Yes
36636
36637@item @samp{qXfer:sdata:read}
36638@tab No
36639@tab @samp{-}
36640@tab Yes
36641
36642@item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
36643@tab No
36644@tab @samp{-}
36645@tab Yes
36646
36647@item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
36648@tab No
36649@tab @samp{-}
36650@tab Yes
36651
36652@item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
36653@tab No
36654@tab @samp{-}
36655@tab Yes
36656
36657@item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
36658@tab No
36659@tab @samp{-}
36660@tab Yes
36661
36662@item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
36663@tab No
36664@tab @samp{-}
36665@tab Yes
36666
36667@item @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
36668@tab No
36669@tab @samp{-}
36670@tab Yes
36671
36672@item @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
36673@tab No
36674@tab @samp{-}
36675@tab Yes
36676
36677@item @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
36678@tab No
36679@tab @samp{-}
36680@tab Yes
36681
36682@item @samp{Qbtrace:off}
36683@tab Yes
36684@tab @samp{-}
36685@tab Yes
36686
36687@item @samp{Qbtrace:bts}
36688@tab Yes
36689@tab @samp{-}
36690@tab Yes
36691
36692@item @samp{Qbtrace:pt}
36693@tab Yes
36694@tab @samp{-}
36695@tab Yes
36696
36697@item @samp{Qbtrace-conf:bts:size}
36698@tab Yes
36699@tab @samp{-}
36700@tab Yes
36701
36702@item @samp{Qbtrace-conf:pt:size}
36703@tab Yes
36704@tab @samp{-}
36705@tab Yes
36706
36707@item @samp{QNonStop}
36708@tab No
36709@tab @samp{-}
36710@tab Yes
36711
36712@item @samp{QCatchSyscalls}
36713@tab No
36714@tab @samp{-}
36715@tab Yes
36716
36717@item @samp{QPassSignals}
36718@tab No
36719@tab @samp{-}
36720@tab Yes
36721
36722@item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
36723@tab No
36724@tab @samp{-}
36725@tab Yes
36726
36727@item @samp{multiprocess}
36728@tab No
36729@tab @samp{-}
36730@tab No
36731
36732@item @samp{ConditionalBreakpoints}
36733@tab No
36734@tab @samp{-}
36735@tab No
36736
36737@item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
36738@tab No
36739@tab @samp{-}
36740@tab No
36741
36742@item @samp{ReverseContinue}
36743@tab No
36744@tab @samp{-}
36745@tab No
36746
36747@item @samp{ReverseStep}
36748@tab No
36749@tab @samp{-}
36750@tab No
36751
36752@item @samp{TracepointSource}
36753@tab No
36754@tab @samp{-}
36755@tab No
36756
36757@item @samp{QAgent}
36758@tab No
36759@tab @samp{-}
36760@tab No
36761
36762@item @samp{QAllow}
36763@tab No
36764@tab @samp{-}
36765@tab No
36766
36767@item @samp{QDisableRandomization}
36768@tab No
36769@tab @samp{-}
36770@tab No
36771
36772@item @samp{EnableDisableTracepoints}
36773@tab No
36774@tab @samp{-}
36775@tab No
36776
36777@item @samp{QTBuffer:size}
36778@tab No
36779@tab @samp{-}
36780@tab No
36781
36782@item @samp{tracenz}
36783@tab No
36784@tab @samp{-}
36785@tab No
36786
36787@item @samp{BreakpointCommands}
36788@tab No
36789@tab @samp{-}
36790@tab No
36791
36792@item @samp{swbreak}
36793@tab No
36794@tab @samp{-}
36795@tab No
36796
36797@item @samp{hwbreak}
36798@tab No
36799@tab @samp{-}
36800@tab No
36801
36802@item @samp{fork-events}
36803@tab No
36804@tab @samp{-}
36805@tab No
36806
36807@item @samp{vfork-events}
36808@tab No
36809@tab @samp{-}
36810@tab No
36811
36812@item @samp{exec-events}
36813@tab No
36814@tab @samp{-}
36815@tab No
36816
36817@item @samp{QThreadEvents}
36818@tab No
36819@tab @samp{-}
36820@tab No
36821
36822@item @samp{no-resumed}
36823@tab No
36824@tab @samp{-}
36825@tab No
36826
36827@end multitable
36828
36829These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
36830
36831@table @samp
36832@cindex packet size, remote protocol
36833@item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
36834The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
36835length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
36836transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
36837data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
36838There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
36839stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
36840byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
36841@value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
36842
36843@item qXfer:auxv:read
36844The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
36845(@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
36846
36847@item qXfer:btrace:read
36848The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
36849packet (@pxref{qXfer btrace read}).
36850
36851@item qXfer:btrace-conf:read
36852The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:btrace-conf:read}
36853packet (@pxref{qXfer btrace-conf read}).
36854
36855@item qXfer:exec-file:read
36856The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:exec-file:read} packet
36857(@pxref{qXfer executable filename read}).
36858
36859@item qXfer:features:read
36860The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
36861(@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
36862
36863@item qXfer:libraries:read
36864The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
36865(@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
36866
36867@item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read
36868The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
36869(@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
36870
36871@item augmented-libraries-svr4-read
36872The remote stub understands the augmented form of the
36873@samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
36874(@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
36875
36876@item qXfer:memory-map:read
36877The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
36878(@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
36879
36880@item qXfer:sdata:read
36881The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:sdata:read} packet
36882(@pxref{qXfer sdata read}).
36883
36884@item qXfer:spu:read
36885The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
36886(@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
36887
36888@item qXfer:spu:write
36889The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
36890(@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
36891
36892@item qXfer:siginfo:read
36893The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
36894(@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
36895
36896@item qXfer:siginfo:write
36897The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
36898(@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
36899
36900@item qXfer:threads:read
36901The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
36902(@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
36903
36904@item qXfer:traceframe-info:read
36905The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
36906packet (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}).
36907
36908@item qXfer:uib:read
36909The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
36910packet (@pxref{qXfer unwind info block}).
36911
36912@item qXfer:fdpic:read
36913The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
36914packet (@pxref{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}).
36915
36916@item QNonStop
36917The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
36918(@pxref{QNonStop}).
36919
36920@item QCatchSyscalls
36921The remote stub understands the @samp{QCatchSyscalls} packet
36922(@pxref{QCatchSyscalls}).
36923
36924@item QPassSignals
36925The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
36926(@pxref{QPassSignals}).
36927
36928@item QStartNoAckMode
36929The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
36930prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
36931
36932@item multiprocess
36933@anchor{multiprocess extensions}
36934@cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
36935The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
36936protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
36937thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
36938add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
36939replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
36940syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
36941debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
36942multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
36943indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
36944
36945@item qXfer:osdata:read
36946The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
36947((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
36948
36949@item ConditionalBreakpoints
36950The target accepts and implements evaluation of conditional expressions
36951defined for breakpoints. The target will only report breakpoint triggers
36952when such conditions are true (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
36953
36954@item ConditionalTracepoints
36955The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
36956for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
36957
36958@item ReverseContinue
36959The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
36960(@pxref{bc}).
36961
36962@item ReverseStep
36963The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
36964(@pxref{bs}).
36965
36966@item TracepointSource
36967The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
36968the source form of tracepoint definitions.
36969
36970@item QAgent
36971The remote stub understands the @samp{QAgent} packet.
36972
36973@item QAllow
36974The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
36975
36976@item QDisableRandomization
36977The remote stub understands the @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet.
36978
36979@item StaticTracepoint
36980@cindex static tracepoints, in remote protocol
36981The remote stub supports static tracepoints.
36982
36983@item InstallInTrace
36984@anchor{install tracepoint in tracing}
36985The remote stub supports installing tracepoint in tracing.
36986
36987@item EnableDisableTracepoints
36988The remote stub supports the @samp{QTEnable} (@pxref{QTEnable}) and
36989@samp{QTDisable} (@pxref{QTDisable}) packets that allow tracepoints
36990to be enabled and disabled while a trace experiment is running.
36991
36992@item QTBuffer:size
36993The remote stub supports the @samp{QTBuffer:size} (@pxref{QTBuffer-size})
36994packet that allows to change the size of the trace buffer.
36995
36996@item tracenz
36997@cindex string tracing, in remote protocol
36998The remote stub supports the @samp{tracenz} bytecode for collecting strings.
36999See @ref{Bytecode Descriptions} for details about the bytecode.
37000
37001@item BreakpointCommands
37002@cindex breakpoint commands, in remote protocol
37003The remote stub supports running a breakpoint's command list itself,
37004rather than reporting the hit to @value{GDBN}.
37005
37006@item Qbtrace:off
37007The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:off} packet.
37008
37009@item Qbtrace:bts
37010The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:bts} packet.
37011
37012@item Qbtrace:pt
37013The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:pt} packet.
37014
37015@item Qbtrace-conf:bts:size
37016The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace-conf:bts:size} packet.
37017
37018@item Qbtrace-conf:pt:size
37019The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace-conf:pt:size} packet.
37020
37021@item swbreak
37022The remote stub reports the @samp{swbreak} stop reason for memory
37023breakpoints.
37024
37025@item hwbreak
37026The remote stub reports the @samp{hwbreak} stop reason for hardware
37027breakpoints.
37028
37029@item fork-events
37030The remote stub reports the @samp{fork} stop reason for fork events.
37031
37032@item vfork-events
37033The remote stub reports the @samp{vfork} stop reason for vfork events
37034and vforkdone events.
37035
37036@item exec-events
37037The remote stub reports the @samp{exec} stop reason for exec events.
37038
37039@item vContSupported
37040The remote stub reports the supported actions in the reply to
37041@samp{vCont?} packet.
37042
37043@item QThreadEvents
37044The remote stub understands the @samp{QThreadEvents} packet.
37045
37046@item no-resumed
37047The remote stub reports the @samp{N} stop reply.
37048
37049@end table
37050
37051@item qSymbol::
37052@cindex symbol lookup, remote request
37053@cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
37054Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
37055requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
37056
37057Reply:
37058@table @samp
37059@item OK
37060The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
37061@item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
37062The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
37063@value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
37064@samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
37065below.
37066@end table
37067
37068@item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
37069Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
37070
37071@var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
37072target has previously requested.
37073
37074@var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
37075@value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
37076will be empty.
37077
37078Reply:
37079@table @samp
37080@item OK
37081The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
37082@item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
37083The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
37084encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
37085(if available), until the target ceases to request them.
37086@end table
37087
37088@item qTBuffer
37089@itemx QTBuffer
37090@itemx QTDisconnected
37091@itemx QTDP
37092@itemx QTDPsrc
37093@itemx QTDV
37094@itemx qTfP
37095@itemx qTfV
37096@itemx QTFrame
37097@itemx qTMinFTPILen
37098
37099@xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
37100
37101@item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
37102@cindex thread attributes info, remote request
37103@cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
37104Obtain from the target OS a printable string description of thread
37105attributes for the thread @var{thread-id}; see @ref{thread-id syntax},
37106for the forms of @var{thread-id}. This
37107string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
37108for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
37109displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
37110examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
37111@samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
37112
37113Reply:
37114@table @samp
37115@item @var{XX}@dots{}
37116Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
37117comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
37118the thread's attributes.
37119@end table
37120
37121(Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
37122the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
37123conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
37124packets.)
37125
37126@item QTNotes
37127@itemx qTP
37128@itemx QTSave
37129@itemx qTsP
37130@itemx qTsV
37131@itemx QTStart
37132@itemx QTStop
37133@itemx QTEnable
37134@itemx QTDisable
37135@itemx QTinit
37136@itemx QTro
37137@itemx qTStatus
37138@itemx qTV
37139@itemx qTfSTM
37140@itemx qTsSTM
37141@itemx qTSTMat
37142@xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
37143
37144@item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37145@cindex read special object, remote request
37146@cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
37147@anchor{qXfer read}
37148Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
37149identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
37150starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
37151encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
37152additional details about what data to access.
37153
37154Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
37155@samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
37156formats, listed below.
37157
37158@table @samp
37159@item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37160@anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
37161Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
37162auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
37163
37164This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37165by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37166
37167@item qXfer:btrace:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37168@anchor{qXfer btrace read}
37169
37170Return a description of the current branch trace.
37171@xref{Branch Trace Format}. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer}
37172packet may have one of the following values:
37173
37174@table @code
37175@item all
37176Returns all available branch trace.
37177
37178@item new
37179Returns all available branch trace if the branch trace changed since
37180the last read request.
37181
37182@item delta
37183Returns the new branch trace since the last read request. Adds a new
37184block to the end of the trace that begins at zero and ends at the source
37185location of the first branch in the trace buffer. This extra block is
37186used to stitch traces together.
37187
37188If the trace buffer overflowed, returns an error indicating the overflow.
37189@end table
37190
37191This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it
37192by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37193
37194@item qXfer:btrace-conf:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37195@anchor{qXfer btrace-conf read}
37196
37197Return a description of the current branch trace configuration.
37198@xref{Branch Trace Configuration Format}.
37199
37200This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it
37201by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37202
37203@item qXfer:exec-file:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37204@anchor{qXfer executable filename read}
37205Return the full absolute name of the file that was executed to create
37206a process running on the remote system. The annex specifies the
37207numeric process ID of the process to query, encoded as a hexadecimal
37208number. If the annex part is empty the remote stub should return the
37209filename corresponding to the currently executing process.
37210
37211This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37212by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37213
37214@item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37215@anchor{qXfer target description read}
37216Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
37217annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
37218always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
37219
37220This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37221by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37222
37223@item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37224@anchor{qXfer library list read}
37225Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
37226The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
37227(@pxref{qXfer read}).
37228
37229Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
37230not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
37231the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
37232
37233This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37234by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37235
37236@item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37237@anchor{qXfer svr4 library list read}
37238Access the target's list of loaded libraries when the target is an SVR4
37239platform. @xref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets}. The annex part
37240of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty unless the remote
37241stub indicated it supports the augmented form of this packet
37242by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
37243(@pxref{qXfer read}, @ref{qSupported}).
37244
37245This packet is optional for better performance on SVR4 targets.
37246@value{GDBN} uses memory read packets to read the SVR4 library list otherwise.
37247
37248This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37249by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37250
37251If the remote stub indicates it supports the augmented form of this
37252packet then the annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet may
37253contain a semicolon-separated list of @samp{@var{name}=@var{value}}
37254arguments. The currently supported arguments are:
37255
37256@table @code
37257@item start=@var{address}
37258A hexadecimal number specifying the address of the @samp{struct
37259link_map} to start reading the library list from. If unset or zero
37260then the first @samp{struct link_map} in the library list will be
37261chosen as the starting point.
37262
37263@item prev=@var{address}
37264A hexadecimal number specifying the address of the @samp{struct
37265link_map} immediately preceding the @samp{struct link_map}
37266specified by the @samp{start} argument. If unset or zero then
37267the remote stub will expect that no @samp{struct link_map}
37268exists prior to the starting point.
37269
37270@end table
37271
37272Arguments that are not understood by the remote stub will be silently
37273ignored.
37274
37275@item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37276@anchor{qXfer memory map read}
37277Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
37278annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
37279(@pxref{qXfer read}).
37280
37281This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37282by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37283
37284@item qXfer:sdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37285@anchor{qXfer sdata read}
37286
37287Read contents of the extra collected static tracepoint marker
37288information. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must
37289be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}). @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint
37290Action Lists}.
37291
37292This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37293by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
37294(@pxref{qSupported}).
37295
37296@item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37297@anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
37298Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
37299system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
37300empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
37301
37302This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37303by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
37304(@pxref{qSupported}).
