Fix PR16543
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / gdb / doc / gdb.texinfo
... / ...
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1\input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2@c Copyright (C) 1988-2014 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{} 1988-2014 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) 1988-2014 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
890@smallexample
891@value{GDBP} -silent
892@end smallexample
893
894@noindent
895You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
896options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
897
898@noindent
899Type
900
901@smallexample
902@value{GDBP} -help
903@end smallexample
904
905@noindent
906to display all available options and briefly describe their use
907(@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
908
909All options and command line arguments you give are processed
910in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
911@samp{-x} option is used.
912
913
914@menu
915* File Options:: Choosing files
916* Mode Options:: Choosing modes
917* Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
918@end menu
919
920@node File Options
921@subsection Choosing Files
922
923When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
924specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
925the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
926@samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
927first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
928equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
929second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
930equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
931If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
932first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
933to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
934a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
935prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
936
937If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
938such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
939argument and ignore it.
940
941Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
942following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
943them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
944(If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
945than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
946
947@c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
948@c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
949@c it.
950
951@table @code
952@item -symbols @var{file}
953@itemx -s @var{file}
954@cindex @code{--symbols}
955@cindex @code{-s}
956Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
957
958@item -exec @var{file}
959@itemx -e @var{file}
960@cindex @code{--exec}
961@cindex @code{-e}
962Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
963and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
964
965@item -se @var{file}
966@cindex @code{--se}
967Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
968file.
969
970@item -core @var{file}
971@itemx -c @var{file}
972@cindex @code{--core}
973@cindex @code{-c}
974Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
975
976@item -pid @var{number}
977@itemx -p @var{number}
978@cindex @code{--pid}
979@cindex @code{-p}
980Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
981
982@item -command @var{file}
983@itemx -x @var{file}
984@cindex @code{--command}
985@cindex @code{-x}
986Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
987evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
988@xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
989
990@item -eval-command @var{command}
991@itemx -ex @var{command}
992@cindex @code{--eval-command}
993@cindex @code{-ex}
994Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
995
996This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
997also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
998
999@smallexample
1000@value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
1001 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
1002@end smallexample
1003
1004@item -init-command @var{file}
1005@itemx -ix @var{file}
1006@cindex @code{--init-command}
1007@cindex @code{-ix}
1008Execute commands from file @var{file} before loading the inferior (but
1009after loading gdbinit files).
1010@xref{Startup}.
1011
1012@item -init-eval-command @var{command}
1013@itemx -iex @var{command}
1014@cindex @code{--init-eval-command}
1015@cindex @code{-iex}
1016Execute a single @value{GDBN} command before loading the inferior (but
1017after loading gdbinit files).
1018@xref{Startup}.
1019
1020@item -directory @var{directory}
1021@itemx -d @var{directory}
1022@cindex @code{--directory}
1023@cindex @code{-d}
1024Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
1025
1026@item -r
1027@itemx -readnow
1028@cindex @code{--readnow}
1029@cindex @code{-r}
1030Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
1031the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
1032This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
1033
1034@end table
1035
1036@node Mode Options
1037@subsection Choosing Modes
1038
1039You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1040batch mode or quiet mode.
1041
1042@table @code
1043@anchor{-nx}
1044@item -nx
1045@itemx -n
1046@cindex @code{--nx}
1047@cindex @code{-n}
1048Do not execute commands found in any initialization file.
1049There are three init files, loaded in the following order:
1050
1051@table @code
1052@item @file{system.gdbinit}
1053This is the system-wide init file.
1054Its location is specified with the @code{--with-system-gdbinit}
1055configure option (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
1056It is loaded first when @value{GDBN} starts, before command line options
1057have been processed.
1058@item @file{~/.gdbinit}
1059This is the init file in your home directory.
1060It is loaded next, after @file{system.gdbinit}, and before
1061command options have been processed.
1062@item @file{./.gdbinit}
1063This is the init file in the current directory.
1064It is loaded last, after command line options other than @code{-x} and
1065@code{-ex} have been processed. Command line options @code{-x} and
1066@code{-ex} are processed last, after @file{./.gdbinit} has been loaded.
1067@end table
1068
1069For further documentation on startup processing, @xref{Startup}.
1070For documentation on how to write command files,
1071@xref{Command Files,,Command Files}.
1072
1073@anchor{-nh}
1074@item -nh
1075@cindex @code{--nh}
1076Do not execute commands found in @file{~/.gdbinit}, the init file
1077in your home directory.
1078@xref{Startup}.
1079
1080@item -quiet
1081@itemx -silent
1082@itemx -q
1083@cindex @code{--quiet}
1084@cindex @code{--silent}
1085@cindex @code{-q}
1086``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1087messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1088
1089@item -batch
1090@cindex @code{--batch}
1091Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1092command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1093initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1094nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1095in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination, sets unlimited
1096terminal width and height @pxref{Screen Size}, and acts as if @kbd{set confirm
1097off} were in effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1098
1099Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1100example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1101make this more useful, the message
1102
1103@smallexample
1104Program exited normally.
1105@end smallexample
1106
1107@noindent
1108(which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1109@value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1110mode.
1111
1112@item -batch-silent
1113@cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1114Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1115@value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1116unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1117for an interactive session.
1118
1119This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1120messages, for example.
1121
1122Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1123writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1124
1125@item -return-child-result
1126@cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1127The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1128process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1129
1130@itemize @bullet
1131@item
1132@value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1133internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1134without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1135@item
1136The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1137@item
1138The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1139the exit code will be -1.
1140@end itemize
1141
1142This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1143when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1144interface.
1145
1146@item -nowindows
1147@itemx -nw
1148@cindex @code{--nowindows}
1149@cindex @code{-nw}
1150``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1151(GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1152interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1153
1154@item -windows
1155@itemx -w
1156@cindex @code{--windows}
1157@cindex @code{-w}
1158If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1159used if possible.
1160
1161@item -cd @var{directory}
1162@cindex @code{--cd}
1163Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1164instead of the current directory.
1165
1166@item -data-directory @var{directory}
1167@cindex @code{--data-directory}
1168Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its data directory.
1169The data directory is where @value{GDBN} searches for its
1170auxiliary files. @xref{Data Files}.
1171
1172@item -fullname
1173@itemx -f
1174@cindex @code{--fullname}
1175@cindex @code{-f}
1176@sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1177subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1178number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1179displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1180recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1181the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1182and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1183@samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1184frame.
1185
1186@item -annotate @var{level}
1187@cindex @code{--annotate}
1188This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1189effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1190(@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1191information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1192expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1193normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1194@sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1195that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1196
1197The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1198(@pxref{GDB/MI}).
1199
1200@item --args
1201@cindex @code{--args}
1202Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1203executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1204This option stops option processing.
1205
1206@item -baud @var{bps}
1207@itemx -b @var{bps}
1208@cindex @code{--baud}
1209@cindex @code{-b}
1210Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1211interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1212
1213@item -l @var{timeout}
1214@cindex @code{-l}
1215Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1216for remote debugging.
1217
1218@item -tty @var{device}
1219@itemx -t @var{device}
1220@cindex @code{--tty}
1221@cindex @code{-t}
1222Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1223@c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1224
1225@c resolve the situation of these eventually
1226@item -tui
1227@cindex @code{--tui}
1228Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1229Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1230source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1231(@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Do not use this
1232option if you run @value{GDBN} from Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,
1233Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1234
1235@c @item -xdb
1236@c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1237@c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1238@c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1239@c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1240@c systems.
1241
1242@item -interpreter @var{interp}
1243@cindex @code{--interpreter}
1244Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1245program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1246communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1247@xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1248
1249@samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1250@value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1251The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1252previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1253selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1254@sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1255
1256@item -write
1257@cindex @code{--write}
1258Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1259is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1260(@pxref{Patching}).
1261
1262@item -statistics
1263@cindex @code{--statistics}
1264This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1265memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1266
1267@item -version
1268@cindex @code{--version}
1269This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1270no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1271
1272@item -configuration
1273@cindex @code{--configuration}
1274This option causes @value{GDBN} to print details about its build-time
1275configuration parameters, and then exit. These details can be
1276important when reporting @value{GDBN} bugs (@pxref{GDB Bugs}).
1277
1278@end table
1279
1280@node Startup
1281@subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1282@cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1283
1284Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1285
1286@enumerate
1287@item
1288Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1289(@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1290
1291@item
1292@cindex init file
1293Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1294used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1295 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1296that file.
1297
1298@anchor{Home Directory Init File}
1299@item
1300Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1301DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1302@code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1303that file.
1304
1305@anchor{Option -init-eval-command}
1306@item
1307Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-iex} and
1308@samp{-ix} options in their specified order. Usually you should use the
1309@samp{-ex} and @samp{-x} options instead, but this way you can apply
1310settings before @value{GDBN} init files get executed and before inferior
1311gets loaded.
1312
1313@item
1314Processes command line options and operands.
1315
1316@anchor{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}
1317@item
1318Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1319working directory as long as @samp{set auto-load local-gdbinit} is set to
1320@samp{on} (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory}).
1321This is only done if the current directory is
1322different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1323init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1324to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1325@value{GDBN}.
1326
1327@item
1328If the command line specified a program to debug, or a process to
1329attach to, or a core file, @value{GDBN} loads any auto-loaded
1330scripts provided for the program or for its loaded shared libraries.
1331@xref{Auto-loading}.
1332
1333If you wish to disable the auto-loading during startup,
1334you must do something like the following:
1335
1336@smallexample
1337$ gdb -iex "set auto-load python-scripts off" myprogram
1338@end smallexample
1339
1340Option @samp{-ex} does not work because the auto-loading is then turned
1341off too late.
1342
1343@item
1344Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-ex} and
1345@samp{-x} options in their specified order. @xref{Command Files}, for
1346more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1347
1348@item
1349Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1350@xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1351files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1352@end enumerate
1353
1354Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1355Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1356file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1357complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1358and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1359option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1360
1361To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1362can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1363
1364@cindex init file name
1365@cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1366@cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1367The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1368The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1369the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1370port of @value{GDBN} uses the standard name, but if it finds a
1371@file{gdb.ini} file in your home directory, it warns you about that
1372and suggests to rename the file to the standard name.
1373
1374
1375@node Quitting GDB
1376@section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1377@cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1378@cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1379
1380@table @code
1381@kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1382@kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1383@item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1384@itemx q
1385To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1386@code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1387do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1388otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1389error code.
1390@end table
1391
1392@cindex interrupt
1393An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1394terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1395returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1396character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1397until a time when it is safe.
1398
1399If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1400device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1401(@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1402
1403@node Shell Commands
1404@section Shell Commands
1405
1406If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1407debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1408just use the @code{shell} command.
1409
1410@table @code
1411@kindex shell
1412@kindex !
1413@cindex shell escape
1414@item shell @var{command-string}
1415@itemx !@var{command-string}
1416Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command-string}.
1417Note that no space is needed between @code{!} and @var{command-string}.
1418If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1419shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1420(@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1421@end table
1422
1423The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1424You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1425@value{GDBN}:
1426
1427@table @code
1428@kindex make
1429@cindex calling make
1430@item make @var{make-args}
1431Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1432arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1433@end table
1434
1435@node Logging Output
1436@section Logging Output
1437@cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1438@cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1439
1440You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1441There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1442
1443@table @code
1444@kindex set logging
1445@item set logging on
1446Enable logging.
1447@item set logging off
1448Disable logging.
1449@cindex logging file name
1450@item set logging file @var{file}
1451Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1452@item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1453By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1454you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1455@item set logging redirect [on|off]
1456By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1457Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1458@kindex show logging
1459@item show logging
1460Show the current values of the logging settings.
1461@end table
1462
1463@node Commands
1464@chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1465
1466You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1467name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1468@value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1469key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1470show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1471
1472@menu
1473* Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1474* Completion:: Command completion
1475* Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1476@end menu
1477
1478@node Command Syntax
1479@section Command Syntax
1480
1481A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1482how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1483arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1484command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1485step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1486with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1487
1488@cindex abbreviation
1489@value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1490unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1491documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1492abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1493equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1494names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1495arguments to the @code{help} command.
1496
1497@cindex repeating commands
1498@kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1499A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1500repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1501will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1502repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1503repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1504@ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1505
1506The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1507@key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1508exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1509
1510@value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1511output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1512(@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1513@key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1514repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1515
1516@kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1517@cindex comment
1518Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1519nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1520Files,,Command Files}).
1521
1522@cindex repeating command sequences
1523@kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1524The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1525commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1526then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1527for editing.
1528
1529@node Completion
1530@section Command Completion
1531
1532@cindex completion
1533@cindex word completion
1534@value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1535only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1536are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1537commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1538
1539Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1540of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1541word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1542enter it). For example, if you type
1543
1544@c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1545@c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1546@c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1547@c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1548@smallexample
1549(@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1550@end smallexample
1551
1552@noindent
1553@value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1554the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1555
1556@smallexample
1557(@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1558@end smallexample
1559
1560@noindent
1561You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1562breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1563@samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1564were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1565might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1566to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1567
1568If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1569@key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1570characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1571@value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1572example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1573begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1574just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1575function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1576example:
1577
1578@smallexample
1579(@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1580@exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1581make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1582make_abs_section make_function_type
1583make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1584make_cleanup make_reference_type
1585make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1586(@value{GDBP}) b make_
1587@end smallexample
1588
1589@noindent
1590After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1591partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1592command.
1593
1594If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1595can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1596means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1597key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1598one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1599
1600@cindex quotes in commands
1601@cindex completion of quoted strings
1602Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1603parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1604its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1605situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1606@value{GDBN} commands.
1607
1608The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1609name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1610overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1611by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1612may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1613that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1614that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1615word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1616@code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1617@value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1618when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1619
1620@smallexample
1621(@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1622bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1623(@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1624@end smallexample
1625
1626In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1627quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1628completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1629place:
1630
1631@smallexample
1632(@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1633@exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1634(@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1635@end smallexample
1636
1637@noindent
1638In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1639you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1640completion on an overloaded symbol.
1641
1642For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1643Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1644overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1645see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1646
1647@cindex completion of structure field names
1648@cindex structure field name completion
1649@cindex completion of union field names
1650@cindex union field name completion
1651When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1652structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1653confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1654examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1655limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1656left-hand-side:
1657
1658@smallexample
1659(@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1660magic to_fputs to_rewind
1661to_data to_isatty to_write
1662to_delete to_put to_write_async_safe
1663to_flush to_read
1664@end smallexample
1665
1666@noindent
1667This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1668@code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1669follows:
1670
1671@smallexample
1672struct ui_file
1673@{
1674 int *magic;
1675 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1676 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1677 ui_file_write_async_safe_ftype *to_write_async_safe;
1678 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1679 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1680 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1681 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1682 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1683 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1684 void *to_data;
1685@}
1686@end smallexample
1687
1688
1689@node Help
1690@section Getting Help
1691@cindex online documentation
1692@kindex help
1693
1694You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1695using the command @code{help}.
1696
1697@table @code
1698@kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1699@item help
1700@itemx h
1701You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1702display a short list of named classes of commands:
1703
1704@smallexample
1705(@value{GDBP}) help
1706List of classes of commands:
1707
1708aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1709breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1710data -- Examining data
1711files -- Specifying and examining files
1712internals -- Maintenance commands
1713obscure -- Obscure features
1714running -- Running the program
1715stack -- Examining the stack
1716status -- Status inquiries
1717support -- Support facilities
1718tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1719 stopping the program
1720user-defined -- User-defined commands
1721
1722Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1723commands in that class.
1724Type "help" followed by command name for full
1725documentation.
1726Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1727(@value{GDBP})
1728@end smallexample
1729@c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1730
1731@item help @var{class}
1732Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1733list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1734help display for the class @code{status}:
1735
1736@smallexample
1737(@value{GDBP}) help status
1738Status inquiries.
1739
1740List of commands:
1741
1742@c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1743@c to fit in smallbook page size.
1744info -- Generic command for showing things
1745 about the program being debugged
1746show -- Generic command for showing things
1747 about the debugger
1748
1749Type "help" followed by command name for full
1750documentation.
1751Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1752(@value{GDBP})
1753@end smallexample
1754
1755@item help @var{command}
1756With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1757short paragraph on how to use that command.
1758
1759@kindex apropos
1760@item apropos @var{args}
1761The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1762commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1763@var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1764
1765@smallexample
1766apropos alias
1767@end smallexample
1768
1769@noindent
1770results in:
1771
1772@smallexample
1773@c @group
1774alias -- Define a new command that is an alias of an existing command
1775aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1776d -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1777del -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1778delete -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1779@c @end group
1780@end smallexample
1781
1782@kindex complete
1783@item complete @var{args}
1784The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1785for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1786command you want completed. For example:
1787
1788@smallexample
1789complete i
1790@end smallexample
1791
1792@noindent results in:
1793
1794@smallexample
1795@group
1796if
1797ignore
1798info
1799inspect
1800@end group
1801@end smallexample
1802
1803@noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1804@end table
1805
1806In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1807and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1808of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1809manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1810under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Command, Variable, and
1811Function Index point to all the sub-commands. @xref{Command and Variable
1812Index}.
1813
1814@c @group
1815@table @code
1816@kindex info
1817@kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1818@item info
1819This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1820program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1821with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1822registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1823You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1824@w{@code{help info}}.
1825
1826@kindex set
1827@item set
1828You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1829@code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1830@code{set prompt $}.
1831
1832@kindex show
1833@item show
1834In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1835@value{GDBN} itself.
1836You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1837related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1838system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1839which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1840
1841@kindex info set
1842To display all the settable parameters and their current
1843values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1844@code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1845@c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1846@c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1847@c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1848@end table
1849@c @end group
1850
1851Here are several miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1852exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1853
1854@table @code
1855@kindex show version
1856@cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1857@item show version
1858Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1859information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1860@value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1861version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1862commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1863system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1864variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1865The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1866@value{GDBN}.
1867
1868@kindex show copying
1869@kindex info copying
1870@cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1871@item show copying
1872@itemx info copying
1873Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1874
1875@kindex show warranty
1876@kindex info warranty
1877@item show warranty
1878@itemx info warranty
1879Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1880if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1881
1882@kindex show configuration
1883@item show configuration
1884Display detailed information about the way @value{GDBN} was configured
1885when it was built. This displays the optional arguments passed to the
1886@file{configure} script and also configuration parameters detected
1887automatically by @command{configure}. When reporting a @value{GDBN}
1888bug (@pxref{GDB Bugs}), it is important to include this information in
1889your report.
1890
1891@end table
1892
1893@node Running
1894@chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1895
1896When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1897debugging information when you compile it.
1898
1899You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1900of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1901your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1902kill a child process.
1903
1904@menu
1905* Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1906* Starting:: Starting your program
1907* Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1908* Environment:: Your program's environment
1909
1910* Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1911* Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1912* Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1913* Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1914
1915* Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1916* Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1917* Forks:: Debugging forks
1918* Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1919@end menu
1920
1921@node Compilation
1922@section Compiling for Debugging
1923
1924In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1925debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1926is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1927variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1928and addresses in the executable code.
1929
1930To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1931the compiler.
1932
1933Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1934optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1935compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1936together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1937executables containing debugging information.
1938
1939@value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1940without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1941recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1942program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1943in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1944
1945Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1946@w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1947format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1948
1949@value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1950expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1951about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1952the @option{-g} flag alone. Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC},
1953the @sc{gnu} C compiler, provides macro information if you are using
1954the DWARF debugging format, and specify the option @option{-g3}.
1955
1956@xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
1957gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}, for more
1958information on @value{NGCC} options affecting debug information.
1959
1960You will have the best debugging experience if you use the latest
1961version of the DWARF debugging format that your compiler supports.
1962DWARF is currently the most expressive and best supported debugging
1963format in @value{GDBN}.
1964
1965@need 2000
1966@node Starting
1967@section Starting your Program
1968@cindex starting
1969@cindex running
1970
1971@table @code
1972@kindex run
1973@kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1974@item run
1975@itemx r
1976Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1977You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1978argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1979@value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1980(@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1981
1982@end table
1983
1984If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1985supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1986that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1987@code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1988like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1989message like this one:
1990
1991@smallexample
1992The "remote" target does not support "run".
1993Try "help target" or "continue".
1994@end smallexample
1995
1996@noindent
1997then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1998first (@pxref{load}).
1999
2000The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
2001receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
2002information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
2003can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
2004your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
2005divided into four categories:
2006
2007@table @asis
2008@item The @emph{arguments.}
2009Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
2010@code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
2011is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
2012(such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
2013the arguments.
2014In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
2015@code{SHELL} environment variable. If you do not define @code{SHELL},
2016@value{GDBN} uses the default shell (@file{/bin/sh}). You can disable
2017use of any shell with the @code{set startup-with-shell} command (see
2018below for details).
2019
2020@item The @emph{environment.}
2021Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
2022use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
2023environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
2024your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
2025
2026@item The @emph{working directory.}
2027Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
2028the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
2029@xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
2030
2031@item The @emph{standard input and output.}
2032Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
2033standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
2034in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
2035set a different device for your program.
2036@xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
2037
2038@cindex pipes
2039@emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
2040pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
2041program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
2042wrong program.
2043@end table
2044
2045When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
2046immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
2047of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
2048stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
2049or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
2050
2051If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
2052time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
2053table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
2054your current breakpoints.
2055
2056@table @code
2057@kindex start
2058@item start
2059@cindex run to main procedure
2060The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
2061With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
2062other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
2063main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
2064execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
2065procedure, depending on the language used.
2066
2067The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
2068breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
2069the @samp{run} command.
2070
2071@cindex elaboration phase
2072Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
2073executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
2074languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
2075constructors for static and global objects are executed before
2076@code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
2077before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
2078will remain to halt execution.
2079
2080Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
2081@samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
2082underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
2083reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
2084@samp{start} or @samp{run}.
2085
2086It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
2087these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
2088your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
2089elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
2090elaboration code before running your program.
2091
2092@anchor{set exec-wrapper}
2093@kindex set exec-wrapper
2094@item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
2095@itemx show exec-wrapper
2096@itemx unset exec-wrapper
2097When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
2098launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
2099with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
2100@var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
2101arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
2102appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
2103your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
2104
2105You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
2106its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
2107this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
2108with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
2109
2110For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
2111the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
2112environment:
2113
2114@smallexample
2115(@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
2116(@value{GDBP}) run
2117@end smallexample
2118
2119This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2120@sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2121
2122@kindex set startup-with-shell
2123@item set startup-with-shell
2124@itemx set startup-with-shell on
2125@itemx set startup-with-shell off
2126@itemx show set startup-with-shell
2127On Unix systems, by default, if a shell is available on your target,
2128@value{GDBN}) uses it to start your program. Arguments of the
2129@code{run} command are passed to the shell, which does variable
2130substitution, expands wildcard characters and performs redirection of
2131I/O. In some circumstances, it may be useful to disable such use of a
2132shell, for example, when debugging the shell itself or diagnosing
2133startup failures such as:
2134
2135@smallexample
2136(@value{GDBP}) run
2137Starting program: ./a.out
2138During startup program terminated with signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
2139@end smallexample
2140
2141@noindent
2142which indicates the shell or the wrapper specified with
2143@samp{exec-wrapper} crashed, not your program. Most often, this is
2144caused by something odd in your shell's non-interactive mode
2145initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell,
2146$@file{.zshenv} for the Z shell, or the file specified in the
2147@samp{BASH_ENV} environment variable for BASH.
2148
2149@kindex set disable-randomization
2150@item set disable-randomization
2151@itemx set disable-randomization on
2152This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2153randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2154is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2155reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2156
2157This feature is implemented only on certain targets, including @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2158On @sc{gnu}/Linux you can get the same behavior using
2159
2160@smallexample
2161(@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2162@end smallexample
2163
2164@item set disable-randomization off
2165Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2166ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2167disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2168@value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2169as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2170disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2171
2172On targets where it is available, virtual address space randomization
2173protects the programs against certain kinds of security attacks. In these
2174cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2175code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2176a code at its expected addresses.
2177
2178Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2179makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2180having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2181library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2182misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2183random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2184startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2185a randomly chosen address.
2186
2187Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2188similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2189a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2190already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2191executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2192
2193Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2194(as long as the randomization is enabled).
2195
2196@item show disable-randomization
2197Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2198the virtual address space of the started program.
2199
2200@end table
2201
2202@node Arguments
2203@section Your Program's Arguments
2204
2205@cindex arguments (to your program)
2206The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2207@code{run} command.
2208They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2209performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2210@code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2211@value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2212the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2213
2214On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2215@value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2216calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2217the program, not by the shell.
2218
2219@code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2220@code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2221
2222@table @code
2223@kindex set args
2224@item set args
2225Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2226@code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2227with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2228using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2229it again without arguments.
2230
2231@kindex show args
2232@item show args
2233Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2234@end table
2235
2236@node Environment
2237@section Your Program's Environment
2238
2239@cindex environment (of your program)
2240The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2241their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2242your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2243path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2244the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2245debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2246environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2247
2248@table @code
2249@kindex path
2250@item path @var{directory}
2251Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2252(the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2253The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2254You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2255system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2256MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2257is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2258
2259You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2260working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2261use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2262@code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2263@var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2264@var{directory} to the search path.
2265@c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2266@c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2267
2268@kindex show paths
2269@item show paths
2270Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2271environment variable).
2272
2273@kindex show environment
2274@item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2275Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2276your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2277print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2278your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2279
2280@kindex set environment
2281@item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2282Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2283changes for your program (and the shell @value{GDBN} uses to launch
2284it), not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may be any string; the
2285values of environment variables are just strings, and any
2286interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2287parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2288null value.
2289@c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2290@c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2291
2292For example, this command:
2293
2294@smallexample
2295set env USER = foo
2296@end smallexample
2297
2298@noindent
2299tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2300@samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2301are not actually required.)
2302
2303Note that on Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program via a shell,
2304which also inherits the environment set with @code{set environment}.
2305If necessary, you can avoid that by using the @samp{env} program as a
2306wrapper instead of using @code{set environment}. @xref{set
2307exec-wrapper}, for an example doing just that.
2308
2309@kindex unset environment
2310@item unset environment @var{varname}
2311Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2312program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2313@code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2314rather than assigning it an empty value.
2315@end table
2316
2317@emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2318the shell indicated by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it
2319exists (or @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable
2320names a shell that runs an initialization file when started
2321non-interactively---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, $@file{.zshenv}
2322for the Z shell, or the file specified in the @samp{BASH_ENV}
2323environment variable for BASH---any variables you set in that file
2324affect your program. You may wish to move setting of environment
2325variables to files that are only run when you sign on, such as
2326@file{.login} or @file{.profile}.
2327
2328@node Working Directory
2329@section Your Program's Working Directory
2330
2331@cindex working directory (of your program)
2332Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2333working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2334The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2335from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2336working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2337
2338The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2339that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2340Specify Files}.
2341
2342@table @code
2343@kindex cd
2344@cindex change working directory
2345@item cd @r{[}@var{directory}@r{]}
2346Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}. If not
2347given, @var{directory} uses @file{'~'}.
2348
2349@kindex pwd
2350@item pwd
2351Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2352@end table
2353
2354It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2355the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2356during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2357configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2358proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2359current working directory of the debuggee.
2360
2361@node Input/Output
2362@section Your Program's Input and Output
2363
2364@cindex redirection
2365@cindex i/o
2366@cindex terminal
2367By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2368the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2369to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2370modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2371running your program.
2372
2373@table @code
2374@kindex info terminal
2375@item info terminal
2376Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2377program is using.
2378@end table
2379
2380You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2381redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2382
2383@smallexample
2384run > outfile
2385@end smallexample
2386
2387@noindent
2388starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2389
2390@kindex tty
2391@cindex controlling terminal
2392Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2393with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2394argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2395commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2396process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2397
2398@smallexample
2399tty /dev/ttyb
2400@end smallexample
2401
2402@noindent
2403directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2404default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2405that as their controlling terminal.
2406
2407An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2408effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2409terminal.
2410
2411When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2412command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2413for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2414for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2415
2416@cindex inferior tty
2417@cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2418You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2419display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2420program.
2421
2422@table @code
2423@item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2424@kindex set inferior-tty
2425Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2426
2427@item show inferior-tty
2428@kindex show inferior-tty
2429Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2430@end table
2431
2432@node Attach
2433@section Debugging an Already-running Process
2434@kindex attach
2435@cindex attach
2436
2437@table @code
2438@item attach @var{process-id}
2439This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2440outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2441targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2442find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2443or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2444
2445@code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2446executing the command.
2447@end table
2448
2449To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2450which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2451programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2452also have permission to send the process a signal.
2453
2454When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2455the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2456the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2457(@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2458the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2459Specify Files}.
2460
2461The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2462process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2463with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2464you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2465can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2466process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2467attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2468
2469@table @code
2470@kindex detach
2471@item detach
2472When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2473@code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2474the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2475that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2476are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2477@code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2478executing the command.
2479@end table
2480
2481If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2482that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2483By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2484things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2485@code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2486Messages}).
2487
2488@node Kill Process
2489@section Killing the Child Process
2490
2491@table @code
2492@kindex kill
2493@item kill
2494Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2495@end table
2496
2497This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2498running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2499is running.
2500
2501On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2502while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2503@code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2504outside the debugger.
2505
2506The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2507relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2508executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2509next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2510reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2511breakpoint settings).
2512
2513@node Inferiors and Programs
2514@section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2515
2516@value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2517session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2518several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2519before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2520multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2521from multiple executables.
2522
2523@cindex inferior
2524@value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2525object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2526a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2527have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2528may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2529identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2530inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2531embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2532of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2533threads running in it.
2534
2535To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2536inferiors}}:
2537
2538@table @code
2539@kindex info inferiors
2540@item info inferiors
2541Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2542
2543@value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2544
2545@enumerate
2546@item
2547the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2548
2549@item
2550the target system's inferior identifier
2551
2552@item
2553the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2554
2555@end enumerate
2556
2557@noindent
2558An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2559indicates the current inferior.
2560
2561For example,
2562@end table
2563@c end table here to get a little more width for example
2564
2565@smallexample
2566(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2567 Num Description Executable
2568 2 process 2307 hello
2569* 1 process 3401 goodbye
2570@end smallexample
2571
2572To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2573
2574@table @code
2575@kindex inferior @var{infno}
2576@item inferior @var{infno}
2577Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2578@var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2579in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2580@end table
2581
2582
2583You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2584@code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2585systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2586automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2587remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2588@w{@code{remove-inferiors}} command.
2589
2590@table @code
2591@kindex add-inferior
2592@item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2593Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2594executable. @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2595the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2596change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2597@code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2598
2599@kindex clone-inferior
2600@item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2601Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2602@var{infno}. @var{n} defaults to 1. @var{infno} defaults to the
2603number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2604want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2605
2606@smallexample
2607(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2608 Num Description Executable
2609* 1 process 29964 helloworld
2610(@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2611Added inferior 2.
26121 inferiors added.
2613(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2614 Num Description Executable
2615 2 <null> helloworld
2616* 1 process 29964 helloworld
2617@end smallexample
2618
2619You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2620
2621@kindex remove-inferiors
2622@item remove-inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2623Removes the inferior or inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}. It is not
2624possible to remove an inferior that is running with this command. For
2625those, use the @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2626
2627@end table
2628
2629To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2630inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2631inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2632using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}} command:
2633
2634@table @code
2635@kindex detach inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2636@item detach inferior @var{infno}@dots{}
2637Detach from the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN}
2638inferior number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry
2639still stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors},
2640but its Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2641
2642@kindex kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2643@item kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2644Kill the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN} inferior
2645number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry still
2646stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its
2647Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2648@end table
2649
2650After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2651@code{detach inferiors}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferiors}, or after
2652a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2653@code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2654
2655
2656To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2657control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2658
2659@table @code
2660@kindex set print inferior-events
2661@cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2662@item set print inferior-events
2663@itemx set print inferior-events on
2664@itemx set print inferior-events off
2665The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2666disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2667inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2668detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2669
2670@kindex show print inferior-events
2671@item show print inferior-events
2672Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2673inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2674@end table
2675
2676Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2677single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2678value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2679
2680
2681Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2682get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2683spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2684info program-spaces}} command.
2685
2686@table @code
2687@kindex maint info program-spaces
2688@item maint info program-spaces
2689Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2690@value{GDBN}.
2691
2692@value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2693
2694@enumerate
2695@item
2696the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2697
2698@item
2699the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2700the @code{file} command.
2701
2702@end enumerate
2703
2704@noindent
2705An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2706indicates the current program space.
2707
2708In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2709information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2710example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2711
2712@smallexample
2713(@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2714 Id Executable
2715 2 goodbye
2716 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2717* 1 hello
2718@end smallexample
2719
2720Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2721while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2722some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2723same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2724the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2725
2726@smallexample
2727(@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2728 Id Executable
2729* 1 vfork-test
2730 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2731@end smallexample
2732
2733Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2734space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2735@end table
2736
2737@node Threads
2738@section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2739
2740@cindex threads of execution
2741@cindex multiple threads
2742@cindex switching threads
2743In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2744may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2745of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2746the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2747that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2748modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2749registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2750
2751@value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2752programs:
2753
2754@itemize @bullet
2755@item automatic notification of new threads
2756@item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2757@item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2758@item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2759a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2760@item thread-specific breakpoints
2761@item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2762messages on thread start and exit.
2763@item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2764the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2765isn't compatible with the program.
2766@end itemize
2767
2768@quotation
2769@emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2770@value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2771If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2772effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2773from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2774like this:
2775
2776@smallexample
2777(@value{GDBP}) info threads
2778(@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2779Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2780see the IDs of currently known threads.
2781@end smallexample
2782@c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2783@c doesn't support threads"?
2784@end quotation
2785
2786@cindex focus of debugging
2787@cindex current thread
2788The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2789threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2790control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2791This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2792program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2793
2794@cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2795@cindex thread identifier (system)
2796@c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2797@c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2798@c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2799Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2800the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2801form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2802whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2803@sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2804
2805@smallexample
2806[New Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 25582)]
2807@end smallexample
2808
2809@noindent
2810when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2811the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2812further qualifier.
2813
2814@c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2815@c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2816@c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2817@c program?
2818@c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2819@c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2820@c threads ab initio?
2821
2822@cindex thread number
2823@cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2824For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2825number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2826
2827@table @code
2828@kindex info threads
2829@item info threads @r{[}@var{id}@dots{}@r{]}
2830Display a summary of all threads currently in your program. Optional
2831argument @var{id}@dots{} is one or more thread ids separated by spaces, and
2832means to print information only about the specified thread or threads.
2833@value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2834
2835@enumerate
2836@item
2837the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2838
2839@item
2840the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2841
2842@item
2843the thread's name, if one is known. A thread can either be named by
2844the user (see @code{thread name}, below), or, in some cases, by the
2845program itself.
2846
2847@item
2848the current stack frame summary for that thread
2849@end enumerate
2850
2851@noindent
2852An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2853indicates the current thread.
2854
2855For example,
2856@end table
2857@c end table here to get a little more width for example
2858
2859@smallexample
2860(@value{GDBP}) info threads
2861 Id Target Id Frame
2862 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2863 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2864* 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2865 at threadtest.c:68
2866@end smallexample
2867
2868On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2869Solaris-specific command:
2870
2871@table @code
2872@item maint info sol-threads
2873@kindex maint info sol-threads
2874@cindex thread info (Solaris)
2875Display info on Solaris user threads.
2876@end table
2877
2878@table @code
2879@kindex thread @var{threadno}
2880@item thread @var{threadno}
2881Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2882argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2883shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2884@value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2885you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2886
2887@smallexample
2888(@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2889[Switching to thread 2 (Thread 0xb7fdab70 (LWP 12747))]
2890#0 some_function (ignore=0x0) at example.c:8
28918 printf ("hello\n");
2892@end smallexample
2893
2894@noindent
2895As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2896@samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2897threads.
2898
2899@vindex $_thread@r{, convenience variable}
2900The debugger convenience variable @samp{$_thread} contains the number
2901of the current thread. You may find this useful in writing breakpoint
2902conditional expressions, command scripts, and so forth. See
2903@xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for general
2904information on convenience variables.
2905
2906@kindex thread apply
2907@cindex apply command to several threads
2908@item thread apply [@var{threadno} | all] @var{command}
2909The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2910@var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2911threads that you want affected with the command argument
2912@var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2913shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2914could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2915command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2916
2917@kindex thread name
2918@cindex name a thread
2919@item thread name [@var{name}]
2920This command assigns a name to the current thread. If no argument is
2921given, any existing user-specified name is removed. The thread name
2922appears in the @samp{info threads} display.
2923
2924On some systems, such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, @value{GDBN} is able to
2925determine the name of the thread as given by the OS. On these
2926systems, a name specified with @samp{thread name} will override the
2927system-give name, and removing the user-specified name will cause
2928@value{GDBN} to once again display the system-specified name.
2929
2930@kindex thread find
2931@cindex search for a thread
2932@item thread find [@var{regexp}]
2933Search for and display thread ids whose name or @var{systag}
2934matches the supplied regular expression.
2935
2936As well as being the complement to the @samp{thread name} command,
2937this command also allows you to identify a thread by its target
2938@var{systag}. For instance, on @sc{gnu}/Linux, the target @var{systag}
2939is the LWP id.
2940
2941@smallexample
2942(@value{GDBN}) thread find 26688
2943Thread 4 has target id 'Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688)'
2944(@value{GDBN}) info thread 4
2945 Id Target Id Frame
2946 4 Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688) 0x00000031ca6cd372 in select ()
2947@end smallexample
2948
2949@kindex set print thread-events
2950@cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2951@item set print thread-events
2952@itemx set print thread-events on
2953@itemx set print thread-events off
2954The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2955disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2956started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2957be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2958Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2959
2960@kindex show print thread-events
2961@item show print thread-events
2962Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2963have started and exited.
2964@end table
2965
2966@xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2967more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2968programs with multiple threads.
2969
2970@xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2971watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2972
2973@anchor{set libthread-db-search-path}
2974@table @code
2975@kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2976@cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2977@item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2978If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2979directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2980If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2981its default value (@code{$sdir:$pdir} on @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems).
2982Internally, the default value comes from the @code{LIBTHREAD_DB_SEARCH_PATH}
2983macro.
2984
2985On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2986@code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2987inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2988to find @code{libthread_db}. @value{GDBN} also consults first if inferior
2989specific thread debugging library loading is enabled
2990by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
2991
2992A special entry @samp{$sdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2993refers to the default system directories that are
2994normally searched for loading shared libraries. The @samp{$sdir} entry
2995is the only kind not needing to be enabled by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db}
2996(@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
2997
2998A special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2999refers to the directory from which @code{libpthread}
3000was loaded in the inferior process.
3001
3002For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
3003@value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
3004If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
3005mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
3006will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
3007If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
3008@value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
3009
3010Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
3011only on some platforms.
3012
3013@kindex show libthread-db-search-path
3014@item show libthread-db-search-path
3015Display current libthread_db search path.
3016
3017@kindex set debug libthread-db
3018@kindex show debug libthread-db
3019@cindex debugging @code{libthread_db}
3020@item set debug libthread-db
3021@itemx show debug libthread-db
3022Turns on or off display of @code{libthread_db}-related events.
3023Use @code{1} to enable, @code{0} to disable.
3024@end table
3025
3026@node Forks
3027@section Debugging Forks
3028
3029@cindex fork, debugging programs which call
3030@cindex multiple processes
3031@cindex processes, multiple
3032On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
3033programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
3034function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
3035parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
3036set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
3037will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
3038will cause it to terminate.
3039
3040However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
3041which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
3042the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
3043only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
3044so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
3045on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
3046get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
3047@value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
3048the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
3049the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
3050
3051On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
3052create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
3053Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
3054only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
3055
3056By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
3057the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
3058
3059If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
3060use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
3061
3062@table @code
3063@kindex set follow-fork-mode
3064@item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
3065Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
3066@code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
3067process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
3068
3069@table @code
3070@item parent
3071The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
3072unimpeded. This is the default.
3073
3074@item child
3075The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
3076unimpeded.
3077
3078@end table
3079
3080@kindex show follow-fork-mode
3081@item show follow-fork-mode
3082Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
3083@end table
3084
3085@cindex debugging multiple processes
3086On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
3087command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
3088
3089@table @code
3090@kindex set detach-on-fork
3091@item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
3092Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
3093retain debugger control over them both.
3094
3095@table @code
3096@item on
3097The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
3098@code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
3099independently. This is the default.
3100
3101@item off
3102Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
3103One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
3104@code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
3105is held suspended.
3106
3107@end table
3108
3109@kindex show detach-on-fork
3110@item show detach-on-fork
3111Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
3112@end table
3113
3114If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
3115will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
3116You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
3117using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
3118to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
3119Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
3120
3121To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
3122from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferiors}} command (allowing it
3123to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}}
3124command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
3125and Programs}.
3126
3127If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
3128@code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
3129breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
3130@code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
3131the child process's @code{main}.
3132
3133On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
3134cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
3135
3136If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
3137call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
3138process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
3139as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
3140@value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
3141You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
3142command.
3143
3144@table @code
3145@kindex set follow-exec-mode
3146@item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
3147
3148Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
3149@code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
3150
3151@code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
3152
3153@table @code
3154@item new
3155@value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
3156new inferior. The program the process was running before the
3157@code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
3158original inferior.
3159
3160For example:
3161
3162@smallexample
3163(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3164(gdb) info inferior
3165 Id Description Executable
3166* 1 <null> prog1
3167(@value{GDBP}) run
3168process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3169Program exited normally.
3170(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3171 Id Description Executable
3172* 2 <null> prog2
3173 1 <null> prog1
3174@end smallexample
3175
3176@item same
3177@value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3178executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3179inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3180e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3181running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3182
3183For example:
3184
3185@smallexample
3186(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3187 Id Description Executable
3188* 1 <null> prog1
3189(@value{GDBP}) run
3190process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3191Program exited normally.
3192(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3193 Id Description Executable
3194* 1 <null> prog2
3195@end smallexample
3196
3197@end table
3198@end table
3199
3200You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3201a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3202Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3203
3204@node Checkpoint/Restart
3205@section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3206
3207@cindex checkpoint
3208@cindex restart
3209@cindex bookmark
3210@cindex snapshot of a process
3211@cindex rewind program state
3212
3213On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3214@sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3215program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3216later.
3217
3218Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3219happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3220includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3221system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3222moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3223
3224Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3225getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3226a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3227the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3228from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3229start again from there.
3230
3231This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3232steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3233
3234To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3235
3236@table @code
3237@kindex checkpoint
3238@item checkpoint
3239Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3240The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3241is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3242
3243@kindex info checkpoints
3244@item info checkpoints
3245List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3246session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3247listed:
3248
3249@table @code
3250@item Checkpoint ID
3251@item Process ID
3252@item Code Address
3253@item Source line, or label
3254@end table
3255
3256@kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3257@item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3258Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3259@var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3260etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3261was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3262in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3263
3264Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3265are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3266only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3267the debugger.
3268
3269@kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3270@item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3271Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3272
3273@end table
3274
3275Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3276of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3277(OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3278a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3279so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3280opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3281previously read data can be read again.
3282
3283Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3284external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3285from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3286but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3287be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3288been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3289
3290However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3291program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3292again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3293different execution path this time.
3294
3295@cindex checkpoints and process id
3296Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3297different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3298id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3299and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3300If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3301potentially pose a problem.
3302
3303@subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3304
3305On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3306is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3307difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3308absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3309absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3310next.
3311
3312A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3313Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3314and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3315process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3316your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3317
3318@node Stopping
3319@chapter Stopping and Continuing
3320
3321The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3322program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3323trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3324
3325Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3326such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3327@value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3328change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3329continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3330ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3331explicitly request this information at any time.
3332
3333@table @code
3334@kindex info program
3335@item info program
3336Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3337running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3338@end table
3339
3340@menu
3341* Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3342* Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3343* Skipping Over Functions and Files::
3344 Skipping over functions and files
3345* Signals:: Signals
3346* Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3347@end menu
3348
3349@node Breakpoints
3350@section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3351
3352@cindex breakpoints
3353A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3354the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3355control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3356breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3357Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3358should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3359program.
3360
3361On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3362the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3363you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3364in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3365(for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3366call).
3367
3368@cindex watchpoints
3369@cindex data breakpoints
3370@cindex memory tracing
3371@cindex breakpoint on memory address
3372@cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3373A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3374when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3375of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3376combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3377@dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3378watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3379from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3380enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3381same commands.
3382
3383You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3384whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3385Automatic Display}.
3386
3387@cindex catchpoints
3388@cindex breakpoint on events
3389A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3390when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3391exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3392different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3393Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3394other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3395@code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3396
3397@cindex breakpoint numbers
3398@cindex numbers for breakpoints
3399@value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3400catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3401starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3402features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3403breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3404@dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3405enable it again.
3406
3407@cindex breakpoint ranges
3408@cindex ranges of breakpoints
3409Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3410operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3411@samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3412hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3413all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3414
3415@menu
3416* Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3417* Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3418* Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3419* Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3420* Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3421* Conditions:: Break conditions
3422* Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3423* Dynamic Printf:: Dynamic printf
3424* Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3425* Static Probe Points:: Listing static probe points
3426* Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3427* Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3428@end menu
3429
3430@node Set Breaks
3431@subsection Setting Breakpoints
3432
3433@c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3434@c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3435@c
3436@c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3437
3438@kindex break
3439@kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3440@vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3441@cindex latest breakpoint
3442Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3443@code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3444number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3445Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3446convenience variables.
3447
3448@table @code
3449@item break @var{location}
3450Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3451function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3452(@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3453specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3454before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3455
3456When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3457C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3458@xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3459that situation.
3460
3461It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3462only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3463or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3464
3465@item break
3466When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3467the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3468(@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3469innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3470returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3471@code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3472that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3473@code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3474the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3475inside loops.
3476
3477@value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3478least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3479would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3480breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3481existed when your program stopped.
3482
3483@item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3484Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3485@var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3486value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3487@samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3488above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3489,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3490
3491@kindex tbreak
3492@item tbreak @var{args}
3493Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3494same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3495way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3496program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3497
3498@kindex hbreak
3499@cindex hardware breakpoints
3500@item hbreak @var{args}
3501Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3502@code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3503breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3504have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3505debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3506changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3507provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3508will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3509address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3510breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3511example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3512@value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3513or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3514(@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3515@xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3516For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3517breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3518hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3519
3520@kindex thbreak
3521@item thbreak @var{args}
3522Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3523are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3524the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3525the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3526first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3527command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3528may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3529See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3530
3531@kindex rbreak
3532@cindex regular expression
3533@cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3534@cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3535@item rbreak @var{regex}
3536Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3537@var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3538matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3539breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3540the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3541them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3542
3543The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3544like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3545shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3546an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3547@code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3548match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3549
3550@cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3551When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3552breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3553classes.
3554
3555@cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3556The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3557@strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3558
3559@smallexample
3560(@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3561@end smallexample
3562
3563@item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3564If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3565the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3566specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3567every function in a given file:
3568
3569@smallexample
3570(@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3571@end smallexample
3572
3573The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3574optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3575
3576@kindex info breakpoints
3577@cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3578@item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3579@itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3580Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3581not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3582about the specified breakpoint(s) (or watchpoint(s) or catchpoint(s)).
3583For each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3584
3585@table @emph
3586@item Breakpoint Numbers
3587@item Type
3588Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3589@item Disposition
3590Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3591@item Enabled or Disabled
3592Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3593that are not enabled.
3594@item Address
3595Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3596pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3597contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3598library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3599See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3600have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3601@item What
3602Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3603line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3604the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3605the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3606@end table
3607
3608@noindent
3609If a breakpoint is conditional, there are two evaluation modes: ``host'' and
3610``target''. If mode is ``host'', breakpoint condition evaluation is done by
3611@value{GDBN} on the host's side. If it is ``target'', then the condition
3612is evaluated by the target. The @code{info break} command shows
3613the condition on the line following the affected breakpoint, together with
3614its condition evaluation mode in between parentheses.
3615
3616Breakpoint commands, if any, are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is
3617allowed to have a condition specified for it. The condition is not parsed for
3618validity until a shared library is loaded that allows the pending
3619breakpoint to resolve to a valid location.
3620
3621@noindent
3622@code{info break} with a breakpoint
3623number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3624convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3625the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3626listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3627
3628@noindent
3629@code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3630has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3631@code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3632hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3633was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3634will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3635
3636@noindent
3637For a breakpoints with an enable count (xref) greater than 1,
3638@code{info break} also displays that count.
3639
3640@end table
3641
3642@value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3643your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3644the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3645(@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3646
3647@cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3648@cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3649It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3650in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3651
3652@itemize @bullet
3653@item
3654Multiple functions in the program may have the same name.
3655
3656@item
3657For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3658instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3659
3660@item
3661For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3662correspond to any number of instantiations.
3663
3664@item
3665For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3666several places where that function is inlined.
3667@end itemize
3668
3669In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3670the relevant locations.
3671
3672A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3673table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3674each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3675address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3676addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3677locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3678@var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3679
3680For example:
3681
3682@smallexample
3683Num Type Disp Enb Address What
36841 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3685 stop only if i==1
3686 breakpoint already hit 1 time
36871.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
36881.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3689@end smallexample
3690
3691Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3692@var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3693@code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3694delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3695entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3696the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3697the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3698the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3699that belong to that breakpoint.
3700
3701@cindex pending breakpoints
3702It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3703Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3704and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3705this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3706any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3707set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3708debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3709symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3710breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3711a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3712is not yet resolved.
3713
3714After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3715@value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3716shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3717pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3718ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3719that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3720
3721This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3722example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3723a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3724a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3725
3726Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3727differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3728enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3729
3730@value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3731happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3732address specification to an address:
3733
3734@kindex set breakpoint pending
3735@kindex show breakpoint pending
3736@table @code
3737@item set breakpoint pending auto
3738This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3739location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3740
3741@item set breakpoint pending on
3742This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3743result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3744
3745@item set breakpoint pending off
3746This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3747unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3748not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3749
3750@item show breakpoint pending
3751Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3752@end table
3753
3754The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3755variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3756as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3757
3758@cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3759For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3760software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3761breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3762breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3763breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3764breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3765breakpoints.
3766
3767You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3768
3769@kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3770@kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3771@table @code
3772@item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3773This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3774will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3775breakpoint must be used.
3776
3777@item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3778This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3779type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3780trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3781@end table
3782
3783@value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3784at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3785executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3786code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3787the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3788behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3789target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3790targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3791This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3792
3793@kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3794@kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3795@table @code
3796@item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3797All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3798the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3799removed from the target when it stops.
3800
3801@item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3802Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3803the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3804breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3805removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3806
3807@cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3808@item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3809This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3810in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3811@code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3812controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3813@code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3814@end table
3815
3816@value{GDBN} handles conditional breakpoints by evaluating these conditions
3817when a breakpoint breaks. If the condition is true, then the process being
3818debugged stops, otherwise the process is resumed.
3819
3820If the target supports evaluating conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} may
3821download the breakpoint, together with its conditions, to it.
3822
3823This feature can be controlled via the following commands:
3824
3825@kindex set breakpoint condition-evaluation
3826@kindex show breakpoint condition-evaluation
3827@table @code
3828@item set breakpoint condition-evaluation host
3829This option commands @value{GDBN} to evaluate the breakpoint
3830conditions on the host's side. Unconditional breakpoints are sent to
3831the target which in turn receives the triggers and reports them back to GDB
3832for condition evaluation. This is the standard evaluation mode.
3833
3834@item set breakpoint condition-evaluation target
3835This option commands @value{GDBN} to download breakpoint conditions
3836to the target at the moment of their insertion. The target
3837is responsible for evaluating the conditional expression and reporting
3838breakpoint stop events back to @value{GDBN} whenever the condition
3839is true. Due to limitations of target-side evaluation, some conditions
3840cannot be evaluated there, e.g., conditions that depend on local data
3841that is only known to the host. Examples include
3842conditional expressions involving convenience variables, complex types
3843that cannot be handled by the agent expression parser and expressions
3844that are too long to be sent over to the target, specially when the
3845target is a remote system. In these cases, the conditions will be
3846evaluated by @value{GDBN}.
3847
3848@item set breakpoint condition-evaluation auto
3849This is the default mode. If the target supports evaluating breakpoint
3850conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} will download breakpoint conditions to
3851the target (limitations mentioned previously apply). If the target does
3852not support breakpoint condition evaluation, then @value{GDBN} will fallback
3853to evaluating all these conditions on the host's side.
3854@end table
3855
3856
3857@cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3858@cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3859@value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3860special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3861programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3862starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3863You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3864@samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3865
3866
3867@node Set Watchpoints
3868@subsection Setting Watchpoints
3869
3870@cindex setting watchpoints
3871You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3872expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3873this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3874The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3875as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3876
3877@itemize @bullet
3878@item
3879A reference to the value of a single variable.
3880
3881@item
3882An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3883@samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3884address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3885
3886@item
3887An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3888expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3889language (@pxref{Languages}).
3890@end itemize
3891
3892You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3893not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3894@samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3895@value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3896the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3897valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3898pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3899@code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3900the expression changes.
3901
3902@cindex software watchpoints
3903@cindex hardware watchpoints
3904Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3905hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3906program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3907times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3908catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3909culprit.)
3910
3911On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3912x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3913watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3914
3915@table @code
3916@kindex watch
3917@item watch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3918Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3919expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3920changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3921to watch the value of a single variable:
3922
3923@smallexample
3924(@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3925@end smallexample
3926
3927If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3928argument, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3929@var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3930change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3931that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3932with Hardware Watchpoints.
3933
3934Ordinarily a watchpoint respects the scope of variables in @var{expr}
3935(see below). The @code{-location} argument tells @value{GDBN} to
3936instead watch the memory referred to by @var{expr}. In this case,
3937@value{GDBN} will evaluate @var{expr}, take the address of the result,
3938and watch the memory at that address. The type of the result is used
3939to determine the size of the watched memory. If the expression's
3940result does not have an address, then @value{GDBN} will print an
3941error.
3942
3943The @code{@r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}} argument allows creation
3944of masked watchpoints, if the current architecture supports this
3945feature (e.g., PowerPC Embedded architecture, see @ref{PowerPC
3946Embedded}.) A @dfn{masked watchpoint} specifies a mask in addition
3947to an address to watch. The mask specifies that some bits of an address
3948(the bits which are reset in the mask) should be ignored when matching
3949the address accessed by the inferior against the watchpoint address.
3950Thus, a masked watchpoint watches many addresses simultaneously---those
3951addresses whose unmasked bits are identical to the unmasked bits in the
3952watchpoint address. The @code{mask} argument implies @code{-location}.
3953Examples:
3954
3955@smallexample
3956(@value{GDBP}) watch foo mask 0xffff00ff
3957(@value{GDBP}) watch *0xdeadbeef mask 0xffffff00
3958@end smallexample
3959
3960@kindex rwatch
3961@item rwatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3962Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3963by the program.
3964
3965@kindex awatch
3966@item awatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3967Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3968or written into by the program.
3969
3970@kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3971@item info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3972This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
3973@code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3974@end table
3975
3976If you watch for a change in a numerically entered address you need to
3977dereference it, as the address itself is just a constant number which will
3978never change. @value{GDBN} refuses to create a watchpoint that watches
3979a never-changing value:
3980
3981@smallexample
3982(@value{GDBP}) watch 0x600850
3983Cannot watch constant value 0x600850.
3984(@value{GDBP}) watch *(int *) 0x600850
3985Watchpoint 1: *(int *) 6293584
3986@end smallexample
3987
3988@value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3989watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3990value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3991cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3992executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3993@emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3994
3995@cindex use only software watchpoints
3996You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3997@kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3998zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3999the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
4000watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
4001@code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
4002mechanism of watching expression values.)
4003
4004@table @code
4005@item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
4006@kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
4007Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
4008
4009@item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
4010@kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
4011Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
4012@end table
4013
4014For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
4015watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
4016hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
4017
4018When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
4019
4020@smallexample
4021Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
4022@end smallexample
4023
4024@noindent
4025if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
4026
4027Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
4028hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
4029value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
4030every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
4031that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
4032hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
4033will print a message like this:
4034
4035@smallexample
4036Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
4037@end smallexample
4038
4039Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
4040data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
4041watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
4042can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
4043cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
4044double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
4045wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
4046into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
4047
4048If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
4049to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
4050Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
4051time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
4052able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
4053warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
4054
4055@smallexample
4056Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
4057@end smallexample
4058
4059@noindent
4060If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
4061
4062Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
4063exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
4064That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
4065expression with separately allocated resources.
4066
4067If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
4068any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
4069kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
4070
4071@value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
4072(automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
4073they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
4074which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
4075being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
4076and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
4077rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
4078way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
4079@code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
4080
4081@cindex watchpoints and threads
4082@cindex threads and watchpoints
4083In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
4084watched expression from every thread.
4085
4086@quotation
4087@emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
4088have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
4089watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
4090single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
4091change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
4092confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
4093software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
4094when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
4095watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
4096@end quotation
4097
4098@xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
4099
4100@node Set Catchpoints
4101@subsection Setting Catchpoints
4102@cindex catchpoints, setting
4103@cindex exception handlers
4104@cindex event handling
4105
4106You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
4107kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
4108shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
4109
4110@table @code
4111@kindex catch
4112@item catch @var{event}
4113Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
4114
4115@table @code
4116@item throw @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4117@itemx rethrow @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4118@itemx catch @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4119@kindex catch throw
4120@kindex catch rethrow
4121@kindex catch catch
4122@cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
4123The throwing, re-throwing, or catching of a C@t{++} exception.
4124
4125If @var{regexp} is given, then only exceptions whose type matches the
4126regular expression will be caught.
4127
4128@vindex $_exception@r{, convenience variable}
4129The convenience variable @code{$_exception} is available at an
4130exception-related catchpoint, on some systems. This holds the
4131exception being thrown.
4132
4133There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling in
4134@value{GDBN}:
4135
4136@itemize @bullet
4137@item
4138The support for these commands is system-dependent. Currently, only
4139systems using the @samp{gnu-v3} C@t{++} ABI (@pxref{ABI}) are
4140supported.
4141
4142@item
4143The regular expression feature and the @code{$_exception} convenience
4144variable rely on the presence of some SDT probes in @code{libstdc++}.
4145If these probes are not present, then these features cannot be used.
4146These probes were first available in the GCC 4.8 release, but whether
4147or not they are available in your GCC also depends on how it was
4148built.
4149
4150@item
4151The @code{$_exception} convenience variable is only valid at the
4152instruction at which an exception-related catchpoint is set.
4153
4154@item
4155When an exception-related catchpoint is hit, @value{GDBN} stops at a
4156location in the system library which implements runtime exception
4157support for C@t{++}, usually @code{libstdc++}. You can use @code{up}
4158(@pxref{Selection}) to get to your code.
4159
4160@item
4161If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4162control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4163raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4164returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4165simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4166that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4167you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4168disabled within interactive calls. @xref{Calling}, for information on
4169controlling this with @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception}.
4170
4171@item
4172You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4173
4174@item
4175You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4176@end itemize
4177
4178@item exception
4179@kindex catch exception
4180@cindex Ada exception catching
4181@cindex catch Ada exceptions
4182An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
4183at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
4184the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
4185Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
4186
4187When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
4188name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
4189fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
4190@value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
4191rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
4192called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
4193the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
4194Pck.Constraint_Error}.
4195
4196@item exception unhandled
4197@kindex catch exception unhandled
4198An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
4199
4200@item assert
4201@kindex catch assert
4202A failed Ada assertion.
4203
4204@item exec
4205@kindex catch exec
4206@cindex break on fork/exec
4207A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4208and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4209
4210@item syscall
4211@itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
4212@kindex catch syscall
4213@cindex break on a system call.
4214A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
4215syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
4216from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
4217@value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
4218debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
4219argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
4220will be caught.
4221
4222@var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
4223underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
4224GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
4225names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
4226
4227@c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
4228@c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
4229@c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
4230@c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
4231
4232Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
4233each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
4234facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
4235available choices.
4236
4237You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
4238number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
4239identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
4240name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
4241into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
4242may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
4243list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
4244behind the OS upgrades).
4245
4246The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
4247arguments to it:
4248
4249@smallexample
4250(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4251Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4252(@value{GDBP}) r
4253Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4254
4255Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
4256 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4257(@value{GDBP}) c
4258Continuing.
4259
4260Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
4261 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4262(@value{GDBP})
4263@end smallexample
4264
4265Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
4266
4267@smallexample
4268(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
4269Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
4270(@value{GDBP}) r
4271Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4272
4273Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
4274 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4275(@value{GDBP}) c
4276Continuing.
4277
4278Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
4279 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4280(@value{GDBP})
4281@end smallexample
4282
4283An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
4284below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
4285file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
4286
4287@smallexample
4288(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4289Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
4290(@value{GDBP}) r
4291Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4292
4293Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
4294 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4295(@value{GDBP}) c
4296Continuing.
4297
4298Program exited normally.
4299(@value{GDBP})
4300@end smallexample
4301
4302However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
4303in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
4304a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
4305but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
4306
4307@smallexample
4308(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
4309warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
4310Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
4311(@value{GDBP})
4312@end smallexample
4313
4314If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
4315it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
4316architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
4317you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
4318notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
4319name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
4320
4321@smallexample
4322(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4323warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4324warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4325GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4326Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4327(@value{GDBP})
4328@end smallexample
4329
4330Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4331
4332Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4333number. In this case, you would see something like:
4334
4335@smallexample
4336(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4337Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4338@end smallexample
4339
4340Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4341
4342@item fork
4343@kindex catch fork
4344A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4345and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4346
4347@item vfork
4348@kindex catch vfork
4349A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4350and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4351
4352@item load @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4353@itemx unload @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4354@kindex catch load
4355@kindex catch unload
4356The loading or unloading of a shared library. If @var{regexp} is
4357given, then the catchpoint will stop only if the regular expression
4358matches one of the affected libraries.
4359
4360@item signal @r{[}@var{signal}@dots{} @r{|} @samp{all}@r{]}
4361@kindex catch signal
4362The delivery of a signal.
4363
4364With no arguments, this catchpoint will catch any signal that is not
4365used internally by @value{GDBN}, specifically, all signals except
4366@samp{SIGTRAP} and @samp{SIGINT}.
4367
4368With the argument @samp{all}, all signals, including those used by
4369@value{GDBN}, will be caught. This argument cannot be used with other
4370signal names.
4371
4372Otherwise, the arguments are a list of signal names as given to
4373@code{handle} (@pxref{Signals}). Only signals specified in this list
4374will be caught.
4375
4376One reason that @code{catch signal} can be more useful than
4377@code{handle} is that you can attach commands and conditions to the
4378catchpoint.
4379
4380When a signal is caught by a catchpoint, the signal's @code{stop} and
4381@code{print} settings, as specified by @code{handle}, are ignored.
4382However, whether the signal is still delivered to the inferior depends
4383on the @code{pass} setting; this can be changed in the catchpoint's
4384commands.