37305
37306@item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37307@anchor{qXfer spu read}
37308Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
37309annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
37310@file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
37311in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
37312in that context to be accessed.
37313
37314This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37315by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
37316(@pxref{qSupported}).
37317
37318@item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37319@anchor{qXfer threads read}
37320Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
37321annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
37322(@pxref{qXfer read}).
37323
37324This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37325by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37326
37327@item qXfer:traceframe-info:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37328@anchor{qXfer traceframe info read}
37329
37330Return a description of the current traceframe's contents.
37331@xref{Traceframe Info Format}. The annex part of the generic
37332@samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
37333
37334This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37335by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37336
37337@item qXfer:uib:read:@var{pc}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37338@anchor{qXfer unwind info block}
37339
37340Return the unwind information block for @var{pc}. This packet is used
37341on OpenVMS/ia64 to ask the kernel unwind information.
37342
37343This packet is not probed by default.
37344
37345@item qXfer:fdpic:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37346@anchor{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}
37347Read contents of @code{loadmap}s on the target system. The
37348annex, either @samp{exec} or @samp{interp}, specifies which @code{loadmap},
37349executable @code{loadmap} or interpreter @code{loadmap} to read.
37350
37351This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37352by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37353
37354@item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37355@anchor{qXfer osdata read}
37356Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
37357@xref{Operating System Information}.
37358
37359@end table
37360
37361Reply:
37362@table @samp
37363@item m @var{data}
37364Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
37365target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
37366it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
37367block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
37368It is possible for @var{data} to have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
37369request.
37370
37371@item l @var{data}
37372Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
37373There is no more data to be read. It is possible for @var{data} to
37374have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the request.
37375
37376@item l
37377The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
37378There is no more data to be read.
37379
37380@item E00
37381The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
37382
37383@item E @var{nn}
37384The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
37385The @var{nn} part is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
37386
37387@item @w{}
37388An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
37389the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
37390@end table
37391
37392@item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
37393@cindex write data into object, remote request
37394@anchor{qXfer write}
37395Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
37396identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
37397into the data. The binary-encoded data (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be
37398written is given by @var{data}@dots{}. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
37399is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
37400to access.
37401
37402Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
37403@samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
37404formats, listed below.
37405
37406@table @samp
37407@item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
37408@anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
37409Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
37410The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
37411empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
37412
37413This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37414by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
37415(@pxref{qSupported}).
37416
37417@item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
37418@anchor{qXfer spu write}
37419Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
37420annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
37421@file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
37422in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
37423in that context to be accessed.
37424
37425This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37426by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37427@end table
37428
37429Reply:
37430@table @samp
37431@item @var{nn}
37432@var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
37433This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
37434
37435@item E00
37436The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
37437
37438@item E @var{nn}
37439The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
37440The @var{nn} part is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
37441
37442@item @w{}
37443An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
37444recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
37445@end table
37446
37447@item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
37448Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
37449not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
37450@var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
37451must respond with an empty packet.
37452
37453@item qAttached:@var{pid}
37454@cindex query attached, remote request
37455@cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
37456Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
37457existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
37458protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
37459@var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
37460process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
37461the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
37462
37463This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
37464should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
37465the @code{quit} command.
37466
37467Reply:
37468@table @samp
37469@item 1
37470The remote server attached to an existing process.
37471@item 0
37472The remote server created a new process.
37473@item E @var{NN}
37474A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
37475@end table
37476
37477@item Qbtrace:bts
37478Enable branch tracing for the current thread using Branch Trace Store.
37479
37480Reply:
37481@table @samp
37482@item OK
37483Branch tracing has been enabled.
37484@item E.errtext
37485A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
37486@end table
37487
37488@item Qbtrace:pt
37489Enable branch tracing for the current thread using Intel Processor Trace.
37490
37491Reply:
37492@table @samp
37493@item OK
37494Branch tracing has been enabled.
37495@item E.errtext
37496A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
37497@end table
37498
37499@item Qbtrace:off
37500Disable branch tracing for the current thread.
37501
37502Reply:
37503@table @samp
37504@item OK
37505Branch tracing has been disabled.
37506@item E.errtext
37507A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
37508@end table
37509
37510@item Qbtrace-conf:bts:size=@var{value}
37511Set the requested ring buffer size for new threads that use the
37512btrace recording method in bts format.
37513
37514Reply:
37515@table @samp
37516@item OK
37517The ring buffer size has been set.
37518@item E.errtext
37519A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
37520@end table
37521
37522@item Qbtrace-conf:pt:size=@var{value}
37523Set the requested ring buffer size for new threads that use the
37524btrace recording method in pt format.
37525
37526Reply:
37527@table @samp
37528@item OK
37529The ring buffer size has been set.
37530@item E.errtext
37531A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
37532@end table
37533
37534@end table
37535
37536@node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
37537@section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
37538
37539This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
37540target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
37541details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
37542
37543@menu
37544* ARM-Specific Protocol Details::
37545* MIPS-Specific Protocol Details::
37546@end menu
37547
37548@node ARM-Specific Protocol Details
37549@subsection @acronym{ARM}-specific Protocol Details
37550
37551@menu
37552* ARM Breakpoint Kinds::
37553@end menu
37554
37555@node ARM Breakpoint Kinds
37556@subsubsection @acronym{ARM} Breakpoint Kinds
37557@cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{ARM}
37558
37559These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
37560
37561@table @r
37562
37563@item 2
3756416-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
37565
37566@item 3
3756732-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
37568
37569@item 4
3757032-bit @acronym{ARM} mode breakpoint.
37571
37572@end table
37573
37574@node MIPS-Specific Protocol Details
37575@subsection @acronym{MIPS}-specific Protocol Details
37576
37577@menu
37578* MIPS Register packet Format::
37579* MIPS Breakpoint Kinds::
37580@end menu
37581
37582@node MIPS Register packet Format
37583@subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Register Packet Format
37584@cindex register packet format, @acronym{MIPS}
37585
37586The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
37587In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
37588sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
37589to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
37590byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
37591most-significant -- least-significant.
37592
37593@table @r
37594
37595@item MIPS32
37596All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
3759732 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
37598registers; fsr; fir; fp.
37599
37600@item MIPS64
37601All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
37602thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
37603as @code{MIPS32}.
37604
37605@end table
37606
37607@node MIPS Breakpoint Kinds
37608@subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Breakpoint Kinds
37609@cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{MIPS}
37610
37611These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
37612
37613@table @r
37614
37615@item 2
3761616-bit @acronym{MIPS16} mode breakpoint.
37617
37618@item 3
3761916-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
37620
37621@item 4
3762232-bit standard @acronym{MIPS} mode breakpoint.
37623
37624@item 5
3762532-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
37626
37627@end table
37628
37629@node Tracepoint Packets
37630@section Tracepoint Packets
37631@cindex tracepoint packets
37632@cindex packets, tracepoint
37633
37634Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
37635tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
37636
37637@table @samp
37638
37639@item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
37640@cindex @samp{QTDP} packet
37641Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
37642is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
37643the tracepoint is disabled. The @var{step} gives the tracepoint's step
37644count, and @var{pass} gives its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
37645then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
37646the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
37647for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
37648tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
37649by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
37650encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
37651further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
37652actions.
37653
37654Replies:
37655@table @samp
37656@item OK
37657The packet was understood and carried out.
37658@item qRelocInsn
37659@xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
37660@item @w{}
37661The packet was not recognized.
37662@end table
37663
37664@item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
37665Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. The @var{n} and
37666@var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
37667this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
37668another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
37669trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
37670specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
37671
37672In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
37673can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
37674is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
37675actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
37676taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
37677@samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
37678tracepoint actions.
37679
37680The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
37681actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
37682following forms:
37683
37684@table @samp
37685
37686@item R @var{mask}
37687Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask},
37688a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
37689@var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
37690zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
37691not fit in a 32-bit word.
37692
37693@item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
37694Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
37695number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
37696@samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
37697address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
37698@var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
37699values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
37700
37701@item X @var{len},@var{expr}
37702Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
37703it directs. The agent expression @var{expr} is as described in
37704@ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
37705two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
37706in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
37707packet).
37708
37709@end table
37710
37711Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
37712packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
37713length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
37714action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
37715actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
37716must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
37717``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
37718separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
37719
37720Replies:
37721@table @samp
37722@item OK
37723The packet was understood and carried out.
37724@item qRelocInsn
37725@xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
37726@item @w{}
37727The packet was not recognized.
37728@end table
37729
37730@item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
37731@cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
37732Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
37733This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
37734originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. The @var{type}
37735is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
37736tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
37737@var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
37738
37739@var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
37740string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
37741This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
37742fit in a single packet.
37743@c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
37744@c tracepoint descriptions section.
37745
37746The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
37747@samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
37748@value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
37749list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
37750
37751The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
37752report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
37753query packets.
37754
37755Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
37756if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
37757Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
37758much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
37759tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
37760the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
37761could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
37762be found.
37763
37764@item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}:@var{builtin}:@var{name}
37765@cindex define trace state variable, remote request
37766@cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
37767Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
37768value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
37769and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
37770the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
37771target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
37772mentioned in expressions. The value @var{builtin} should be 1 (one)
37773if the trace state variable is builtin and 0 (zero) if it is not builtin.
37774@value{GDBN} only sets @var{builtin} to 1 if a previous @samp{qTfV} or
37775@samp{qTsV} packet had it set. The contents of @var{name} is the
37776hex-encoded name (without the leading @samp{$}) of the trace state
37777variable.
37778
37779@item QTFrame:@var{n}
37780@cindex @samp{QTFrame} packet
37781Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
37782register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
37783request packets from @value{GDBN}.
37784
37785A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
37786requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
37787without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
37788one of the following forms:
37789
37790@table @samp
37791@item F @var{f}
37792The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
37793@var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
37794was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
37795
37796@item T @var{t}
37797The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
37798@var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
37799
37800@end table
37801
37802@item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
37803Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
37804currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
37805@var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
37806
37807@item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
37808Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
37809currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
37810is a hexadecimal number.
37811
37812@item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
37813Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
37814currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
37815and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
37816numbers.
37817
37818@item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
37819Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
37820frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
37821
37822@item qTMinFTPILen
37823@cindex @samp{qTMinFTPILen} packet
37824This packet requests the minimum length of instruction at which a fast
37825tracepoint (@pxref{Set Tracepoints}) may be placed. For instance, on
37826the 32-bit x86 architecture, it is possible to use a 4-byte jump, but
37827it depends on the target system being able to create trampolines in
37828the first 64K of memory, which might or might not be possible for that
37829system. So the reply to this packet will be 4 if it is able to
37830arrange for that.
37831
37832Replies:
37833
37834@table @samp
37835@item 0
37836The minimum instruction length is currently unknown.
37837@item @var{length}
37838The minimum instruction length is @var{length}, where @var{length}
37839is a hexadecimal number greater or equal to 1. A reply
37840of 1 means that a fast tracepoint may be placed on any instruction
37841regardless of size.
37842@item E
37843An error has occurred.
37844@item @w{}
37845An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the stub.
37846@end table
37847
37848@item QTStart
37849@cindex @samp{QTStart} packet
37850Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
37851tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
37852@samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
37853instruction reply packet}).
37854
37855@item QTStop
37856@cindex @samp{QTStop} packet
37857End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
37858
37859@item QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
37860@anchor{QTEnable}
37861@cindex @samp{QTEnable} packet
37862Enable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
37863experiment. If the tracepoint was previously disabled, then collection
37864of data from it will resume.
37865
37866@item QTDisable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
37867@anchor{QTDisable}
37868@cindex @samp{QTDisable} packet
37869Disable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
37870experiment. No more data will be collected from the tracepoint unless
37871@samp{QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}} is subsequently issued.
37872
37873@item QTinit
37874@cindex @samp{QTinit} packet
37875Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
37876
37877@item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
37878@cindex @samp{QTro} packet
37879Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
37880will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
37881if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
37882
37883@value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
37884containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
37885still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
37886there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
37887
37888@item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
37889@cindex @samp{QTDisconnected} packet
37890Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
37891disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
37892continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
37893@value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
37894
37895@item qTStatus
37896@cindex @samp{qTStatus} packet
37897Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
37898
37899The reply has the form:
37900
37901@table @samp
37902
37903@item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
37904@var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
37905running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
37906optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
37907
37908@end table
37909
37910If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
37911explanations as one of the optional fields:
37912
37913@table @samp
37914
37915@item tnotrun:0
37916No trace has been run yet.
37917
37918@item tstop[:@var{text}]:0
37919The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command. The optional
37920@var{text} field is a user-supplied string supplied as part of the
37921stop command (for instance, an explanation of why the trace was
37922stopped manually). It is hex-encoded.
37923
37924@item tfull:0
37925The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
37926
37927@item tdisconnected:0
37928The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
37929
37930@item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
37931The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
37932
37933@item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
37934The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
37935string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
37936(for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression); it
37937is hex encoded.
37938
37939@item tunknown:0
37940The trace stopped for some other reason.
37941
37942@end table
37943
37944Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
37945Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
37946the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
37947numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
37948trace.
37949
37950@table @samp
37951
37952@item tframes:@var{n}
37953The number of trace frames in the buffer.
37954
37955@item tcreated:@var{n}
37956The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
37957be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
37958
37959@item tsize:@var{n}
37960The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
37961
37962@item tfree:@var{n}
37963The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
37964
37965@item circular:@var{n}
37966The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
37967trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
37968necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
37969and may fill up.
37970
37971@item disconn:@var{n}
37972The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
37973tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
37974that the trace run will stop.
37975
37976@end table
37977
37978@item qTP:@var{tp}:@var{addr}
37979@cindex tracepoint status, remote request
37980@cindex @samp{qTP} packet
37981Ask the stub for the current state of tracepoint number @var{tp} at
37982address @var{addr}.
37983
37984Replies:
37985@table @samp
37986@item V@var{hits}:@var{usage}
37987The tracepoint has been hit @var{hits} times so far during the trace
37988run, and accounts for @var{usage} in the trace buffer. Note that
37989@code{while-stepping} steps are not counted as separate hits, but the
37990steps' space consumption is added into the usage number.
37991
37992@end table
37993
37994@item qTV:@var{var}
37995@cindex trace state variable value, remote request
37996@cindex @samp{qTV} packet
37997Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
37998
37999Replies:
38000@table @samp
38001@item V@var{value}
38002The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
38003value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
38004saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
38005user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
38006different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
38007program is running.
38008
38009@item U
38010The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
38011if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
38012was not collected.
38013@end table
38014
38015@item qTfP
38016@cindex @samp{qTfP} packet
38017@itemx qTsP
38018@cindex @samp{qTsP} packet
38019These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
38020the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
38021of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
38022to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
38023that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
38024
38025@item qTfV
38026@cindex @samp{qTfV} packet
38027@itemx qTsV
38028@cindex @samp{qTsV} packet
38029These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
38030target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
38031and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
38032these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
38033trace state variables.
38034
38035@item qTfSTM
38036@itemx qTsSTM
38037@anchor{qTfSTM}
38038@anchor{qTsSTM}
38039@cindex @samp{qTfSTM} packet
38040@cindex @samp{qTsSTM} packet
38041These packets request data about static tracepoint markers that exist
38042in the target program. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfSTM} to get the
38043first piece of data, and multiple @code{qTsSTM} to get additional
38044pieces. Replies to these packets take the following form:
38045
38046Reply:
38047@table @samp
38048@item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}
38049A single marker
38050@item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra},@var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}@dots{}
38051a comma-separated list of markers
38052@item l
38053(lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
38054@item E @var{nn}
38055An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
38056@item @w{}
38057An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the
38058stub.