4385
4386@end table
4387
4388@item tcatch @var{event}
4389@kindex tcatch
4390Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4391automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4392
4393@end table
4394
4395Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4396
4397
4398@node Delete Breaks
4399@subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4400
4401@cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4402@cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4403It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4404catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4405to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4406breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4407
4408With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4409where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4410delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4411their breakpoint numbers.
4412
4413It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4414automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4415when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4416
4417@table @code
4418@kindex clear
4419@item clear
4420Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4421selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4422the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4423breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4424
4425@item clear @var{location}
4426Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4427@xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4428most useful ones are listed below:
4429
4430@table @code
4431@item clear @var{function}
4432@itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4433Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4434
4435@item clear @var{linenum}
4436@itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4437Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4438@var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4439@end table
4440
4441@cindex delete breakpoints
4442@kindex delete
4443@kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4444@item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4445Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4446ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4447breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4448confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4449@end table
4450
4451@node Disabling
4452@subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4453
4454@cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4455Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4456prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4457it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4458that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4459
4460You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4461the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4462one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4463print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4464do not know which numbers to use.
4465
4466Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4467affects all of its locations.
4468
4469A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of several
4470different states of enablement:
4471
4472@itemize @bullet
4473@item
4474Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4475with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4476@item
4477Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4478@item
4479Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4480disabled.
4481@item
4482Enabled for a count. The breakpoint stops your program for the next
4483N times, then becomes disabled.
4484@item
4485Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4486immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4487set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4488@end itemize
4489
4490You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4491watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4492
4493@table @code
4494@kindex disable
4495@kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4496@item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4497Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4498listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4499options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4500case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4501@code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4502
4503@kindex enable
4504@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4505Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4506become effective once again in stopping your program.
4507
4508@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4509Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4510of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4511
4512@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} count @var{count} @var{range}@dots{}
4513Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} records
4514@var{count} with each of the specified breakpoints, and decrements a
4515breakpoint's count when it is hit. When any count reaches 0,
4516@value{GDBN} disables that breakpoint. If a breakpoint has an ignore
4517count (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}), that will be
4518decremented to 0 before @var{count} is affected.
4519
4520@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4521Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4522deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4523Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4524@end table
4525
4526@c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4527@c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4528Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4529,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4530subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4531the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4532breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4533breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4534Stepping}.)
4535
4536@node Conditions
4537@subsection Break Conditions
4538@cindex conditional breakpoints
4539@cindex breakpoint conditions
4540
4541@c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4542@c in particular for a watchpoint?
4543The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4544specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4545breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4546programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4547a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4548and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4549
4550This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4551situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4552when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4553by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4554@samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4555
4556Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4557since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4558it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4559and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4560one.
4561
4562Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4563your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4564that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4565format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4566unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4567that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4568program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4569breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4570conditions for the
4571purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4572(@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4573
4574Breakpoint conditions can also be evaluated on the target's side if
4575the target supports it. Instead of evaluating the conditions locally,
4576@value{GDBN} encodes the expression into an agent expression
4577(@pxref{Agent Expressions}) suitable for execution on the target,
4578independently of @value{GDBN}. Global variables become raw memory
4579locations, locals become stack accesses, and so forth.
4580
4581In this case, @value{GDBN} will only be notified of a breakpoint trigger
4582when its condition evaluates to true. This mechanism may provide faster
4583response times depending on the performance characteristics of the target
4584since it does not need to keep @value{GDBN} informed about
4585every breakpoint trigger, even those with false conditions.
4586
4587Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4588@samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4589Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4590with the @code{condition} command.
4591
4592You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4593The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4594@code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4595catchpoint.
4596
4597@table @code
4598@kindex condition
4599@item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4600Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4601watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4602breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4603@var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4604@code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4605syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4606referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4607symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4608prints an error message:
4609
4610@smallexample
4611No symbol "foo" in current context.
4612@end smallexample
4613
4614@noindent
4615@value{GDBN} does
4616not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4617command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4618@code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4619
4620@item condition @var{bnum}
4621Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4622an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4623@end table
4624
4625@cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4626A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4627breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4628useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4629count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4630is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4631therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4632ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4633the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4634value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4635your program reaches it.
4636
4637@table @code
4638@kindex ignore
4639@item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4640Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4641The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4642execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4643takes no action.
4644
4645To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4646a count of zero.
4647
4648When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4649breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4650@code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4651Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4652
4653If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4654condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4655@value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4656
4657You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4658as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4659is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4660Variables}.
4661@end table
4662
4663Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4664
4665
4666@node Break Commands
4667@subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4668
4669@cindex breakpoint commands
4670You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4671commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4672example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4673enable other breakpoints.
4674
4675@table @code
4676@kindex commands
4677@kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4678@item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4679@itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4680@itemx end
4681Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4682themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4683@code{end} to terminate the commands.
4684
4685To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4686follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4687
4688With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4689watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4690encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4691command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4692set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4693@code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4694creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4695Expressions}).
4696@end table
4697
4698Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4699disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4700
4701You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4702use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4703that resumes execution.
4704
4705Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4706execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4707(even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4708another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4709ambiguities about which list to execute.
4710
4711@kindex silent
4712If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4713usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4714be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4715then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4716see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4717meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4718
4719The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4720print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4721breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4722
4723For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4724value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4725
4726@smallexample
4727break foo if x>0
4728commands
4729silent
4730printf "x is %d\n",x
4731cont
4732end
4733@end smallexample
4734
4735One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4736you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4737of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4738erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4739to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4740so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4741command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4742
4743@smallexample
4744break 403
4745commands
4746silent
4747set x = y + 4
4748cont
4749end
4750@end smallexample
4751
4752@node Dynamic Printf
4753@subsection Dynamic Printf
4754
4755@cindex dynamic printf
4756@cindex dprintf
4757The dynamic printf command @code{dprintf} combines a breakpoint with
4758formatted printing of your program's data to give you the effect of
4759inserting @code{printf} calls into your program on-the-fly, without
4760having to recompile it.
4761
4762In its most basic form, the output goes to the GDB console. However,
4763you can set the variable @code{dprintf-style} for alternate handling.
4764For instance, you can ask to format the output by calling your
4765program's @code{printf} function. This has the advantage that the
4766characters go to the program's output device, so they can recorded in
4767redirects to files and so forth.
4768
4769If you are doing remote debugging with a stub or agent, you can also
4770ask to have the printf handled by the remote agent. In addition to
4771ensuring that the output goes to the remote program's device along
4772with any other output the program might produce, you can also ask that
4773the dprintf remain active even after disconnecting from the remote
4774target. Using the stub/agent is also more efficient, as it can do
4775everything without needing to communicate with @value{GDBN}.
4776
4777@table @code
4778@kindex dprintf
4779@item dprintf @var{location},@var{template},@var{expression}[,@var{expression}@dots{}]
4780Whenever execution reaches @var{location}, print the values of one or
4781more @var{expressions} under the control of the string @var{template}.
4782To print several values, separate them with commas.
4783
4784@item set dprintf-style @var{style}
4785Set the dprintf output to be handled in one of several different
4786styles enumerated below. A change of style affects all existing
4787dynamic printfs immediately. (If you need individual control over the
4788print commands, simply define normal breakpoints with
4789explicitly-supplied command lists.)
4790
4791@item gdb
4792@kindex dprintf-style gdb
4793Handle the output using the @value{GDBN} @code{printf} command.
4794
4795@item call
4796@kindex dprintf-style call
4797Handle the output by calling a function in your program (normally
4798@code{printf}).
4799
4800@item agent
4801@kindex dprintf-style agent
4802Have the remote debugging agent (such as @code{gdbserver}) handle
4803the output itself. This style is only available for agents that
4804support running commands on the target.
4805
4806@item set dprintf-function @var{function}
4807Set the function to call if the dprintf style is @code{call}. By
4808default its value is @code{printf}. You may set it to any expression.
4809that @value{GDBN} can evaluate to a function, as per the @code{call}
4810command.
4811
4812@item set dprintf-channel @var{channel}
4813Set a ``channel'' for dprintf. If set to a non-empty value,
4814@value{GDBN} will evaluate it as an expression and pass the result as
4815a first argument to the @code{dprintf-function}, in the manner of
4816@code{fprintf} and similar functions. Otherwise, the dprintf format
4817string will be the first argument, in the manner of @code{printf}.
4818
4819As an example, if you wanted @code{dprintf} output to go to a logfile
4820that is a standard I/O stream assigned to the variable @code{mylog},
4821you could do the following:
4822
4823@example
4824(gdb) set dprintf-style call
4825(gdb) set dprintf-function fprintf
4826(gdb) set dprintf-channel mylog
4827(gdb) dprintf 25,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob
4828Dprintf 1 at 0x123456: file main.c, line 25.
4829(gdb) info break
48301 dprintf keep y 0x00123456 in main at main.c:25
4831 call (void) fprintf (mylog,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob)
4832 continue
4833(gdb)
4834@end example
4835
4836Note that the @code{info break} displays the dynamic printf commands
4837as normal breakpoint commands; you can thus easily see the effect of
4838the variable settings.
4839
4840@item set disconnected-dprintf on
4841@itemx set disconnected-dprintf off
4842@kindex set disconnected-dprintf
4843Choose whether @code{dprintf} commands should continue to run if
4844@value{GDBN} has disconnected from the target. This only applies
4845if the @code{dprintf-style} is @code{agent}.
4846
4847@item show disconnected-dprintf off
4848@kindex show disconnected-dprintf
4849Show the current choice for disconnected @code{dprintf}.
4850
4851@end table
4852
4853@value{GDBN} does not check the validity of function and channel,
4854relying on you to supply values that are meaningful for the contexts
4855in which they are being used. For instance, the function and channel
4856may be the values of local variables, but if that is the case, then
4857all enabled dynamic prints must be at locations within the scope of
4858those locals. If evaluation fails, @value{GDBN} will report an error.
4859
4860@node Save Breakpoints
4861@subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
4862
4863To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
4864breakpoints}} command.
4865
4866@table @code
4867@kindex save breakpoints
4868@cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
4869@item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
4870This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
4871their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
4872suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
4873types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
4874tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
4875@code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
4876with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
4877because it may not be possible to access the context where the
4878watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
4879are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
4880breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
4881and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
4882that can no longer be recreated.
4883@end table
4884
4885@node Static Probe Points
4886@subsection Static Probe Points
4887
4888@cindex static probe point, SystemTap
4889@value{GDBN} supports @dfn{SDT} probes in the code. @acronym{SDT} stands
4890for Statically Defined Tracing, and the probes are designed to have a tiny
4891runtime code and data footprint, and no dynamic relocations. They are
4892usable from assembly, C and C@t{++} languages. See
4893@uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/UserSpaceProbeImplementation}
4894for a good reference on how the @acronym{SDT} probes are implemented.
4895
4896Currently, @code{SystemTap} (@uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/})
4897@acronym{SDT} probes are supported on ELF-compatible systems. See
4898@uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/AddingUserSpaceProbingToApps}
4899for more information on how to add @code{SystemTap} @acronym{SDT} probes
4900in your applications.
4901
4902@cindex semaphores on static probe points
4903Some probes have an associated semaphore variable; for instance, this
4904happens automatically if you defined your probe using a DTrace-style
4905@file{.d} file. If your probe has a semaphore, @value{GDBN} will
4906automatically enable it when you specify a breakpoint using the
4907@samp{-probe-stap} notation. But, if you put a breakpoint at a probe's
4908location by some other method (e.g., @code{break file:line}), then
4909@value{GDBN} will not automatically set the semaphore.
4910
4911You can examine the available static static probes using @code{info
4912probes}, with optional arguments:
4913
4914@table @code
4915@kindex info probes
4916@item info probes stap @r{[}@var{provider} @r{[}@var{name} @r{[}@var{objfile}@r{]}@r{]}@r{]}
4917If given, @var{provider} is a regular expression used to match against provider
4918names when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probes by all
4919probes from all providers are listed.
4920
4921If given, @var{name} is a regular expression to match against probe names
4922when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probe names are not
4923considered when deciding whether to display them.
4924
4925If given, @var{objfile} is a regular expression used to select which
4926object files (executable or shared libraries) to examine. If not
4927given, all object files are considered.
4928
4929@item info probes all
4930List the available static probes, from all types.
4931@end table
4932
4933@vindex $_probe_arg@r{, convenience variable}
4934A probe may specify up to twelve arguments. These are available at the
4935point at which the probe is defined---that is, when the current PC is
4936at the probe's location. The arguments are available using the
4937convenience variables (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
4938@code{$_probe_arg0}@dots{}@code{$_probe_arg11}. Each probe argument is
4939an integer of the appropriate size; types are not preserved. The
4940convenience variable @code{$_probe_argc} holds the number of arguments
4941at the current probe point.
4942
4943These variables are always available, but attempts to access them at
4944any location other than a probe point will cause @value{GDBN} to give
4945an error message.
4946
4947
4948@c @ifclear BARETARGET
4949@node Error in Breakpoints
4950@subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4951
4952If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4953watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4954
4955@c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4956@c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4957@smallexample
4958Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4959You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4960@end smallexample
4961
4962@noindent
4963This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4964only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4965watchpoints it needs to insert.
4966
4967When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4968hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4969
4970@node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4971@subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4972@cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4973
4974Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4975which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4976@value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4977with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4978
4979One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4980a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4981bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4982constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4983bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4984honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4985first in the bundle.
4986
4987It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4988instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4989a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4990another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4991breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4992printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4993is hit.
4994
4995A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4996that's been subject to address adjustment:
4997
4998@smallexample
4999warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
5000@end smallexample
5001
5002Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
5003internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
5004verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
5005desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
5006other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
5007E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
5008instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
5009cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
5010
5011@value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
5012adjusted breakpoints:
5013
5014@smallexample
5015warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
5016to 0x00010410.
5017@end smallexample
5018
5019When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
5020action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
5021frequently than expected.
5022
5023@node Continuing and Stepping
5024@section Continuing and Stepping
5025
5026@cindex stepping
5027@cindex continuing
5028@cindex resuming execution
5029@dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
5030completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
5031one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
5032line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
5033particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
5034your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
5035it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
5036@samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
5037
5038@table @code
5039@kindex continue
5040@kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
5041@kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
5042@item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5043@itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5044@itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5045Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
5046any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
5047@var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
5048ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
5049@code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
5050
5051The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
5052stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
5053@code{continue} is ignored.
5054
5055The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
5056debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
5057purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
5058@code{continue}.
5059@end table
5060
5061To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
5062(@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
5063calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
5064Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
5065
5066A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
5067(@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
5068beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
5069is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
5070and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
5071interesting, until you see the problem happen.
5072
5073@table @code
5074@kindex step
5075@kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
5076@item step
5077Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
5078line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
5079abbreviated @code{s}.
5080
5081@quotation
5082@c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
5083@c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
5084@c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
5085@c distinction here.
5086@emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
5087within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
5088execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
5089debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
5090is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
5091without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
5092below.
5093@end quotation
5094
5095The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
5096line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5097@code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
5098to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
5099the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
5100called within the line.
5101
5102Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
5103number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
5104@code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
5105on @acronym{MIPS} machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
5106was any debugging information about the routine.
5107
5108@item step @var{count}
5109Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
5110breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
5111@var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
5112
5113@kindex next
5114@kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
5115@item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5116Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
5117This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
5118the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
5119control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
5120that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
5121is abbreviated @code{n}.
5122
5123An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
5124
5125
5126@c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
5127@c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
5128@c
5129@c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
5130@c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
5131@c function are executed without stopping.
5132
5133The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
5134source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5135@code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
5136
5137@kindex set step-mode
5138@item set step-mode
5139@cindex functions without line info, and stepping
5140@cindex stepping into functions with no line info
5141@itemx set step-mode on
5142The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
5143stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
5144information rather than stepping over it.
5145
5146This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
5147machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
5148want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
5149
5150@item set step-mode off
5151Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
5152debug information. This is the default.
5153
5154@item show step-mode
5155Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
5156source line debug information.
5157
5158@kindex finish
5159@kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
5160@item finish
5161Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
5162returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
5163abbreviated as @code{fin}.
5164
5165Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
5166,Returning from a Function}).
5167
5168@kindex until
5169@kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
5170@cindex run until specified location
5171@item until
5172@itemx u
5173Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
5174current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
5175stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
5176command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
5177automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
5178than the address of the jump.
5179
5180This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
5181though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
5182exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
5183simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
5184through the next iteration.
5185
5186@code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
5187stack frame.
5188
5189@code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
5190of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
5191example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
5192(@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
5193@code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
5194
5195@smallexample
5196(@value{GDBP}) f
5197#0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
5198206 expand_input();
5199(@value{GDBP}) until
5200195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
5201@end smallexample
5202
5203This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
5204generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
5205start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
5206written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
5207to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
5208expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
5209statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
5210
5211@code{until} with no argument works by means of single
5212instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
5213argument.
5214
5215@item until @var{location}
5216@itemx u @var{location}
5217Continue running your program until either the specified location is
5218reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
5219the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
5220This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
5221hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
5222location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
5223implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
5224invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
5225line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
5226line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
5227invocations have returned.
5228
5229@smallexample
523094 int factorial (int value)
523195 @{
523296 if (value > 1) @{
523397 value *= factorial (value - 1);
523498 @}
523599 return (value);
5236100 @}
5237@end smallexample
5238
5239
5240@kindex advance @var{location}
5241@item advance @var{location}
5242Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
5243required, which should be of one of the forms described in
5244@ref{Specify Location}.
5245Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
5246frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
5247not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
5248have to be in the same frame as the current one.
5249
5250
5251@kindex stepi
5252@kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
5253@item stepi
5254@itemx stepi @var{arg}
5255@itemx si
5256Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
5257
5258It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
5259instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
5260instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
5261Display,, Automatic Display}.
5262
5263An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
5264
5265@need 750
5266@kindex nexti
5267@kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
5268@item nexti
5269@itemx nexti @var{arg}
5270@itemx ni
5271Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
5272proceed until the function returns.
5273
5274An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
5275
5276@end table
5277
5278@anchor{range stepping}
5279@cindex range stepping
5280@cindex target-assisted range stepping
5281By default, and if available, @value{GDBN} makes use of
5282target-assisted @dfn{range stepping}. In other words, whenever you
5283use a stepping command (e.g., @code{step}, @code{next}), @value{GDBN}
5284tells the target to step the corresponding range of instruction
5285addresses instead of issuing multiple single-steps. This speeds up
5286line stepping, particularly for remote targets. Ideally, there should
5287be no reason you would want to turn range stepping off. However, it's
5288possible that a bug in the debug info, a bug in the remote stub (for
5289remote targets), or even a bug in @value{GDBN} could make line
5290stepping behave incorrectly when target-assisted range stepping is
5291enabled. You can use the following command to turn off range stepping
5292if necessary:
5293
5294@table @code
5295@kindex set range-stepping
5296@kindex show range-stepping
5297@item set range-stepping
5298@itemx show range-stepping
5299Control whether range stepping is enabled.
5300
5301If @code{on}, and the target supports it, @value{GDBN} tells the
5302target to step a range of addresses itself, instead of issuing
5303multiple single-steps. If @code{off}, @value{GDBN} always issues
5304single-steps, even if range stepping is supported by the target. The
5305default is @code{on}.
5306
5307@end table
5308
5309@node Skipping Over Functions and Files
5310@section Skipping Over Functions and Files
5311@cindex skipping over functions and files
5312
5313The program you are debugging may contain some functions which are
5314uninteresting to debug. The @code{skip} comand lets you tell @value{GDBN} to
5315skip a function or all functions in a file when stepping.
5316
5317For example, consider the following C function:
5318
5319@smallexample
5320101 int func()
5321102 @{
5322103 foo(boring());
5323104 bar(boring());
5324105 @}
5325@end smallexample
5326
5327@noindent
5328Suppose you wish to step into the functions @code{foo} and @code{bar}, but you
5329are not interested in stepping through @code{boring}. If you run @code{step}
5330at line 103, you'll enter @code{boring()}, but if you run @code{next}, you'll
5331step over both @code{foo} and @code{boring}!
5332
5333One solution is to @code{step} into @code{boring} and use the @code{finish}
5334command to immediately exit it. But this can become tedious if @code{boring}
5335is called from many places.
5336
5337A more flexible solution is to execute @kbd{skip boring}. This instructs
5338@value{GDBN} never to step into @code{boring}. Now when you execute
5339@code{step} at line 103, you'll step over @code{boring} and directly into
5340@code{foo}.
5341
5342You can also instruct @value{GDBN} to skip all functions in a file, with, for
5343example, @code{skip file boring.c}.
5344
5345@table @code
5346@kindex skip function
5347@item skip @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5348@itemx skip function @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5349After running this command, the function named by @var{linespec} or the
5350function containing the line named by @var{linespec} will be skipped over when
5351stepping. @xref{Specify Location}.
5352
5353If you do not specify @var{linespec}, the function you're currently debugging
5354will be skipped.
5355
5356(If you have a function called @code{file} that you want to skip, use
5357@kbd{skip function file}.)
5358
5359@kindex skip file
5360@item skip file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
5361After running this command, any function whose source lives in @var{filename}
5362will be skipped over when stepping.
5363
5364If you do not specify @var{filename}, functions whose source lives in the file
5365you're currently debugging will be skipped.
5366@end table
5367
5368Skips can be listed, deleted, disabled, and enabled, much like breakpoints.
5369These are the commands for managing your list of skips:
5370
5371@table @code
5372@kindex info skip
5373@item info skip @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5374Print details about the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified,
5375print a table with details about all functions and files marked for skipping.
5376@code{info skip} prints the following information about each skip:
5377
5378@table @emph
5379@item Identifier
5380A number identifying this skip.
5381@item Type
5382The type of this skip, either @samp{function} or @samp{file}.
5383@item Enabled or Disabled
5384Enabled skips are marked with @samp{y}. Disabled skips are marked with @samp{n}.
5385@item Address
5386For function skips, this column indicates the address in memory of the function
5387being skipped. If you've set a function skip on a function which has not yet
5388been loaded, this field will contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Once a shared library
5389which has the function is loaded, @code{info skip} will show the function's
5390address here.
5391@item What
5392For file skips, this field contains the filename being skipped. For functions
5393skips, this field contains the function name and its line number in the file
5394where it is defined.
5395@end table
5396
5397@kindex skip delete
5398@item skip delete @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5399Delete the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, delete all
5400skips.
5401
5402@kindex skip enable
5403@item skip enable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5404Enable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, enable all
5405skips.
5406
5407@kindex skip disable
5408@item skip disable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5409Disable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, disable all
5410skips.
5411
5412@end table
5413
5414@node Signals
5415@section Signals
5416@cindex signals
5417
5418A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
5419operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
5420kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
5421signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
5422@code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
5423memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
5424the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
5425requested an alarm).
5426
5427@cindex fatal signals
5428Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
5429functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
5430errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
5431program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
5432@code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
5433fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
5434
5435@value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
5436program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
5437signal.
5438
5439@cindex handling signals
5440Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
5441@code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
5442(so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
5443but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
5444You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
5445
5446@table @code
5447@kindex info signals
5448@kindex info handle
5449@item info signals
5450@itemx info handle
5451Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
5452handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
5453the defined types of signals.
5454
5455@item info signals @var{sig}
5456Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
5457
5458@code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
5459
5460@item catch signal @r{[}@var{signal}@dots{} @r{|} @samp{all}@r{]}
5461Set a catchpoint for the indicated signals. @xref{Set Catchpoints},
5462for details about this command.
5463
5464@kindex handle
5465@item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
5466Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
5467can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
5468@samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
5469@samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
5470known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
5471say what change to make.
5472@end table
5473
5474@c @group
5475The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
5476Their full names are:
5477
5478@table @code
5479@item nostop
5480@value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
5481still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
5482
5483@item stop
5484@value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
5485the @code{print} keyword as well.
5486
5487@item print
5488@value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
5489
5490@item noprint
5491@value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
5492implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
5493
5494@item pass
5495@itemx noignore
5496@value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
5497can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
5498and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
5499
5500@item nopass
5501@itemx ignore
5502@value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
5503@code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
5504@end table
5505@c @end group
5506
5507When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
5508program until you
5509continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
5510effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
5511after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
5512command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
5513program sees that signal when you continue.
5514
5515The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
5516non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
5517@code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
5518erroneous signals.
5519
5520You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
5521seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
5522or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
5523due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
5524values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
5525execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
5526a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
5527you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
5528Program a Signal}.
5529
5530@cindex extra signal information
5531@anchor{extra signal information}
5532
5533On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
5534associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
5535delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
5536by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
5537that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
5538receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
5539target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
5540$_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
5541standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
5542system header.
5543
5544Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
5545referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
5546
5547@smallexample
5548@group
5549(@value{GDBP}) continue
5550Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
55510x0000000000400766 in main ()
555269 *(int *)p = 0;
5553(@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
5554type = struct @{
5555 int si_signo;
5556 int si_errno;
5557 int si_code;
5558 union @{
5559 int _pad[28];
5560 struct @{...@} _kill;
5561 struct @{...@} _timer;
5562 struct @{...@} _rt;
5563 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
5564 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
5565 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
5566 @} _sifields;
5567@}
5568(@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
5569type = struct @{
5570 void *si_addr;
5571@}
5572(@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
5573$1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
5574@end group
5575@end smallexample
5576
5577Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
5578
5579@node Thread Stops
5580@section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
5581
5582@cindex stopped threads
5583@cindex threads, stopped
5584
5585@cindex continuing threads
5586@cindex threads, continuing
5587
5588@value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
5589(@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
5590are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
5591debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
5592when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
5593or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
5594@value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
5595@dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
5596you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
5597
5598@menu
5599* All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
5600* Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
5601* Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
5602* Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
5603* Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
5604* Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
5605@end menu
5606
5607@node All-Stop Mode
5608@subsection All-Stop Mode
5609
5610@cindex all-stop mode
5611
5612In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
5613@emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
5614allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
5615switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
5616underfoot.
5617
5618Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
5619executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
5620like @code{step} or @code{next}.
5621
5622In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
5623Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
5624system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
5625execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
5626single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
5627statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
5628stops.
5629
5630You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
5631continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
5632thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
5633first thread completes whatever you requested.
5634
5635@cindex automatic thread selection
5636@cindex switching threads automatically
5637@cindex threads, automatic switching
5638Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
5639signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
5640signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
5641message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
5642thread.
5643
5644On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
5645locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
5646
5647@table @code
5648@item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
5649@cindex scheduler locking mode
5650@cindex lock scheduler
5651Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
5652locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
5653current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
5654mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
5655from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
5656the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
5657Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
5658when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
5659function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
5660like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
5661thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
5662the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
5663
5664@item show scheduler-locking
5665Display the current scheduler locking mode.
5666@end table
5667
5668@cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
5669By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
5670@code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
5671threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
5672is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
5673@code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
5674inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
5675forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
5676it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
5677situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
5678of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
5679to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
5680you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
5681inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
5682
5683@table @code
5684@kindex set schedule-multiple
5685@item set schedule-multiple
5686Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
5687when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
5688all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
5689of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
5690@code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
5691or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
5692
5693@item show schedule-multiple
5694Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5695multiple processes.
5696@end table
5697
5698@node Non-Stop Mode
5699@subsection Non-Stop Mode
5700
5701@cindex non-stop mode
5702
5703@c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5704@c with more details.
5705
5706For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5707mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5708the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5709minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5710where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5711respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5712
5713In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5714@emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5715threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5716execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5717only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5718in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5719ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5720one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5721one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5722independently and simultaneously.
5723
5724To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5725or attach to your program:
5726
5727@smallexample
5728# Enable the async interface.
5729set target-async 1
5730
5731# If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5732set pagination off
5733
5734# Finally, turn it on!
5735set non-stop on
5736@end smallexample
5737
5738You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5739
5740@table @code
5741@kindex set non-stop
5742@item set non-stop on
5743Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5744@item set non-stop off
5745Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5746@kindex show non-stop
5747@item show non-stop
5748Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5749@end table
5750
5751Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5752not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5753In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5754@value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5755not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5756since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5757non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5758default.
5759
5760In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5761by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5762To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5763
5764You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5765(@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5766while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5767The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5768always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5769
5770Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5771running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5772In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5773but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5774To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5775
5776Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5777
5778In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5779that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5780thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5781command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5782changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5783previously current thread.
5784
5785@node Background Execution
5786@subsection Background Execution
5787
5788@cindex foreground execution
5789@cindex background execution
5790@cindex asynchronous execution
5791@cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5792
5793@value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5794foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5795(asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5796the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5797another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5798a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5799
5800You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
5801background execution commands. You can use these commands to
5802manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
5803
5804@table @code
5805@kindex set target-async
5806@item set target-async on
5807Enable asynchronous mode.
5808@item set target-async off
5809Disable asynchronous mode.
5810@kindex show target-async
5811@item show target-async
5812Show the current target-async setting.
5813@end table
5814
5815If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5816message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5817
5818To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5819the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5820just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5821are:
5822
5823@table @code
5824@kindex run&
5825@item run
5826@xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5827
5828@item attach
5829@kindex attach&
5830@xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5831
5832@item step
5833@kindex step&
5834@xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5835
5836@item stepi
5837@kindex stepi&
5838@xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5839
5840@item next
5841@kindex next&
5842@xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5843
5844@item nexti
5845@kindex nexti&
5846@xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5847
5848@item continue
5849@kindex continue&
5850@xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5851
5852@item finish
5853@kindex finish&
5854@xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5855
5856@item until
5857@kindex until&
5858@xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5859
5860@end table
5861
5862Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5863mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5864However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5865the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5866previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5867mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5868
5869You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5870using the @code{interrupt} command.
5871
5872@table @code
5873@kindex interrupt
5874@item interrupt
5875@itemx interrupt -a
5876
5877Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
5878@code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
5879only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
5880use @code{interrupt -a}.
5881@end table
5882
5883@node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5884@subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5885
5886When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
5887Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
5888breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
5889
5890@table @code
5891@cindex breakpoints and threads
5892@cindex thread breakpoints
5893@kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
5894@item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
5895@itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
5896@var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
5897writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
5898specify some source line.
5899
5900Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
5901to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
5902particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
5903numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
5904column of the @samp{info threads} display.
5905
5906If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
5907breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
5908program.
5909
5910You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
5911well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before or
5912after the breakpoint condition, like this:
5913
5914@smallexample
5915(@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
5916@end smallexample
5917
5918@end table
5919
5920Thread-specific breakpoints are automatically deleted when
5921@value{GDBN} detects the corresponding thread is no longer in the
5922thread list. For example:
5923
5924@smallexample
5925(@value{GDBP}) c
5926Thread-specific breakpoint 3 deleted - thread 28 no longer in the thread list.
5927@end smallexample
5928
5929There are several ways for a thread to disappear, such as a regular
5930thread exit, but also when you detach from the process with the
5931@code{detach} command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running
5932Process}), or if @value{GDBN} loses the remote connection
5933(@pxref{Remote Debugging}), etc. Note that with some targets,
5934@value{GDBN} is only able to detect a thread has exited when the user
5935explictly asks for the thread list with the @code{info threads}
5936command.
5937
5938@node Interrupted System Calls
5939@subsection Interrupted System Calls
5940
5941@cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
5942@cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
5943@cindex premature return from system calls
5944There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
5945multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
5946breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
5947system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
5948consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
5949that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
5950stop execution.
5951
5952To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
5953each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
5954style anyways.
5955
5956For example, do not write code like this:
5957
5958@smallexample
5959 sleep (10);
5960@end smallexample
5961
5962The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
5963at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
5964
5965Instead, write this:
5966
5967@smallexample
5968 int unslept = 10;
5969 while (unslept > 0)
5970 unslept = sleep (unslept);
5971@end smallexample
5972
5973A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
5974conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
5975multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
5976@value{GDBN}.
5977
5978Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
5979monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
5980When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
5981prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
5982
5983@node Observer Mode
5984@subsection Observer Mode
5985
5986If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
5987without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
5988variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
5989whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
5990at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
5991
5992When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
5993be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
5994@code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
5995mode.
5996
5997Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
5998combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
5999@code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
6000then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
6001stream will still not be able to be placed.
6002
6003@table @code
6004
6005@kindex observer
6006@item set observer on
6007@itemx set observer off
6008When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
6009below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
6010non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
6011normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
6012
6013@item show observer
6014Show whether observer mode is on or off.
6015
6016@kindex may-write-registers
6017@item set may-write-registers on
6018@itemx set may-write-registers off
6019This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
6020registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
6021@code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
6022
6023@item show may-write-registers
6024Show the current permission to write registers.
6025
6026@kindex may-write-memory
6027@item set may-write-memory on
6028@itemx set may-write-memory off
6029This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
6030of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
6031defaults to @code{on}.
6032
6033@item show may-write-memory
6034Show the current permission to write memory.
6035
6036@kindex may-insert-breakpoints
6037@item set may-insert-breakpoints on
6038@itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
6039This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
6040This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
6041by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6042
6043@item show may-insert-breakpoints
6044Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
6045
6046@kindex may-insert-tracepoints
6047@item set may-insert-tracepoints on
6048@itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
6049This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
6050tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
6051non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
6052@code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6053
6054@item show may-insert-tracepoints
6055Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
6056
6057@kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
6058@item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
6059@itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
6060This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
6061tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
6062fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
6063control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6064
6065@item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
6066Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
6067
6068@kindex may-interrupt
6069@item set may-interrupt on
6070@itemx set may-interrupt off
6071This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
6072program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
6073@code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
6074@kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6075
6076@item show may-interrupt
6077Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
6078
6079@end table
6080
6081@node Reverse Execution
6082@chapter Running programs backward
6083@cindex reverse execution
6084@cindex running programs backward
6085
6086When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
6087you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
6088If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
6089``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
6090
6091A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
6092to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
6093program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
6094revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
6095deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
6096all target environments can support reverse execution.
6097
6098When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
6099have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
6100order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
6101thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
6102the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
6103instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
6104a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
6105should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
6106prior values@footnote{
6107Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
6108memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
6109targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
6110
6111The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
6112requires only that the target do something reasonable when
6113@value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
6114results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
6115@value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
6116assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
6117consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
6118}.
6119
6120If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
6121reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
6122
6123@table @code
6124@kindex reverse-continue
6125@kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
6126@item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6127@itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6128Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
6129in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
6130exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
6131asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
6132
6133@kindex reverse-step
6134@kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
6135@item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6136Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
6137different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
6138
6139Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
6140at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
6141executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
6142debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
6143the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
6144statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
6145
6146Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
6147called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
6148
6149@kindex reverse-stepi
6150@kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
6151@item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6152Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
6153to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
6154counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
6155if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
6156back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
6157
6158@kindex reverse-next
6159@kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
6160@item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6161Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
6162the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
6163calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
6164the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
6165to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
6166just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
6167line of a function back to its return to its caller
6168@footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
6169
6170@kindex reverse-nexti
6171@kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
6172@item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6173Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
6174in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
6175That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
6176another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
6177in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
6178frame) is reached.
6179
6180@kindex reverse-finish
6181@item reverse-finish
6182Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
6183current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
6184where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
6185function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
6186
6187@kindex set exec-direction
6188@item set exec-direction
6189Set the direction of target execution.
6190@item set exec-direction reverse
6191@cindex execute forward or backward in time
6192@value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
6193exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
6194@code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
6195command cannot be used in reverse mode.
6196@item set exec-direction forward
6197@value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
6198This is the default.
6199@end table
6200
6201
6202@node Process Record and Replay
6203@chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
6204@cindex process record and replay
6205@cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
6206
6207On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
6208and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
6209replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
6210
6211@cindex replay mode
6212When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
6213for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
6214mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
6215instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
6216code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
6217really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
6218program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
6219changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
6220execution log.
6221
6222@cindex record mode
6223If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
6224@value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
6225inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
6226for future replay.
6227
6228The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
6229(@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
6230inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
6231this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
6232log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
6233support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
6234
6235When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
6236replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
6237previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
6238platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
6239
6240For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
6241@value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
6242
6243@table @code
6244@kindex target record
6245@kindex target record-full
6246@kindex target record-btrace
6247@kindex record
6248@kindex record full
6249@kindex record btrace
6250@kindex rec
6251@kindex rec full
6252@kindex rec btrace
6253@item record @var{method}
6254This command starts the process record and replay target. The
6255recording method can be specified as parameter. Without a parameter
6256the command uses the @code{full} recording method. The following
6257recording methods are available:
6258
6259@table @code
6260@item full
6261Full record/replay recording using @value{GDBN}'s software record and
6262replay implementation. This method allows replaying and reverse
6263execution.
6264
6265@item btrace
6266Hardware-supported instruction recording. This method does not record
6267data. Further, the data is collected in a ring buffer so old data will
6268be overwritten when the buffer is full. It allows limited replay and
6269reverse execution.
6270
6271This recording method may not be available on all processors.
6272@end table
6273
6274The process record and replay target can only debug a process that is
6275already running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with
6276the @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording
6277with the @kbd{record @var{method}} command.
6278
6279Both @code{record @var{method}} and @code{rec @var{method}} are
6280aliases of @code{target record-@var{method}}.
6281
6282@cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
6283Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
6284will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
6285is started. That's because the process record and replay target
6286doesn't support displaced stepping.
6287
6288@cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
6289@cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
6290If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
6291the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), not
6292all recording methods are available. The @code{full} recording method
6293does not support these two modes.
6294
6295@kindex record stop
6296@kindex rec s
6297@item record stop
6298Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
6299replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
6300inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
6301
6302When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
6303the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
6304next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
6305you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
6306will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
6307
6308On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
6309while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
6310but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
6311at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
6312usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
6313
6314When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
6315process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
6316
6317@kindex record goto
6318@item record goto
6319Go to a specific location in the execution log. There are several
6320ways to specify the location to go to:
6321
6322@table @code
6323@item record goto begin
6324@itemx record goto start
6325Go to the beginning of the execution log.
6326
6327@item record goto end
6328Go to the end of the execution log.
6329
6330@item record goto @var{n}
6331Go to instruction number @var{n} in the execution log.
6332@end table
6333
6334@kindex record save
6335@item record save @var{filename}
6336Save the execution log to a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6337Default filename is @file{gdb_record.@var{process_id}}, where
6338@var{process_id} is the process ID of the inferior.
6339
6340This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6341
6342@kindex record restore
6343@item record restore @var{filename}
6344Restore the execution log from a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6345File must have been created with @code{record save}.
6346
6347@kindex set record full
6348@item set record full insn-number-max @var{limit}
6349@itemx set record full insn-number-max unlimited
6350Set the limit of instructions to be recorded for the @code{full}
6351recording method. Default value is 200000.
6352
6353If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
6354deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
6355instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
6356instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
6357instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
6358(Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
6359lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
6360the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
6361
6362If @var{limit} is @code{unlimited} or zero, @value{GDBN} will never
6363delete recorded instructions from the execution log. The number of
6364recorded instructions is limited only by the available memory.
6365
6366@kindex show record full
6367@item show record full insn-number-max
6368Show the limit of instructions to be recorded with the @code{full}
6369recording method.
6370
6371@item set record full stop-at-limit
6372Control the behavior of the @code{full} recording method when the
6373number of recorded instructions reaches the limit. If ON (the
6374default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit is reached for the
6375first time and ask you whether you want to stop the inferior or
6376continue running it and recording the execution log. If you decide
6377to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will cause the
6378oldest one to be deleted.
6379
6380If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
6381oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
6382
6383@item show record full stop-at-limit
6384Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
6385
6386@item set record full memory-query
6387Control the behavior when @value{GDBN} is unable to record memory
6388changes caused by an instruction for the @code{full} recording method.
6389If ON, @value{GDBN} will query whether to stop the inferior in that
6390case.
6391
6392If this option is OFF (the default), @value{GDBN} will automatically
6393ignore the effect of such instructions on memory. Later, when
6394@value{GDBN} replays this execution log, it will mark the log of this
6395instruction as not accessible, and it will not affect the replay
6396results.
6397
6398@item show record full memory-query
6399Show the current setting of @code{memory-query}.
6400
6401@kindex info record
6402@item info record
6403Show various statistics about the recording depending on the recording
6404method:
6405
6406@table @code
6407@item full
6408For the @code{full} recording method, it shows the state of process
6409record and its in-memory execution log buffer, including:
6410
6411@itemize @bullet
6412@item
6413Whether in record mode or replay mode.
6414@item
6415Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
6416@item
6417Highest recorded instruction number.
6418@item
6419Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
6420@item
6421Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
6422@item
6423Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
6424@end itemize
6425
6426@item btrace
6427For the @code{btrace} recording method, it shows the number of
6428instructions that have been recorded and the number of blocks of
6429sequential control-flow that is formed by the recorded instructions.
6430@end table
6431
6432@kindex record delete
6433@kindex rec del
6434@item record delete
6435When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
6436subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
6437from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
6438recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
6439
6440@kindex record instruction-history
6441@kindex rec instruction-history
6442@item record instruction-history
6443Disassembles instructions from the recorded execution log. By
6444default, ten instructions are disassembled. This can be changed using
6445the @code{set record instruction-history-size} command. Instructions
6446are printed in execution order. There are several ways to specify
6447what part of the execution log to disassemble:
6448
6449@table @code
6450@item record instruction-history @var{insn}
6451Disassembles ten instructions starting from instruction number
6452@var{insn}.
6453
6454@item record instruction-history @var{insn}, +/-@var{n}
6455Disassembles @var{n} instructions around instruction number
6456@var{insn}. If @var{n} is preceded with @code{+}, disassembles
6457@var{n} instructions after instruction number @var{insn}. If
6458@var{n} is preceded with @code{-}, disassembles @var{n}
6459instructions before instruction number @var{insn}.
6460
6461@item record instruction-history
6462Disassembles ten more instructions after the last disassembly.
6463
6464@item record instruction-history -
6465Disassembles ten more instructions before the last disassembly.
6466
6467@item record instruction-history @var{begin} @var{end}
6468Disassembles instructions beginning with instruction number
6469@var{begin} until instruction number @var{end}. The instruction
6470number @var{end} is included.
6471@end table
6472
6473This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6474
6475@kindex set record
6476@item set record instruction-history-size @var{size}
6477@itemx set record instruction-history-size unlimited
6478Define how many instructions to disassemble in the @code{record
6479instruction-history} command. The default value is 10.
6480A @var{size} of @code{unlimited} means unlimited instructions.
6481
6482@kindex show record
6483@item show record instruction-history-size
6484Show how many instructions to disassemble in the @code{record
6485instruction-history} command.
6486
6487@kindex record function-call-history
6488@kindex rec function-call-history
6489@item record function-call-history
6490Prints the execution history at function granularity. It prints one
6491line for each sequence of instructions that belong to the same
6492function giving the name of that function, the source lines
6493for this instruction sequence (if the @code{/l} modifier is
6494specified), and the instructions numbers that form the sequence (if
6495the @code{/i} modifier is specified). The function names are indented
6496to reflect the call stack depth if the @code{/c} modifier is
6497specified. The @code{/l}, @code{/i}, and @code{/c} modifiers can be
6498given together.
6499
6500@smallexample
6501(@value{GDBP}) @b{list 1, 10}
65021 void foo (void)
65032 @{
65043 @}
65054
65065 void bar (void)
65076 @{
65087 ...
65098 foo ();
65109 ...
651110 @}
6512(@value{GDBP}) @b{record function-call-history /ilc}
65131 bar inst 1,4 at foo.c:6,8
65142 foo inst 5,10 at foo.c:2,3
65153 bar inst 11,13 at foo.c:9,10
6516@end smallexample
6517
6518By default, ten lines are printed. This can be changed using the
6519@code{set record function-call-history-size} command. Functions are
6520printed in execution order. There are several ways to specify what
6521to print:
6522
6523@table @code
6524@item record function-call-history @var{func}
6525Prints ten functions starting from function number @var{func}.
6526
6527@item record function-call-history @var{func}, +/-@var{n}
6528Prints @var{n} functions around function number @var{func}. If
6529@var{n} is preceded with @code{+}, prints @var{n} functions after
6530function number @var{func}. If @var{n} is preceded with @code{-},
6531prints @var{n} functions before function number @var{func}.
6532
6533@item record function-call-history
6534Prints ten more functions after the last ten-line print.
6535
6536@item record function-call-history -
6537Prints ten more functions before the last ten-line print.
6538
6539@item record function-call-history @var{begin} @var{end}
6540Prints functions beginning with function number @var{begin} until
6541function number @var{end}. The function number @var{end} is included.
6542@end table
6543
6544This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6545
6546@item set record function-call-history-size @var{size}
6547@itemx set record function-call-history-size unlimited
6548Define how many lines to print in the
6549@code{record function-call-history} command. The default value is 10.
6550A size of @code{unlimited} means unlimited lines.
6551
6552@item show record function-call-history-size
6553Show how many lines to print in the
6554@code{record function-call-history} command.
6555@end table
6556
6557
6558@node Stack
6559@chapter Examining the Stack
6560
6561When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
6562stopped and how it got there.
6563
6564@cindex call stack
6565Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
6566is generated.
6567That information includes the location of the call in your program,
6568the arguments of the call,
6569and the local variables of the function being called.
6570The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
6571The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
6572stack}.
6573
6574When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
6575stack allow you to see all of this information.
6576
6577@cindex selected frame
6578One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
6579@value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
6580particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
6581your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
6582special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
6583interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6584
6585When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
6586currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
6587@code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
6588
6589@menu
6590* Frames:: Stack frames
6591* Backtrace:: Backtraces
6592* Frame Filter Management:: Managing frame filters
6593* Selection:: Selecting a frame
6594* Frame Info:: Information on a frame
6595
6596@end menu
6597
6598@node Frames
6599@section Stack Frames
6600
6601@cindex frame, definition
6602@cindex stack frame
6603The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
6604frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
6605with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
6606to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
6607which the function is executing.
6608
6609@cindex initial frame
6610@cindex outermost frame
6611@cindex innermost frame
6612When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
6613function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
6614@dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
6615made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
6616is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
6617the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
6618actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
6619recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
6620
6621@cindex frame pointer
6622Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
6623stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
6624kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
6625address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
6626in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
6627(@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
6628
6629@cindex frame number
6630@value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
6631zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
6632and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
6633they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
6634frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
6635
6636@c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
6637@c underflow problems.
6638@cindex frameless execution
6639Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
6640without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
6641@smallexample
6642@samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
6643@end smallexample
6644generates functions without a frame.)
6645This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
6646the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
6647with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
6648has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
6649it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
6650correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
6651no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
6652
6653@table @code
6654@kindex frame@r{, command}
6655@cindex current stack frame
6656@item frame @var{args}
6657The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
6658and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
6659address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
6660@code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
6661
6662@kindex select-frame
6663@cindex selecting frame silently
6664@item select-frame
6665The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
6666to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
6667@code{frame}.
6668@end table
6669
6670@node Backtrace
6671@section Backtraces
6672
6673@cindex traceback
6674@cindex call stack traces
6675A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
6676line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
6677frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
6678stack.
6679
6680@anchor{backtrace-command}
6681@table @code
6682@kindex backtrace
6683@kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
6684@item backtrace
6685@itemx bt
6686Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
6687frames in the stack.
6688
6689You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
6690character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
6691
6692@item backtrace @var{n}
6693@itemx bt @var{n}
6694Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
6695
6696@item backtrace -@var{n}
6697@itemx bt -@var{n}
6698Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
6699
6700@item backtrace full
6701@itemx bt full
6702@itemx bt full @var{n}
6703@itemx bt full -@var{n}
6704Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
6705number of frames to print, as described above.
6706
6707@item backtrace no-filters
6708@itemx bt no-filters
6709@itemx bt no-filters @var{n}
6710@itemx bt no-filters -@var{n}
6711@itemx bt no-filters full
6712@itemx bt no-filters full @var{n}
6713@itemx bt no-filters full -@var{n}
6714Do not run Python frame filters on this backtrace. @xref{Frame
6715Filter API}, for more information. Additionally use @ref{disable
6716frame-filter all} to turn off all frame filters. This is only
6717relevant when @value{GDBN} has been configured with @code{Python}
6718support.
6719@end table
6720
6721@kindex where
6722@kindex info stack
6723The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
6724are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
6725
6726@cindex multiple threads, backtrace
6727In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
6728backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
6729several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
6730(@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
6731apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
6732the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
6733multi-threaded program.
6734
6735Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
6736The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
6737print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
6738line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
6739counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
6740line number.
6741
6742Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
6743@samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
6744
6745@smallexample
6746@group
6747#0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6748 at builtin.c:993
6749#1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
6750#2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
6751 at macro.c:71
6752(More stack frames follow...)
6753@end group
6754@end smallexample
6755
6756@noindent
6757The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
6758value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
6759code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
6760
6761@noindent
6762The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
6763@code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
6764only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
6765@kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
6766on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
6767
6768@cindex optimized out, in backtrace
6769@cindex function call arguments, optimized out
6770If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
6771optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
6772never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
6773passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
6774in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
6775arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
6776such a backtrace might look like:
6777
6778@smallexample
6779@group
6780#0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6781 at builtin.c:993
6782#1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<optimized out>) at macro.c:242
6783#2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
6784 at macro.c:71
6785(More stack frames follow...)
6786@end group
6787@end smallexample
6788
6789@noindent
6790The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
6791shown as @samp{<optimized out>}.
6792
6793If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
6794either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
6795you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
6796
6797@cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
6798@cindex program entry point
6799@cindex startup code, and backtrace
6800Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
6801libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
6802@code{main}@footnote{
6803Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
6804environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
6805entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
6806When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
6807it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
6808system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
6809
6810If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
6811in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
6812
6813@table @code
6814@item set backtrace past-main
6815@itemx set backtrace past-main on
6816@kindex set backtrace
6817Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
6818
6819@item set backtrace past-main off
6820Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
6821default.
6822
6823@item show backtrace past-main
6824@kindex show backtrace
6825Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
6826
6827@item set backtrace past-entry
6828@itemx set backtrace past-entry on
6829Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
6830This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
6831and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
6832
6833@item set backtrace past-entry off
6834Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
6835application. This is the default.
6836
6837@item show backtrace past-entry
6838Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
6839
6840@item set backtrace limit @var{n}
6841@itemx set backtrace limit 0
6842@itemx set backtrace limit unlimited
6843@cindex backtrace limit
6844Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of @code{unlimited}
6845or zero means unlimited levels.
6846
6847@item show backtrace limit
6848Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
6849@end table
6850
6851You can control how file names are displayed.
6852
6853@table @code
6854@item set filename-display
6855@itemx set filename-display relative
6856@cindex filename-display
6857Display file names relative to the compilation directory. This is the default.
6858
6859@item set filename-display basename
6860Display only basename of a filename.
6861
6862@item set filename-display absolute
6863Display an absolute filename.
6864
6865@item show filename-display
6866Show the current way to display filenames.
6867@end table
6868
6869@node Frame Filter Management
6870@section Management of Frame Filters.
6871@cindex managing frame filters
6872
6873Frame filters are Python based utilities to manage and decorate the
6874output of frames. @xref{Frame Filter API}, for further information.
6875
6876Managing frame filters is performed by several commands available
6877within @value{GDBN}, detailed here.
6878
6879@table @code
6880@kindex info frame-filter
6881@item info frame-filter
6882Print a list of installed frame filters from all dictionaries, showing
6883their name, priority and enabled status.
6884
6885@kindex disable frame-filter
6886@anchor{disable frame-filter all}
6887@item disable frame-filter @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
6888Disable a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6889@var{filter-dictionary}, or @code{all}, and @var{filter-name}.
6890@var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{all}, @code{global},
6891@code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6892dictionary resides. When @code{all} is specified, all frame filters
6893across all dictionaries are disabled. @var{filter-name} is the name
6894of the frame filter and is used when @code{all} is not the option for
6895@var{filter-dictionary}. A disabled frame-filter is not deleted, it
6896may be enabled again later.
6897
6898@kindex enable frame-filter
6899@item enable frame-filter @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
6900Enable a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6901@var{filter-dictionary}, or @code{all}, and @var{filter-name}.
6902@var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{all}, @code{global},
6903@code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6904dictionary resides. When @code{all} is specified, all frame filters across
6905all dictionaries are enabled. @var{filter-name} is the name of the frame
6906filter and is used when @code{all} is not the option for
6907@var{filter-dictionary}.
6908
6909Example:
6910
6911@smallexample
6912(gdb) info frame-filter
6913
6914global frame-filters:
6915 Priority Enabled Name
6916 1000 No PrimaryFunctionFilter
6917 100 Yes Reverse
6918
6919progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6920 Priority Enabled Name
6921 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6922
6923objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6924 Priority Enabled Name
6925 999 Yes BuildProgra Filter
6926
6927(gdb) disable frame-filter /build/test BuildProgramFilter
6928(gdb) info frame-filter
6929
6930global frame-filters:
6931 Priority Enabled Name
6932 1000 No PrimaryFunctionFilter
6933 100 Yes Reverse
6934
6935progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6936 Priority Enabled Name
6937 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6938
6939objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6940 Priority Enabled Name
6941 999 No BuildProgramFilter
6942
6943(gdb) enable frame-filter global PrimaryFunctionFilter
6944(gdb) info frame-filter
6945
6946global frame-filters:
6947 Priority Enabled Name
6948 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
6949 100 Yes Reverse
6950
6951progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6952 Priority Enabled Name
6953 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6954
6955objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6956 Priority Enabled Name
6957 999 No BuildProgramFilter
6958@end smallexample
6959
6960@kindex set frame-filter priority
6961@item set frame-filter priority @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name} @var{priority}
6962Set the @var{priority} of a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6963@var{filter-dictionary}, and the frame filter name matching
6964@var{filter-name}. @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{global},
6965@code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6966dictionary resides. @var{priority} is an integer.
6967
6968@kindex show frame-filter priority
6969@item show frame-filter priority @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
6970Show the @var{priority} of a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6971@var{filter-dictionary}, and the frame filter name matching
6972@var{filter-name}. @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{global},
6973@code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6974dictionary resides.
6975
6976Example:
6977
6978@smallexample
6979(gdb) info frame-filter
6980
6981global frame-filters:
6982 Priority Enabled Name
6983 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
6984 100 Yes Reverse
6985
6986progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6987 Priority Enabled Name
6988 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6989
6990objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6991 Priority Enabled Name
6992 999 No BuildProgramFilter
6993
6994(gdb) set frame-filter priority global Reverse 50
6995(gdb) info frame-filter
6996
6997global frame-filters:
6998 Priority Enabled Name
6999 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
7000 50 Yes Reverse
7001
7002progspace /build/test frame-filters:
7003 Priority Enabled Name
7004 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
7005
7006objfile /build/test frame-filters:
7007 Priority Enabled Name
7008 999 No BuildProgramFilter
7009@end smallexample
7010@end table
7011
7012@node Selection
7013@section Selecting a Frame
7014
7015Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
7016whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
7017selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
7018of the stack frame just selected.
7019
7020@table @code
7021@kindex frame@r{, selecting}
7022@kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
7023@item frame @var{n}
7024@itemx f @var{n}
7025Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
7026(currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
7027innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
7028@code{main}.
7029
7030@item frame @var{addr}
7031@itemx f @var{addr}
7032Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
7033chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
7034impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
7035addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
7036switches between them.
7037
7038On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
7039select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
7040
7041On the @acronym{MIPS} and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
7042pointer and a program counter.
7043
7044On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
7045pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
7046
7047@kindex up
7048@item up @var{n}
7049Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
7050advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
7051that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
7052
7053@kindex down
7054@kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
7055@item down @var{n}
7056Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
7057advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
7058that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
7059abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
7060@end table
7061
7062All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
7063frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
7064arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
7065frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
7066
7067@need 1000
7068For example:
7069
7070@smallexample
7071@group
7072(@value{GDBP}) up
7073#1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
7074 at env.c:10
707510 read_input_file (argv[i]);
7076@end group
7077@end smallexample
7078
7079After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
7080prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
7081You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
7082editing program by typing @code{edit}.
7083@xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
7084for details.
7085
7086@table @code
7087@kindex down-silently
7088@kindex up-silently
7089@item up-silently @var{n}
7090@itemx down-silently @var{n}
7091These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
7092respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
7093causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
7094in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
7095distracting.
7096@end table
7097
7098@node Frame Info
7099@section Information About a Frame
7100
7101There are several other commands to print information about the selected
7102stack frame.
7103
7104@table @code
7105@item frame
7106@itemx f
7107When used without any argument, this command does not change which
7108frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
7109selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
7110argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
7111@xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
7112
7113@kindex info frame
7114@kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
7115@item info frame
7116@itemx info f
7117This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
7118including:
7119
7120@itemize @bullet
7121@item
7122the address of the frame
7123@item
7124the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
7125@item
7126the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
7127@item
7128the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
7129@item
7130the address of the frame's arguments
7131@item
7132the address of the frame's local variables
7133@item
7134the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
7135@item
7136which registers were saved in the frame
7137@end itemize
7138
7139@noindent The verbose description is useful when
7140something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
7141the usual conventions.
7142
7143@item info frame @var{addr}
7144@itemx info f @var{addr}
7145Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
7146selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
7147command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
7148architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
7149@xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
7150
7151@kindex info args
7152@item info args
7153Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
7154
7155@item info locals
7156@kindex info locals
7157Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
7158line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
7159accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
7160
7161@end table
7162
7163
7164@node Source
7165@chapter Examining Source Files
7166
7167@value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
7168information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
7169used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
7170the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
7171(@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
7172execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
7173source files by explicit command.
7174
7175If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
7176prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
7177@value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
7178
7179@menu
7180* List:: Printing source lines
7181* Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
7182* Edit:: Editing source files
7183* Search:: Searching source files
7184* Source Path:: Specifying source directories
7185* Machine Code:: Source and machine code
7186@end menu
7187
7188@node List
7189@section Printing Source Lines
7190
7191@kindex list
7192@kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
7193To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
7194(abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
7195There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
7196print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
7197
7198Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
7199
7200@table @code
7201@item list @var{linenum}
7202Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
7203current source file.
7204
7205@item list @var{function}
7206Print lines centered around the beginning of function
7207@var{function}.
7208
7209@item list
7210Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
7211@code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
7212printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
7213as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
7214Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
7215
7216@item list -
7217Print lines just before the lines last printed.
7218@end table
7219
7220@cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
7221By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
7222the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
7223
7224@table @code
7225@kindex set listsize
7226@item set listsize @var{count}
7227@itemx set listsize unlimited
7228Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
7229the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
7230Setting @var{count} to @code{unlimited} or 0 means there's no limit.
7231
7232@kindex show listsize
7233@item show listsize
7234Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
7235@end table
7236
7237Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
7238so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
7239than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
7240argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
7241each repetition moves up in the source file.
7242
7243In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
7244@dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
7245of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
7246to specify some source line.
7247
7248Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
7249
7250@table @code
7251@item list @var{linespec}
7252Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
7253
7254@item list @var{first},@var{last}
7255Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
7256linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
7257source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
7258the same source file as the first linespec.
7259
7260@item list ,@var{last}
7261Print lines ending with @var{last}.
7262
7263@item list @var{first},
7264Print lines starting with @var{first}.
7265
7266@item list +
7267Print lines just after the lines last printed.
7268
7269@item list -
7270Print lines just before the lines last printed.
7271
7272@item list
7273As described in the preceding table.
7274@end table
7275
7276@node Specify Location
7277@section Specifying a Location
7278@cindex specifying location
7279@cindex linespec
7280
7281Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
7282of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
7283debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
7284for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
7285
7286Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
7287@value{GDBN} understands:
7288
7289@table @code
7290@item @var{linenum}
7291Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
7292
7293@item -@var{offset}
7294@itemx +@var{offset}
7295Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
7296line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
7297printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
7298execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
7299(@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
7300used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
7301this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
7302linespec.
7303
7304@item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
7305Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
7306If @var{filename} is a relative file name, then it will match any
7307source file name with the same trailing components. For example, if
7308@var{filename} is @samp{gcc/expr.c}, then it will match source file
7309name of @file{/build/trunk/gcc/expr.c}, but not
7310@file{/build/trunk/libcpp/expr.c} or @file{/build/trunk/gcc/x-expr.c}.
7311
7312@item @var{function}
7313Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
7314For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
7315
7316@item @var{function}:@var{label}
7317Specifies the line where @var{label} appears in @var{function}.
7318
7319@item @var{filename}:@var{function}
7320Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
7321in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
7322function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
7323functions in different source files.
7324
7325@item @var{label}
7326Specifies the line at which the label named @var{label} appears.
7327@value{GDBN} searches for the label in the function corresponding to
7328the currently selected stack frame. If there is no current selected
7329stack frame (for instance, if the inferior is not running), then
7330@value{GDBN} will not search for a label.
7331
7332@item *@var{address}
7333Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
7334commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
7335line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
7336breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
7337parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
7338source files.
7339
7340Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
7341language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
7342address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
7343semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
7344that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
7345of @var{address}:
7346
7347@table @code
7348@item @var{expression}
7349Any expression valid in the current working language.
7350
7351@item @var{funcaddr}
7352An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
7353C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
7354simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
7355of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
7356@code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
7357(although the Pascal form also works).
7358
7359This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
7360before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
7361
7362@item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
7363Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
7364file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
7365specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
7366functions with identical names in different source files.
7367@end table
7368
7369@cindex breakpoint at static probe point
7370@item -pstap|-probe-stap @r{[}@var{objfile}:@r{[}@var{provider}:@r{]}@r{]}@var{name}
7371The @sc{gnu}/Linux tool @code{SystemTap} provides a way for
7372applications to embed static probes. @xref{Static Probe Points}, for more
7373information on finding and using static probes. This form of linespec
7374specifies the location of such a static probe.
7375
7376If @var{objfile} is given, only probes coming from that shared library
7377or executable matching @var{objfile} as a regular expression are considered.
7378If @var{provider} is given, then only probes from that provider are considered.
7379If several probes match the spec, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at
7380each one of those probes.
7381
7382@end table
7383
7384
7385@node Edit
7386@section Editing Source Files
7387@cindex editing source files
7388
7389@kindex edit
7390@kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
7391To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
7392The editing program of your choice
7393is invoked with the current line set to
7394the active line in the program.
7395Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
7396want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
7397
7398@table @code
7399@item edit @var{location}
7400Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
7401that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
7402specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
7403of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
7404command most commonly used:
7405
7406@table @code
7407@item edit @var{number}
7408Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
7409
7410@item edit @var{function}
7411Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
7412@end table
7413
7414@end table
7415
7416@subsection Choosing your Editor
7417You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
7418@footnote{
7419The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
7420following command-line syntax:
7421@smallexample
7422ex +@var{number} file
7423@end smallexample
7424The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
7425the file where to start editing.}.
7426By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
7427by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
7428@value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
7429@code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
7430@smallexample
7431EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi
7432export EDITOR
7433gdb @dots{}
7434@end smallexample
7435or in the @code{csh} shell,
7436@smallexample
7437setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
7438gdb @dots{}
7439@end smallexample
7440
7441@node Search
7442@section Searching Source Files
7443@cindex searching source files
7444
7445There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
7446regular expression.