38059@end table
38060
38061The @var{address} is encoded in hex;
38062@var{id} and @var{extra} are strings encoded in hex.
38063
38064In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
38065more markers, separated by commas. @value{GDBN} will respond to each
38066reply with a request for more markers (using the @samp{qs} form of the
38067query), until the target responds with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for
38068@dfn{last}).
38069
38070@item qTSTMat:@var{address}
38071@anchor{qTSTMat}
38072@cindex @samp{qTSTMat} packet
38073This packets requests data about static tracepoint markers in the
38074target program at @var{address}. Replies to this packet follow the
38075syntax of the @samp{qTfSTM} and @code{qTsSTM} packets that list static
38076tracepoint markers.
38077
38078@item QTSave:@var{filename}
38079@cindex @samp{QTSave} packet
38080This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
38081@var{filename} in the target's filesystem. The @var{filename} is encoded
38082as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
38083absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
38084
38085@item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
38086@cindex @samp{qTBuffer} packet
38087Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
38088starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
38089a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
38090The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
38091in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
38092A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
38093available.
38094
38095@item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
38096This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
38097@var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
38098
38099@item QTBuffer:size:@var{size}
38100@anchor{QTBuffer-size}
38101@cindex @samp{QTBuffer size} packet
38102This packet directs the target to make the trace buffer be of size
38103@var{size} if possible. A value of @code{-1} tells the target to
38104use whatever size it prefers.
38105
38106@item QTNotes:@r{[}@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@r{[};@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@dots{}
38107@cindex @samp{QTNotes} packet
38108This packet adds optional textual notes to the trace run. Allowable
38109types include @code{user}, @code{notes}, and @code{tstop}, the
38110@var{text} fields are arbitrary strings, hex-encoded.
38111
38112@end table
38113
38114@subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
38115When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
38116relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
38117different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
38118enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
38119return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
38120PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
38121of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
38122it had executed in the original location.
38123
38124In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
38125respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
38126packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
38127this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
38128documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
38129descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
38130format of the request is:
38131
38132@table @samp
38133@item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
38134
38135This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
38136to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
38137instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
38138@var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
38139memory starting at @var{to}.
38140@end table
38141
38142Replies:
38143@table @samp
38144@item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
38145Informs the stub the relocation is complete. The @var{adjusted_size} is
38146the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
38147@item E @var{NN}
38148A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
38149relocating the instruction.
38150@end table
38151
38152@node Host I/O Packets
38153@section Host I/O Packets
38154@cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
38155@cindex file transfer, remote protocol
38156
38157The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
38158operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
38159used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
38160filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
38161layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
38162Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
38163protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
38164Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
38165target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
38166Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
38167
38168The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
38169its arguments. They have this format:
38170
38171@table @samp
38172
38173@item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
38174@var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
38175should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
38176for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
38177the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
38178numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
38179used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
38180hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
38181buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
38182
38183@end table
38184
38185The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
38186
38187@table @samp
38188
38189@item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
38190@var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
38191non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
38192@var{errno} will be included in the result specifying a
38193value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
38194operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
38195binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
38196normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
38197documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
38198@var{attachment}.
38199
38200@item @w{}
38201An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
38202
38203@end table
38204
38205These are the supported Host I/O operations:
38206
38207@table @samp
38208@item vFile:open: @var{filename}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
38209Open a file at @var{filename} and return a file descriptor for it, or
38210return -1 if an error occurs. The @var{filename} is a string,
38211@var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
38212(@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
38213of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
38214@xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
38215
38216@item vFile:close: @var{fd}
38217Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
38218-1 if an error occurs.
38219
38220@item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
38221Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
38222@var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
38223relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
38224common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
38225condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
38226returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
38227@var{count} was zero.
38228
38229The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
38230If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
38231attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
38232number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
38233some characters were escaped.
38234
38235@item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
38236Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
38237to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
38238file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
38239separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
38240packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
38241which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
38242error occurred.
38243
38244@item vFile:fstat: @var{fd}
38245Get information about the open file corresponding to @var{fd}.
38246On success the information is returned as a binary attachment
38247and the return value is the size of this attachment in bytes.
38248If an error occurs the return value is -1. The format of the
38249returned binary attachment is as described in @ref{struct stat}.
38250
38251@item vFile:unlink: @var{filename}
38252Delete the file at @var{filename} on the target. Return 0,
38253or -1 if an error occurs. The @var{filename} is a string.
38254
38255@item vFile:readlink: @var{filename}
38256Read value of symbolic link @var{filename} on the target. Return
38257the number of bytes read, or -1 if an error occurs.
38258
38259The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
38260If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
38261attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
38262number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
38263some characters were escaped.
38264
38265@item vFile:setfs: @var{pid}
38266Select the filesystem on which @code{vFile} operations with
38267@var{filename} arguments will operate. This is required for
38268@value{GDBN} to be able to access files on remote targets where
38269the remote stub does not share a common filesystem with the
38270inferior(s).
38271
38272If @var{pid} is nonzero, select the filesystem as seen by process
38273@var{pid}. If @var{pid} is zero, select the filesystem as seen by
38274the remote stub. Return 0 on success, or -1 if an error occurs.
38275If @code{vFile:setfs:} indicates success, the selected filesystem
38276remains selected until the next successful @code{vFile:setfs:}
38277operation.
38278
38279@end table
38280
38281@node Interrupts
38282@section Interrupts
38283@cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
38284@anchor{interrupting remote targets}
38285
38286In all-stop mode, when a program on the remote target is running,
38287@value{GDBN} may attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C},
38288@code{BREAK} or a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}, control of which
38289is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
38290
38291The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
38292mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
38293currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
38294interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
38295@code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
38296
38297@samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
38298transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
38299@code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
38300the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
38301transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
38302and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
38303(@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
38304@code{0x03} as part of its packet.
38305
38306@code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
38307When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
38308it stops execution and connects to gdb.
38309
38310In non-stop mode, because packet resumptions are asynchronous
38311(@pxref{vCont packet}), @value{GDBN} is always free to send a remote
38312command to the remote stub, even when the target is running. For that
38313reason, @value{GDBN} instead sends a regular packet (@pxref{vCtrlC
38314packet}) with the usual packet framing instead of the single byte
38315@code{0x03}.
38316
38317Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
38318precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
38319implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
38320threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
38321currently-executing threads and processes.
38322If the stub is successful at interrupting the
38323running program, it should send one of the stop
38324reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
38325of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
38326for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
38327Interrupts received while the
38328program is stopped are queued and the program will be interrupted when
38329it is resumed next time.
38330
38331@node Notification Packets
38332@section Notification Packets
38333@cindex notification packets
38334@cindex packets, notification
38335
38336The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
38337packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
38338may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
38339present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
38340without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
38341are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
38342is not a problem.
38343
38344A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
38345@var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
38346and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
38347as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
38348never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
38349receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
38350to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
38351
38352Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
38353colon characters, followed by a colon character.
38354
38355Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
38356notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
38357timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
38358not they understand it.
38359
38360Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
38361protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
38362future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
38363new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
38364recipients.
38365
38366(Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
38367the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
38368transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
38369are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
38370assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
38371
38372Each notification is comprised of three parts:
38373@table @samp
38374@item @var{name}:@var{event}
38375The notification packet is sent by the side that initiates the
38376exchange (currently, only the stub does that), with @var{event}
38377carrying the specific information about the notification, and
38378@var{name} specifying the name of the notification.
38379@item @var{ack}
38380The acknowledge sent by the other side, usually @value{GDBN}, to
38381acknowledge the exchange and request the event.
38382@end table
38383
38384The purpose of an asynchronous notification mechanism is to report to
38385@value{GDBN} that something interesting happened in the remote stub.
38386
38387The remote stub may send notification @var{name}:@var{event}
38388at any time, but @value{GDBN} acknowledges the notification when
38389appropriate. The notification event is pending before @value{GDBN}
38390acknowledges. Only one notification at a time may be pending; if
38391additional events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
38392previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
38393synchronous transmission in response to @var{ack} packets from
38394@value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
38395the stub is permitted to resend a notification if it believes
38396@value{GDBN} may not have received it.
38397
38398Specifically, notifications may appear when @value{GDBN} is not
38399otherwise reading input from the stub, or when @value{GDBN} is
38400expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
38401@samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
38402Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
38403the stub so there is no ambiguity.
38404
38405After receiving a notification, @value{GDBN} shall acknowledge it by
38406sending a @var{ack} packet as a regular, synchronous request to the
38407stub. Such acknowledgment is not required to happen immediately, as
38408@value{GDBN} is permitted to send other, unrelated packets to the
38409stub first, which the stub should process normally.
38410
38411Upon receiving a @var{ack} packet, if the stub has other queued
38412events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
38413normal @var{event}. @value{GDBN} shall then send another @var{ack}
38414packet to solicit further responses; again, it is permitted to send
38415other, unrelated packets as well which the stub should process
38416normally.
38417
38418If the stub receives a @var{ack} packet and there are no additional
38419@var{event} to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK} response.
38420At this point, @value{GDBN} has finished processing a notification
38421and the stub has completed sending any queued events. @value{GDBN}
38422won't accept any new notifications until the final @samp{OK} is
38423received . If further notification events occur, the stub shall send
38424a new notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the notification, and
38425the process shall be repeated.
38426
38427The process of asynchronous notification can be illustrated by the
38428following example:
38429@smallexample
38430<- @code{%%Stop:T0505:98e7ffbf;04:4ce6ffbf;08:b1b6e54c;thread:p7526.7526;core:0;}
38431@code{...}
38432-> @code{vStopped}
38433<- @code{T0505:68f37db7;04:40f37db7;08:63850408;thread:p7526.7528;core:0;}
38434-> @code{vStopped}
38435<- @code{T0505:68e3fdb6;04:40e3fdb6;08:63850408;thread:p7526.7529;core:0;}
38436-> @code{vStopped}
38437<- @code{OK}
38438@end smallexample
38439
38440The following notifications are defined:
38441@multitable @columnfractions 0.12 0.12 0.38 0.38
38442
38443@item Notification
38444@tab Ack
38445@tab Event
38446@tab Description
38447
38448@item Stop
38449@tab vStopped
38450@tab @var{reply}. The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
38451described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
38452for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
38453@value{GDBN}.
38454@tab Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
38455
38456@end multitable
38457
38458@node Remote Non-Stop
38459@section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
38460
38461@value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
38462multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
38463supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
38464@samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38465
38466@value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
38467establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
38468does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
38469must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
38470all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
38471probe the target state after a mode change.
38472
38473In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
38474would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
38475asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
38476inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
38477in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
38478mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
38479when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
38480of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
38481affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
38482to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
38483threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
38484
38485In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
38486follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
38487sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
38488sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
38489it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
38490stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
38491subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
38492using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
38493asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
38494If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
38495or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
38496@samp{OK}.
38497
38498If the stub supports non-stop mode, it should also support the
38499@samp{swbreak} stop reason if software breakpoints are supported, and
38500the @samp{hwbreak} stop reason if hardware breakpoints are supported
38501(@pxref{swbreak stop reason}). This is because given the asynchronous
38502nature of non-stop mode, between the time a thread hits a breakpoint
38503and the time the event is finally processed by @value{GDBN}, the
38504breakpoint may have already been removed from the target. Due to
38505this, @value{GDBN} needs to be able to tell whether a trap stop was
38506caused by a delayed breakpoint event, which should be ignored, as
38507opposed to a random trap signal, which should be reported to the user.
38508Note the @samp{swbreak} feature implies that the target is responsible
38509for adjusting the PC when a software breakpoint triggers, if
38510necessary, such as on the x86 architecture.
38511
38512@node Packet Acknowledgment
38513@section Packet Acknowledgment
38514
38515@cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
38516@cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
38517By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
38518the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
38519the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
38520This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
38521unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
38522
38523In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
38524TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
38525It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
38526overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
38527@samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
38528
38529When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
38530expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
38531and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
38532@ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
38533
38534If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
38535no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
38536by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
38537@pxref{qSupported}.
38538If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
38539disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
38540(@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
38541@value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
38542Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
38543@value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
38544response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
38545
38546Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
38547between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
38548it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
38549connection.
38550Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
38551new connection is established,
38552there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
38553for the current connection, once disabled.
38554
38555@node Examples
38556@section Examples
38557
38558Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
38559does not get any direct output:
38560
38561@smallexample
38562-> @code{R00}
38563<- @code{+}
38564@emph{target restarts}
38565-> @code{?}
38566<- @code{+}
38567<- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
38568-> @code{+}
38569@end smallexample
38570
38571Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
38572
38573@smallexample
38574-> @code{G1445@dots{}}
38575<- @code{+}
38576-> @code{s}
38577<- @code{+}
38578@emph{time passes}
38579<- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
38580-> @code{+}
38581-> @code{g}
38582<- @code{+}
38583<- @code{1455@dots{}}
38584-> @code{+}
38585@end smallexample
38586
38587@node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
38588@section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
38589@cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
38590
38591@menu
38592* File-I/O Overview::
38593* Protocol Basics::
38594* The F Request Packet::
38595* The F Reply Packet::
38596* The Ctrl-C Message::
38597* Console I/O::
38598* List of Supported Calls::
38599* Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
38600* Constants::
38601* File-I/O Examples::
38602@end menu
38603
38604@node File-I/O Overview
38605@subsection File-I/O Overview
38606@cindex file-i/o overview
38607
38608The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
38609target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
38610system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
38611remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
38612actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
38613This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
38614
38615The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
38616It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
38617@value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
38618translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
38619protocol representations when data is transmitted.
38620
38621The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
38622@value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
38623or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
38624the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
38625memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
38626the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
38627(@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
38628
38629The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
38630the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
38631after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
38632previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
38633request from @value{GDBN} is required.
38634
38635@smallexample
38636(@value{GDBP}) continue
38637 <- target requests 'system call X'
38638 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
38639 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
38640 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
38641 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
38642@end smallexample
38643
38644The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
38645the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
38646named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
38647system are not supported by this protocol.
38648
38649File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
38650
38651@node Protocol Basics
38652@subsection Protocol Basics
38653@cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
38654
38655The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
38656as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
38657@value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
38658the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
38659of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
38660This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
38661to call the appropriate host system call:
38662
38663@itemize @bullet
38664@item
38665A unique identifier for the requested system call.
38666
38667@item
38668All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
38669in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
38670pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
38671Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
38672
38673@end itemize
38674
38675At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
38676
38677@itemize @bullet
38678@item
38679If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
38680system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
38681standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
38682expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
38683packet.
38684
38685@item
38686@value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
38687representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
38688
38689@item
38690@value{GDBN} calls the system call.
38691
38692@item
38693It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
38694
38695@item
38696If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
38697by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
38698target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
38699by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
38700packet.
38701
38702@end itemize
38703
38704Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
38705necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
38706
38707@itemize @bullet
38708@item
38709Return value.
38710
38711@item
38712@code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
38713
38714@item
38715``Ctrl-C'' flag.
38716
38717@end itemize
38718
38719After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
38720the latest continue or step action.
38721
38722@node The F Request Packet
38723@subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
38724@cindex file-i/o request packet
38725@cindex @code{F} request packet
38726
38727The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
38728
38729@table @samp
38730@item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
38731
38732@var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
38733This is just the name of the function.
38734
38735@var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
38736Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
38737of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
38738datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
38739of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
38740comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
38741string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
38742
38743@end table
38744
38745
38746
38747@node The F Reply Packet
38748@subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
38749@cindex file-i/o reply packet
38750@cindex @code{F} reply packet
38751
38752The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
38753
38754@table @samp
38755
38756@item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
38757
38758@var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
38759
38760@var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
38761representation.
38762This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
38763
38764@var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
38765case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
38766The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
38767
38768@smallexample
38769F0,0,C
38770@end smallexample
38771
38772@noindent
38773or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
38774
38775@smallexample
38776F-1,4,C
38777@end smallexample
38778
38779@noindent
38780assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
38781
38782@end table
38783
38784
38785@node The Ctrl-C Message
38786@subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
38787@cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
38788
38789If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
38790reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
38791the target should behave as if it had
38792gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
38793interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
38794(as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
38795packet.
38796
38797It's important for the target to know in which
38798state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
38799
38800@itemize @bullet
38801@item
38802The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
38803
38804@item
38805The system call on the host has been finished.
38806
38807@end itemize
38808
38809These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
38810returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
38811call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
38812on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
38813system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
38814as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
38815
38816@value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
38817yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
38818@code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
38819before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
38820@value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
38821The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
38822or the full action has been completed.
38823
38824@node Console I/O
38825@subsection Console I/O
38826@cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
38827
38828By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
38829descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
38830on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
38831(@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
38832by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
388330 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
38834conditions is met:
38835
38836@itemize @bullet
38837@item
38838The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
38839@code{read}
38840system call is treated as finished.
38841
38842@item
38843The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
38844newline.
38845
38846@item
38847The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
38848character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
38849
38850@end itemize
38851
38852If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
38853the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
38854either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
38855is stopped at the user's request.
38856
38857
38858@node List of Supported Calls
38859@subsection List of Supported Calls
38860@cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
38861
38862@menu
38863* open::
38864* close::
38865* read::
38866* write::
38867* lseek::
38868* rename::
38869* unlink::
38870* stat/fstat::
38871* gettimeofday::
38872* isatty::
38873* system::
38874@end menu
38875
38876@node open
38877@unnumberedsubsubsec open
38878@cindex open, file-i/o system call
38879
38880@table @asis
38881@item Synopsis:
38882@smallexample
38883int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
38884int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
38885@end smallexample
38886
38887@item Request:
38888@samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
38889
38890@noindent
38891@var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
38892
38893@table @code
38894@item O_CREAT
38895If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
38896rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
38897are concerned.
38898
38899@item O_EXCL
38900When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
38901an error and open() fails.
38902
38903@item O_TRUNC
38904If the file already exists and the open mode allows
38905writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
38906truncated to zero length.
38907
38908@item O_APPEND
38909The file is opened in append mode.
38910
38911@item O_RDONLY
38912The file is opened for reading only.
38913
38914@item O_WRONLY
38915The file is opened for writing only.
38916
38917@item O_RDWR
38918The file is opened for reading and writing.
38919@end table
38920
38921@noindent
38922Other bits are silently ignored.
38923
38924
38925@noindent
38926@var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
38927
38928@table @code
38929@item S_IRUSR
38930User has read permission.
38931
38932@item S_IWUSR
38933User has write permission.
38934
38935@item S_IRGRP
38936Group has read permission.
38937
38938@item S_IWGRP
38939Group has write permission.
38940
38941@item S_IROTH
38942Others have read permission.
38943
38944@item S_IWOTH
38945Others have write permission.
38946@end table
38947
38948@noindent
38949Other bits are silently ignored.
38950
38951
38952@item Return value:
38953@code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
38954occurred.
38955
38956@item Errors:
38957
38958@table @code
38959@item EEXIST
38960@var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
38961
38962@item EISDIR
38963@var{pathname} refers to a directory.
38964
38965@item EACCES
38966The requested access is not allowed.
38967
38968@item ENAMETOOLONG
38969@var{pathname} was too long.
38970
38971@item ENOENT
38972A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
38973
38974@item ENODEV
38975@var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
38976
38977@item EROFS
38978@var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
38979write access was requested.
38980
38981@item EFAULT
38982@var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
38983
38984@item ENOSPC
38985No space on device to create the file.
38986
38987@item EMFILE
38988The process already has the maximum number of files open.
38989
38990@item ENFILE
38991The limit on the total number of files open on the system
38992has been reached.
38993
38994@item EINTR
38995The call was interrupted by the user.
38996@end table
38997
38998@end table
38999
39000@node close
39001@unnumberedsubsubsec close
39002@cindex close, file-i/o system call
39003
39004@table @asis
39005@item Synopsis:
39006@smallexample
39007int close(int fd);
39008@end smallexample
39009
39010@item Request:
39011@samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
39012
39013@item Return value:
39014@code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
39015
39016@item Errors:
39017
39018@table @code
39019@item EBADF
39020@var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
39021
39022@item EINTR
39023The call was interrupted by the user.
39024@end table
39025
39026@end table
39027
39028@node read
39029@unnumberedsubsubsec read
39030@cindex read, file-i/o system call
39031
39032@table @asis
39033@item Synopsis:
39034@smallexample
39035int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
39036@end smallexample
39037
39038@item Request:
39039@samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
39040
39041@item Return value:
39042On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
39043Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
39044returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
39045
39046@item Errors:
39047
39048@table @code
39049@item EBADF
39050@var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
39051reading.
39052
39053@item EFAULT
39054@var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
39055
39056@item EINTR
39057The call was interrupted by the user.
39058@end table
39059
39060@end table
39061
39062@node write
39063@unnumberedsubsubsec write
39064@cindex write, file-i/o system call
39065
39066@table @asis
39067@item Synopsis:
39068@smallexample
39069int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
39070@end smallexample
39071
39072@item Request:
39073@samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
39074
39075@item Return value:
39076On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
39077Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
39078is returned.
39079
39080@item Errors:
39081
39082@table @code
39083@item EBADF
39084@var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
39085writing.
39086
39087@item EFAULT
39088@var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
39089
39090@item EFBIG
39091An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
39092host-specific maximum file size allowed.
39093
39094@item ENOSPC
39095No space on device to write the data.
39096
39097@item EINTR
39098The call was interrupted by the user.
39099@end table
39100
39101@end table
39102
39103@node lseek
39104@unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
39105@cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
39106
39107@table @asis
39108@item Synopsis:
39109@smallexample
39110long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
39111@end smallexample
39112
39113@item Request:
39114@samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
39115
39116@var{flag} is one of:
39117
39118@table @code
39119@item SEEK_SET
39120The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
39121
39122@item SEEK_CUR
39123The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
39124bytes.
39125
39126@item SEEK_END
39127The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
39128bytes.
39129@end table
39130
39131@item Return value:
39132On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
39133the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
39134value of -1 is returned.
39135
39136@item Errors:
39137
39138@table @code
39139@item EBADF
39140@var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
39141
39142@item ESPIPE
39143@var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
39144
39145@item EINVAL
39146@var{flag} is not a proper value.
39147
39148@item EINTR
39149The call was interrupted by the user.
39150@end table
39151
39152@end table
39153
39154@node rename
39155@unnumberedsubsubsec rename
39156@cindex rename, file-i/o system call
39157
39158@table @asis
39159@item Synopsis:
39160@smallexample
39161int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
39162@end smallexample
39163
39164@item Request:
39165@samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
39166
39167@item Return value:
39168On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
39169
39170@item Errors:
39171
39172@table @code
39173@item EISDIR
39174@var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
39175directory.
39176
39177@item EEXIST
39178@var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
39179
39180@item EBUSY
39181@var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
39182process.
39183
39184@item EINVAL
39185An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
39186of itself.
39187
39188@item ENOTDIR
39189A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
39190path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
39191and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
39192
39193@item EFAULT
39194@var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
39195
39196@item EACCES
39197No access to the file or the path of the file.
39198
39199@item ENAMETOOLONG
39200
39201@var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
39202
39203@item ENOENT
39204A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
39205
39206@item EROFS
39207The file is on a read-only filesystem.
39208
39209@item ENOSPC
39210The device containing the file has no room for the new
39211directory entry.
39212
39213@item EINTR
39214The call was interrupted by the user.
39215@end table
39216
39217@end table
39218
39219@node unlink
39220@unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
39221@cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
39222
39223@table @asis
39224@item Synopsis:
39225@smallexample
39226int unlink(const char *pathname);
39227@end smallexample
39228
39229@item Request:
39230@samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
39231
39232@item Return value:
39233On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
39234
39235@item Errors:
39236
39237@table @code
39238@item EACCES
39239No access to the file or the path of the file.
39240
39241@item EPERM
39242The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
39243
39244@item EBUSY
39245The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
39246being used by another process.
39247
39248@item EFAULT
39249@var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
39250
39251@item ENAMETOOLONG
39252@var{pathname} was too long.
39253
39254@item ENOENT
39255A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
39256
39257@item ENOTDIR
39258A component of the path is not a directory.
39259
39260@item EROFS
39261The file is on a read-only filesystem.
39262
39263@item EINTR
39264The call was interrupted by the user.
39265@end table
39266
39267@end table
39268
39269@node stat/fstat
39270@unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
39271@cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
39272@cindex stat, file-i/o system call
39273
39274@table @asis
39275@item Synopsis:
39276@smallexample
39277int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
39278int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
39279@end smallexample
39280
39281@item Request:
39282@samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
39283@samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
39284
39285@item Return value:
39286On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
39287
39288@item Errors:
39289
39290@table @code
39291@item EBADF
39292@var{fd} is not a valid open file.
39293
39294@item ENOENT
39295A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
39296path is an empty string.
39297
39298@item ENOTDIR
39299A component of the path is not a directory.
39300
39301@item EFAULT
39302@var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
39303
39304@item EACCES
39305No access to the file or the path of the file.
39306
39307@item ENAMETOOLONG
39308@var{pathname} was too long.
39309
39310@item EINTR
39311The call was interrupted by the user.
39312@end table
39313
39314@end table
39315
39316@node gettimeofday
39317@unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
39318@cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
39319
39320@table @asis
39321@item Synopsis:
39322@smallexample
39323int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
39324@end smallexample
39325
39326@item Request:
39327@samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
39328
39329@item Return value:
39330On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
39331
39332@item Errors:
39333
39334@table @code
39335@item EINVAL
39336@var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
39337
39338@item EFAULT
39339@var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
39340@end table
39341
39342@end table
39343
39344@node isatty
39345@unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
39346@cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
39347
39348@table @asis
39349@item Synopsis:
39350@smallexample
39351int isatty(int fd);
39352@end smallexample
39353
39354@item Request:
39355@samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
39356
39357@item Return value:
39358Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
39359
39360@item Errors:
39361
39362@table @code
39363@item EINTR
39364The call was interrupted by the user.
39365@end table
39366
39367@end table
39368
39369Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
393701 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
39371to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
39372would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
39373needed.
39374
39375
39376@node system
39377@unnumberedsubsubsec system
39378@cindex system, file-i/o system call
39379
39380@table @asis
39381@item Synopsis:
39382@smallexample
39383int system(const char *command);
39384@end smallexample
39385
39386@item Request:
39387@samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
39388
39389@item Return value:
39390If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
39391available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
39392For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
39393return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
39394command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
39395return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
39396@file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
39397
39398@item Errors:
39399
39400@table @code
39401@item EINTR
39402The call was interrupted by the user.
39403@end table
39404
39405@end table
39406
39407@value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
39408to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
39409the host is simplified before it's returned
39410to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
39411is discarded, and the return value consists
39412entirely of the exit status of the called command.
39413
39414Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
39415by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
39416@code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
39417
39418@table @code
39419@item set remote system-call-allowed
39420@kindex set remote system-call-allowed
39421Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
39422protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
39423
39424@item show remote system-call-allowed
39425@kindex show remote system-call-allowed
39426Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
39427protocol.
39428@end table
39429
39430@node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
39431@subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
39432@cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
39433
39434@menu
39435* Integral Datatypes::
39436* Pointer Values::
39437* Memory Transfer::
39438* struct stat::
39439* struct timeval::
39440@end menu
39441
39442@node Integral Datatypes
39443@unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
39444@cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
39445
39446The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
39447@code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
39448@code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
39449
39450@code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
39451implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
39452
39453@code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
39454
39455@xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
39456in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
39457
39458@code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
39459
39460All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
39461structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
39462byte order.
39463
39464@node Pointer Values
39465@unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
39466@cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
39467
39468Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
39469is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
39470transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
39471are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
39472
39473@smallexample
39474@code{1aaf/12}
39475@end smallexample
39476
39477@noindent
39478which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
39479The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
39480the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
39481at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
39482
39483@smallexample
39484@code{123456/d}
39485@end smallexample
39486
39487@node Memory Transfer
39488@unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
39489@cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
39490
39491Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
39492example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
39493with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
39494this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
39495packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
39496it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
39497data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
39498
39499
39500@node struct stat
39501@unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
39502@cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
39503
39504The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
39505is defined as follows:
39506
39507@smallexample
39508struct stat @{
39509 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
39510 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
39511 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
39512 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
39513 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
39514 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
39515 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
39516 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
39517 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
39518 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
39519 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
39520 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
39521 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
39522@};
39523@end smallexample
39524
39525The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
39526appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
39527structure is of size 64 bytes.
39528
39529The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
39530range of values.
39531
39532@table @code
39533
39534@item st_dev
39535A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
39536
39537@item st_ino
39538No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
39539
39540@item st_mode
39541Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
39542bits have currently no meaning for the target.
39543
39544@item st_uid
39545@itemx st_gid
39546@itemx st_rdev
39547No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
39548
39549@item st_atime
39550@itemx st_mtime
39551@itemx st_ctime
39552These values have a host and file system dependent
39553accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
39554support exact timing values.
39555@end table
39556
39557The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
39558responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
39559continuing.
39560
39561Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
39562representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
39563get truncated on the target.
39564
39565@node struct timeval
39566@unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
39567@cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
39568
39569The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
39570is defined as follows:
39571
39572@smallexample
39573struct timeval @{
39574 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
39575 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
39576@};
39577@end smallexample
39578
39579The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
39580appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
39581structure is of size 8 bytes.
39582
39583@node Constants
39584@subsection Constants
39585@cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
39586
39587The following values are used for the constants inside of the
39588protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
39589values before and after the call as needed.
39590
39591@menu
39592* Open Flags::
39593* mode_t Values::
39594* Errno Values::
39595* Lseek Flags::
39596* Limits::
39597@end menu
39598
39599@node Open Flags
39600@unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
39601@cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
39602
39603All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
39604
39605@smallexample
39606 O_RDONLY 0x0
39607 O_WRONLY 0x1
39608 O_RDWR 0x2
39609 O_APPEND 0x8
39610 O_CREAT 0x200
39611 O_TRUNC 0x400
39612 O_EXCL 0x800
39613@end smallexample
39614
39615@node mode_t Values
39616@unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
39617@cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
39618
39619All values are given in octal representation.
39620
39621@smallexample
39622 S_IFREG 0100000
39623 S_IFDIR 040000
39624 S_IRUSR 0400
39625 S_IWUSR 0200
39626 S_IXUSR 0100
39627 S_IRGRP 040
39628 S_IWGRP 020
39629 S_IXGRP 010
39630 S_IROTH 04
39631 S_IWOTH 02
39632 S_IXOTH 01
39633@end smallexample
39634
39635@node Errno Values
39636@unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
39637@cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
39638
39639All values are given in decimal representation.