7447
7448@table @code
7449@kindex search
7450@kindex forward-search
7451@kindex fo @r{(@code{forward-search})}
7452@item forward-search @var{regexp}
7453@itemx search @var{regexp}
7454The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
7455starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
7456@var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
7457synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
7458@code{fo}.
7459
7460@kindex reverse-search
7461@item reverse-search @var{regexp}
7462The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
7463with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
7464for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
7465this command as @code{rev}.
7466@end table
7467
7468@node Source Path
7469@section Specifying Source Directories
7470
7471@cindex source path
7472@cindex directories for source files
7473Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
7474files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
7475the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
7476session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
7477this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
7478it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
7479in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
7480
7481For example, suppose an executable references the file
7482@file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
7483@file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
7484fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
7485fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
7486message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
7487source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
7488Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
7489the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
7490@file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
7491@file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
7492
7493Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
7494names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
7495instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
7496is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
7497@file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
7498that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
7499
7500Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
7501source files.
7502
7503Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
7504any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
7505each line is in the file.
7506
7507@kindex directory
7508@kindex dir
7509When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
7510and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
7511To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
7512
7513The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
7514script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
7515
7516In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
7517that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
7518rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
7519debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
7520directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
7521two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
7522the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
7523In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
7524@var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
7525of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
7526source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
7527name to look up the sources.
7528
7529Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
7530moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
7531@value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
7532@file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
7533@file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
7534of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
7535substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
7536(@pxref{set substitute-path}).
7537
7538To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
7539@var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
7540For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
7541@file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
7542not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
7543is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
7544not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
7545
7546In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
7547command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
7548the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
7549subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
7550subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
7551preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
7552allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
7553command.
7554
7555@code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
7556The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
7557longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
7558the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
7559for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
7560located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
7561method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
7562
7563@cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
7564@cindex default source path substitution
7565You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
7566configuring @value{GDBN} with the
7567@samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
7568should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
7569prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
7570directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
7571automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
7572location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
7573with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
7574together.
7575
7576@table @code
7577@item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
7578@item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
7579Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
7580directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
7581(@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
7582part of absolute file names) or
7583whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
7584path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
7585
7586@kindex cdir
7587@kindex cwd
7588@vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
7589@vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
7590@cindex compilation directory
7591@cindex current directory
7592@cindex working directory
7593@cindex directory, current
7594@cindex directory, compilation
7595You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
7596directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
7597working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
7598tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
7599session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
7600directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
7601
7602@item directory
7603Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
7604
7605@c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
7606@c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
7607
7608@item set directories @var{path-list}
7609@kindex set directories
7610Set the source path to @var{path-list}.
7611@samp{$cdir:$cwd} are added if missing.
7612
7613@item show directories
7614@kindex show directories
7615Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
7616
7617@anchor{set substitute-path}
7618@item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
7619@kindex set substitute-path
7620Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
7621current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
7622@var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
7623
7624For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
7625@file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
7626
7627@smallexample
7628(@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
7629@end smallexample
7630
7631@noindent
7632will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
7633@samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
7634@file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
7635
7636In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
7637the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
7638defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
7639the substitution.
7640
7641For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
7642
7643@smallexample
7644(@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
7645(@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
7646@end smallexample
7647
7648@noindent
7649@value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
7650@file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
7651use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
7652@file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
7653
7654
7655@item unset substitute-path [path]
7656@kindex unset substitute-path
7657If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
7658for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
7659A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
7660
7661If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
7662
7663@item show substitute-path [path]
7664@kindex show substitute-path
7665If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
7666which would rewrite that path, if any.
7667
7668If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
7669rules.
7670
7671@end table
7672
7673If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
7674interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
7675versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
7676
7677@enumerate
7678@item
7679Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
7680
7681@item
7682Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
7683directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
7684directories in one command.
7685@end enumerate
7686
7687@node Machine Code
7688@section Source and Machine Code
7689@cindex source line and its code address
7690
7691You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
7692addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
7693a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
7694@code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
7695source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
7696mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
7697line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
7698well as hex.
7699
7700@table @code
7701@kindex info line
7702@item info line @var{linespec}
7703Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
7704source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
7705the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
7706@end table
7707
7708For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
7709the object code for the first line of function
7710@code{m4_changequote}:
7711
7712@c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
7713@c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
7714@smallexample
7715(@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
7716Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
7717@end smallexample
7718
7719@noindent
7720@cindex code address and its source line
7721We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
7722@var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
7723@smallexample
7724(@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
7725Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
7726@end smallexample
7727
7728@cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
7729@cindex @code{x} command, default address
7730@kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
7731After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
7732is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
7733sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
7734,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
7735convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7736Variables}).
7737
7738@table @code
7739@kindex disassemble
7740@cindex assembly instructions
7741@cindex instructions, assembly
7742@cindex machine instructions
7743@cindex listing machine instructions
7744@item disassemble
7745@itemx disassemble /m
7746@itemx disassemble /r
7747This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
7748instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
7749the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
7750in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
7751The default memory range is the function surrounding the
7752program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
7753command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
7754surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
7755be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
7756arguments specify a range of addresses to dump, in one of two forms:
7757
7758@table @code
7759@item @var{start},@var{end}
7760the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to @var{end} (exclusive)
7761@item @var{start},+@var{length}
7762the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to
7763@code{@var{start}+@var{length}} (exclusive).
7764@end table
7765
7766@noindent
7767When 2 arguments are specified, the name of the function is also
7768printed (since there could be several functions in the given range).
7769
7770The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
7771@samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
7772
7773If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
7774the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
7775@end table
7776
7777The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
7778HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
7779
7780@smallexample
7781(@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
7782Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
7783 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
7784 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
7785 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7786 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
7787 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
7788 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
7789 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
7790 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7791End of assembler dump.
7792@end smallexample
7793
7794Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
7795program is stopped just after function prologue:
7796
7797@smallexample
7798(@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
7799Dump of assembler code for function main:
78005 @{
7801 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
7802 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
7803 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
7804 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
7805 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
7806
78076 printf ("Hello.\n");
7808=> 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
7809 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
7810
78117 return 0;
78128 @}
7813 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
7814 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
7815 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
7816
7817End of assembler dump.
7818@end smallexample
7819
7820Here is another example showing raw instructions in hex for AMD x86-64,
7821
7822@smallexample
7823(gdb) disas /r 0x400281,+10
7824Dump of assembler code from 0x400281 to 0x40028b:
7825 0x0000000000400281: 38 36 cmp %dh,(%rsi)
7826 0x0000000000400283: 2d 36 34 2e 73 sub $0x732e3436,%eax
7827 0x0000000000400288: 6f outsl %ds:(%rsi),(%dx)
7828 0x0000000000400289: 2e 32 00 xor %cs:(%rax),%al
7829End of assembler dump.
7830@end smallexample
7831
7832Addresses cannot be specified as a linespec (@pxref{Specify Location}).
7833So, for example, if you want to disassemble function @code{bar}
7834in file @file{foo.c}, you must type @samp{disassemble 'foo.c'::bar}
7835and not @samp{disassemble foo.c:bar}.
7836
7837Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
7838mnemonics or other syntax.
7839
7840For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
7841instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
7842libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
7843location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
7844might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
7845
7846@table @code
7847@kindex set disassembly-flavor
7848@cindex Intel disassembly flavor
7849@cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
7850@item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
7851Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
7852program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
7853
7854Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
7855can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
7856The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
7857assemblers for x86-based targets.
7858
7859@kindex show disassembly-flavor
7860@item show disassembly-flavor
7861Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
7862@end table
7863
7864@table @code
7865@kindex set disassemble-next-line
7866@kindex show disassemble-next-line
7867@item set disassemble-next-line
7868@itemx show disassemble-next-line
7869Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
7870line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
7871display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
7872program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
7873displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
7874possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
7875(e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
7876info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
7877next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
7878AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
7879if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
7880@value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
7881with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
7882OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
7883instruction.
7884@end table
7885
7886
7887@node Data
7888@chapter Examining Data
7889
7890@cindex printing data
7891@cindex examining data
7892@kindex print
7893@kindex inspect
7894The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
7895command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
7896evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
7897program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
7898Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
7899Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
7900
7901@table @code
7902@item print @var{expr}
7903@itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
7904@var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
7905value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
7906you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
7907@var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
7908Formats}.
7909
7910@item print
7911@itemx print /@var{f}
7912@cindex reprint the last value
7913If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
7914@dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
7915conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
7916@end table
7917
7918A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
7919It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
7920specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7921
7922If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
7923fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
7924command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
7925Table}.
7926
7927@cindex exploring hierarchical data structures
7928@kindex explore
7929Another way of examining values of expressions and type information is
7930through the Python extension command @code{explore} (available only if
7931the @value{GDBN} build is configured with @code{--with-python}). It
7932offers an interactive way to start at the highest level (or, the most
7933abstract level) of the data type of an expression (or, the data type
7934itself) and explore all the way down to leaf scalar values/fields
7935embedded in the higher level data types.
7936
7937@table @code
7938@item explore @var{arg}
7939@var{arg} is either an expression (in the source language), or a type
7940visible in the current context of the program being debugged.
7941@end table
7942
7943The working of the @code{explore} command can be illustrated with an
7944example. If a data type @code{struct ComplexStruct} is defined in your
7945C program as
7946
7947@smallexample
7948struct SimpleStruct
7949@{
7950 int i;
7951 double d;
7952@};
7953
7954struct ComplexStruct
7955@{
7956 struct SimpleStruct *ss_p;
7957 int arr[10];
7958@};
7959@end smallexample
7960
7961@noindent
7962followed by variable declarations as
7963
7964@smallexample
7965struct SimpleStruct ss = @{ 10, 1.11 @};
7966struct ComplexStruct cs = @{ &ss, @{ 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 @} @};
7967@end smallexample
7968
7969@noindent
7970then, the value of the variable @code{cs} can be explored using the
7971@code{explore} command as follows.
7972
7973@smallexample
7974(gdb) explore cs
7975The value of `cs' is a struct/class of type `struct ComplexStruct' with
7976the following fields:
7977
7978 ss_p = <Enter 0 to explore this field of type `struct SimpleStruct *'>
7979 arr = <Enter 1 to explore this field of type `int [10]'>
7980
7981Enter the field number of choice:
7982@end smallexample
7983
7984@noindent
7985Since the fields of @code{cs} are not scalar values, you are being
7986prompted to chose the field you want to explore. Let's say you choose
7987the field @code{ss_p} by entering @code{0}. Then, since this field is a
7988pointer, you will be asked if it is pointing to a single value. From
7989the declaration of @code{cs} above, it is indeed pointing to a single
7990value, hence you enter @code{y}. If you enter @code{n}, then you will
7991be asked if it were pointing to an array of values, in which case this
7992field will be explored as if it were an array.
7993
7994@smallexample
7995`cs.ss_p' is a pointer to a value of type `struct SimpleStruct'
7996Continue exploring it as a pointer to a single value [y/n]: y
7997The value of `*(cs.ss_p)' is a struct/class of type `struct
7998SimpleStruct' with the following fields:
7999
8000 i = 10 .. (Value of type `int')
8001 d = 1.1100000000000001 .. (Value of type `double')
8002
8003Press enter to return to parent value:
8004@end smallexample
8005
8006@noindent
8007If the field @code{arr} of @code{cs} was chosen for exploration by
8008entering @code{1} earlier, then since it is as array, you will be
8009prompted to enter the index of the element in the array that you want
8010to explore.
8011
8012@smallexample
8013`cs.arr' is an array of `int'.
8014Enter the index of the element you want to explore in `cs.arr': 5
8015
8016`(cs.arr)[5]' is a scalar value of type `int'.
8017
8018(cs.arr)[5] = 4
8019
8020Press enter to return to parent value:
8021@end smallexample
8022
8023In general, at any stage of exploration, you can go deeper towards the
8024leaf values by responding to the prompts appropriately, or hit the
8025return key to return to the enclosing data structure (the @i{higher}
8026level data structure).
8027
8028Similar to exploring values, you can use the @code{explore} command to
8029explore types. Instead of specifying a value (which is typically a
8030variable name or an expression valid in the current context of the
8031program being debugged), you specify a type name. If you consider the
8032same example as above, your can explore the type
8033@code{struct ComplexStruct} by passing the argument
8034@code{struct ComplexStruct} to the @code{explore} command.
8035
8036@smallexample
8037(gdb) explore struct ComplexStruct
8038@end smallexample
8039
8040@noindent
8041By responding to the prompts appropriately in the subsequent interactive
8042session, you can explore the type @code{struct ComplexStruct} in a
8043manner similar to how the value @code{cs} was explored in the above
8044example.
8045
8046The @code{explore} command also has two sub-commands,
8047@code{explore value} and @code{explore type}. The former sub-command is
8048a way to explicitly specify that value exploration of the argument is
8049being invoked, while the latter is a way to explicitly specify that type
8050exploration of the argument is being invoked.
8051
8052@table @code
8053@item explore value @var{expr}
8054@cindex explore value
8055This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the value of the
8056expression @var{expr} (if @var{expr} is an expression valid in the
8057current context of the program being debugged). The behavior of this
8058command is identical to that of the behavior of the @code{explore}
8059command being passed the argument @var{expr}.
8060
8061@item explore type @var{arg}
8062@cindex explore type
8063This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the type of @var{arg} (if
8064@var{arg} is a type visible in the current context of program being
8065debugged), or the type of the value/expression @var{arg} (if @var{arg}
8066is an expression valid in the current context of the program being
8067debugged). If @var{arg} is a type, then the behavior of this command is
8068identical to that of the @code{explore} command being passed the
8069argument @var{arg}. If @var{arg} is an expression, then the behavior of
8070this command will be identical to that of the @code{explore} command
8071being passed the type of @var{arg} as the argument.
8072@end table
8073
8074@menu
8075* Expressions:: Expressions
8076* Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
8077* Variables:: Program variables
8078* Arrays:: Artificial arrays
8079* Output Formats:: Output formats
8080* Memory:: Examining memory
8081* Auto Display:: Automatic display
8082* Print Settings:: Print settings
8083* Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
8084* Value History:: Value history
8085* Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
8086* Convenience Funs:: Convenience functions
8087* Registers:: Registers
8088* Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
8089* Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
8090* OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
8091* Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
8092* Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
8093* Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
8094* Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
8095 character set than GDB does
8096* Caching Target Data:: Data caching for targets
8097* Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
8098@end menu
8099
8100@node Expressions
8101@section Expressions
8102
8103@cindex expressions
8104@code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
8105compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
8106by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
8107@value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
8108casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
8109you compiled your program to include this information; see
8110@ref{Compilation}.
8111
8112@cindex arrays in expressions
8113@value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
8114the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
8115you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
8116of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
8117to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
8118is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
8119
8120Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
8121this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
8122Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
8123languages.
8124
8125In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
8126expressions regardless of your programming language.
8127
8128@cindex casts, in expressions
8129Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
8130useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
8131at that address in memory.
8132@c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
8133
8134@value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
8135to programming languages:
8136
8137@table @code
8138@item @@
8139@samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
8140@xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
8141
8142@item ::
8143@samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
8144function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
8145
8146@cindex @{@var{type}@}
8147@cindex type casting memory
8148@cindex memory, viewing as typed object
8149@cindex casts, to view memory
8150@item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
8151Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
8152memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
8153pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
8154a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
8155normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
8156@end table
8157
8158@node Ambiguous Expressions
8159@section Ambiguous Expressions
8160@cindex ambiguous expressions
8161
8162Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
8163some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
8164a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
8165different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
8166involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
8167templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
8168the same function name being defined in different contexts.
8169
8170In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
8171the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
8172can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
8173@kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
8174qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
8175as well.
8176
8177When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
8178has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
8179possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
8180The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
8181aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
8182used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
8183menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
8184choices.
8185
8186For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
8187breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
8188We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
8189
8190@c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
8191@smallexample
8192@group
8193(@value{GDBP}) b String::after
8194[0] cancel
8195[1] all
8196[2] file:String.cc; line number:867
8197[3] file:String.cc; line number:860
8198[4] file:String.cc; line number:875
8199[5] file:String.cc; line number:853
8200[6] file:String.cc; line number:846
8201[7] file:String.cc; line number:735
8202> 2 4 6
8203Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
8204Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
8205Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
8206Multiple breakpoints were set.
8207Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
8208 breakpoints.
8209(@value{GDBP})
8210@end group
8211@end smallexample
8212
8213@table @code
8214@kindex set multiple-symbols
8215@item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
8216@cindex multiple-symbols menu
8217
8218This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
8219is ambiguous.
8220
8221By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
8222the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
8223automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
8224a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
8225inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
8226then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
8227For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
8228in the use of the menu.
8229
8230When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
8231when an ambiguity is detected.
8232
8233Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
8234an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
8235
8236@kindex show multiple-symbols
8237@item show multiple-symbols
8238Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
8239@end table
8240
8241@node Variables
8242@section Program Variables
8243
8244The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
8245in your program.
8246
8247Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
8248(@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
8249
8250@itemize @bullet
8251@item
8252global (or file-static)
8253@end itemize
8254
8255@noindent or
8256
8257@itemize @bullet
8258@item
8259visible according to the scope rules of the
8260programming language from the point of execution in that frame
8261@end itemize
8262
8263@noindent This means that in the function
8264
8265@smallexample
8266foo (a)
8267 int a;
8268@{
8269 bar (a);
8270 @{
8271 int b = test ();
8272 bar (b);
8273 @}
8274@}
8275@end smallexample
8276
8277@noindent
8278you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
8279executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
8280examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
8281the block where @code{b} is declared.
8282
8283@cindex variable name conflict
8284There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
8285scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
8286in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
8287function with the same name (in different source files). If that
8288happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
8289you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file by
8290using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
8291
8292@cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
8293@ifnotinfo
8294@c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
8295@cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
8296@end ifnotinfo
8297@smallexample
8298@var{file}::@var{variable}
8299@var{function}::@var{variable}
8300@end smallexample
8301
8302@noindent
8303Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
8304static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
8305make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
8306to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
8307
8308@smallexample
8309(@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
8310@end smallexample
8311
8312The @code{::} notation is normally used for referring to
8313static variables, since you typically disambiguate uses of local variables
8314in functions by selecting the appropriate frame and using the
8315simple name of the variable. However, you may also use this notation
8316to refer to local variables in frames enclosing the selected frame:
8317
8318@smallexample
8319void
8320foo (int a)
8321@{
8322 if (a < 10)
8323 bar (a);
8324 else
8325 process (a); /* Stop here */
8326@}
8327
8328int
8329bar (int a)
8330@{
8331 foo (a + 5);
8332@}
8333@end smallexample
8334
8335@noindent
8336For example, if there is a breakpoint at the commented line,
8337here is what you might see
8338when the program stops after executing the call @code{bar(0)}:
8339
8340@smallexample
8341(@value{GDBP}) p a
8342$1 = 10
8343(@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
8344$2 = 5
8345(@value{GDBP}) up 2
8346#2 0x080483d0 in foo (a=5) at foobar.c:12
8347(@value{GDBP}) p a
8348$3 = 5
8349(@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
8350$4 = 0
8351@end smallexample
8352
8353@cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
8354These uses of @samp{::} are very rarely in conflict with the very
8355similar use of the same notation in C@t{++}. When they are in
8356conflict, the C@t{++} meaning takes precedence; however, this can be
8357overridden by quoting the file or function name with single quotes.
8358
8359For example, suppose the program is stopped in a method of a class
8360that has a field named @code{includefile}, and there is also an
8361include file named @file{includefile} that defines a variable,
8362@code{some_global}.
8363
8364@smallexample
8365(@value{GDBP}) p includefile
8366$1 = 23
8367(@value{GDBP}) p includefile::some_global
8368A syntax error in expression, near `'.
8369(@value{GDBP}) p 'includefile'::some_global
8370$2 = 27
8371@end smallexample
8372
8373@cindex wrong values
8374@cindex variable values, wrong
8375@cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
8376@cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
8377@quotation
8378@emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
8379wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
8380scope, and just before exit.
8381@end quotation
8382You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
8383This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
8384set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
8385stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
8386values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
8387also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
8388after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
8389variable definitions may be gone.
8390
8391This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
8392To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
8393when compiling.
8394
8395@cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
8396Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
8397unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
8398opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
8399offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
8400might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
8401happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
8402
8403@smallexample
8404No symbol "foo" in current context.
8405@end smallexample
8406
8407To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
8408different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
8409formats. @xref{Compilation}, for more information on choosing compiler
8410options. @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug
8411info formats that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
8412
8413If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
8414@value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
8415by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
8416type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
8417
8418If you append @kbd{@@entry} string to a function parameter name you get its
8419value at the time the function got called. If the value is not available an
8420error message is printed. Entry values are available only with some compilers.
8421Entry values are normally also printed at the function parameter list according
8422to @ref{set print entry-values}.
8423
8424@smallexample
8425Breakpoint 1, d (i=30) at gdb.base/entry-value.c:29
842629 i++;
8427(gdb) next
842830 e (i);
8429(gdb) print i
8430$1 = 31
8431(gdb) print i@@entry
8432$2 = 30
8433@end smallexample
8434
8435Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
8436signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
8437printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
8438@code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
8439defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
8440For program code
8441
8442@smallexample
8443char var0[] = "A";
8444signed char var1[] = "A";
8445@end smallexample
8446
8447You get during debugging
8448@smallexample
8449(gdb) print var0
8450$1 = "A"
8451(gdb) print var1
8452$2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
8453@end smallexample
8454
8455@node Arrays
8456@section Artificial Arrays
8457
8458@cindex artificial array
8459@cindex arrays
8460@kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
8461It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
8462same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
8463dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
8464program.
8465
8466You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
8467@dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
8468operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
8469and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
8470of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
8471the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
8472argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
8473following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
8474example. If a program says
8475
8476@smallexample
8477int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
8478@end smallexample
8479
8480@noindent
8481you can print the contents of @code{array} with
8482
8483@smallexample
8484p *array@@len
8485@end smallexample
8486
8487The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
8488with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
8489subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
8490Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
8491(@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
8492
8493Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
8494This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
8495The value need not be in memory:
8496@smallexample
8497(@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
8498$1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
8499@end smallexample
8500
8501As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
8502@samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
8503the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
8504@smallexample
8505(@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
8506$2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
8507@end smallexample
8508
8509Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
8510moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
8511actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
8512of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
8513to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
8514Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
8515interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
8516instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
8517structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
8518in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
8519
8520@smallexample
8521set $i = 0
8522p dtab[$i++]->fv
8523@key{RET}
8524@key{RET}
8525@dots{}
8526@end smallexample
8527
8528@node Output Formats
8529@section Output Formats
8530
8531@cindex formatted output
8532@cindex output formats
8533By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
8534this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
8535in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
8536at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
8537these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
8538
8539The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
8540already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
8541@code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
8542letters supported are:
8543
8544@table @code
8545@item x
8546Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
8547hexadecimal.
8548
8549@item d
8550Print as integer in signed decimal.
8551
8552@item u
8553Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
8554
8555@item o
8556Print as integer in octal.
8557
8558@item t
8559Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
8560@footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
8561used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
8562see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
8563
8564@item a
8565@cindex unknown address, locating
8566@cindex locate address
8567Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
8568the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
8569where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
8570
8571@smallexample
8572(@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
8573$3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
8574@end smallexample
8575
8576@noindent
8577The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
8578@xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
8579
8580@item c
8581Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
8582prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
8583character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
8584for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
8585
8586Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
8587@w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
8588constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
8589data.
8590
8591@item f
8592Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
8593using typical floating point syntax.
8594
8595@item s
8596@cindex printing strings
8597@cindex printing byte arrays
8598Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
8599data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
8600are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
8601natural types.
8602
8603Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
8604@code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
8605strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
8606array.
8607
8608@item z
8609Like @samp{x} formatting, the value is treated as an integer and
8610printed as hexadecimal, but leading zeros are printed to pad the value
8611to the size of the integer type.
8612
8613@item r
8614@cindex raw printing
8615Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
8616use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
8617Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
8618value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
8619pretty-printer which might exist.
8620@end table
8621
8622For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
8623
8624@smallexample
8625p/x $pc
8626@end smallexample
8627
8628@noindent
8629Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
8630names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
8631
8632To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
8633you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
8634expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
8635
8636@node Memory
8637@section Examining Memory
8638
8639You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
8640any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
8641
8642@cindex examining memory
8643@table @code
8644@kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
8645@item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
8646@itemx x @var{addr}
8647@itemx x
8648Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
8649@end table
8650
8651@var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
8652much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
8653expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
8654If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
8655Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
8656
8657@table @r
8658@item @var{n}, the repeat count
8659The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
8660how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
8661@c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
8662@c 4.1.2.
8663
8664@item @var{f}, the display format
8665The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
8666(@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
8667@samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
8668The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
8669each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
8670
8671@item @var{u}, the unit size
8672The unit size is any of
8673
8674@table @code
8675@item b
8676Bytes.
8677@item h
8678Halfwords (two bytes).
8679@item w
8680Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
8681@item g
8682Giant words (eight bytes).
8683@end table
8684
8685Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
8686default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
8687the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
8688the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
8689Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
869032-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
8691Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
8692current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
8693modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
8694UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
8695be altered.
8696
8697@item @var{addr}, starting display address
8698@var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
8699memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
8700it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
8701@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
8702@var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
8703other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
8704the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
8705starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
8706a value from memory).
8707@end table
8708
8709For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
8710(@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
8711starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
8712words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
8713@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
8714
8715Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
8716letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
8717unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
8718specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
8719(However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
8720
8721Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
8722and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
8723@samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
8724including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
8725the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
8726slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
8727follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
8728@code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
8729instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
8730
8731All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
8732easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
8733you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
8734instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
8735with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
8736the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
8737for successive uses of @code{x}.
8738
8739When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
8740counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
8741
8742@smallexample
8743(@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
8744 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
8745 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
8746 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
8747=> 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
8748 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
8749@end smallexample
8750
8751@cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
8752The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
8753in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
8754would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
8755subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
8756@code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
8757examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
8758@code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
8759the convenience variable @code{$__}.
8760
8761If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
8762are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
8763address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
8764
8765@cindex remote memory comparison
8766@cindex verify remote memory image
8767When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
8768(@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
8769remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
8770the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
8771situations.
8772
8773@table @code
8774@kindex compare-sections
8775@item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
8776Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
8777executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
8778the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
8779arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
8780availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
8781remote request.
8782@end table
8783
8784@node Auto Display
8785@section Automatic Display
8786@cindex automatic display
8787@cindex display of expressions
8788
8789If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
8790(to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
8791display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
8792Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
8793to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
8794The automatic display looks like this:
8795
8796@smallexample
87972: foo = 38
87983: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
8799@end smallexample
8800
8801@noindent
8802This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
8803displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
8804specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
8805whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
8806specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
8807or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
8808
8809@table @code
8810@kindex display
8811@item display @var{expr}
8812Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
8813each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
8814
8815@code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
8816
8817@item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
8818For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
8819count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
8820arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
8821@xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
8822
8823@item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
8824For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
8825number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
8826be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
8827doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
8828@end table
8829
8830For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
8831instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
8832is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
8833
8834@table @code
8835@kindex delete display
8836@kindex undisplay
8837@item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
8838@itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8839Remove items from the list of expressions to display. Specify the
8840numbers of the displays that you want affected with the command
8841argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one of the
8842numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display} display;
8843or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8844
8845@code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
8846(Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
8847
8848@kindex disable display
8849@item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8850Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
8851item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
8852enabled again later. Specify the numbers of the displays that you
8853want affected with the command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a
8854single display number, one of the numbers shown in the first field of
8855the @samp{info display} display; or it could be a range of display
8856numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8857
8858@kindex enable display
8859@item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8860Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
8861again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
8862Specify the numbers of the displays that you want affected with the
8863command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one
8864of the numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display}
8865display; or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8866
8867@item display
8868Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
8869done when your program stops.
8870
8871@kindex info display
8872@item info display
8873Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
8874automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
8875values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
8876It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
8877because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
8878@end table
8879
8880@cindex display disabled out of scope
8881If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
8882sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
8883expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
8884variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
8885@code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
8886@code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
8887continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
8888there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
8889automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
8890is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
8891
8892@node Print Settings
8893@section Print Settings
8894
8895@cindex format options
8896@cindex print settings
8897@value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
8898and symbols are printed.
8899
8900@noindent
8901These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
8902
8903@table @code
8904@kindex set print
8905@item set print address
8906@itemx set print address on
8907@cindex print/don't print memory addresses
8908@value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
8909traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
8910even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
8911is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
8912@code{set print address on}:
8913
8914@smallexample
8915@group
8916(@value{GDBP}) f
8917#0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
8918 at input.c:530
8919530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
8920@end group
8921@end smallexample
8922
8923@item set print address off
8924Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
8925this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
8926
8927@smallexample
8928@group
8929(@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
8930(@value{GDBP}) f
8931#0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
8932530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
8933@end group
8934@end smallexample
8935
8936You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
8937dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
8938@code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
8939all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
8940
8941@kindex show print
8942@item show print address
8943Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
8944@end table
8945
8946When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
8947closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
8948identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
8949source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
8950@code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
8951you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
8952it prints a symbolic address:
8953
8954@table @code
8955@item set print symbol-filename on
8956@cindex source file and line of a symbol
8957@cindex symbol, source file and line
8958Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
8959symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8960
8961@item set print symbol-filename off
8962Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
8963default.
8964
8965@item show print symbol-filename
8966Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
8967line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8968@end table
8969
8970Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
8971numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
8972number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
8973
8974Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
8975printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
8976
8977@table @code
8978@item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
8979@itemx set print max-symbolic-offset unlimited
8980@cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
8981Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
8982offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
8983@var{max-offset}. The default is @code{unlimited}, which tells @value{GDBN}
8984to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes
8985it. Zero is equivalent to @code{unlimited}.
8986
8987@item show print max-symbolic-offset
8988Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
8989symbolic address.
8990@end table
8991
8992@cindex wild pointer, interpreting
8993@cindex pointer, finding referent
8994If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
8995@samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
8996and source file location of the variable where it points, using
8997@samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
8998For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
8999at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
9000
9001@smallexample
9002(@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
9003(@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
9004$4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
9005@end smallexample
9006
9007@quotation
9008@emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
9009does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
9010the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
9011@end quotation
9012
9013You can also enable @samp{/a}-like formatting all the time using
9014@samp{set print symbol on}:
9015
9016@table @code
9017@item set print symbol on
9018Tell @value{GDBN} to print the symbol corresponding to an address, if
9019one exists.
9020
9021@item set print symbol off
9022Tell @value{GDBN} not to print the symbol corresponding to an
9023address. In this mode, @value{GDBN} will still print the symbol
9024corresponding to pointers to functions. This is the default.
9025
9026@item show print symbol
9027Show whether @value{GDBN} will display the symbol corresponding to an
9028address.
9029@end table
9030
9031Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
9032
9033@table @code
9034@item set print array
9035@itemx set print array on
9036@cindex pretty print arrays
9037Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
9038but uses more space. The default is off.
9039
9040@item set print array off
9041Return to compressed format for arrays.
9042
9043@item show print array
9044Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
9045arrays.
9046
9047@cindex print array indexes
9048@item set print array-indexes
9049@itemx set print array-indexes on
9050Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
9051convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
9052index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
9053
9054@item set print array-indexes off
9055Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
9056
9057@item show print array-indexes
9058Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
9059arrays.
9060
9061@item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
9062@itemx set print elements unlimited
9063@cindex number of array elements to print
9064@cindex limit on number of printed array elements
9065Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
9066If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
9067printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
9068This limit also applies to the display of strings.
9069When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
9070Setting @var{number-of-elements} to @code{unlimited} or zero means
9071that the number of elements to print is unlimited.
9072
9073@item show print elements
9074Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
9075If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
9076
9077@item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
9078@kindex set print frame-arguments
9079@cindex printing frame argument values
9080@cindex print all frame argument values
9081@cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
9082@cindex do not print frame argument values
9083This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
9084when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
9085values are:
9086
9087@table @code
9088@item all
9089The values of all arguments are printed.
9090
9091@item scalars
9092Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
9093complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
9094by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
9095only scalar arguments are shown:
9096
9097@smallexample
9098#1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
9099 at frame-args.c:23
9100@end smallexample
9101
9102@item none
9103None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
9104is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
9105
9106@smallexample
9107#1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
9108 at frame-args.c:23
9109@end smallexample
9110@end table
9111
9112By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
9113to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
9114of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
9115of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
9116information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
9117Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
9118the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
9119especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
9120to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
9121thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
9122
9123@item show print frame-arguments
9124Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
9125
9126@item set print raw frame-arguments on
9127Print frame arguments in raw, non pretty-printed, form.
9128
9129@item set print raw frame-arguments off
9130Print frame arguments in pretty-printed form, if there is a pretty-printer
9131for the value (@pxref{Pretty Printing}),
9132otherwise print the value in raw form.
9133This is the default.
9134
9135@item show print raw frame-arguments
9136Show whether to print frame arguments in raw form.
9137
9138@anchor{set print entry-values}
9139@item set print entry-values @var{value}
9140@kindex set print entry-values
9141Set printing of frame argument values at function entry. In some cases
9142@value{GDBN} can determine the value of function argument which was passed by
9143the function caller, even if the value was modified inside the called function
9144and therefore is different. With optimized code, the current value could be
9145unavailable, but the entry value may still be known.
9146
9147The default value is @code{default} (see below for its description). Older
9148@value{GDBN} behaved as with the setting @code{no}. Compilers not supporting
9149this feature will behave in the @code{default} setting the same way as with the
9150@code{no} setting.
9151
9152This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
9153the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
9154@value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
9155this information.
9156
9157The @var{value} parameter can be one of the following:
9158
9159@table @code
9160@item no
9161Print only actual parameter values, never print values from function entry
9162point.
9163@smallexample
9164#0 equal (val=5)
9165#0 different (val=6)
9166#0 lost (val=<optimized out>)
9167#0 born (val=10)
9168#0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9169@end smallexample
9170
9171@item only
9172Print only parameter values from function entry point. The actual parameter
9173values are never printed.
9174@smallexample
9175#0 equal (val@@entry=5)
9176#0 different (val@@entry=5)
9177#0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9178#0 born (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9179#0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9180@end smallexample
9181
9182@item preferred
9183Print only parameter values from function entry point. If value from function
9184entry point is not known while the actual value is known, print the actual
9185value for such parameter.
9186@smallexample
9187#0 equal (val@@entry=5)
9188#0 different (val@@entry=5)
9189#0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9190#0 born (val=10)
9191#0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9192@end smallexample
9193
9194@item if-needed
9195Print actual parameter values. If actual parameter value is not known while
9196value from function entry point is known, print the entry point value for such
9197parameter.
9198@smallexample
9199#0 equal (val=5)
9200#0 different (val=6)
9201#0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9202#0 born (val=10)
9203#0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9204@end smallexample
9205
9206@item both
9207Always print both the actual parameter value and its value from function entry
9208point, even if values of one or both are not available due to compiler
9209optimizations.
9210@smallexample
9211#0 equal (val=5, val@@entry=5)
9212#0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9213#0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
9214#0 born (val=10, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9215#0 invalid (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9216@end smallexample
9217
9218@item compact
9219Print the actual parameter value if it is known and also its value from
9220function entry point if it is known. If neither is known, print for the actual
9221value @code{<optimized out>}. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and if both
9222values are known and identical, print the shortened
9223@code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
9224@smallexample
9225#0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
9226#0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9227#0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9228#0 born (val=10)
9229#0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9230@end smallexample
9231
9232@item default
9233Always print the actual parameter value. Print also its value from function
9234entry point, but only if it is known. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and
9235if both values are known and identical, print the shortened
9236@code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
9237@smallexample
9238#0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
9239#0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9240#0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
9241#0 born (val=10)
9242#0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9243@end smallexample
9244@end table
9245
9246For analysis messages on possible failures of frame argument values at function
9247entry resolution see @ref{set debug entry-values}.
9248
9249@item show print entry-values
9250Show the method being used for printing of frame argument values at function
9251entry.
9252
9253@item set print repeats @var{number-of-repeats}
9254@itemx set print repeats unlimited
9255@cindex repeated array elements
9256Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
9257elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
9258array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
9259@code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
9260identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
9261themselves. Setting the threshold to @code{unlimited} or zero will
9262cause all elements to be individually printed. The default threshold
9263is 10.
9264
9265@item show print repeats
9266Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
9267elements.
9268
9269@item set print null-stop
9270@cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
9271Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
9272@sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
9273contain only short strings.
9274The default is off.
9275
9276@item show print null-stop
9277Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
9278@sc{null} character.
9279
9280@item set print pretty on
9281@cindex print structures in indented form
9282@cindex indentation in structure display
9283Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
9284per line, like this:
9285
9286@smallexample
9287@group
9288$1 = @{
9289 next = 0x0,
9290 flags = @{
9291 sweet = 1,
9292 sour = 1
9293 @},
9294 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
9295@}
9296@end group
9297@end smallexample
9298
9299@item set print pretty off
9300Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
9301
9302@smallexample
9303@group
9304$1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
9305meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
9306@end group
9307@end smallexample
9308
9309@noindent
9310This is the default format.
9311
9312@item show print pretty
9313Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
9314
9315@item set print sevenbit-strings on
9316@cindex eight-bit characters in strings
9317@cindex octal escapes in strings
9318Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
9319@value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
9320character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
9321best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
9322high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
9323
9324@item set print sevenbit-strings off
9325Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
9326international character sets, and is the default.
9327
9328@item show print sevenbit-strings
9329Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
9330
9331@item set print union on
9332@cindex unions in structures, printing
9333Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
9334and other unions. This is the default setting.
9335
9336@item set print union off
9337Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
9338structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
9339instead.
9340
9341@item show print union
9342Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
9343structures and other unions.
9344
9345For example, given the declarations
9346
9347@smallexample
9348typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
9349typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
9350typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
9351 Bug_forms;
9352
9353struct thing @{
9354 Species it;
9355 union @{
9356 Tree_forms tree;
9357 Bug_forms bug;
9358 @} form;
9359@};
9360
9361struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
9362@end smallexample
9363
9364@noindent
9365with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
9366
9367@smallexample
9368$1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
9369@end smallexample
9370
9371@noindent
9372and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
9373
9374@smallexample
9375$1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
9376@end smallexample
9377
9378@noindent
9379@code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
9380and in Pascal.
9381@end table
9382
9383@need 1000
9384@noindent
9385These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
9386
9387@table @code
9388@cindex demangling C@t{++} names
9389@item set print demangle
9390@itemx set print demangle on
9391Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
9392(``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
9393linkage. The default is on.
9394
9395@item show print demangle
9396Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
9397
9398@item set print asm-demangle
9399@itemx set print asm-demangle on
9400Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
9401in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
9402The default is off.
9403
9404@item show print asm-demangle
9405Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
9406or demangled form.
9407
9408@cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
9409@cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
9410@kindex set demangle-style
9411@item set demangle-style @var{style}
9412Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
9413represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
9414
9415@table @code
9416@item auto
9417Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
9418This is the default.
9419
9420@item gnu
9421Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
9422
9423@item hp
9424Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
9425
9426@item lucid
9427Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
9428
9429@item arm
9430Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
9431@strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
9432debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
9433require further enhancement to permit that.
9434
9435@end table
9436If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
9437
9438@item show demangle-style
9439Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
9440
9441@item set print object
9442@itemx set print object on
9443@cindex derived type of an object, printing
9444@cindex display derived types
9445When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
9446(derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
9447the virtual function table. Note that the virtual function table is
9448required---this feature can only work for objects that have run-time
9449type identification; a single virtual method in the object's declared
9450type is sufficient. Note that this setting is also taken into account when
9451working with variable objects via MI (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
9452
9453@item set print object off
9454Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
9455virtual function table. This is the default setting.
9456
9457@item show print object
9458Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
9459
9460@item set print static-members
9461@itemx set print static-members on
9462@cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
9463Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
9464
9465@item set print static-members off
9466Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
9467
9468@item show print static-members
9469Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
9470
9471@item set print pascal_static-members
9472@itemx set print pascal_static-members on
9473@cindex static members of Pascal objects
9474@cindex Pascal objects, static members display
9475Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
9476
9477@item set print pascal_static-members off
9478Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
9479
9480@item show print pascal_static-members
9481Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
9482
9483@c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
9484@item set print vtbl
9485@itemx set print vtbl on
9486@cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
9487@cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
9488@cindex VTBL display
9489Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
9490(The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
9491ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
9492
9493@item set print vtbl off
9494Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
9495
9496@item show print vtbl
9497Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
9498@end table
9499
9500@node Pretty Printing
9501@section Pretty Printing
9502
9503@value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
9504Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
9505mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
9506
9507@menu
9508* Pretty-Printer Introduction:: Introduction to pretty-printers
9509* Pretty-Printer Example:: An example pretty-printer
9510* Pretty-Printer Commands:: Pretty-printer commands
9511@end menu
9512
9513@node Pretty-Printer Introduction
9514@subsection Pretty-Printer Introduction
9515
9516When @value{GDBN} prints a value, it first sees if there is a pretty-printer
9517registered for the value. If there is then @value{GDBN} invokes the
9518pretty-printer to print the value. Otherwise the value is printed normally.
9519
9520Pretty-printers are normally named. This makes them easy to manage.
9521The @samp{info pretty-printer} command will list all the installed
9522pretty-printers with their names.
9523If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
9524@dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
9525Each such subprinter has its own name.
9526The format of the name is @var{printer-name};@var{subprinter-name}.
9527
9528Pretty-printers are installed by @dfn{registering} them with @value{GDBN}.
9529Typically they are automatically loaded and registered when the corresponding
9530debug information is loaded, thus making them available without having to
9531do anything special.
9532
9533There are three places where a pretty-printer can be registered.
9534
9535@itemize @bullet
9536@item
9537Pretty-printers registered globally are available when debugging
9538all inferiors.
9539
9540@item
9541Pretty-printers registered with a program space are available only
9542when debugging that program.
9543@xref{Progspaces In Python}, for more details on program spaces in Python.
9544
9545@item
9546Pretty-printers registered with an objfile are loaded and unloaded
9547with the corresponding objfile (e.g., shared library).
9548@xref{Objfiles In Python}, for more details on objfiles in Python.
9549@end itemize
9550
9551@xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for further information on how
9552pretty-printers are selected,
9553
9554@xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for implementing pretty printers
9555for new types.
9556
9557@node Pretty-Printer Example
9558@subsection Pretty-Printer Example
9559
9560Here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a pretty-printer:
9561
9562@smallexample
9563(@value{GDBP}) print s
9564$1 = @{
9565 static npos = 4294967295,
9566 _M_dataplus = @{
9567 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
9568 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
9569 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
9570 @},
9571 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
9572 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
9573 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
9574 @}
9575@}
9576@end smallexample
9577
9578With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
9579
9580@smallexample
9581(@value{GDBP}) print s
9582$2 = "abcd"
9583@end smallexample
9584
9585@node Pretty-Printer Commands
9586@subsection Pretty-Printer Commands
9587@cindex pretty-printer commands
9588
9589@table @code
9590@kindex info pretty-printer
9591@item info pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9592Print the list of installed pretty-printers.
9593This includes disabled pretty-printers, which are marked as such.
9594
9595@var{object-regexp} is a regular expression matching the objects
9596whose pretty-printers to list.
9597Objects can be @code{global}, the program space's file
9598(@pxref{Progspaces In Python}),
9599and the object files within that program space (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}).
9600@xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for details on how @value{GDBN}
9601looks up a printer from these three objects.
9602
9603@var{name-regexp} is a regular expression matching the name of the printers
9604to list.
9605
9606@kindex disable pretty-printer
9607@item disable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9608Disable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
9609A disabled pretty-printer is not forgotten, it may be enabled again later.
9610
9611@kindex enable pretty-printer
9612@item enable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9613Enable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
9614@end table
9615
9616Example:
9617
9618Suppose we have three pretty-printers installed: one from library1.so
9619named @code{foo} that prints objects of type @code{foo}, and
9620another from library2.so named @code{bar} that prints two types of objects,
9621@code{bar1} and @code{bar2}.
9622
9623@smallexample
9624(gdb) info pretty-printer
9625library1.so:
9626 foo
9627library2.so:
9628 bar
9629 bar1
9630 bar2
9631(gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9632library2.so:
9633 bar
9634 bar1
9635 bar2
9636(gdb) disable pretty-printer library1
96371 printer disabled
96382 of 3 printers enabled
9639(gdb) info pretty-printer
9640library1.so:
9641 foo [disabled]
9642library2.so:
9643 bar
9644 bar1
9645 bar2
9646(gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar:bar1
96471 printer disabled
96481 of 3 printers enabled
9649(gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9650library1.so:
9651 foo [disabled]
9652library2.so:
9653 bar
9654 bar1 [disabled]
9655 bar2
9656(gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar
96571 printer disabled
96580 of 3 printers enabled
9659(gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9660library1.so:
9661 foo [disabled]
9662library2.so:
9663 bar [disabled]
9664 bar1 [disabled]
9665 bar2
9666@end smallexample
9667
9668Note that for @code{bar} the entire printer can be disabled,
9669as can each individual subprinter.
9670
9671@node Value History
9672@section Value History
9673
9674@cindex value history
9675@cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
9676Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
9677@dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
9678Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
9679(for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
9680When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
9681since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
9682symbol table.
9683
9684@cindex @code{$}
9685@cindex @code{$$}
9686@cindex history number
9687The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
9688refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
9689@code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
9690printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
9691history number.
9692
9693To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
9694history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
9695remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
9696the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
9697@code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
9698is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
9699@code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
9700
9701For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
9702want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
9703
9704@smallexample
9705p *$
9706@end smallexample
9707
9708If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
9709to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
9710
9711@smallexample
9712p *$.next
9713@end smallexample
9714
9715@noindent
9716You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
9717command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
9718
9719Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
9720@code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
9721
9722@smallexample
9723print x
9724set x=5
9725@end smallexample
9726
9727@noindent
9728then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
9729remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
9730
9731@table @code
9732@kindex show values
9733@item show values
9734Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
9735This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
9736values} does not change the history.
9737
9738@item show values @var{n}
9739Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
9740
9741@item show values +
9742Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
9743values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
9744@end table
9745
9746Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
9747same effect as @samp{show values +}.
9748
9749@node Convenience Vars
9750@section Convenience Variables
9751
9752@cindex convenience variables
9753@cindex user-defined variables
9754@value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
9755@value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
9756exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
9757setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
9758of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
9759
9760Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
9761@samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
9762the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
9763(Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
9764by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
9765
9766You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
9767expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
9768For example:
9769
9770@smallexample
9771set $foo = *object_ptr
9772@end smallexample
9773
9774@noindent
9775would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
9776@code{object_ptr}.
9777
9778Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
9779value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
9780value with another assignment at any time.
9781
9782Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
9783variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
9784that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
9785variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
9786
9787@table @code
9788@kindex show convenience
9789@cindex show all user variables and functions
9790@item show convenience
9791Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values,
9792as well as a list of the convenience functions.
9793Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
9794
9795@kindex init-if-undefined
9796@cindex convenience variables, initializing
9797@item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
9798Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
9799for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
9800to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
9801convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
9802override default values used in a command script.
9803
9804If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
9805any side-effects do not occur.
9806@end table
9807
9808One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
9809incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
9810a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
9811
9812@smallexample
9813set $i = 0
9814print bar[$i++]->contents
9815@end smallexample
9816
9817@noindent
9818Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
9819
9820Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
9821values likely to be useful.
9822
9823@table @code
9824@vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
9825@item $_
9826The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
9827the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
9828commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
9829set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
9830and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
9831except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
9832to the type of @code{$__}.
9833
9834@vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
9835@item $__
9836The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
9837to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
9838to match the format in which the data was printed.
9839
9840@item $_exitcode
9841@vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
9842When the program being debugged terminates normally, @value{GDBN}
9843automatically sets this variable to the exit code of the program, and
9844resets @code{$_exitsignal} to @code{void}.
9845
9846@item $_exitsignal
9847@vindex $_exitsignal@r{, convenience variable}
9848When the program being debugged dies due to an uncaught signal,
9849@value{GDBN} automatically sets this variable to that signal's number,
9850and resets @code{$_exitcode} to @code{void}.
9851
9852To distinguish between whether the program being debugged has exited
9853(i.e., @code{$_exitcode} is not @code{void}) or signalled (i.e.,
9854@code{$_exitsignal} is not @code{void}), the convenience function
9855@code{$_isvoid} can be used (@pxref{Convenience Funs,, Convenience
9856Functions}). For example, considering the following source code:
9857
9858@smallexample
9859#include <signal.h>
9860
9861int
9862main (int argc, char *argv[])
9863@{
9864 raise (SIGALRM);
9865 return 0;
9866@}
9867@end smallexample
9868
9869A valid way of telling whether the program being debugged has exited
9870or signalled would be:
9871
9872@smallexample
9873(@value{GDBP}) define has_exited_or_signalled
9874Type commands for definition of ``has_exited_or_signalled''.
9875End with a line saying just ``end''.
9876>if $_isvoid ($_exitsignal)
9877 >echo The program has exited\n
9878 >else
9879 >echo The program has signalled\n
9880 >end
9881>end
9882(@value{GDBP}) run
9883Starting program:
9884
9885Program terminated with signal SIGALRM, Alarm clock.
9886The program no longer exists.
9887(@value{GDBP}) has_exited_or_signalled
9888The program has signalled
9889@end smallexample
9890
9891As can be seen, @value{GDBN} correctly informs that the program being
9892debugged has signalled, since it calls @code{raise} and raises a
9893@code{SIGALRM} signal. If the program being debugged had not called
9894@code{raise}, then @value{GDBN} would report a normal exit:
9895
9896@smallexample
9897(@value{GDBP}) has_exited_or_signalled
9898The program has exited
9899@end smallexample
9900
9901@item $_exception
9902The variable @code{$_exception} is set to the exception object being
9903thrown at an exception-related catchpoint. @xref{Set Catchpoints}.
9904
9905@item $_probe_argc
9906@itemx $_probe_arg0@dots{}$_probe_arg11
9907Arguments to a static probe. @xref{Static Probe Points}.
9908
9909@item $_sdata
9910@vindex $_sdata@r{, inspect, convenience variable}
9911The variable @code{$_sdata} contains extra collected static tracepoint
9912data. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}. Note that
9913@code{$_sdata} could be empty, if not inspecting a trace buffer, or
9914if extra static tracepoint data has not been collected.
9915
9916@item $_siginfo
9917@vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
9918The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
9919(@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
9920could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
9921For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
9922
9923@item $_tlb
9924@vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
9925The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
9926applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
9927gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
9928@xref{General Query Packets}.
9929This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
9930
9931@end table
9932
9933On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
9934begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
9935name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
9936
9937@node Convenience Funs
9938@section Convenience Functions
9939
9940@cindex convenience functions
9941@value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
9942have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
9943function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
9944however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
9945@value{GDBN}.
9946
9947These functions do not require @value{GDBN} to be configured with
9948@code{Python} support, which means that they are always available.
9949
9950@table @code
9951
9952@item $_isvoid (@var{expr})
9953@findex $_isvoid@r{, convenience function}
9954Return one if the expression @var{expr} is @code{void}. Otherwise it
9955returns zero.
9956
9957A @code{void} expression is an expression where the type of the result
9958is @code{void}. For example, you can examine a convenience variable
9959(see @ref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}) to check whether
9960it is @code{void}:
9961
9962@smallexample
9963(@value{GDBP}) print $_exitcode
9964$1 = void
9965(@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid ($_exitcode)
9966$2 = 1
9967(@value{GDBP}) run
9968Starting program: ./a.out
9969[Inferior 1 (process 29572) exited normally]
9970(@value{GDBP}) print $_exitcode
9971$3 = 0
9972(@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid ($_exitcode)
9973$4 = 0
9974@end smallexample
9975
9976In the example above, we used @code{$_isvoid} to check whether
9977@code{$_exitcode} is @code{void} before and after the execution of the
9978program being debugged. Before the execution there is no exit code to
9979be examined, therefore @code{$_exitcode} is @code{void}. After the
9980execution the program being debugged returned zero, therefore
9981@code{$_exitcode} is zero, which means that it is not @code{void}
9982anymore.
9983
9984The @code{void} expression can also be a call of a function from the
9985program being debugged. For example, given the following function:
9986
9987@smallexample
9988void
9989foo (void)
9990@{
9991@}
9992@end smallexample
9993
9994The result of calling it inside @value{GDBN} is @code{void}:
9995
9996@smallexample
9997(@value{GDBP}) print foo ()
9998$1 = void
9999(@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid (foo ())
10000$2 = 1
10001(@value{GDBP}) set $v = foo ()
10002(@value{GDBP}) print $v
10003$3 = void
10004(@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid ($v)
10005$4 = 1
10006@end smallexample
10007
10008@end table
10009
10010These functions require @value{GDBN} to be configured with
10011@code{Python} support.
10012
10013@table @code
10014
10015@item $_memeq(@var{buf1}, @var{buf2}, @var{length})
10016@findex $_memeq@r{, convenience function}
10017Returns one if the @var{length} bytes at the addresses given by
10018@var{buf1} and @var{buf2} are equal.
10019Otherwise it returns zero.
10020
10021@item $_regex(@var{str}, @var{regex})
10022@findex $_regex@r{, convenience function}
10023Returns one if the string @var{str} matches the regular expression
10024@var{regex}. Otherwise it returns zero.
10025The syntax of the regular expression is that specified by @code{Python}'s
10026regular expression support.
10027
10028@item $_streq(@var{str1}, @var{str2})
10029@findex $_streq@r{, convenience function}
10030Returns one if the strings @var{str1} and @var{str2} are equal.
10031Otherwise it returns zero.
10032
10033@item $_strlen(@var{str})
10034@findex $_strlen@r{, convenience function}
10035Returns the length of string @var{str}.
10036
10037@end table
10038
10039@value{GDBN} provides the ability to list and get help on
10040convenience functions.
10041
10042@table @code
10043@item help function
10044@kindex help function
10045@cindex show all convenience functions
10046Print a list of all convenience functions.
10047@end table
10048
10049@node Registers
10050@section Registers
10051
10052@cindex registers
10053You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
10054with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
10055for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
10056your machine.
10057
10058@table @code
10059@kindex info registers
10060@item info registers
10061Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
10062and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
10063
10064@kindex info all-registers
10065@cindex floating point registers
10066@item info all-registers
10067Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
10068and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
10069
10070@item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
10071Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
10072As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
10073the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
10074the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
10075@end table
10076
10077@cindex stack pointer register
10078@cindex program counter register
10079@cindex process status register
10080@cindex frame pointer register
10081@cindex standard registers
10082@value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
10083expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
10084architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
10085@code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
10086the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
10087pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
10088register that contains the processor status. For example,
10089you could print the program counter in hex with
10090
10091@smallexample
10092p/x $pc
10093@end smallexample
10094
10095@noindent
10096or print the instruction to be executed next with
10097
10098@smallexample
10099x/i $pc
10100@end smallexample
10101
10102@noindent
10103or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
10104one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
10105memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
10106stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
10107stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
10108regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
10109see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
10110
10111@smallexample
10112set $sp += 4
10113@end smallexample
10114
10115Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
10116your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
10117so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
10118shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
10119registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
10120can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
10121is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
10122
10123@value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
10124integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
10125special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
10126registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
10127to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
10128(although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
10129@samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
10130
10131Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
10132means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
10133the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
10134sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
10135coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
10136programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
10137cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
10138that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
10139prints the data in both formats.
10140
10141@cindex SSE registers (x86)
10142@cindex MMX registers (x86)
10143Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
10144in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
10145have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
10146together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
10147registers in @code{struct} notation:
10148
10149@smallexample
10150(@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
10151$1 = @{
10152 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
10153 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
10154 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
10155 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
10156 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
10157 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
10158 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
10159@}
10160@end smallexample
10161
10162@noindent
10163To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
10164view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
10165value to a @code{struct} member:
10166
10167@smallexample
10168 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
10169@end smallexample
10170
10171Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
10172(@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
10173value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
10174were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
10175true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
10176frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
10177
10178@cindex caller-saved registers
10179@cindex call-clobbered registers
10180@cindex volatile registers
10181@cindex <not saved> values
10182Usually ABIs reserve some registers as not needed to be saved by the
10183callee (a.k.a.: ``caller-saved'', ``call-clobbered'' or ``volatile''
10184registers). It may therefore not be possible for @value{GDBN} to know
10185the value a register had before the call (in other words, in the outer
10186frame), if the register value has since been changed by the callee.
10187@value{GDBN} tries to deduce where the inner frame saved
10188(``callee-saved'') registers, from the debug info, unwind info, or the
10189machine code generated by your compiler. If some register is not
10190saved, and @value{GDBN} knows the register is ``caller-saved'' (via
10191its own knowledge of the ABI, or because the debug/unwind info
10192explicitly says the register's value is undefined), @value{GDBN}
10193displays @w{@samp{<not saved>}} as the register's value. With targets
10194that @value{GDBN} has no knowledge of the register saving convention,
10195if a register was not saved by the callee, then its value and location
10196in the outer frame are assumed to be the same of the inner frame.
10197This is usually harmless, because if the register is call-clobbered,
10198the caller either does not care what is in the register after the
10199call, or has code to restore the value that it does care about. Note,
10200however, that if you change such a register in the outer frame, you
10201may also be affecting the inner frame. Also, the more ``outer'' the
10202frame is you're looking at, the more likely a call-clobbered
10203register's value is to be wrong, in the sense that it doesn't actually
10204represent the value the register had just before the call.
10205
10206@node Floating Point Hardware
10207@section Floating Point Hardware
10208@cindex floating point
10209
10210Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
10211you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
10212
10213@table @code
10214@kindex info float
10215@item info float
10216Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
10217point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
10218floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
10219the ARM and x86 machines.
10220@end table
10221
10222@node Vector Unit
10223@section Vector Unit
10224@cindex vector unit
10225
10226Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
10227more information about the status of the vector unit.
10228
10229@table @code
10230@kindex info vector
10231@item info vector
10232Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
10233layout vary depending on the hardware.
10234@end table
10235
10236@node OS Information
10237@section Operating System Auxiliary Information
10238@cindex OS information
10239
10240@value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
10241you debug your program.
10242
10243@cindex auxiliary vector
10244@cindex vector, auxiliary
10245Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
10246startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
10247specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
10248binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
10249hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
10250identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
10251Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
10252@value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
10253targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
10254support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
10255@ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
10256
10257@table @code
10258@kindex info auxv
10259@item info auxv
10260Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
10261live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
10262numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
10263tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
10264pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
10265most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
10266an unrecognized tag.
10267@end table
10268
10269On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating system-specific
10270information and show it to you. The types of information available
10271will differ depending on the type of operating system running on the
10272target. The mechanism used to fetch the data is described in
10273@ref{Operating System Information}. For remote targets, this
10274functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
10275@samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
10276
10277@table @code
10278@kindex info os
10279@item info os @var{infotype}
10280
10281Display OS information of the requested type.
10282
10283On @sc{gnu}/Linux, the following values of @var{infotype} are valid:
10284
10285@anchor{linux info os infotypes}
10286@table @code
10287@kindex info os processes
10288@item processes
10289Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
10290@value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, the
10291command corresponding to the process, and the list of processor cores
10292that the process is currently running on. (To understand what these
10293properties mean, for this and the following info types, please consult
10294the general @sc{gnu}/Linux documentation.)
10295
10296@kindex info os procgroups
10297@item procgroups
10298Display the list of process groups on the target. For each process,
10299@value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process group that it belongs
10300to, the command corresponding to the process group leader, the process
10301identifier, and the command line of the process. The list is sorted
10302first by the process group identifier, then by the process identifier,
10303so that processes belonging to the same process group are grouped together
10304and the process group leader is listed first.
10305
10306@kindex info os threads
10307@item threads
10308Display the list of threads running on the target. For each thread,
10309@value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process that the thread
10310belongs to, the command of the process, the thread identifier, and the
10311processor core that it is currently running on. The main thread of a
10312process is not listed.
10313
10314@kindex info os files
10315@item files
10316Display the list of open file descriptors on the target. For each
10317file descriptor, @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process
10318owning the descriptor, the command of the owning process, the value
10319of the descriptor, and the target of the descriptor.
10320
10321@kindex info os sockets
10322@item sockets
10323Display the list of Internet-domain sockets on the target. For each
10324socket, @value{GDBN} prints the address and port of the local and
10325remote endpoints, the current state of the connection, the creator of
10326the socket, the IP address family of the socket, and the type of the
10327connection.
10328
10329@kindex info os shm
10330@item shm
10331Display the list of all System V shared-memory regions on the target.
10332For each shared-memory region, @value{GDBN} prints the region key,
10333the shared-memory identifier, the access permissions, the size of the
10334region, the process that created the region, the process that last
10335attached to or detached from the region, the current number of live
10336attaches to the region, and the times at which the region was last
10337attached to, detach from, and changed.
10338
10339@kindex info os semaphores
10340@item semaphores
10341Display the list of all System V semaphore sets on the target. For each
10342semaphore set, @value{GDBN} prints the semaphore set key, the semaphore
10343set identifier, the access permissions, the number of semaphores in the
10344set, the user and group of the owner and creator of the semaphore set,
10345and the times at which the semaphore set was operated upon and changed.
10346
10347@kindex info os msg
10348@item msg
10349Display the list of all System V message queues on the target. For each
10350message queue, @value{GDBN} prints the message queue key, the message
10351queue identifier, the access permissions, the current number of bytes
10352on the queue, the current number of messages on the queue, the processes
10353that last sent and received a message on the queue, the user and group
10354of the owner and creator of the message queue, the times at which a
10355message was last sent and received on the queue, and the time at which
10356the message queue was last changed.
10357
10358@kindex info os modules
10359@item modules
10360Display the list of all loaded kernel modules on the target. For each
10361module, @value{GDBN} prints the module name, the size of the module in
10362bytes, the number of times the module is used, the dependencies of the
10363module, the status of the module, and the address of the loaded module
10364in memory.
10365@end table
10366
10367@item info os
10368If @var{infotype} is omitted, then list the possible values for
10369@var{infotype} and the kind of OS information available for each
10370@var{infotype}. If the target does not return a list of possible
10371types, this command will report an error.
10372@end table
10373
10374@node Memory Region Attributes
10375@section Memory Region Attributes
10376@cindex memory region attributes
10377
10378@dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
10379required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
10380attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
10381accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
10382target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
10383fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
10384user can override the fetched regions.
10385
10386Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
10387memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
10388accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
10389been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
10390all memory.
10391
10392When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
10393to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
10394
10395@table @code
10396@kindex mem
10397@item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
10398Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
10399attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
10400monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
10401case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
10402(0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
10403
10404@item mem auto
10405Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
10406regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
10407
10408@kindex delete mem
10409@item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
10410Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
10411monitored by @value{GDBN}.
10412
10413@kindex disable mem
10414@item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
10415Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
10416A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
10417It may be enabled again later.
10418
10419@kindex enable mem
10420@item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
10421Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
10422
10423@kindex info mem
10424@item info mem
10425Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
10426for each region:
10427
10428@table @emph
10429@item Memory Region Number
10430@item Enabled or Disabled.