39640
39641@smallexample
39642 EPERM 1
39643 ENOENT 2
39644 EINTR 4
39645 EBADF 9
39646 EACCES 13
39647 EFAULT 14
39648 EBUSY 16
39649 EEXIST 17
39650 ENODEV 19
39651 ENOTDIR 20
39652 EISDIR 21
39653 EINVAL 22
39654 ENFILE 23
39655 EMFILE 24
39656 EFBIG 27
39657 ENOSPC 28
39658 ESPIPE 29
39659 EROFS 30
39660 ENAMETOOLONG 91
39661 EUNKNOWN 9999
39662@end smallexample
39663
39664 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
39665 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
39666
39667@node Lseek Flags
39668@unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
39669@cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
39670
39671@smallexample
39672 SEEK_SET 0
39673 SEEK_CUR 1
39674 SEEK_END 2
39675@end smallexample
39676
39677@node Limits
39678@unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
39679@cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
39680
39681All values are given in decimal representation.
39682
39683@smallexample
39684 INT_MIN -2147483648
39685 INT_MAX 2147483647
39686 UINT_MAX 4294967295
39687 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
39688 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
39689 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
39690@end smallexample
39691
39692@node File-I/O Examples
39693@subsection File-I/O Examples
39694@cindex file-i/o examples
39695
39696Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
39697address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
39698
39699@smallexample
39700<- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
39701@emph{request memory read from target}
39702-> @code{m1234,6}
39703<- XXXXXX
39704@emph{return "6 bytes written"}
39705-> @code{F6}
39706@end smallexample
39707
39708Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
39709address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
39710
39711@smallexample
39712<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
39713@emph{request memory write to target}
39714-> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
39715@emph{return "6 bytes read"}
39716-> @code{F6}
39717@end smallexample
39718
39719Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
39720file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
39721
39722@smallexample
39723<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
39724-> @code{F-1,9}
39725@end smallexample
39726
39727Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
39728host is called:
39729
39730@smallexample
39731<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
39732-> @code{F-1,4,C}
39733<- @code{T02}
39734@end smallexample
39735
39736Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
39737host is called:
39738
39739@smallexample
39740<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
39741-> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
39742<- @code{T02}
39743@end smallexample
39744
39745@node Library List Format
39746@section Library List Format
39747@cindex library list format, remote protocol
39748
39749On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
39750same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
39751@value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
39752operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
39753platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
39754@value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
39755through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
39756packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
39757queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
39758are loaded.
39759
39760The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
39761lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
39762associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
39763which report where the library was loaded in memory.
39764
39765For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
39766library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
39767dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
39768should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
39769section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
39770depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
39771
39772@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
39773library lists. @xref{Expat}.
39774
39775A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
39776offset, looks like this:
39777
39778@smallexample
39779<library-list>
39780 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
39781 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
39782 </library>
39783</library-list>
39784@end smallexample
39785
39786Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
39787allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
39788
39789@smallexample
39790<library-list>
39791 <library name="sharedlib.o">
39792 <section address="0x10000000"/>
39793 <section address="0x20000000"/>
39794 <section address="0x30000000"/>
39795 </library>
39796</library-list>
39797@end smallexample
39798
39799The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
39800
39801@smallexample
39802<!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
39803<!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
39804<!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
39805<!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
39806<!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
39807<!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
39808<!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
39809<!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
39810<!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
39811@end smallexample
39812
39813In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
39814single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
39815section for each library.
39816
39817@node Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
39818@section Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
39819@cindex library list format, remote protocol
39820
39821On SVR4 platforms @value{GDBN} can use the symbol table of a dynamic loader
39822(e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) and normal memory operations to maintain a list of
39823shared libraries. Still a special library list provided by this packet is
39824more efficient for the @value{GDBN} remote protocol.
39825
39826The @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet returns an XML document which lists
39827loaded libraries and their SVR4 linker parameters. For each library on SVR4
39828target, the following parameters are reported:
39829
39830@itemize @minus
39831@item
39832@code{name}, the absolute file name from the @code{l_name} field of
39833@code{struct link_map}.
39834@item
39835@code{lm} with address of @code{struct link_map} used for TLS
39836(Thread Local Storage) access.
39837@item
39838@code{l_addr}, the displacement as read from the field @code{l_addr} of
39839@code{struct link_map}. For prelinked libraries this is not an absolute
39840memory address. It is a displacement of absolute memory address against
39841address the file was prelinked to during the library load.
39842@item
39843@code{l_ld}, which is memory address of the @code{PT_DYNAMIC} segment
39844@end itemize
39845
39846Additionally the single @code{main-lm} attribute specifies address of
39847@code{struct link_map} used for the main executable. This parameter is used
39848for TLS access and its presence is optional.
39849
39850@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
39851SVR4 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
39852
39853A simple memory map, with two loaded libraries (which do not use prelink),
39854looks like this:
39855
39856@smallexample
39857<library-list-svr4 version="1.0" main-lm="0xe4f8f8">
39858 <library name="/lib/ld-linux.so.2" lm="0xe4f51c" l_addr="0xe2d000"
39859 l_ld="0xe4eefc"/>
39860 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6" lm="0xe4fbe8" l_addr="0x154000"
39861 l_ld="0x152350"/>
39862</library-list-svr>
39863@end smallexample
39864
39865The format of an SVR4 library list is described by this DTD:
39866
39867@smallexample
39868<!-- library-list-svr4: Root element with versioning -->
39869<!ELEMENT library-list-svr4 (library)*>
39870<!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
39871<!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 main-lm CDATA #IMPLIED>
39872<!ELEMENT library EMPTY>
39873<!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
39874<!ATTLIST library lm CDATA #REQUIRED>
39875<!ATTLIST library l_addr CDATA #REQUIRED>
39876<!ATTLIST library l_ld CDATA #REQUIRED>
39877@end smallexample
39878
39879@node Memory Map Format
39880@section Memory Map Format
39881@cindex memory map format
39882
39883To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
39884memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
39885memory map.
39886
39887The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
39888(@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
39889lists memory regions.
39890
39891@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
39892memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
39893
39894The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
39895
39896@smallexample
39897<?xml version="1.0"?>
39898<!DOCTYPE memory-map
39899 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
39900 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
39901<memory-map>
39902 region...
39903</memory-map>
39904@end smallexample
39905
39906Each region can be either:
39907
39908@itemize
39909
39910@item
39911A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
39912bytes from there:
39913
39914@smallexample
39915<memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
39916@end smallexample
39917
39918
39919@item
39920A region of read-only memory:
39921
39922@smallexample
39923<memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
39924@end smallexample
39925
39926
39927@item
39928A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
39929bytes in length:
39930
39931@smallexample
39932<memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
39933 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
39934</memory>
39935@end smallexample
39936
39937@end itemize
39938
39939Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
39940by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
39941packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
39942
39943The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
39944
39945@smallexample
39946<!-- ................................................... -->
39947<!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
39948<!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
39949<!-- .................................... .............. -->
39950<!-- memory-map.dtd -->
39951<!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
39952<!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
39953<!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
39954<!ELEMENT memory (property)>
39955<!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
39956 and its type, or device. -->
39957<!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
39958 start CDATA #REQUIRED
39959 length CDATA #REQUIRED
39960 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
39961<!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
39962<!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
39963<!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
39964@end smallexample
39965
39966@node Thread List Format
39967@section Thread List Format
39968@cindex thread list format
39969
39970To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
39971@value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
39972(@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
39973the following structure:
39974
39975@smallexample
39976<?xml version="1.0"?>
39977<threads>
39978 <thread id="id" core="0" name="name">
39979 ... description ...
39980 </thread>
39981</threads>
39982@end smallexample
39983
39984Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
39985identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
39986@samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
39987the thread was last executing on. The @samp{name} attribute, if
39988present, specifies the human-readable name of the thread. The content
39989of the of @samp{thread} element is interpreted as human-readable
39990auxiliary information.
39991
39992@node Traceframe Info Format
39993@section Traceframe Info Format
39994@cindex traceframe info format
39995
39996To be able to know which objects in the inferior can be examined when
39997inspecting a tracepoint hit, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of
39998memory ranges, registers and trace state variables that have been
39999collected in a traceframe.
40000
40001This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
40002(@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}) packet and is an XML document.
40003
40004@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
40005traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
40006
40007The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
40008
40009@smallexample
40010<?xml version="1.0"?>
40011<!DOCTYPE traceframe-info
40012 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
40013 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-traceframe-info.dtd">
40014<traceframe-info>
40015 block...
40016</traceframe-info>
40017@end smallexample
40018
40019Each traceframe block can be either:
40020
40021@itemize
40022
40023@item
40024A region of collected memory starting at @var{addr} and extending for
40025@var{length} bytes from there:
40026
40027@smallexample
40028<memory start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
40029@end smallexample
40030
40031@item
40032A block indicating trace state variable numbered @var{number} has been
40033collected:
40034
40035@smallexample
40036<tvar id="@var{number}"/>
40037@end smallexample
40038
40039@end itemize
40040
40041The formal DTD for the traceframe info format is given below:
40042
40043@smallexample
40044<!ELEMENT traceframe-info (memory | tvar)* >
40045<!ATTLIST traceframe-info version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
40046
40047<!ELEMENT memory EMPTY>
40048<!ATTLIST memory start CDATA #REQUIRED
40049 length CDATA #REQUIRED>
40050<!ELEMENT tvar>
40051<!ATTLIST tvar id CDATA #REQUIRED>
40052@end smallexample
40053
40054@node Branch Trace Format
40055@section Branch Trace Format
40056@cindex branch trace format
40057
40058In order to display the branch trace of an inferior thread,
40059@value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of branches. This list is
40060represented as list of sequential code blocks that are connected via
40061branches. The code in each block has been executed sequentially.
40062
40063This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
40064(@pxref{qXfer btrace read}) packet and is an XML document.
40065
40066@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
40067traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
40068
40069The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
40070
40071@smallexample
40072<?xml version="1.0"?>
40073<!DOCTYPE btrace
40074 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Branch Trace V1.0//EN"
40075 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-btrace.dtd">
40076<btrace>
40077 block...
40078</btrace>
40079@end smallexample
40080
40081@itemize
40082
40083@item
40084A block of sequentially executed instructions starting at @var{begin}
40085and ending at @var{end}:
40086
40087@smallexample
40088<block begin="@var{begin}" end="@var{end}"/>
40089@end smallexample
40090
40091@end itemize
40092
40093The formal DTD for the branch trace format is given below:
40094
40095@smallexample
40096<!ELEMENT btrace (block* | pt) >
40097<!ATTLIST btrace version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
40098
40099<!ELEMENT block EMPTY>
40100<!ATTLIST block begin CDATA #REQUIRED
40101 end CDATA #REQUIRED>
40102
40103<!ELEMENT pt (pt-config?, raw?)>
40104
40105<!ELEMENT pt-config (cpu?)>
40106
40107<!ELEMENT cpu EMPTY>
40108<!ATTLIST cpu vendor CDATA #REQUIRED
40109 family CDATA #REQUIRED
40110 model CDATA #REQUIRED
40111 stepping CDATA #REQUIRED>
40112
40113<!ELEMENT raw (#PCDATA)>
40114@end smallexample
40115
40116@node Branch Trace Configuration Format
40117@section Branch Trace Configuration Format
40118@cindex branch trace configuration format
40119
40120For each inferior thread, @value{GDBN} can obtain the branch trace
40121configuration using the @samp{qXfer:btrace-conf:read}
40122(@pxref{qXfer btrace-conf read}) packet.
40123
40124The configuration describes the branch trace format and configuration
40125settings for that format. The following information is described:
40126
40127@table @code
40128@item bts
40129This thread uses the @dfn{Branch Trace Store} (@acronym{BTS}) format.
40130@table @code
40131@item size
40132The size of the @acronym{BTS} ring buffer in bytes.
40133@end table
40134@item pt
40135This thread uses the @dfn{Intel Processor Trace} (@acronym{Intel
40136PT}) format.
40137@table @code
40138@item size
40139The size of the @acronym{Intel PT} ring buffer in bytes.
40140@end table
40141@end table
40142
40143@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
40144branch trace configuration discovery. @xref{Expat}.
40145
40146The formal DTD for the branch trace configuration format is given below:
40147
40148@smallexample
40149<!ELEMENT btrace-conf (bts?, pt?)>
40150<!ATTLIST btrace-conf version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
40151
40152<!ELEMENT bts EMPTY>
40153<!ATTLIST bts size CDATA #IMPLIED>
40154
40155<!ELEMENT pt EMPTY>
40156<!ATTLIST pt size CDATA #IMPLIED>
40157@end smallexample
40158
40159@include agentexpr.texi
40160
40161@node Target Descriptions
40162@appendix Target Descriptions
40163@cindex target descriptions
40164
40165One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
40166is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
40167architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
40168a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or @acronym{MIPS}, for example ---
40169and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
40170architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
40171vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
40172
40173@itemize @bullet
40174@item
40175With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
40176the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
40177@item
40178Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
40179audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
40180variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
40181@item
40182When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
40183at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
40184@command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
40185@end itemize
40186
40187To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
40188target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
40189actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
40190processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
40191descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
40192
40193@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
40194target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
40195
40196@menu
40197* Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
40198* Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
40199* Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
40200 descriptions.
40201* Enum Target Types:: How to define enum target types.
40202* Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
40203@end menu
40204
40205@node Retrieving Descriptions
40206@section Retrieving Descriptions
40207
40208Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
40209specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
40210description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
40211protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
40212qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
40213@samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
40214XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
40215Format}.
40216
40217Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
40218If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
40219specify a file are:
40220
40221@table @code
40222@cindex set tdesc filename
40223@item set tdesc filename @var{path}
40224Read the target description from @var{path}.
40225
40226@cindex unset tdesc filename
40227@item unset tdesc filename
40228Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
40229will use the description supplied by the current target.
40230
40231@cindex show tdesc filename
40232@item show tdesc filename
40233Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
40234@end table
40235
40236
40237@node Target Description Format
40238@section Target Description Format
40239@cindex target descriptions, XML format
40240
40241A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
40242document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
40243the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
40244means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
40245check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
40246However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
40247their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
40248
40249Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
40250and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
40251sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
40252@value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
40253target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
40254
40255Here is a simple target description:
40256
40257@smallexample
40258<target version="1.0">
40259 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
40260</target>
40261@end smallexample
40262
40263@noindent
40264This minimal description only says that the target uses
40265the x86-64 architecture.
40266
40267A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
40268optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
40269are explained further below.
40270
40271@smallexample
40272<?xml version="1.0"?>
40273<!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
40274<target version="1.0">
40275 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
40276 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
40277 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
40278 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
40279</target>
40280@end smallexample
40281
40282@noindent
40283The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
40284breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
40285declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
40286(@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
40287useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
40288@samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
40289including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
40290revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
40291the version mismatch.
40292
40293@subsection Inclusion
40294@cindex target descriptions, inclusion
40295@cindex XInclude
40296@ifnotinfo
40297@cindex <xi:include>
40298@end ifnotinfo
40299
40300It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
40301several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
40302share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
40303divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
40304the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
40305
40306@smallexample
40307<xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
40308@end smallexample
40309
40310@noindent
40311When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
40312the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
40313the contents of that document. If the current description was read
40314using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
40315@var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
40316current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
40317@var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
40318original description.