10431Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
10432Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
10433
10434@item Lo Address
10435The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
10436
10437@item Hi Address
10438The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
10439
10440@item Attributes
10441The list of attributes set for this memory region.
10442@end table
10443@end table
10444
10445
10446@subsection Attributes
10447
10448@subsubsection Memory Access Mode
10449The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
10450write accesses to a memory region.
10451
10452While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
10453memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
10454etc.@: from accessing memory.
10455
10456@table @code
10457@item ro
10458Memory is read only.
10459@item wo
10460Memory is write only.
10461@item rw
10462Memory is read/write. This is the default.
10463@end table
10464
10465@subsubsection Memory Access Size
10466The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
10467accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
10468require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
10469specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
10470
10471@table @code
10472@item 8
10473Use 8 bit memory accesses.
10474@item 16
10475Use 16 bit memory accesses.
10476@item 32
10477Use 32 bit memory accesses.
10478@item 64
10479Use 64 bit memory accesses.
10480@end table
10481
10482@c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
10483@c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
10484@c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
10485@c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
10486@c
10487@c @table @code
10488@c @item hwbreak
10489@c Always use hardware breakpoints
10490@c @item swbreak (default)
10491@c @end table
10492
10493@subsubsection Data Cache
10494The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
10495memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
10496protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
10497does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
10498registers.
10499
10500@table @code
10501@item cache
10502Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
10503@item nocache
10504Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
10505@end table
10506
10507@subsection Memory Access Checking
10508@value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
10509not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
10510regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
10511better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
10512
10513@table @code
10514@kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
10515@item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
10516If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
10517explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
10518to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
10519memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
10520treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
10521The default value is @code{on}.
10522@kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
10523@item show mem inaccessible-by-default
10524Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
10525@end table
10526
10527
10528@c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
10529@c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
10530@c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
10531@c
10532@c @table @code
10533@c @item verify
10534@c @item noverify (default)
10535@c @end table
10536
10537@node Dump/Restore Files
10538@section Copy Between Memory and a File
10539@cindex dump/restore files
10540@cindex append data to a file
10541@cindex dump data to a file
10542@cindex restore data from a file
10543
10544You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
10545@code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
10546@code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
10547@code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
10548memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
10549Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
10550files.
10551
10552@table @code
10553
10554@kindex dump
10555@item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
10556@itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
10557Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
10558or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
10559
10560The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
10561@table @code
10562@item binary
10563Raw binary form.
10564@item ihex
10565Intel hex format.
10566@item srec
10567Motorola S-record format.
10568@item tekhex
10569Tektronix Hex format.
10570@end table
10571
10572@value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
10573@sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
10574@var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
10575form.
10576
10577@kindex append
10578@item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
10579@itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
10580Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
10581or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
10582(@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
10583
10584@kindex restore
10585@item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
10586Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
10587@code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
10588file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
10589must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
10590
10591If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
10592contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
10593they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
10594a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
10595from that location.
10596
10597If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
10598file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
10599These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
10600the @var{bias} argument is applied.
10601
10602@end table
10603
10604@node Core File Generation
10605@section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
10606@cindex dump core from inferior
10607
10608A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
10609image of a running process and its process status (register values
10610etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
10611crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
10612automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
10613the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
10614the post-mortem debugging mode.
10615
10616Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
10617are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
10618@value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
10619
10620@table @code
10621@kindex gcore
10622@kindex generate-core-file
10623@item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
10624@itemx gcore [@var{file}]
10625Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
10626@var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
10627specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
10628@var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
10629
10630Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
10631this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, and S390).
10632@end table
10633
10634@node Character Sets
10635@section Character Sets
10636@cindex character sets
10637@cindex charset
10638@cindex translating between character sets
10639@cindex host character set
10640@cindex target character set
10641
10642If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
10643represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
10644@value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
10645you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
10646character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
10647@dfn{target character set}.
10648
10649For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
10650uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
10651remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
10652running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
10653then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
10654@sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
10655target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
10656@sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
10657character and string literals in expressions.
10658
10659@value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
10660the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
10661target-charset} command, described below.
10662
10663Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
10664support:
10665
10666@table @code
10667@item set target-charset @var{charset}
10668@kindex set target-charset
10669Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
10670list of supported target character sets, type
10671@kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
10672
10673@item set host-charset @var{charset}
10674@kindex set host-charset
10675Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
10676
10677By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
10678system it is running on; you can override that default using the
10679@code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
10680automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
10681case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
10682
10683@value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
10684set. If you type @kbd{@w{set host-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
10685@value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
10686
10687@item set charset @var{charset}
10688@kindex set charset
10689Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
10690above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
10691@value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
10692for both host and target.
10693
10694@item show charset
10695@kindex show charset
10696Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
10697
10698@item show host-charset
10699@kindex show host-charset
10700Show the name of the current host character set.
10701
10702@item show target-charset
10703@kindex show target-charset
10704Show the name of the current target character set.
10705
10706@item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
10707@kindex set target-wide-charset
10708Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
10709the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
10710display the list of supported wide character sets, type
10711@kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
10712
10713@item show target-wide-charset
10714@kindex show target-wide-charset
10715Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
10716@end table
10717
10718Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
10719Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
10720@file{charset-test.c}:
10721
10722@smallexample
10723#include <stdio.h>
10724
10725char ascii_hello[]
10726 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
10727 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
10728char ibm1047_hello[]
10729 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
10730 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
10731
10732main ()
10733@{
10734 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10735@}
10736@end smallexample
10737
10738In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
10739containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
10740encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
10741
10742We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
10743
10744@smallexample
10745$ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
10746$ gdb -nw charset-test
10747GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
10748Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
10749@dots{}
10750(@value{GDBP})
10751@end smallexample
10752
10753We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
10754@value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
10755strings:
10756
10757@smallexample
10758(@value{GDBP}) show charset
10759The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
10760(@value{GDBP})
10761@end smallexample
10762
10763For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
10764initial character set:
10765@smallexample
10766(@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
10767(@value{GDBP}) show charset
10768The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
10769(@value{GDBP})
10770@end smallexample
10771
10772Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
10773host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
10774characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
10775them properly. Since our current target character set is also
10776@sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
10777
10778@smallexample
10779(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
10780$1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
10781(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
10782$2 = 72 'H'
10783(@value{GDBP})
10784@end smallexample
10785
10786@value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
10787literals you use in expressions:
10788
10789@smallexample
10790(@value{GDBP}) print '+'
10791$3 = 43 '+'
10792(@value{GDBP})
10793@end smallexample
10794
10795The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
10796character.
10797
10798@value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
10799target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
10800character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
10801
10802@smallexample
10803(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
10804$4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
10805(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
10806$5 = 200 '\310'
10807(@value{GDBP})
10808@end smallexample
10809
10810If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
10811@value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
10812
10813@smallexample
10814(@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
10815ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
10816(@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
10817@end smallexample
10818
10819We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
10820program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
10821@value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
10822target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
10823@sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
10824
10825@smallexample
10826(@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
10827(@value{GDBP}) show charset
10828The current host character set is `ASCII'.
10829The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
10830(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
10831$6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
10832(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
10833$7 = 72 '\110'
10834(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
10835$8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
10836(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
10837$9 = 200 'H'
10838(@value{GDBP})
10839@end smallexample
10840
10841As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
10842string literals you use in expressions:
10843
10844@smallexample
10845(@value{GDBP}) print '+'
10846$10 = 78 '+'
10847(@value{GDBP})
10848@end smallexample
10849
10850The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
10851character.
10852
10853@node Caching Target Data
10854@section Caching Data of Targets
10855@cindex caching data of targets
10856
10857@value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a target.
10858Each cache is associated with the address space of the inferior.
10859@xref{Inferiors and Programs}, about inferior and address space.
10860Such caching generally improves performance in remote debugging
10861(@pxref{Remote Debugging}), because it reduces the overhead of the
10862remote protocol by bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks.
10863Unfortunately, simply caching everything would lead to incorrect results,
10864since @value{GDBN} does not necessarily know anything about volatile
10865values, memory-mapped I/O addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode
10866(@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command
10867is executing.
10868Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
10869known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
10870rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
10871in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
10872stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.} or
10873in the code segment.
10874Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
10875cacheable; @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
10876
10877@table @code
10878@kindex set remotecache
10879@item set remotecache on
10880@itemx set remotecache off
10881This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
10882with old scripts.
10883
10884@kindex show remotecache
10885@item show remotecache
10886Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
10887
10888@kindex set stack-cache
10889@item set stack-cache on
10890@itemx set stack-cache off
10891Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{on}, use
10892caching. By default, this option is @code{on}.
10893
10894@kindex show stack-cache
10895@item show stack-cache
10896Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
10897
10898@kindex set code-cache
10899@item set code-cache on
10900@itemx set code-cache off
10901Enable or disable caching of code segment accesses. When @code{on},
10902use caching. By default, this option is @code{on}. This improves
10903performance of disassembly in remote debugging.
10904
10905@kindex show code-cache
10906@item show code-cache
10907Show the current state of target memory cache for code segment
10908accesses.
10909
10910@kindex info dcache
10911@item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
10912Print the information about the performance of data cache of the
10913current inferior's address space. The information displayed
10914includes the dcache width and depth, and for each cache line, its
10915number, address, and how many times it was referenced. This
10916command is useful for debugging the data cache operation.
10917
10918If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
10919printed in hex.
10920
10921@item set dcache size @var{size}
10922@cindex dcache size
10923@kindex set dcache size
10924Set maximum number of entries in dcache (dcache depth above).
10925
10926@item set dcache line-size @var{line-size}
10927@cindex dcache line-size
10928@kindex set dcache line-size
10929Set number of bytes each dcache entry caches (dcache width above).
10930Must be a power of 2.
10931
10932@item show dcache size
10933@kindex show dcache size
10934Show maximum number of dcache entries. @xref{Caching Target Data, info dcache}.
10935
10936@item show dcache line-size
10937@kindex show dcache line-size
10938Show default size of dcache lines.
10939
10940@end table
10941
10942@node Searching Memory
10943@section Search Memory
10944@cindex searching memory
10945
10946Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
10947@code{find} command.
10948
10949@table @code
10950@kindex find
10951@item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
10952@itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
10953Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
10954etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
10955@var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
10956@end table
10957
10958@var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
10959They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
10960
10961@table @r
10962@item @var{s}, search query size
10963The size of each search query value.
10964
10965@table @code
10966@item b
10967bytes
10968@item h
10969halfwords (two bytes)
10970@item w
10971words (four bytes)
10972@item g
10973giant words (eight bytes)
10974@end table
10975
10976All values are interpreted in the current language.
10977This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
10978then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
10979
10980If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
10981value's type in the current language.
10982This is useful when one wants to specify the search
10983pattern as a mixture of types.
10984Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
10985a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
10986which is typically four bytes.
10987
10988@item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
10989The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
10990@end table
10991
10992You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
10993 (@code{"}).
10994The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
10995regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
10996
10997The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
10998number of matches found.
10999
11000The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
11001@samp{$_}.
11002A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
11003
11004For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
11005
11006@smallexample
11007void
11008hello ()
11009@{
11010 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
11011 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
11012 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
11013 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
11014 printf ("%s\n", hello);
11015@}
11016@end smallexample
11017
11018@noindent
11019you get during debugging:
11020
11021@smallexample
11022(gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
110230x804956d <hello.1620+6>
110241 pattern found
11025(gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
110260x8049567 <hello.1620>
110270x804956d <hello.1620+6>
110282 patterns found
11029(gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
110300x8049567 <hello.1620>
110311 pattern found
11032(gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
110330x8049560 <mixed.1625>
110341 pattern found
11035(gdb) print $numfound
11036$1 = 1
11037(gdb) print $_
11038$2 = (void *) 0x8049560
11039@end smallexample
11040
11041@node Optimized Code
11042@chapter Debugging Optimized Code
11043@cindex optimized code, debugging
11044@cindex debugging optimized code
11045
11046Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
11047disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
11048directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
11049applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
11050diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
11051information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
11052the running program back to constructs from your original source.
11053
11054@value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
11055can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
11056progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
11057where you may need to debug an optimized version.
11058
11059When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
11060optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
11061really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
11062exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
11063variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
11064variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
11065
11066Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
11067@samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
11068doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
11069please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
11070@xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
11071
11072@menu
11073* Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
11074* Tail Call Frames:: @value{GDBN} analysis of jumps to functions
11075@end menu
11076
11077@node Inline Functions
11078@section Inline Functions
11079@cindex inline functions, debugging
11080
11081@dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
11082body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
11083routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
11084non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
11085arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
11086them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
11087You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
11088@code{info frame} command.
11089
11090For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
11091record information about inlining in the debug information ---
11092@value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
11093other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
11094when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
11095do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
11096@samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
11097function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
11098displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
11099local variables in the caller.
11100
11101The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
11102unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
11103the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
11104start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
11105the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
11106the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
11107instructions are executed.
11108
11109This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
11110context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
11111a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
11112this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
11113
11114There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
11115function calls are the same as normal calls:
11116
11117@itemize @bullet
11118@item
11119Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
11120work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
11121may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
11122function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
11123version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
11124or inside the inlined function instead.
11125
11126@item
11127@value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
11128using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
11129debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
11130and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
11131
11132@end itemize
11133
11134@node Tail Call Frames
11135@section Tail Call Frames
11136@cindex tail call frames, debugging
11137
11138Function @code{B} can call function @code{C} in its very last statement. In
11139unoptimized compilation the call of @code{C} is immediately followed by return
11140instruction at the end of @code{B} code. Optimizing compiler may replace the
11141call and return in function @code{B} into one jump to function @code{C}
11142instead. Such use of a jump instruction is called @dfn{tail call}.
11143
11144During execution of function @code{C}, there will be no indication in the
11145function call stack frames that it was tail-called from @code{B}. If function
11146@code{A} regularly calls function @code{B} which tail-calls function @code{C},
11147then @value{GDBN} will see @code{A} as the caller of @code{C}. However, in
11148some cases @value{GDBN} can determine that @code{C} was tail-called from
11149@code{B}, and it will then create fictitious call frame for that, with the
11150return address set up as if @code{B} called @code{C} normally.
11151
11152This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
11153the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
11154@value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
11155this information.
11156
11157@kbd{info frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info}) will indicate the tail call frame
11158kind by text @code{tail call frame} such as in this sample @value{GDBN} output:
11159
11160@smallexample
11161(gdb) x/i $pc - 2
11162 0x40066b <b(int, double)+11>: jmp 0x400640 <c(int, double)>
11163(gdb) info frame
11164Stack level 1, frame at 0x7fffffffda30:
11165 rip = 0x40066d in b (amd64-entry-value.cc:59); saved rip 0x4004c5
11166 tail call frame, caller of frame at 0x7fffffffda30
11167 source language c++.
11168 Arglist at unknown address.
11169 Locals at unknown address, Previous frame's sp is 0x7fffffffda30
11170@end smallexample
11171
11172The detection of all the possible code path executions can find them ambiguous.
11173There is no execution history stored (possible @ref{Reverse Execution} is never
11174used for this purpose) and the last known caller could have reached the known
11175callee by multiple different jump sequences. In such case @value{GDBN} still
11176tries to show at least all the unambiguous top tail callers and all the
11177unambiguous bottom tail calees, if any.
11178
11179@table @code
11180@anchor{set debug entry-values}
11181@item set debug entry-values
11182@kindex set debug entry-values
11183When set to on, enables printing of analysis messages for both frame argument
11184values at function entry and tail calls. It will show all the possible valid
11185tail calls code paths it has considered. It will also print the intersection
11186of them with the final unambiguous (possibly partial or even empty) code path
11187result.
11188
11189@item show debug entry-values
11190@kindex show debug entry-values
11191Show the current state of analysis messages printing for both frame argument
11192values at function entry and tail calls.
11193@end table
11194
11195The analysis messages for tail calls can for example show why the virtual tail
11196call frame for function @code{c} has not been recognized (due to the indirect
11197reference by variable @code{x}):
11198
11199@smallexample
11200static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void);
11201void (*x) (void) = c;
11202static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
11203static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ a (); @}
11204int main (void) @{ x (); return 0; @}
11205
11206Breakpoint 1, DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving cannot find
11207DW_TAG_GNU_call_site 0x40039a in main
11208a () at t.c:3
112093 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
11210(gdb) bt
11211#0 a () at t.c:3
11212#1 0x000000000040039a in main () at t.c:5
11213@end smallexample
11214
11215Another possibility is an ambiguous virtual tail call frames resolution:
11216
11217@smallexample
11218int i;
11219static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) f (void) @{ i++; @}
11220static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) e (void) @{ f (); @}
11221static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) d (void) @{ f (); @}
11222static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ d (); @}
11223static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (void)
11224@{ if (i) c (); else e (); @}
11225static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ b (); @}
11226int main (void) @{ a (); return 0; @}
11227
11228tailcall: initial: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004ce(b) 0x4004b2(c) 0x4004a2(d)
11229tailcall: compare: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004cc(b) 0x400492(e)
11230tailcall: reduced: 0x4004d2(a) |
11231(gdb) bt
11232#0 f () at t.c:2
11233#1 0x00000000004004d2 in a () at t.c:8
11234#2 0x0000000000400395 in main () at t.c:9
11235@end smallexample
11236
11237@set CALLSEQ1A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}c@value{ARROW}d@value{ARROW}f}
11238@set CALLSEQ2A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}e@value{ARROW}f}
11239
11240@c Convert CALLSEQ#A to CALLSEQ#B depending on HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK.
11241@ifset HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
11242@set ARROW @click{}
11243@set CALLSEQ1B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ1A}}
11244@set CALLSEQ2B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ2A}}
11245@end ifset
11246@ifclear HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
11247@set ARROW ->
11248@set CALLSEQ1B @value{CALLSEQ1A}
11249@set CALLSEQ2B @value{CALLSEQ2A}
11250@end ifclear
11251
11252Frames #0 and #2 are real, #1 is a virtual tail call frame.
11253The code can have possible execution paths @value{CALLSEQ1B} or
11254@value{CALLSEQ2B}, @value{GDBN} cannot find which one from the inferior state.
11255
11256@code{initial:} state shows some random possible calling sequence @value{GDBN}
11257has found. It then finds another possible calling sequcen - that one is
11258prefixed by @code{compare:}. The non-ambiguous intersection of these two is
11259printed as the @code{reduced:} calling sequence. That one could have many
11260futher @code{compare:} and @code{reduced:} statements as long as there remain
11261any non-ambiguous sequence entries.
11262
11263For the frame of function @code{b} in both cases there are different possible
11264@code{$pc} values (@code{0x4004cc} or @code{0x4004ce}), therefore this frame is
11265also ambigous. The only non-ambiguous frame is the one for function @code{a},
11266therefore this one is displayed to the user while the ambiguous frames are
11267omitted.
11268
11269There can be also reasons why printing of frame argument values at function
11270entry may fail:
11271
11272@smallexample
11273int v;
11274static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (int i) @{ v++; @}
11275static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i);
11276static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (int i) @{ a (i); @}
11277static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i)
11278@{ if (i) b (i - 1); else c (0); @}
11279int main (void) @{ a (5); return 0; @}
11280
11281(gdb) bt
11282#0 c (i=i@@entry=0) at t.c:2
11283#1 0x0000000000400428 in a (DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving has found
11284function "a" at 0x400420 can call itself via tail calls
11285i=<optimized out>) at t.c:6
11286#2 0x000000000040036e in main () at t.c:7
11287@end smallexample
11288
11289@value{GDBN} cannot find out from the inferior state if and how many times did
11290function @code{a} call itself (via function @code{b}) as these calls would be
11291tail calls. Such tail calls would modify thue @code{i} variable, therefore
11292@value{GDBN} cannot be sure the value it knows would be right - @value{GDBN}
11293prints @code{<optimized out>} instead.
11294
11295@node Macros
11296@chapter C Preprocessor Macros
11297
11298Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
11299``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
11300@value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
11301the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
11302where it was defined.
11303
11304You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
11305with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
11306include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
11307with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
11308
11309A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
11310and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
11311points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
11312no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
11313uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
11314@value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
11315see @ref{List}.
11316
11317Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
11318macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
11319the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
11320
11321@table @code
11322
11323@kindex macro expand
11324@cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
11325@cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
11326@cindex expanding preprocessor macros
11327@item macro expand @var{expression}
11328@itemx macro exp @var{expression}
11329Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
11330@var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
11331not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
11332it can be any string of tokens.
11333
11334@kindex macro exp1
11335@item macro expand-once @var{expression}
11336@itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
11337@cindex expand macro once
11338@i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
11339expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
11340@var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
11341left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
11342particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
11343expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
11344parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
11345can be any string of tokens.
11346
11347@kindex info macro
11348@cindex macro definition, showing
11349@cindex definition of a macro, showing
11350@cindex macros, from debug info
11351@item info macro [-a|-all] [--] @var{macro}
11352Show the current definition or all definitions of the named @var{macro},
11353and describe the source location or compiler command-line where that
11354definition was established. The optional double dash is to signify the end of
11355argument processing and the beginning of @var{macro} for non C-like macros where
11356the macro may begin with a hyphen.
11357
11358@kindex info macros
11359@item info macros @var{linespec}
11360Show all macro definitions that are in effect at the location specified
11361by @var{linespec}, and describe the source location or compiler
11362command-line where those definitions were established.
11363
11364@kindex macro define
11365@cindex user-defined macros
11366@cindex defining macros interactively
11367@cindex macros, user-defined
11368@item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
11369@itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
11370Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
11371invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
11372@var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
11373``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
11374defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
11375@var{arglist}.
11376
11377A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
11378expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
11379@code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
11380all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
11381as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
11382
11383@kindex macro undef
11384@item macro undef @var{macro}
11385Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
11386This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
11387define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
11388in the program being debugged.
11389
11390@kindex macro list
11391@item macro list
11392List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
11393@end table
11394
11395@cindex macros, example of debugging with
11396Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
11397show our source files:
11398
11399@smallexample
11400$ cat sample.c
11401#include <stdio.h>
11402#include "sample.h"
11403
11404#define M 42
11405#define ADD(x) (M + x)
11406
11407main ()
11408@{
11409#define N 28
11410 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
11411#undef N
11412 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
11413#define N 1729
11414 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
11415@}
11416$ cat sample.h
11417#define Q <
11418$
11419@end smallexample
11420
11421Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
11422@value{NGCC}. We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2}@footnote{This is the
11423minimum. Recent versions of @value{NGCC} support @option{-gdwarf-3}
11424and @option{-gdwarf-4}; we recommend always choosing the most recent
11425version of DWARF.} @emph{and} @option{-g3} flags to ensure the compiler
11426includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
11427information.
11428
11429@smallexample
11430$ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
11431$
11432@end smallexample
11433
11434Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
11435
11436@smallexample
11437$ gdb -nw sample
11438GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
11439Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
11440GDB is free software, @dots{}
11441(@value{GDBP})
11442@end smallexample
11443
11444We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
11445program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
11446to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
11447
11448@smallexample
11449(@value{GDBP}) list main
114503
114514 #define M 42
114525 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
114536
114547 main ()
114558 @{
114569 #define N 28
1145710 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
1145811 #undef N
1145912 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
11460(@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
11461Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
11462#define ADD(x) (M + x)
11463(@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
11464Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
11465 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
11466#define Q <
11467(@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
11468expands to: (42 + 1)
11469(@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
11470expands to: once (M + 1)
11471(@value{GDBP})
11472@end smallexample
11473
11474In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
11475the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
11476@code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
11477which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
11478
11479Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
11480force at the source line of the current stack frame:
11481
11482@smallexample
11483(@value{GDBP}) break main
11484Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
11485(@value{GDBP}) run
11486Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
11487
11488Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
1148910 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
11490(@value{GDBP})
11491@end smallexample
11492
11493At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
11494
11495@smallexample
11496(@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11497Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
11498#define N 28
11499(@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
11500expands to: 28 < 42
11501(@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
11502$1 = 1
11503(@value{GDBP})
11504@end smallexample
11505
11506As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
11507give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
11508thereof) in force at each point:
11509
11510@smallexample
11511(@value{GDBP}) next
11512Hello, world!
1151312 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
11514(@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11515The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
11516at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
11517(@value{GDBP}) next
11518We're so creative.
1151914 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
11520(@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11521Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
11522#define N 1729
11523(@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
11524expands to: 1729 < 42
11525(@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
11526$2 = 0
11527(@value{GDBP})
11528@end smallexample
11529
11530In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
11531line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
11532such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
11533of the source file submitted to the compiler.
11534
11535@smallexample
11536(@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
11537Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
11538-D__STDC__=1
11539(@value{GDBP})
11540@end smallexample
11541
11542
11543@node Tracepoints
11544@chapter Tracepoints
11545@c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
11546@c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
11547
11548@cindex tracepoints
11549In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
11550the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
11551anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
11552depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
11553might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
11554fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
11555to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
11556
11557Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
11558specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
11559arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
11560Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
11561those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
11562expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
11563for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
11564a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
11565in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
11566values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
11567unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
11568
11569The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
11570targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
11571how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
11572remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
11573support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
11574packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
11575Packets}.
11576
11577It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
11578of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
11579through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
11580
11581This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
11582
11583@menu
11584* Set Tracepoints::
11585* Analyze Collected Data::
11586* Tracepoint Variables::
11587* Trace Files::
11588@end menu
11589
11590@node Set Tracepoints
11591@section Commands to Set Tracepoints
11592
11593Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
11594tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
11595breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
11596standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
11597tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
11598of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
11599as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
11600
11601For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
11602of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
11603it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
11604local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
11605commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
11606tracepoint was hit.
11607
11608Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
11609tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
11610commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
11611either.
11612
11613@cindex fast tracepoints
11614Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
11615a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
11616faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
11617
11618@cindex static tracepoints
11619@cindex markers, static tracepoints
11620@cindex probing markers, static tracepoints
11621Regular and fast tracepoints are dynamic tracing facilities, meaning
11622that they can be used to insert tracepoints at (almost) any location
11623in the target. Some targets may also support controlling @dfn{static
11624tracepoints} from @value{GDBN}. With static tracing, a set of
11625instrumentation points, also known as @dfn{markers}, are embedded in
11626the target program, and can be activated or deactivated by name or
11627address. These are usually placed at locations which facilitate
11628investigating what the target is actually doing. @value{GDBN}'s
11629support for static tracing includes being able to list instrumentation
11630points, and attach them with @value{GDBN} defined high level
11631tracepoints that expose the whole range of convenience of
11632@value{GDBN}'s tracepoints support. Namely, support for collecting
11633registers values and values of global or local (to the instrumentation
11634point) variables; tracepoint conditions and trace state variables.
11635The act of installing a @value{GDBN} static tracepoint on an
11636instrumentation point, or marker, is referred to as @dfn{probing} a
11637static tracepoint marker.
11638
11639@code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
11640@xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
11641
11642This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
11643conditions and actions.
11644
11645@menu
11646* Create and Delete Tracepoints::
11647* Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
11648* Tracepoint Passcounts::
11649* Tracepoint Conditions::
11650* Trace State Variables::
11651* Tracepoint Actions::
11652* Listing Tracepoints::
11653* Listing Static Tracepoint Markers::
11654* Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
11655* Tracepoint Restrictions::
11656@end menu
11657
11658@node Create and Delete Tracepoints
11659@subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
11660
11661@table @code
11662@cindex set tracepoint
11663@kindex trace
11664@item trace @var{location}
11665The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
11666Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
11667an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
11668@code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
11669target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
11670data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
11671changing its actions takes effect immediately if the remote stub
11672supports the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature (@pxref{install tracepoint
11673in tracing}).
11674If remote stub doesn't support the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature, all
11675these changes don't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
11676command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
11677not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts. In addition,
11678@value{GDBN} supports @dfn{pending tracepoints}---tracepoints whose
11679address is not yet resolved. (This is similar to pending breakpoints.)
11680Pending tracepoints are not downloaded to the target and not installed
11681until they are resolved. The resolution of pending tracepoints requires
11682@value{GDBN} support---when debugging with the remote target, and
11683@value{GDBN} disconnects from the remote stub (@pxref{disconnected
11684tracing}), pending tracepoints can not be resolved (and downloaded to
11685the remote stub) while @value{GDBN} is disconnected.
11686
11687Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
11688
11689@smallexample
11690(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
11691
11692(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
11693
11694(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
11695
11696(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
11697
11698(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
11699@end smallexample
11700
11701@noindent
11702You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
11703
11704@item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
11705Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
11706@var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
11707if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
11708@xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
11709information on tracepoint conditions.
11710
11711@item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
11712@cindex set fast tracepoint
11713@cindex fast tracepoints, setting
11714@kindex ftrace
11715The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
11716support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
11717less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
11718instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
11719may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
11720location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
11721message.
11722
11723@value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
11724@code{trace}.
11725
11726On 32-bit x86-architecture systems, fast tracepoints normally need to
11727be placed at an instruction that is 5 bytes or longer, but can be
11728placed at 4-byte instructions if the low 64K of memory of the target
11729program is available to install trampolines. Some Unix-type systems,
11730such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, exclude low addresses from the program's
11731address space; but for instance with the Linux kernel it is possible
11732to let @value{GDBN} use this area by doing a @command{sysctl} command
11733to set the @code{mmap_min_addr} kernel parameter, as in
11734
11735@example
11736sudo sysctl -w vm.mmap_min_addr=32768
11737@end example
11738
11739@noindent
11740which sets the low address to 32K, which leaves plenty of room for
11741trampolines. The minimum address should be set to a page boundary.
11742
11743@item strace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
11744@cindex set static tracepoint
11745@cindex static tracepoints, setting
11746@cindex probe static tracepoint marker
11747@kindex strace
11748The @code{strace} command sets a static tracepoint. For targets that
11749support it, setting a static tracepoint probes a static
11750instrumentation point, or marker, found at @var{location}. It may not
11751be possible to set a static tracepoint at the desired location, in
11752which case the command will exit with an explanatory message.
11753
11754@value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{strace} exactly as for
11755@code{trace}, with the addition that the user can also specify
11756@code{-m @var{marker}} as @var{location}. This probes the marker
11757identified by the @var{marker} string identifier. This identifier
11758depends on the static tracepoint backend library your program is
11759using. You can find all the marker identifiers in the @samp{ID} field
11760of the @code{info static-tracepoint-markers} command output.
11761@xref{Listing Static Tracepoint Markers,,Listing Static Tracepoint
11762Markers}. For example, in the following small program using the UST
11763tracing engine:
11764
11765@smallexample
11766main ()
11767@{
11768 trace_mark(ust, bar33, "str %s", "FOOBAZ");
11769@}
11770@end smallexample
11771
11772@noindent
11773the marker id is composed of joining the first two arguments to the
11774@code{trace_mark} call with a slash, which translates to:
11775
11776@smallexample
11777(@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
11778Cnt Enb ID Address What
117791 n ust/bar33 0x0000000000400ddc in main at stexample.c:22
11780 Data: "str %s"
11781[etc...]
11782@end smallexample
11783
11784@noindent
11785so you may probe the marker above with:
11786
11787@smallexample
11788(@value{GDBP}) strace -m ust/bar33
11789@end smallexample
11790
11791Static tracepoints accept an extra collect action --- @code{collect
11792$_sdata}. This collects arbitrary user data passed in the probe point
11793call to the tracing library. In the UST example above, you'll see
11794that the third argument to @code{trace_mark} is a printf-like format
11795string. The user data is then the result of running that formating
11796string against the following arguments. Note that @code{info
11797static-tracepoint-markers} command output lists that format string in
11798the @samp{Data:} field.
11799
11800You can inspect this data when analyzing the trace buffer, by printing
11801the $_sdata variable like any other variable available to
11802@value{GDBN}. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}.