40319
40320@subsection Architecture
40321@cindex <architecture>
40322
40323An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
40324
40325@smallexample
40326 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
40327@end smallexample
40328
40329@var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
40330@code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
40331
40332@subsection OS ABI
40333@cindex @code{<osabi>}
40334
40335This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
40336Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
40337
40338An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
40339
40340@smallexample
40341 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
40342@end smallexample
40343
40344@var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
40345@w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
40346
40347@subsection Compatible Architecture
40348@cindex @code{<compatible>}
40349
40350This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
40351Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
40352
40353A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
40354
40355@smallexample
40356 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
40357@end smallexample
40358
40359@var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
40360@code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
40361
40362A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
40363is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
40364given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
40365Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
40366or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
40367in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
40368capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
40369
40370@smallexample
40371 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
40372 <compatible>spu</compatible>
40373@end smallexample
40374
40375@subsection Features
40376@cindex <feature>
40377
40378Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
40379system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
40380registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
40381has this form:
40382
40383@smallexample
40384<feature name="@var{name}">
40385 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
40386 @var{reg}@dots{}
40387</feature>
40388@end smallexample
40389
40390@noindent
40391Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
40392of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
40393knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
40394should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
40395
40396@subsection Types
40397
40398Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
40399interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
40400but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
40401Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
40402Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite
40403and enum types.
40404
40405Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
40406a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
40407Types must be defined before they are used.
40408
40409@cindex <vector>
40410Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
40411of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
40412specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
40413@var{count}:
40414
40415@smallexample
40416<vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
40417@end smallexample
40418
40419@cindex <union>
40420If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
40421with a union type containing the useful representations. The
40422@samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
40423each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
40424
40425@smallexample
40426<union id="@var{id}">
40427 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
40428 @dots{}
40429</union>
40430@end smallexample
40431
40432@cindex <struct>
40433@cindex <flags>
40434If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
40435it with either a structure type or a flags type.
40436A flags type may only contain bitfields.
40437A structure type may either contain only bitfields or contain no bitfields.
40438If the value contains only bitfields, its total size in bytes must be
40439specified.
40440
40441Non-bitfield values have a @var{name} and @var{type}.
40442
40443@smallexample
40444<struct id="@var{id}">
40445 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
40446 @dots{}
40447</struct>
40448@end smallexample
40449
40450Both @var{name} and @var{type} values are required.
40451No implicit padding is added.
40452
40453Bitfield values have a @var{name}, @var{start}, @var{end} and @var{type}.
40454
40455@smallexample
40456<struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
40457 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}" type="@var{type}"/>
40458 @dots{}
40459</struct>
40460@end smallexample
40461
40462@smallexample
40463<flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
40464 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}" type="@var{type}"/>
40465 @dots{}
40466</flags>
40467@end smallexample
40468
40469The @var{name} value is required.
40470Bitfield values may be named with the empty string, @samp{""},
40471in which case the field is ``filler'' and its value is not printed.
40472Not all bits need to be specified, so ``filler'' fields are optional.
40473
40474The @var{start} value is required, and @var{end} and @var{type}
40475are optional.
40476The field's @var{start} must be less than or equal to its @var{end},
40477and zero represents the least significant bit.
40478The default value of @var{end} is @var{start}, a single bit field.
40479
40480The default value of @var{type} depends on whether the
40481@var{end} was specified. If @var{end} is specified then the default
40482value of @var{type} is an unsigned integer. If @var{end} is unspecified
40483then the default value of @var{type} is @code{bool}.
40484
40485Which to choose? Structures or flags?
40486
40487Registers defined with @samp{flags} have these advantages over
40488defining them with @samp{struct}:
40489
40490@itemize @bullet
40491@item
40492Arithmetic may be performed on them as if they were integers.
40493@item
40494They are printed in a more readable fashion.
40495@end itemize
40496
40497Registers defined with @samp{struct} have one advantage over
40498defining them with @samp{flags}:
40499
40500@itemize @bullet
40501@item
40502One can fetch individual fields like in @samp{C}.
40503
40504@smallexample
40505(gdb) print $my_struct_reg.field3
40506$1 = 42
40507@end smallexample
40508
40509@end itemize
40510
40511@subsection Registers
40512@cindex <reg>
40513
40514Each register is represented as an element with this form:
40515
40516@smallexample
40517<reg name="@var{name}"
40518 bitsize="@var{size}"
40519 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
40520 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
40521 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
40522 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
40523@end smallexample
40524
40525@noindent
40526The components are as follows:
40527
40528@table @var
40529
40530@item name
40531The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
40532
40533@item bitsize
40534The register's size, in bits.
40535
40536@item regnum
40537The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
40538than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
40539a preceding feature); the first register in the target description
40540defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
40541the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
40542packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
40543in order of increasing register number.
40544
40545@item save-restore
40546Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
40547calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
40548@code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
40549some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
40550ABI.
40551
40552@item type
40553The type of the register. It may be a predefined type, a type
40554defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
40555and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
40556for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
40557architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
40558@var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
40559
40560@item group
40561The register group to which this register belongs. It must
40562be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
40563@var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
40564in @code{info registers}.
40565
40566@end table
40567
40568@node Predefined Target Types
40569@section Predefined Target Types
40570@cindex target descriptions, predefined types
40571
40572Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
40573from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
40574standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
40575types. The currently supported types are:
40576
40577@table @code
40578
40579@item bool
40580Boolean type, occupying a single bit.
40581
40582@item int8
40583@itemx int16
40584@itemx int32
40585@itemx int64
40586@itemx int128
40587Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
40588
40589@item uint8
40590@itemx uint16
40591@itemx uint32
40592@itemx uint64
40593@itemx uint128
40594Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
40595
40596@item code_ptr
40597@itemx data_ptr
40598Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
40599any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
40600pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
40601address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
40602may be marked as data pointers.
40603
40604@item ieee_single
40605Single precision IEEE floating point.
40606
40607@item ieee_double
40608Double precision IEEE floating point.
40609
40610@item arm_fpa_ext
40611The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
40612
40613@item i387_ext
40614The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
40615
40616@item i386_eflags
4061732bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
40618
40619@item i386_mxcsr
4062032bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
40621
40622@end table
40623
40624@node Enum Target Types
40625@section Enum Target Types
40626@cindex target descriptions, enum types
40627
40628Enum target types are useful in @samp{struct} and @samp{flags}
40629register descriptions. @xref{Target Description Format}.
40630
40631Enum types have a name, size and a list of name/value pairs.
40632
40633@smallexample
40634<enum id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
40635 <evalue name="@var{name}" value="@var{value}"/>
40636 @dots{}
40637</enum>
40638@end smallexample
40639
40640Enums must be defined before they are used.
40641
40642@smallexample
40643<enum id="levels_type" size="4">
40644 <evalue name="low" value="0"/>
40645 <evalue name="high" value="1"/>
40646</enum>
40647<flags id="flags_type" size="4">
40648 <field name="X" start="0"/>
40649 <field name="LEVEL" start="1" end="1" type="levels_type"/>
40650</flags>
40651<reg name="flags" bitsize="32" type="flags_type"/>
40652@end smallexample
40653
40654Given that description, a value of 3 for the @samp{flags} register
40655would be printed as:
40656
40657@smallexample
40658(gdb) info register flags
40659flags 0x3 [ X LEVEL=high ]
40660@end smallexample
40661
40662@node Standard Target Features
40663@section Standard Target Features
40664@cindex target descriptions, standard features
40665
40666A target description must contain either no registers or all the
40667target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
40668@value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
40669the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
40670default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
40671described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
40672can recognize them.
40673
40674This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
40675which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
40676with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
40677if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
40678feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
40679description. You can add additional registers to any of the
40680standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
40681they were added to an unrecognized feature.
40682
40683This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
40684Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
40685@value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
40686
40687Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
40688company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
40689architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
40690containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
40691
40692The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
40693of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
40694registers using the capitalization used in the description.
40695
40696@menu
40697* AArch64 Features::
40698* ARM Features::
40699* i386 Features::
40700* MicroBlaze Features::
40701* MIPS Features::
40702* M68K Features::
40703* Nios II Features::
40704* PowerPC Features::
40705* S/390 and System z Features::
40706* TIC6x Features::
40707@end menu
40708
40709
40710@node AArch64 Features
40711@subsection AArch64 Features
40712@cindex target descriptions, AArch64 features
40713
40714The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.aarch64.core} feature is required for AArch64
40715targets. It should contain registers @samp{x0} through @samp{x30},
40716@samp{sp}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
40717
40718The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.aarch64.fpu} feature is optional. If present,
40719it should contain registers @samp{v0} through @samp{v31}, @samp{fpsr},
40720and @samp{fpcr}.
40721
40722@node ARM Features
40723@subsection ARM Features
40724@cindex target descriptions, ARM features
40725
40726The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for non-M-profile
40727ARM targets.
40728It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
40729@samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
40730
40731For M-profile targets (e.g. Cortex-M3), the @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}
40732feature is replaced by @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.m-profile}. It should contain
40733registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp}, @samp{lr}, @samp{pc},
40734and @samp{xpsr}.
40735
40736The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
40737should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
40738
40739The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
40740it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
40741@samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
40742@samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
40743
40744The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
40745should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
40746they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
40747@value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
40748halves of the double-precision registers.
40749
40750The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
40751need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
40752VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
40753quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
40754If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
40755be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
40756
40757@node i386 Features
40758@subsection i386 Features
40759@cindex target descriptions, i386 features
40760
40761The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
40762targets. It should describe the following registers:
40763
40764@itemize @minus
40765@item
40766@samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
40767@item
40768@samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
40769@item
40770@samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
40771@samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
40772@item
40773@samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
40774@item
40775@samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
40776@samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
40777@end itemize
40778
40779The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
40780
40781The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
40782describe registers:
40783
40784@itemize @minus
40785@item
40786@samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
40787@item
40788@samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
40789@item
40790@samp{mxcsr}
40791@end itemize
40792
40793The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
40794@samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
40795describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
40796
40797@itemize @minus
40798@item
40799@samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
40800@item
40801@samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
40802@end itemize
40803
40804The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.mpx} is an optional feature representing Intel
40805Memory Protection Extension (MPX). It should describe the following registers:
40806
40807@itemize @minus
40808@item
40809@samp{bnd0raw} through @samp{bnd3raw} for i386 and amd64.
40810@item
40811@samp{bndcfgu} and @samp{bndstatus} for i386 and amd64.
40812@end itemize
40813
40814The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
40815describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
40816
40817The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx512} feature is optional and requires the
40818@samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature. It should
40819describe additional @sc{xmm} registers:
40820
40821@itemize @minus
40822@item
40823@samp{xmm16h} through @samp{xmm31h}, only valid for amd64.
40824@end itemize
40825
40826It should describe the upper 128 bits of additional @sc{ymm} registers:
40827
40828@itemize @minus
40829@item
40830@samp{ymm16h} through @samp{ymm31h}, only valid for amd64.
40831@end itemize
40832
40833It should
40834describe the upper 256 bits of @sc{zmm} registers:
40835
40836@itemize @minus
40837@item
40838@samp{zmm0h} through @samp{zmm7h} for i386.
40839@item
40840@samp{zmm0h} through @samp{zmm15h} for amd64.
40841@end itemize
40842
40843It should
40844describe the additional @sc{zmm} registers:
40845
40846@itemize @minus
40847@item
40848@samp{zmm16h} through @samp{zmm31h}, only valid for amd64.
40849@end itemize
40850
40851@node MicroBlaze Features
40852@subsection MicroBlaze Features
40853@cindex target descriptions, MicroBlaze features
40854
40855The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.microblaze.core} feature is required for MicroBlaze
40856targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
40857@samp{rpc}, @samp{rmsr}, @samp{rear}, @samp{resr}, @samp{rfsr}, @samp{rbtr},
40858@samp{rpvr}, @samp{rpvr1} through @samp{rpvr11}, @samp{redr}, @samp{rpid},
40859@samp{rzpr}, @samp{rtlbx}, @samp{rtlbsx}, @samp{rtlblo}, and @samp{rtlbhi}.
40860
40861The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.microblaze.stack-protect} feature is optional.
40862If present, it should contain registers @samp{rshr} and @samp{rslr}
40863
40864@node MIPS Features
40865@subsection @acronym{MIPS} Features
40866@cindex target descriptions, @acronym{MIPS} features
40867
40868The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for @acronym{MIPS} targets.
40869It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
40870@samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
40871on the target.
40872
40873The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
40874contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
40875registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
40876
40877The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
40878it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
40879contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
40880@samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
40881
40882The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.dsp} feature is optional. It should
40883contain registers @samp{hi1} through @samp{hi3}, @samp{lo1} through
40884@samp{lo3}, and @samp{dspctl}. The @samp{dspctl} register should
40885be 32-bit and the rest may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
40886
40887The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
40888contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
40889Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
40890
40891@node M68K Features
40892@subsection M68K Features
40893@cindex target descriptions, M68K features
40894
40895@table @code
40896@item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
40897@itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
40898@itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
40899One of those features must be always present.
40900The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
40901used. The feature that is present should contain registers
40902@samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
40903@samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
40904
40905@item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
40906This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
40907@samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
40908@samp{fpiaddr}.
40909@end table
40910
40911@node Nios II Features
40912@subsection Nios II Features
40913@cindex target descriptions, Nios II features
40914
40915The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.nios2.cpu} feature is required for Nios II
40916targets. It should contain the 32 core registers (@samp{zero},
40917@samp{at}, @samp{r2} through @samp{r23}, @samp{et} through @samp{ra}),
40918@samp{pc}, and the 16 control registers (@samp{status} through
40919@samp{mpuacc}).
40920
40921@node PowerPC Features
40922@subsection PowerPC Features
40923@cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
40924
40925The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
40926targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
40927@samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
40928@samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
40929
40930The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
40931contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
40932
40933The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
40934contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
40935and @samp{vrsave}.
40936
40937The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
40938contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
40939will combine these registers with the floating point registers
40940(@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
40941through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
40942through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
40943
40944The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
40945contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
40946@samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
40947@samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
40948@samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
40949these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
40950user.
40951
40952@node S/390 and System z Features
40953@subsection S/390 and System z Features
40954@cindex target descriptions, S/390 features
40955@cindex target descriptions, System z features
40956
40957The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.core} feature is required for S/390 and
40958System z targets. It should contain the PSW and the 16 general
40959registers. In particular, System z targets should provide the 64-bit
40960registers @samp{pswm}, @samp{pswa}, and @samp{r0} through @samp{r15}.
40961S/390 targets should provide the 32-bit versions of these registers.
40962A System z target that runs in 31-bit addressing mode should provide
4096332-bit versions of @samp{pswm} and @samp{pswa}, as well as the general
40964register's upper halves @samp{r0h} through @samp{r15h}, and their
40965lower halves @samp{r0l} through @samp{r15l}.
40966
40967The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.fpr} feature is required. It should
40968contain the 64-bit registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f15}, and
40969@samp{fpc}.
40970
40971The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.acr} feature is required. It should
40972contain the 32-bit registers @samp{acr0} through @samp{acr15}.
40973
40974The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.linux} feature is optional. It should
40975contain the register @samp{orig_r2}, which is 64-bit wide on System z
40976targets and 32-bit otherwise. In addition, the feature may contain
40977the @samp{last_break} register, whose width depends on the addressing
40978mode, as well as the @samp{system_call} register, which is always
4097932-bit wide.
40980
40981The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.tdb} feature is optional. It should
40982contain the 64-bit registers @samp{tdb0}, @samp{tac}, @samp{tct},
40983@samp{atia}, and @samp{tr0} through @samp{tr15}.
40984
40985The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.vx} feature is optional. It should contain
4098664-bit wide registers @samp{v0l} through @samp{v15l}, which will be
40987combined by @value{GDBN} with the floating point registers @samp{f0}
40988through @samp{f15} to present the 128-bit wide vector registers
40989@samp{v0} through @samp{v15}. In addition, this feature should
40990contain the 128-bit wide vector registers @samp{v16} through
40991@samp{v31}.
40992
40993@node TIC6x Features
40994@subsection TMS320C6x Features
40995@cindex target descriptions, TIC6x features
40996@cindex target descriptions, TMS320C6x features
40997The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.core} feature is required for TMS320C6x
40998targets. It should contain registers @samp{A0} through @samp{A15},
40999registers @samp{B0} through @samp{B15}, @samp{CSR} and @samp{PC}.
41000
41001The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.gp} feature is optional. It should
41002contain registers @samp{A16} through @samp{A31} and @samp{B16}
41003through @samp{B31}.
41004
41005The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.c6xp} feature is optional. It should
41006contain registers @samp{TSR}, @samp{ILC} and @samp{RILC}.
41007
41008@node Operating System Information
41009@appendix Operating System Information
41010@cindex operating system information
41011
41012@menu
41013* Process list::
41014@end menu
41015
41016Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
41017the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
41018processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
41019mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
41020target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
41021on a different aspect of target.
41022
41023Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
41024remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
41025read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
41026the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
41027
41028@node Process list
41029@appendixsection Process list
41030@cindex operating system information, process list
41031
41032When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
41033@samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
41034an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
41035@file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
41036
41037An example document is:
41038
41039@smallexample
41040<?xml version="1.0"?>
41041<!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
41042<osdata type="processes">
41043 <item>
41044 <column name="pid">1</column>
41045 <column name="user">root</column>
41046 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
41047 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
41048 </item>
41049</osdata>
41050@end smallexample
41051
41052Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
41053of that column should identify the process on the target. The
41054@samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
41055displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
41056should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
41057is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
41058which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
41059
41060@node Trace File Format
41061@appendix Trace File Format
41062@cindex trace file format
41063
41064The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
41065section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
41066
41067The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
41068@code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
41069while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
41070in the future.
41071
41072The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
41073separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
41074variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
41075as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
41076ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
41077of this section.
41078
41079@table @code
41080@item R @var{size}
41081Specifies the size of a register block in bytes. This is equal to the
41082size of a @code{g} packet payload in the remote protocol. @var{size}
41083is an ascii decimal number. There should be only one such line in
41084a single trace file.
41085
41086@item status @var{status}
41087Trace status. @var{status} has the same format as a @code{qTStatus}
41088remote packet reply. There should be only one such line in a single trace
41089file.
41090
41091@item tp @var{payload}
41092Tracepoint definition. The @var{payload} has the same format as
41093@code{qTfP}/@code{qTsP} remote packet reply payload. A single tracepoint
41094may take multiple lines of definition, corresponding to the multiple
41095reply packets.
41096
41097@item tsv @var{payload}
41098Trace state variable definition. The @var{payload} has the same format as
41099@code{qTfV}/@code{qTsV} remote packet reply payload. A single variable
41100may take multiple lines of definition, corresponding to the multiple
41101reply packets.
41102
41103@item tdesc @var{payload}
41104Target description in XML format. The @var{payload} is a single line of
41105the XML file. All such lines should be concatenated together to get
41106the original XML file. This file is in the same format as @code{qXfer}
41107@code{features} payload, and corresponds to the main @code{target.xml}
41108file. Includes are not allowed.
41109
41110@end table
41111
41112The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
41113Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
41114four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
41115the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
41116character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
41117state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
41118hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
41119endianness.
41120
41121@c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
41122
41123@table @code
41124@item R @var{bytes}
41125Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
41126@code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
41127actual bytes, in target order, not a hexadecimal encoding.
41128
41129@item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
41130Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
41131address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
41132@var{length} bytes.
41133
41134@item V @var{number} @var{value}
41135Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
41136@var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
41137
41138@end table
41139
41140Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
41141of blocks.
41142
41143@node Index Section Format
41144@appendix @code{.gdb_index} section format
41145@cindex .gdb_index section format
41146@cindex index section format
41147
41148This section documents the index section that is created by @code{save
41149gdb-index} (@pxref{Index Files}). The index section is
41150DWARF-specific; some knowledge of DWARF is assumed in this
41151description.
41152
41153The mapped index file format is designed to be directly
41154@code{mmap}able on any architecture. In most cases, a datum is
41155represented using a little-endian 32-bit integer value, called an
41156@code{offset_type}. Big endian machines must byte-swap the values
41157before using them. Exceptions to this rule are noted. The data is
41158laid out such that alignment is always respected.
41159
41160A mapped index consists of several areas, laid out in order.
41161
41162@enumerate
41163@item
41164The file header. This is a sequence of values, of @code{offset_type}
41165unless otherwise noted:
41166
41167@enumerate
41168@item
41169The version number, currently 8. Versions 1, 2 and 3 are obsolete.
41170Version 4 uses a different hashing function from versions 5 and 6.
41171Version 6 includes symbols for inlined functions, whereas versions 4
41172and 5 do not. Version 7 adds attributes to the CU indices in the
41173symbol table. Version 8 specifies that symbols from DWARF type units
41174(@samp{DW_TAG_type_unit}) refer to the type unit's symbol table and not the
41175compilation unit (@samp{DW_TAG_comp_unit}) using the type.
41176
41177@value{GDBN} will only read version 4, 5, or 6 indices
41178by specifying @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
41179GDB has a workaround for potentially broken version 7 indices so it is
41180currently not flagged as deprecated.
41181
41182@item
41183The offset, from the start of the file, of the CU list.
41184
41185@item
41186The offset, from the start of the file, of the types CU list. Note
41187that this area can be empty, in which case this offset will be equal
41188to the next offset.
41189
41190@item
41191The offset, from the start of the file, of the address area.
41192
41193@item
41194The offset, from the start of the file, of the symbol table.
41195
41196@item
41197The offset, from the start of the file, of the constant pool.
41198@end enumerate
41199
41200@item
41201The CU list. This is a sequence of pairs of 64-bit little-endian
41202values, sorted by the CU offset. The first element in each pair is
41203the offset of a CU in the @code{.debug_info} section. The second
41204element in each pair is the length of that CU. References to a CU
41205elsewhere in the map are done using a CU index, which is just the
412060-based index into this table. Note that if there are type CUs, then
41207conceptually CUs and type CUs form a single list for the purposes of
41208CU indices.
41209
41210@item
41211The types CU list. This is a sequence of triplets of 64-bit
41212little-endian values. In a triplet, the first value is the CU offset,
41213the second value is the type offset in the CU, and the third value is
41214the type signature. The types CU list is not sorted.
41215
41216@item
41217The address area. The address area consists of a sequence of address
41218entries. Each address entry has three elements:
41219
41220@enumerate
41221@item
41222The low address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value.
41223
41224@item
41225The high address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value. Like
41226@code{DW_AT_high_pc}, the value is one byte beyond the end.
41227
41228@item
41229The CU index. This is an @code{offset_type} value.
41230@end enumerate
41231
41232@item
41233The symbol table. This is an open-addressed hash table. The size of
41234the hash table is always a power of 2.
41235
41236Each slot in the hash table consists of a pair of @code{offset_type}
41237values. The first value is the offset of the symbol's name in the
41238constant pool. The second value is the offset of the CU vector in the
41239constant pool.
41240
41241If both values are 0, then this slot in the hash table is empty. This
41242is ok because while 0 is a valid constant pool index, it cannot be a
41243valid index for both a string and a CU vector.
41244
41245The hash value for a table entry is computed by applying an
41246iterative hash function to the symbol's name. Starting with an
41247initial value of @code{r = 0}, each (unsigned) character @samp{c} in
41248the string is incorporated into the hash using the formula depending on the
41249index version:
41250
41251@table @asis
41252@item Version 4
41253The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + c - 113}.
41254
41255@item Versions 5 to 7
41256The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + tolower (c) - 113}.
41257@end table
41258
41259The terminating @samp{\0} is not incorporated into the hash.
41260
41261The step size used in the hash table is computed via
41262@code{((hash * 17) & (size - 1)) | 1}, where @samp{hash} is the hash
41263value, and @samp{size} is the size of the hash table. The step size
41264is used to find the next candidate slot when handling a hash
41265collision.
41266
41267The names of C@t{++} symbols in the hash table are canonicalized. We
41268don't currently have a simple description of the canonicalization
41269algorithm; if you intend to create new index sections, you must read
41270the code.
41271
41272@item
41273The constant pool. This is simply a bunch of bytes. It is organized
41274so that alignment is correct: CU vectors are stored first, followed by
41275strings.
41276
41277A CU vector in the constant pool is a sequence of @code{offset_type}
41278values. The first value is the number of CU indices in the vector.
41279Each subsequent value is the index and symbol attributes of a CU in
41280the CU list. This element in the hash table is used to indicate which
41281CUs define the symbol and how the symbol is used.
41282See below for the format of each CU index+attributes entry.
41283
41284A string in the constant pool is zero-terminated.
41285@end enumerate
41286
41287Attributes were added to CU index values in @code{.gdb_index} version 7.
41288If a symbol has multiple uses within a CU then there is one
41289CU index+attributes value for each use.
41290
41291The format of each CU index+attributes entry is as follows
41292(bit 0 = LSB):
41293
41294@table @asis
41295
41296@item Bits 0-23
41297This is the index of the CU in the CU list.
41298@item Bits 24-27
41299These bits are reserved for future purposes and must be zero.
41300@item Bits 28-30
41301The kind of the symbol in the CU.
41302
41303@table @asis
41304@item 0
41305This value is reserved and should not be used.
41306By reserving zero the full @code{offset_type} value is backwards compatible
41307with previous versions of the index.
41308@item 1
41309The symbol is a type.
41310@item 2
41311The symbol is a variable or an enum value.
41312@item 3
41313The symbol is a function.
41314@item 4
41315Any other kind of symbol.
41316@item 5,6,7
41317These values are reserved.
41318@end table
41319
41320@item Bit 31
41321This bit is zero if the value is global and one if it is static.
41322
41323The determination of whether a symbol is global or static is complicated.
41324The authorative reference is the file @file{dwarf2read.c} in
41325@value{GDBN} sources.
41326
41327@end table
41328
41329This pseudo-code describes the computation of a symbol's kind and
41330global/static attributes in the index.
41331
41332@smallexample
41333is_external = get_attribute (die, DW_AT_external);
41334language = get_attribute (cu_die, DW_AT_language);
41335switch (die->tag)
41336 @{
41337 case DW_TAG_typedef:
41338 case DW_TAG_base_type:
41339 case DW_TAG_subrange_type:
41340 kind = TYPE;
41341 is_static = 1;
41342 break;
41343 case DW_TAG_enumerator:
41344 kind = VARIABLE;
41345 is_static = (language != CPLUS && language != JAVA);
41346 break;
41347 case DW_TAG_subprogram:
41348 kind = FUNCTION;
41349 is_static = ! (is_external || language == ADA);
41350 break;
41351 case DW_TAG_constant:
41352 kind = VARIABLE;
41353 is_static = ! is_external;
41354 break;
41355 case DW_TAG_variable:
41356 kind = VARIABLE;
41357 is_static = ! is_external;
41358 break;
41359 case DW_TAG_namespace:
41360 kind = TYPE;
41361 is_static = 0;
41362 break;
41363 case DW_TAG_class_type:
41364 case DW_TAG_interface_type:
41365 case DW_TAG_structure_type:
41366 case DW_TAG_union_type:
41367 case DW_TAG_enumeration_type:
41368 kind = TYPE;
41369 is_static = (language != CPLUS && language != JAVA);
41370 break;
41371 default:
41372 assert (0);
41373 @}
41374@end smallexample
41375
41376@node Man Pages
41377@appendix Manual pages
41378@cindex Man pages
41379
41380@menu
41381* gdb man:: The GNU Debugger man page
41382* gdbserver man:: Remote Server for the GNU Debugger man page
41383* gcore man:: Generate a core file of a running program
41384* gdbinit man:: gdbinit scripts
41385@end menu
41386
41387@node gdb man
41388@heading gdb man
41389
41390@c man title gdb The GNU Debugger
41391
41392@c man begin SYNOPSIS gdb
41393gdb [@option{-help}] [@option{-nh}] [@option{-nx}] [@option{-q}]
41394[@option{-batch}] [@option{-cd=}@var{dir}] [@option{-f}]
41395[@option{-b}@w{ }@var{bps}]
41396 [@option{-tty=}@var{dev}] [@option{-s} @var{symfile}]
41397[@option{-e}@w{ }@var{prog}] [@option{-se}@w{ }@var{prog}]
41398[@option{-c}@w{ }@var{core}] [@option{-p}@w{ }@var{procID}]
41399 [@option{-x}@w{ }@var{cmds}] [@option{-d}@w{ }@var{dir}]
41400[@var{prog}|@var{prog} @var{procID}|@var{prog} @var{core}]
41401@c man end
41402
41403@c man begin DESCRIPTION gdb
41404The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
41405going on ``inside'' another program while it executes -- or what another
41406program was doing at the moment it crashed.
41407
41408@value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
41409these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
41410
41411@itemize @bullet
41412@item
41413Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
41414
41415@item
41416Make your program stop on specified conditions.
41417
41418@item
41419Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
41420
41421@item
41422Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
41423effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
41424@end itemize
41425
41426You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C, C@t{++}, Fortran and
41427Modula-2.
41428
41429@value{GDBN} is invoked with the shell command @code{gdb}. Once started, it reads
41430commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit with the @value{GDBN}
41431command @code{quit}. You can get online help from @value{GDBN} itself
41432by using the command @code{help}.
41433
41434You can run @code{gdb} with no arguments or options; but the most
41435usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument or two, specifying an
41436executable program as the argument:
41437
41438@smallexample
41439gdb program
41440@end smallexample
41441
41442You can also start with both an executable program and a core file specified:
41443
41444@smallexample
41445gdb program core
41446@end smallexample
41447
41448You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
41449to debug a running process:
41450
41451@smallexample
41452gdb program 1234
41453gdb -p 1234
41454@end smallexample
41455
41456@noindent
41457would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
41458named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
41459With option @option{-p} you can omit the @var{program} filename.
41460
41461Here are some of the most frequently needed @value{GDBN} commands:
41462
41463@c pod2man highlights the right hand side of the @item lines.
41464@table @env
41465@item break [@var{file}:]@var{functiop}
41466Set a breakpoint at @var{function} (in @var{file}).
41467
41468@item run [@var{arglist}]
41469Start your program (with @var{arglist}, if specified).
41470
41471@item bt
41472Backtrace: display the program stack.
41473
41474@item print @var{expr}
41475Display the value of an expression.
41476
41477@item c
41478Continue running your program (after stopping, e.g. at a breakpoint).
41479
41480@item next
41481Execute next program line (after stopping); step @emph{over} any
41482function calls in the line.
41483
41484@item edit [@var{file}:]@var{function}
41485look at the program line where it is presently stopped.
41486
41487@item list [@var{file}:]@var{function}
41488type the text of the program in the vicinity of where it is presently stopped.
41489
41490@item step
41491Execute next program line (after stopping); step @emph{into} any
41492function calls in the line.
41493
41494@item help [@var{name}]
41495Show information about @value{GDBN} command @var{name}, or general information
41496about using @value{GDBN}.
41497
41498@item quit
41499Exit from @value{GDBN}.
41500@end table
41501
41502@ifset man
41503For full details on @value{GDBN},
41504see @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
41505by Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch. The same text is available online
41506as the @code{gdb} entry in the @code{info} program.
41507@end ifset
41508@c man end
41509
41510@c man begin OPTIONS gdb
41511Any arguments other than options specify an executable
41512file and core file (or process ID); that is, the first argument
41513encountered with no
41514associated option flag is equivalent to a @option{-se} option, and the second,
41515if any, is equivalent to a @option{-c} option if it's the name of a file.
41516Many options have
41517both long and short forms; both are shown here. The long forms are also
41518recognized if you truncate them, so long as enough of the option is
41519present to be unambiguous. (If you prefer, you can flag option
41520arguments with @option{+} rather than @option{-}, though we illustrate the
41521more usual convention.)
41522
41523All the options and command line arguments you give are processed
41524in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the @option{-x}
41525option is used.
41526
41527@table @env
41528@item -help
41529@itemx -h
41530List all options, with brief explanations.
41531
41532@item -symbols=@var{file}
41533@itemx -s @var{file}
41534Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
41535
41536@item -write
41537Enable writing into executable and core files.
41538
41539@item -exec=@var{file}
41540@itemx -e @var{file}
41541Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when
41542appropriate, and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core
41543dump.
41544
41545@item -se=@var{file}
41546Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
41547file.
41548
41549@item -core=@var{file}
41550@itemx -c @var{file}
41551Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
41552
41553@item -command=@var{file}
41554@itemx -x @var{file}
41555Execute @value{GDBN} commands from file @var{file}.
41556
41557@item -ex @var{command}
41558Execute given @value{GDBN} @var{command}.
41559
41560@item -directory=@var{directory}
41561@itemx -d @var{directory}
41562Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source files.
41563
41564@item -nh
41565Do not execute commands from @file{~/.gdbinit}.
41566
41567@item -nx
41568@itemx -n
41569Do not execute commands from any @file{.gdbinit} initialization files.
41570
41571@item -quiet
41572@itemx -q
41573``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
41574messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
41575
41576@item -batch
41577Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the command
41578files specified with @option{-x} (and @file{.gdbinit}, if not inhibited).
41579Exit with nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN}
41580commands in the command files.
41581
41582Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for example to
41583download and run a program on another computer; in order to make this
41584more useful, the message
41585
41586@smallexample
41587Program exited normally.
41588@end smallexample
41589
41590@noindent
41591(which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under @value{GDBN} control
41592terminates) is not issued when running in batch mode.
41593
41594@item -cd=@var{directory}
41595Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
41596instead of the current directory.
41597
41598@item -fullname
41599@itemx -f
41600Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells
41601@value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line number in a standard,
41602recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is displayed (which
41603includes each time the program stops). This recognizable format looks
41604like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by the file name, line number
41605and character position separated by colons, and a newline. The
41606Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two @samp{\032}
41607characters as a signal to display the source code for the frame.
41608
41609@item -b @var{bps}
41610Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
41611interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
41612
41613@item -tty=@var{device}
41614Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
41615@end table
41616@c man end
41617
41618@c man begin SEEALSO gdb
41619@ifset man
41620The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
41621If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
41622documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
41623
41624@smallexample
41625info gdb
41626@end smallexample
41627
41628@noindent
41629should give you access to the complete manual.
41630
41631@cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
41632Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
41633@end ifset
41634@c man end
41635
41636@node gdbserver man
41637@heading gdbserver man
41638
41639@c man title gdbserver Remote Server for the GNU Debugger
41640@format
41641@c man begin SYNOPSIS gdbserver
41642gdbserver @var{comm} @var{prog} [@var{args}@dots{}]
41643
41644gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
41645
41646gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
41647@c man end
41648@end format
41649
41650@c man begin DESCRIPTION gdbserver
41651@command{gdbserver} is a program that allows you to run @value{GDBN} on a different machine
41652than the one which is running the program being debugged.
41653
41654@ifclear man
41655@subheading Usage (server (target) side)
41656@end ifclear
41657@ifset man
41658Usage (server (target) side):
41659@end ifset
41660
41661First, you need to have a copy of the program you want to debug put onto
41662the target system. The program can be stripped to save space if needed, as
41663@command{gdbserver} doesn't care about symbols. All symbol handling is taken care of by
41664the @value{GDBN} running on the host system.
41665
41666To use the server, you log on to the target system, and run the @command{gdbserver}
41667program. You must tell it (a) how to communicate with @value{GDBN}, (b) the name of
41668your program, and (c) its arguments. The general syntax is:
41669
41670@smallexample
41671target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [@var{args} ...]
41672@end smallexample
41673
41674For example, using a serial port, you might say:
41675
41676@smallexample
41677@ifset man
41678@c @file would wrap it as F</dev/com1>.
41679target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
41680@end ifset
41681@ifclear man
41682target> gdbserver @file{/dev/com1} emacs foo.txt
41683@end ifclear
41684@end smallexample
41685
41686This tells @command{gdbserver} to debug emacs with an argument of foo.txt, and
41687to communicate with @value{GDBN} via @file{/dev/com1}. @command{gdbserver} now
41688waits patiently for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate with it.
41689
41690To use a TCP connection, you could say:
41691
41692@smallexample
41693target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
41694@end smallexample
41695
41696This says pretty much the same thing as the last example, except that we are
41697going to communicate with the @code{host} @value{GDBN} via TCP. The @code{host:2345} argument means
41698that we are expecting to see a TCP connection from @code{host} to local TCP port
416992345. (Currently, the @code{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number you
41700want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any existing TCP
41701ports on the target system. This same port number must be used in the host
41702@value{GDBN}s @code{target remote} command, which will be described shortly. Note that if
41703you chose a port number that conflicts with another service, @command{gdbserver} will
41704print an error message and exit.
41705
41706@command{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
41707This is accomplished via the @option{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
41708
41709@smallexample
41710target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
41711@end smallexample
41712
41713@var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
41714necessary to point @command{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
41715
41716To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
41717or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
41718In such case you should connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} to start
41719the program you want to debug.
41720
41721@smallexample
41722target> gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
41723@end smallexample
41724
41725@ifclear man
41726@subheading Usage (host side)
41727@end ifclear
41728@ifset man
41729Usage (host side):
41730@end ifset
41731
41732You need an unstripped copy of the target program on your host system, since
41733@value{GDBN} needs to examine it's symbol tables and such. Start up @value{GDBN} as you normally
41734would, with the target program as the first argument. (You may need to use the
41735@option{--baud} option if the serial line is running at anything except 9600 baud.)
41736That is @code{gdb TARGET-PROG}, or @code{gdb --baud BAUD TARGET-PROG}. After that, the only
41737new command you need to know about is @code{target remote}
41738(or @code{target extended-remote}). Its argument is either
41739a device name (usually a serial device, like @file{/dev/ttyb}), or a @code{HOST:PORT}
41740descriptor. For example:
41741
41742@smallexample
41743@ifset man
41744@c @file would wrap it as F</dev/ttyb>.
41745(gdb) target remote /dev/ttyb
41746@end ifset
41747@ifclear man
41748(gdb) target remote @file{/dev/ttyb}
41749@end ifclear
41750@end smallexample
41751
41752@noindent
41753communicates with the server via serial line @file{/dev/ttyb}, and:
41754
41755@smallexample
41756(gdb) target remote the-target:2345
41757@end smallexample
41758
41759@noindent
41760communicates via a TCP connection to port 2345 on host `the-target', where
41761you previously started up @command{gdbserver} with the same port number. Note that for
41762TCP connections, you must start up @command{gdbserver} prior to using the `target remote'
41763command, otherwise you may get an error that looks something like
41764`Connection refused'.
41765
41766@command{gdbserver} can also debug multiple inferiors at once,
41767described in
41768@ifset man
41769the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Inferiors and Programs}
41770-- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'Inferiors and Programs'}.
41771@end ifset
41772@ifclear man
41773@ref{Inferiors and Programs}.
41774@end ifclear
41775In such case use the @code{extended-remote} @value{GDBN} command variant:
41776
41777@smallexample
41778(gdb) target extended-remote the-target:2345
41779@end smallexample
41780
41781The @command{gdbserver} option @option{--multi} may or may not be used in such
41782case.
41783@c man end
41784
41785@c man begin OPTIONS gdbserver
41786There are three different modes for invoking @command{gdbserver}:
41787
41788@itemize @bullet
41789
41790@item
41791Debug a specific program specified by its program name:
41792
41793@smallexample
41794gdbserver @var{comm} @var{prog} [@var{args}@dots{}]
41795@end smallexample
41796
41797The @var{comm} parameter specifies how should the server communicate
41798with @value{GDBN}; it is either a device name (to use a serial line),
41799a TCP port number (@code{:1234}), or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
41800stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}. Specify the name of the program to
41801debug in @var{prog}. Any remaining arguments will be passed to the
41802program verbatim. When the program exits, @value{GDBN} will close the
41803connection, and @code{gdbserver} will exit.
41804
41805@item
41806Debug a specific program by specifying the process ID of a running
41807program:
41808
41809@smallexample
41810gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
41811@end smallexample
41812
41813The @var{comm} parameter is as described above. Supply the process ID
41814of a running program in @var{pid}; @value{GDBN} will do everything
41815else. Like with the previous mode, when the process @var{pid} exits,
41816@value{GDBN} will close the connection, and @code{gdbserver} will exit.
41817
41818@item
41819Multi-process mode -- debug more than one program/process:
41820
41821@smallexample
41822gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
41823@end smallexample
41824
41825In this mode, @value{GDBN} can instruct @command{gdbserver} which
41826command(s) to run. Unlike the other 2 modes, @value{GDBN} will not
41827close the connection when a process being debugged exits, so you can
41828debug several processes in the same session.
41829@end itemize
41830
41831In each of the modes you may specify these options:
41832
41833@table @env
41834
41835@item --help
41836List all options, with brief explanations.
41837
41838@item --version
41839This option causes @command{gdbserver} to print its version number and exit.
41840
41841@item --attach
41842@command{gdbserver} will attach to a running program. The syntax is:
41843
41844@smallexample
41845target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
41846@end smallexample
41847
41848@var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
41849necessary to point @command{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
41850
41851@item --multi
41852To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
41853or process ID to attach, use this command line option.
41854Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
41855the program you want to debug. The syntax is:
41856
41857@smallexample
41858target> gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
41859@end smallexample
41860
41861@item --debug
41862Instruct @code{gdbserver} to display extra status information about the debugging
41863process.
41864This option is intended for @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to
41865the developers.
41866
41867@item --remote-debug
41868Instruct @code{gdbserver} to display remote protocol debug output.
41869This option is intended for @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to
41870the developers.
41871
41872@item --debug-format=option1@r{[},option2,...@r{]}
41873Instruct @code{gdbserver} to include extra information in each line
41874of debugging output.
41875@xref{Other Command-Line Arguments for gdbserver}.
41876
41877@item --wrapper
41878Specify a wrapper to launch programs
41879for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
41880wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
41881@kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
41882
41883@item --once
41884By default, @command{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
41885additional connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
41886with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
41887connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session.
41888
41889@c --disable-packet is not documented for users.
41890
41891@c --disable-randomization and --no-disable-randomization are superseded by
41892@c QDisableRandomization.
41893
41894@end table
41895@c man end
41896
41897@c man begin SEEALSO gdbserver
41898@ifset man
41899The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
41900If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
41901documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
41902
41903@smallexample
41904info gdb
41905@end smallexample
41906
41907should give you access to the complete manual.
41908
41909@cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
41910Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
41911@end ifset
41912@c man end
41913
41914@node gcore man
41915@heading gcore
41916
41917@c man title gcore Generate a core file of a running program
41918
41919@format
41920@c man begin SYNOPSIS gcore
41921gcore [-o @var{filename}] @var{pid}
41922@c man end
41923@end format
41924
41925@c man begin DESCRIPTION gcore
41926Generate a core dump of a running program with process ID @var{pid}.
41927Produced file is equivalent to a kernel produced core file as if the process
41928crashed (and if @kbd{ulimit -c} were used to set up an appropriate core dump
41929limit). Unlike after a crash, after @command{gcore} the program remains
41930running without any change.
41931@c man end
41932
41933@c man begin OPTIONS gcore
41934@table @env
41935@item -o @var{filename}
41936The optional argument
41937@var{filename} specifies the file name where to put the core dump.
41938If not specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}},
41939where @var{pid} is the running program process ID.
41940@end table
41941@c man end
41942
41943@c man begin SEEALSO gcore
41944@ifset man
41945The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
41946If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
41947documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
41948
41949@smallexample
41950info gdb
41951@end smallexample
41952
41953@noindent
41954should give you access to the complete manual.
41955
41956@cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
41957Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
41958@end ifset
41959@c man end
41960
41961@node gdbinit man
41962@heading gdbinit
41963
41964@c man title gdbinit GDB initialization scripts
41965
41966@format
41967@c man begin SYNOPSIS gdbinit
41968@ifset SYSTEM_GDBINIT
41969@value{SYSTEM_GDBINIT}
41970@end ifset
41971
41972~/.gdbinit
41973
41974./.gdbinit
41975@c man end
41976@end format
41977
41978@c man begin DESCRIPTION gdbinit
41979These files contain @value{GDBN} commands to automatically execute during
41980@value{GDBN} startup. The lines of contents are canned sequences of commands,
41981described in
41982@ifset man
41983the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Sequences}
41984-- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n Sequences}.
41985@end ifset
41986@ifclear man
41987@ref{Sequences}.
41988@end ifclear
41989
41990Please read more in
41991@ifset man
41992the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Startup}
41993-- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n Startup}.
41994@end ifset
41995@ifclear man
41996@ref{Startup}.
41997@end ifclear
41998
41999@table @env
42000@ifset SYSTEM_GDBINIT
42001@item @value{SYSTEM_GDBINIT}
42002@end ifset
42003@ifclear SYSTEM_GDBINIT
42004@item (not enabled with @code{--with-system-gdbinit} during compilation)
42005@end ifclear
42006System-wide initialization file. It is executed unless user specified
42007@value{GDBN} option @code{-nx} or @code{-n}.
42008See more in
42009@ifset man
42010the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{System-wide configuration}
42011-- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'System-wide configuration'}.
42012@end ifset
42013@ifclear man
42014@ref{System-wide configuration}.
42015@end ifclear
42016
42017@item ~/.gdbinit
42018User initialization file. It is executed unless user specified
42019@value{GDBN} options @code{-nx}, @code{-n} or @code{-nh}.
42020
42021@item ./.gdbinit
42022Initialization file for current directory. It may need to be enabled with
42023@value{GDBN} security command @code{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
42024See more in
42025@ifset man
42026the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Init File in the Current Directory}
42027-- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'Init File in the Current Directory'}.
42028@end ifset
42029@ifclear man
42030@ref{Init File in the Current Directory}.
42031@end ifclear
42032@end table
42033@c man end
42034
42035@c man begin SEEALSO gdbinit
42036@ifset man
42037gdb(1), @code{info -f gdb -n Startup}
42038
42039The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
42040If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
42041documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
42042
42043@smallexample
42044info gdb
42045@end smallexample
42046
42047should give you access to the complete manual.
42048
42049@cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
42050Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
42051@end ifset
42052@c man end
42053
42054@include gpl.texi
42055
42056@node GNU Free Documentation License
42057@appendix GNU Free Documentation License
42058@include fdl.texi
42059
42060@node Concept Index
42061@unnumbered Concept Index
42062
42063@printindex cp
42064
42065@node Command and Variable Index
42066@unnumbered Command, Variable, and Function Index
42067
42068@printindex fn
42069
42070@tex
42071% I think something like @@colophon should be in texinfo. In the
42072% meantime:
42073\long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
42074\centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
42075\centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
42076\centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
42077\centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
42078\centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
42079\centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
42080\centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
42081\centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
42082\page\colophon
42083% Blame: doc@@cygnus.com, 1991.
42084@end tex
42085
42086@bye
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