11803
11804@vindex $tpnum
11805@cindex last tracepoint number
11806@cindex recent tracepoint number
11807@cindex tracepoint number
11808The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
11809of the most recently set tracepoint.
11810
11811@kindex delete tracepoint
11812@cindex tracepoint deletion
11813@item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11814Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
11815default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
11816@code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
11817
11818Examples:
11819
11820@smallexample
11821(@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
11822
11823(@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
11824@end smallexample
11825
11826@noindent
11827You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
11828@end table
11829
11830@node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
11831@subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
11832
11833These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
11834
11835@table @code
11836@kindex disable tracepoint
11837@item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11838Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
11839@var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
11840a trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
11841a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
11842If the command is issued during a trace experiment and the debug target
11843has support for disabling tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the
11844change will be effective immediately. Otherwise, it will be applied to the
11845next trace experiment.
11846
11847@kindex enable tracepoint
11848@item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11849Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. If this command is
11850issued during a trace experiment and the debug target supports enabling
11851tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the enabled tracepoints will
11852become effective immediately. Otherwise, they will become effective the
11853next time a trace experiment is run.
11854@end table
11855
11856@node Tracepoint Passcounts
11857@subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
11858
11859@table @code
11860@kindex passcount
11861@cindex tracepoint pass count
11862@item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
11863Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
11864automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
11865@var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
11866the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
11867@var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
11868passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
11869given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
11870user.
11871
11872Examples:
11873
11874@smallexample
11875(@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
11876@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
11877
11878(@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
11879@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
11880(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
11881(@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
11882(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
11883(@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
11884(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
11885(@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
11886@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
11887@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
11888@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
11889@end smallexample
11890@end table
11891
11892@node Tracepoint Conditions
11893@subsection Tracepoint Conditions
11894@cindex conditional tracepoints
11895@cindex tracepoint conditions
11896
11897The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
11898reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
11899a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
11900programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
11901tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
11902program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
11903is true.
11904
11905Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
11906using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
11907@xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
11908also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
11909just as with breakpoints.
11910
11911Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
11912the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
11913expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions})
11914suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
11915Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
11916accesses, and so forth.
11917
11918For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
11919frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
11920could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
11921of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
11922through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
11923collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
11924search through.
11925
11926@smallexample
11927(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
11928@end smallexample
11929
11930@node Trace State Variables
11931@subsection Trace State Variables
11932@cindex trace state variables
11933
11934A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
11935created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
11936that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
11937but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
11938using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
11939integers.
11940
11941Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
11942to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
11943experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
11944trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
11945
11946@cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
11947Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
11948them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
11949variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
11950while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
11951the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
11952cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
11953@code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
11954variable with the same name.
11955
11956@table @code
11957
11958@item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
11959@kindex tvariable
11960The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
11961@code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
11962@var{expression}. @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
11963entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
11964otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
11965@code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
11966variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
11967existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
11968value. The default initial value is 0.
11969
11970@item info tvariables
11971@kindex info tvariables
11972List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
11973Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
11974currently running.
11975
11976@item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
11977@kindex delete tvariable
11978Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
11979are specified.
11980
11981@end table
11982
11983@node Tracepoint Actions
11984@subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
11985
11986@table @code
11987@kindex actions
11988@cindex tracepoint actions
11989@item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11990This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
11991tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
11992specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
11993recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
11994@code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
11995actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
11996terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
11997far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
11998@code{while-stepping}.
11999
12000@code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
12001Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
12002actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
12003
12004@cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
12005To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
12006and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
12007
12008@smallexample
12009(@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
12010
12011(@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
12012
12013(@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
12014@end smallexample
12015
12016In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
12017commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
12018hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
12019following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
12020followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
12021sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
12022terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
12023list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
12024
12025@smallexample
12026(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
12027(@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
12028Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
12029> collect bar,baz
12030> collect $regs
12031> while-stepping 12
12032 > collect $pc, arr[i]
12033 > end
12034end
12035@end smallexample
12036
12037@kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
12038@item collect@r{[}/@var{mods}@r{]} @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
12039Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
12040This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
12041In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
12042special arguments are supported:
12043
12044@table @code
12045@item $regs
12046Collect all registers.
12047
12048@item $args
12049Collect all function arguments.
12050
12051@item $locals
12052Collect all local variables.
12053
12054@item $_ret
12055Collect the return address. This is helpful if you want to see more
12056of a backtrace.
12057
12058@item $_probe_argc
12059Collects the number of arguments from the static probe at which the
12060tracepoint is located.
12061@xref{Static Probe Points}.
12062
12063@item $_probe_arg@var{n}
12064@var{n} is an integer between 0 and 11. Collects the @var{n}th argument
12065from the static probe at which the tracepoint is located.
12066@xref{Static Probe Points}.
12067
12068@item $_sdata
12069@vindex $_sdata@r{, collect}
12070Collect static tracepoint marker specific data. Only available for
12071static tracepoints. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action
12072Lists}. On the UST static tracepoints library backend, an
12073instrumentation point resembles a @code{printf} function call. The
12074tracing library is able to collect user specified data formatted to a
12075character string using the format provided by the programmer that
12076instrumented the program. Other backends have similar mechanisms.
12077Here's an example of a UST marker call:
12078
12079@smallexample
12080 const char master_name[] = "$your_name";
12081 trace_mark(channel1, marker1, "hello %s", master_name)
12082@end smallexample
12083
12084In this case, collecting @code{$_sdata} collects the string
12085@samp{hello $yourname}. When analyzing the trace buffer, you can
12086inspect @samp{$_sdata} like any other variable available to
12087@value{GDBN}.
12088@end table
12089
12090You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
12091with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
12092arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
12093
12094The optional @var{mods} changes the usual handling of the arguments.
12095@code{s} requests that pointers to chars be handled as strings, in
12096particular collecting the contents of the memory being pointed at, up
12097to the first zero. The upper bound is by default the value of the
12098@code{print elements} variable; if @code{s} is followed by a decimal
12099number, that is the upper bound instead. So for instance
12100@samp{collect/s25 mystr} collects as many as 25 characters at
12101@samp{mystr}.
12102
12103The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
12104particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
12105
12106@kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
12107@item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
12108Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
12109command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
12110are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
12111state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
12112values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
12113action were used.
12114
12115@kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
12116@item while-stepping @var{n}
12117Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
12118collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
12119command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
12120(followed by its own @code{end} command):
12121
12122@smallexample
12123> while-stepping 12
12124 > collect $regs, myglobal
12125 > end
12126>
12127@end smallexample
12128
12129@noindent
12130Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
12131@code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
12132you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
12133@code{stepping}.
12134
12135@item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
12136@kindex set default-collect
12137@cindex default collection action
12138This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
12139hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
12140to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
12141individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
12142@code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
12143local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
12144
12145@item show default-collect
12146@kindex show default-collect
12147Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
12148tracepoint hit.
12149
12150@end table
12151
12152@node Listing Tracepoints
12153@subsection Listing Tracepoints
12154
12155@table @code
12156@kindex info tracepoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
12157@kindex info tp @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
12158@cindex information about tracepoints
12159@item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@dots{}@r{]}
12160Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
12161specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
12162tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
12163@code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
12164command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
12165
12166A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
12167tracing:
12168
12169@itemize @bullet
12170@item
12171its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
12172
12173@item
12174the state about installed on target of each location
12175@end itemize
12176
12177@smallexample
12178(@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
12179Num Type Disp Enb Address What
121801 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
12181 while-stepping 20
12182 collect globfoo, $regs
12183 end
12184 collect globfoo2
12185 end
12186 pass count 1200
121872 tracepoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
12188 collect $eip
121892.1 y 0x0804859c in func4 at change-loc.h:35
12190 installed on target
121912.2 y 0xb7ffc480 in func4 at change-loc.h:35
12192 installed on target
121932.3 y <PENDING> set_tracepoint
121943 tracepoint keep y 0x080485b1 in foo at change-loc.c:29
12195 not installed on target
12196(@value{GDBP})
12197@end smallexample
12198
12199@noindent
12200This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
12201@end table
12202
12203@node Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
12204@subsection Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
12205
12206@table @code
12207@kindex info static-tracepoint-markers
12208@cindex information about static tracepoint markers
12209@item info static-tracepoint-markers
12210Display information about all static tracepoint markers defined in the
12211program.
12212
12213For each marker, the following columns are printed:
12214
12215@table @emph
12216@item Count
12217An incrementing counter, output to help readability. This is not a
12218stable identifier.
12219@item ID
12220The marker ID, as reported by the target.
12221@item Enabled or Disabled
12222Probed markers are tagged with @samp{y}. @samp{n} identifies marks
12223that are not enabled.
12224@item Address
12225Where the marker is in your program, as a memory address.
12226@item What
12227Where the marker is in the source for your program, as a file and line
12228number. If the debug information included in the program does not
12229allow @value{GDBN} to locate the source of the marker, this column
12230will be left blank.
12231@end table
12232
12233@noindent
12234In addition, the following information may be printed for each marker:
12235
12236@table @emph
12237@item Data
12238User data passed to the tracing library by the marker call. In the
12239UST backend, this is the format string passed as argument to the
12240marker call.
12241@item Static tracepoints probing the marker
12242The list of static tracepoints attached to the marker.
12243@end table
12244
12245@smallexample
12246(@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
12247Cnt ID Enb Address What
122481 ust/bar2 y 0x0000000000400e1a in main at stexample.c:25
12249 Data: number1 %d number2 %d
12250 Probed by static tracepoints: #2
122512 ust/bar33 n 0x0000000000400c87 in main at stexample.c:24
12252 Data: str %s
12253(@value{GDBP})
12254@end smallexample
12255@end table
12256
12257@node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
12258@subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
12259
12260@table @code
12261@kindex tstart [ @var{notes} ]
12262@cindex start a new trace experiment
12263@cindex collected data discarded
12264@item tstart
12265This command starts the trace experiment, and begins collecting data.
12266It has the side effect of discarding all the data collected in the
12267trace buffer during the previous trace experiment. If any arguments
12268are supplied, they are taken as a note and stored with the trace
12269experiment's state. The notes may be arbitrary text, and are
12270especially useful with disconnected tracing in a multi-user context;
12271the notes can explain what the trace is doing, supply user contact
12272information, and so forth.
12273
12274@kindex tstop [ @var{notes} ]
12275@cindex stop a running trace experiment
12276@item tstop
12277This command stops the trace experiment. If any arguments are
12278supplied, they are recorded with the experiment as a note. This is
12279useful if you are stopping a trace started by someone else, for
12280instance if the trace is interfering with the system's behavior and
12281needs to be stopped quickly.
12282
12283@strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
12284automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
12285(@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
12286
12287@kindex tstatus
12288@cindex status of trace data collection
12289@cindex trace experiment, status of
12290@item tstatus
12291This command displays the status of the current trace data
12292collection.
12293@end table
12294
12295Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
12296
12297@smallexample
12298(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
12299(@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
12300Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
12301> collect $regs,$locals,$args
12302> while-stepping 11
12303 > collect $regs
12304 > end
12305> end
12306(@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
12307 [time passes @dots{}]
12308(@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
12309@end smallexample
12310
12311@anchor{disconnected tracing}
12312@cindex disconnected tracing
12313You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
12314@value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
12315involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
12316ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
12317terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
12318unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
12319@code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
12320continue running without @value{GDBN}.
12321
12322@table @code
12323@item set disconnected-tracing on
12324@itemx set disconnected-tracing off
12325@kindex set disconnected-tracing
12326Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
12327has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
12328@code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
12329matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
12330for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
12331
12332@item show disconnected-tracing
12333@kindex show disconnected-tracing
12334Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
12335
12336@end table
12337
12338When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
12339still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
12340meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
12341it will continue after reconnection.
12342
12343Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
12344tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
12345information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
12346to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
12347have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
12348the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
12349debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
12350which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
12351necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
12352created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
12353
12354@cindex circular trace buffer
12355If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
12356can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
12357buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
12358frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
12359collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
12360hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
12361buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
12362@samp{circular-trace-buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
12363including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
12364buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
12365the next run.
12366
12367@table @code
12368@item set circular-trace-buffer on
12369@itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
12370@kindex set circular-trace-buffer
12371Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
12372for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
12373fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
12374data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
12375
12376@item show circular-trace-buffer
12377@kindex show circular-trace-buffer
12378Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
12379match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
12380match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
12381for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
12382
12383@end table
12384
12385@table @code
12386@item set trace-buffer-size @var{n}
12387@itemx set trace-buffer-size unlimited
12388@kindex set trace-buffer-size
12389Request that the target use a trace buffer of @var{n} bytes. Not all
12390targets will honor the request; they may have a compiled-in size for
12391the trace buffer, or some other limitation. Set to a value of
12392@code{unlimited} or @code{-1} to let the target use whatever size it
12393likes. This is also the default.
12394
12395@item show trace-buffer-size
12396@kindex show trace-buffer-size
12397Show the current requested size for the trace buffer. Note that this
12398will only match the actual size if the target supports size-setting,
12399and was able to handle the requested size. For instance, if the
12400target can only change buffer size between runs, this variable will
12401not reflect the change until the next run starts. Use @code{tstatus}
12402to get a report of the actual buffer size.
12403@end table
12404
12405@table @code
12406@item set trace-user @var{text}
12407@kindex set trace-user
12408
12409@item show trace-user
12410@kindex show trace-user
12411
12412@item set trace-notes @var{text}
12413@kindex set trace-notes
12414Set the trace run's notes.
12415
12416@item show trace-notes
12417@kindex show trace-notes
12418Show the trace run's notes.
12419
12420@item set trace-stop-notes @var{text}
12421@kindex set trace-stop-notes
12422Set the trace run's stop notes. The handling of the note is as for
12423@code{tstop} arguments; the set command is convenient way to fix a
12424stop note that is mistaken or incomplete.
12425
12426@item show trace-stop-notes
12427@kindex show trace-stop-notes
12428Show the trace run's stop notes.
12429
12430@end table
12431
12432@node Tracepoint Restrictions
12433@subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
12434
12435@cindex tracepoint restrictions
12436There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
12437described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
12438without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
12439the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
12440examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
12441collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
12442is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
12443mentioned here.
12444
12445@itemize @bullet
12446
12447@item
12448Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
12449the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
12450You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
12451convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
12452state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
12453functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
12454cannot be collected either.
12455
12456@item
12457Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
12458@code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
12459behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
12460instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
12461may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
12462tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
12463variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
12464tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
12465where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
12466program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
12467
12468@item
12469Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
12470may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
12471in a misleading way.
12472
12473@item
12474When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
12475dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
12476being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
12477not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
12478dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
12479collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
12480@code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
12481by @code{ptr}.
12482
12483@item
12484It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
12485tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
12486bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*(unsigned char *)$esp@@300}
12487(adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
12488target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
12489Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
12490using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
12491depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
12492if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
12493stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
12494invalid address.
12495
12496@item
12497If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
12498infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
12499the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
12500for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
12501multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
12502inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
12503@value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
12504it to zero.
12505
12506@end itemize
12507
12508@node Analyze Collected Data
12509@section Using the Collected Data
12510
12511After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
12512for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
12513collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
12514snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
12515consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
12516examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
12517specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
12518snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
12519registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
12520rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
12521debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
12522(@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
12523behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
12524when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
12525the buffer will fail.
12526
12527@menu
12528* tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
12529* tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
12530* save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
12531@end menu
12532
12533@node tfind
12534@subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
12535
12536@kindex tfind
12537@cindex select trace snapshot
12538@cindex find trace snapshot
12539The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
12540@code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
12541counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
12542snapshot is selected.
12543
12544Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
12545
12546@table @code
12547@item tfind start
12548Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
12549@code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
12550
12551@item tfind none
12552Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
12553
12554@item tfind end
12555Same as @samp{tfind none}.
12556
12557@item tfind
12558No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
12559
12560@item tfind -
12561Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
12562retracing earlier steps.
12563
12564@item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
12565Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
12566proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
12567argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
12568for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
12569
12570@item tfind pc @var{addr}
12571Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
12572program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
12573snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
12574snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
12575
12576@item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
12577Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
12578addresses (exclusive).
12579
12580@item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
12581Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
12582@var{addr2} (inclusive).
12583
12584@item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
12585Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
12586the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
12587that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
12588trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
12589next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
12590@code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
12591stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
12592@end table
12593
12594The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
12595designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
12596instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
12597snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
12598trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
12599simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
12600snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
12601@key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
12602The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
12603for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
12604no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
12605(PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
12606no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
12607tracepoint as the current one.
12608
12609In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
12610these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
12611scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
12612you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
12613registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
12614
12615@smallexample
12616(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12617(@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
12618> printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
12619 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
12620> tfind
12621> end
12622
12623Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
12624Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
12625Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
12626Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
12627Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
12628Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
12629Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
12630Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
12631Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
12632Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
12633Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
12634@end smallexample
12635
12636Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
12637the buffer:
12638
12639@smallexample
12640(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12641(@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
12642> printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
12643> tfind line
12644> end
12645
12646Frame 0, X = 1
12647Frame 7, X = 2
12648Frame 13, X = 255
12649@end smallexample
12650
12651@node tdump
12652@subsection @code{tdump}
12653@kindex tdump
12654@cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
12655@cindex tracepoint data, display
12656
12657This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
12658the current trace snapshot.
12659
12660@smallexample
12661(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
12662(@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
12663Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
12664> collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
12665> end
12666
12667(@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
12668
12669(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
12670#0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
12671at gdb_test.c:444
12672444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
12673
12674(@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
12675Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
12676d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
12677d1 0x18 24
12678d2 0x80 128
12679d3 0x33 51
12680d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
12681d5 0x22 34
12682d6 0xe0 224
12683d7 0x380035 3670069
12684a0 0x19e24a 1696330
12685a1 0x3000668 50333288
12686a2 0x100 256
12687a3 0x322000 3284992
12688a4 0x3000698 50333336
12689a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
12690fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
12691sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
12692ps 0x0 0
12693pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
12694fpcontrol 0x0 0
12695fpstatus 0x0 0
12696fpiaddr 0x0 0
12697p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
12698p1 = (void *) 0x11
12699p2 = (void *) 0x22
12700p3 = (void *) 0x33
12701p4 = (void *) 0x44
12702p5 = (void *) 0x55
12703p6 = (void *) 0x66
12704gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
12705
12706(@value{GDBP})
12707@end smallexample
12708
12709@code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
12710actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
12711@code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
12712actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
12713
12714Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
12715uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
12716frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
12717collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
12718to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
12719body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
12720then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
12721list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
12722same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
12723@c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
12724
12725@node save tracepoints
12726@subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
12727@kindex save tracepoints
12728@kindex save-tracepoints
12729@cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
12730
12731This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
12732their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
12733suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
12734tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
12735Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
12736alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
12737
12738@node Tracepoint Variables
12739@section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
12740@cindex tracepoint variables
12741@cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
12742
12743@table @code
12744@vindex $trace_frame
12745@item (int) $trace_frame
12746The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
12747snapshot is selected.
12748
12749@vindex $tracepoint
12750@item (int) $tracepoint
12751The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
12752
12753@vindex $trace_line
12754@item (int) $trace_line
12755The line number for the current trace snapshot.
12756
12757@vindex $trace_file
12758@item (char []) $trace_file
12759The source file for the current trace snapshot.
12760
12761@vindex $trace_func
12762@item (char []) $trace_func
12763The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
12764@end table
12765
12766Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
12767use @code{output} instead.
12768
12769Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
12770stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
12771data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
12772which are managed by the target.
12773
12774@smallexample
12775(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12776
12777(@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
12778> output $trace_file
12779> printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
12780> tfind
12781> end
12782@end smallexample
12783
12784@node Trace Files
12785@section Using Trace Files
12786@cindex trace files
12787
12788In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
12789longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
12790for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
12791dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
12792of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
12793
12794@table @code
12795
12796@kindex tsave
12797@item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
12798@itemx tsave [-ctf] @var{dirname}
12799Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
12800assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
12801necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
12802then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
12803optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
12804the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
12805more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
12806@code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
12807By default, this command will save trace frame in tfile format.
12808You can supply the optional argument @code{-ctf} to save date in CTF
12809format. The @dfn{Common Trace Format} (CTF) is proposed as a trace format
12810that can be shared by multiple debugging and tracing tools. Please go to
12811@indicateurl{http://www.efficios.com/ctf} to get more information.
12812
12813@kindex target tfile
12814@kindex tfile
12815@kindex target ctf
12816@kindex ctf
12817@item target tfile @var{filename}
12818@itemx target ctf @var{dirname}
12819Use the file named @var{filename} or directory named @var{dirname} as
12820a source of trace data. Commands that examine data work as they do with
12821a live target, but it is not possible to run any new trace experiments.
12822@code{tstatus} will report the state of the trace run at the moment
12823the data was saved, as well as the current trace frame you are examining.
12824@var{filename} or @var{dirname} must be on a filesystem accessible to
12825the host.
12826
12827@smallexample
12828(@value{GDBP}) target ctf ctf.ctf
12829(@value{GDBP}) tfind
12830Found trace frame 0, tracepoint 2
1283139 ++a; /* set tracepoint 1 here */
12832(@value{GDBP}) tdump
12833Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 0:
12834i = 0
12835a = 0
12836b = 1 '\001'
12837c = @{"123", "456", "789", "123", "456", "789"@}
12838d = @{@{@{a = 1, b = 2@}, @{a = 3, b = 4@}@}, @{@{a = 5, b = 6@}, @{a = 7, b = 8@}@}@}
12839(@value{GDBP}) p b
12840$1 = 1
12841@end smallexample
12842
12843@end table
12844
12845@node Overlays
12846@chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
12847@cindex overlays
12848
12849If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
12850memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
12851problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
12852use overlays.
12853
12854@menu
12855* How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
12856* Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
12857* Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
12858 mapped by asking the inferior.
12859* Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
12860@end menu
12861
12862@node How Overlays Work
12863@section How Overlays Work
12864@cindex mapped overlays
12865@cindex unmapped overlays
12866@cindex load address, overlay's
12867@cindex mapped address
12868@cindex overlay area
12869
12870Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
12871kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
12872other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
12873management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
12874adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
12875
12876One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
12877independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
12878@dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
12879their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
12880instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
12881largest overlay as well.
12882
12883Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
12884overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
12885for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
12886there.
12887
12888@c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
12889@c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
12890@c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
12891
12892@smallexample
12893@group
12894 Data Instruction Larger
12895Address Space Address Space Address Space
12896+-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
12897| | | | | |
12898+-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
12899| program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
12900| variables | | program | | +-----------+
12901| and heap | | | | | |
12902+-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
12903| | +-----------+ | | | load address
12904+-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
12905 | | | | | |
12906 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
12907 address | | | | | |
12908 | overlay | <-' | | |
12909 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
12910 | | <---. | | load address
12911 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
12912 | | | |
12913 +-----------+ | |
12914 +-----------+
12915 | |
12916 +-----------+
12917
12918 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
12919@end group
12920@end smallexample
12921
12922The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
12923and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
12924its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
12925Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
12926may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
12927data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
12928program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
12929program and the overlay area.
12930
12931An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
12932@dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
12933instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
12934in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
12935is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
12936the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
12937called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
12938
12939Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
12940program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
12941global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
12942
12943@itemize @bullet
12944
12945@item
12946Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
12947must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
12948return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
12949overlay, and your program will probably crash.
12950
12951@item
12952If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
12953will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
12954your program's performance.
12955
12956@item
12957The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
12958overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
12959mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
12960and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
12961You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
12962addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
12963ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
12964
12965@item
12966The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
12967to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
12968instruction and data spaces.
12969
12970@end itemize
12971
12972The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
12973improved in many ways:
12974
12975@itemize @bullet
12976
12977@item
12978If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
12979hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
12980contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
12981This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
12982area in the usual way.
12983
12984@item
12985If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
12986overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
12987
12988@item
12989You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
12990general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
12991code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
12992return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
12993the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
12994must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
12995different data overlay into the same mapped area.
12996
12997@end itemize
12998
12999
13000@node Overlay Commands
13001@section Overlay Commands
13002
13003To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
13004correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
13005virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
13006mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
13007@value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
13008variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
13009
13010@value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
13011you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
13012
13013@table @code
13014@item overlay off
13015@kindex overlay
13016Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
13017disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
13018always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
13019overlay support is disabled.
13020
13021@item overlay manual
13022@cindex manual overlay debugging
13023Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
13024relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
13025using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
13026commands described below.
13027
13028@item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
13029@itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
13030@cindex map an overlay
13031Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
13032be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
13033overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
13034functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
13035that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
13036@var{overlay} are now unmapped.
13037
13038@item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
13039@itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
13040@cindex unmap an overlay
13041Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
13042must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
13043When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
13044overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
13045
13046@item overlay auto
13047Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
13048consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
13049to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
13050Overlay Debugging}.
13051
13052@item overlay load-target
13053@itemx overlay load
13054@cindex reloading the overlay table
13055Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
13056re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
13057stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
13058overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
13059useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
13060
13061@item overlay list-overlays
13062@itemx overlay list
13063@cindex listing mapped overlays
13064Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
13065addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
13066
13067@end table
13068
13069Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
13070of the function the address falls in:
13071
13072@smallexample
13073(@value{GDBP}) print main
13074$3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
13075@end smallexample
13076@noindent
13077When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
13078unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
13079asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
13080unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
13081
13082@smallexample
13083(@value{GDBP}) overlay list
13084No sections are mapped.
13085(@value{GDBP}) print foo
13086$5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
13087@end smallexample
13088@noindent
13089When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
13090name normally:
13091
13092@smallexample
13093(@value{GDBP}) overlay list
13094Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
13095 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
13096(@value{GDBP}) print foo
13097$6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
13098@end smallexample
13099
13100When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
13101address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
13102overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
13103@code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
13104code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
13105
13106@itemize @bullet
13107@item
13108@cindex breakpoints in overlays
13109@cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
13110You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
13111@value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
13112@item
13113@value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
13114unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
13115overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
13116you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
13117breakpoints properly.
13118@end itemize
13119
13120
13121@node Automatic Overlay Debugging
13122@section Automatic Overlay Debugging
13123@cindex automatic overlay debugging
13124
13125@value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
13126are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
13127inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
13128@code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
13129looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
13130current state of the overlays.
13131
13132Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
13133@value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
13134
13135@table @asis
13136
13137@item @code{_ovly_table}:
13138This variable must be an array of the following structures:
13139
13140@smallexample
13141struct
13142@{
13143 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
13144 unsigned long vma;
13145
13146 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
13147 unsigned long size;
13148
13149 /* The overlay's load address. */
13150 unsigned long lma;
13151
13152 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
13153 zero otherwise. */
13154 unsigned long mapped;
13155@}
13156@end smallexample
13157
13158@item @code{_novlys}:
13159This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
13160number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
13161
13162@end table
13163
13164To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
13165looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
13166@code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
13167executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
13168the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
13169currently mapped.
13170
13171In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
13172@code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
13173will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
13174calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
13175will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
13176are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
13177in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
13178overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
13179are not being executed.
13180
13181@node Overlay Sample Program
13182@section Overlay Sample Program
13183@cindex overlay example program
13184
13185When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
13186at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
13187addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
13188Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
13189since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
13190architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
13191portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
13192
13193However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
13194program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
13195suite. The program consists of the following files from
13196@file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
13197
13198@table @file
13199@item overlays.c
13200The main program file.
13201@item ovlymgr.c
13202A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
13203@item foo.c
13204@itemx bar.c
13205@itemx baz.c
13206@itemx grbx.c
13207Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
13208@item d10v.ld
13209@itemx m32r.ld
13210Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
13211and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
13212@end table
13213
13214You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
13215cross-compiler like this:
13216
13217@smallexample
13218$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
13219$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
13220$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
13221$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
13222$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
13223$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
13224$ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
13225 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
13226@end smallexample
13227
13228The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
13229you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
13230target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
13231
13232
13233@node Languages
13234@chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
13235@cindex languages
13236
13237Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
13238rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
13239dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
13240Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
13241represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
13242@samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
13243
13244@cindex working language
13245Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
13246allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
13247native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
13248consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
13249language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
13250language}.
13251
13252@menu
13253* Setting:: Switching between source languages
13254* Show:: Displaying the language
13255* Checks:: Type and range checks
13256* Supported Languages:: Supported languages
13257* Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
13258@end menu
13259
13260@node Setting
13261@section Switching Between Source Languages
13262
13263There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
13264set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
13265@code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
13266defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
13267used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
13268are printed, etc.
13269
13270In addition to the working language, every source file that
13271@value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
13272file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
13273source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
13274language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
13275controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
13276show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
13277set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
13278set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
13279Displaying the Language}.
13280
13281This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
13282as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
13283another language. In that case, make the
13284program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
13285@value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
13286program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
13287
13288@menu
13289* Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
13290* Manually:: Setting the working language manually
13291* Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
13292@end menu
13293
13294@node Filenames
13295@subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
13296
13297If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
13298@value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
13299
13300@table @file
13301@item .ada
13302@itemx .ads
13303@itemx .adb
13304@itemx .a
13305Ada source file.
13306
13307@item .c
13308C source file
13309
13310@item .C
13311@itemx .cc
13312@itemx .cp
13313@itemx .cpp
13314@itemx .cxx
13315@itemx .c++
13316C@t{++} source file
13317
13318@item .d
13319D source file
13320
13321@item .m
13322Objective-C source file
13323
13324@item .f
13325@itemx .F
13326Fortran source file
13327
13328@item .mod
13329Modula-2 source file
13330
13331@item .s
13332@itemx .S
13333Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
13334@value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
13335@end table
13336
13337In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
13338extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
13339
13340@node Manually
13341@subsection Setting the Working Language
13342
13343If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
13344expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
13345your program.
13346
13347@kindex set language
13348If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
13349command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
13350a language, such as
13351@code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
13352For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
13353
13354Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
13355language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
13356to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
13357source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
13358languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
13359source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
13360command such as:
13361
13362@smallexample
13363print a = b + c
13364@end smallexample
13365
13366@noindent
13367might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
13368@code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
13369printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
13370@code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
13371
13372@node Automatically
13373@subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
13374
13375To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
13376@samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
13377then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
13378frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
13379working language to the language recorded for the function in that
13380frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
13381or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
13382does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
13383not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
13384
13385This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
13386entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
13387written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
13388a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
13389case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
13390
13391@node Show
13392@section Displaying the Language
13393
13394The following commands help you find out which language is the
13395working language, and also what language source files were written in.
13396
13397@table @code
13398@item show language
13399@anchor{show language}
13400@kindex show language
13401Display the current working language. This is the
13402language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
13403build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
13404
13405@item info frame
13406@kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
13407Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
13408working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
13409@xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
13410information listed here.
13411
13412@item info source
13413@kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
13414Display the source language of this source file.
13415@xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
13416information listed here.
13417@end table
13418
13419In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
13420not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
13421with a language explicitly:
13422
13423@table @code
13424@item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
13425@kindex set extension-language
13426Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
13427assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
13428
13429@item info extensions
13430@kindex info extensions
13431List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
13432@end table
13433
13434@node Checks
13435@section Type and Range Checking
13436
13437Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
13438errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
13439checking the type of arguments to functions and operators and making
13440sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
13441these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
13442by eliminating type mismatches and providing active checks for range
13443errors when your program is running.
13444
13445By default @value{GDBN} checks for these errors according to the
13446rules of the current source language. Although @value{GDBN} does not check
13447the statements in your program, it can check expressions entered directly
13448into @value{GDBN} for evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example.
13449
13450@menu
13451* Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
13452* Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
13453@end menu
13454
13455@cindex type checking
13456@cindex checks, type
13457@node Type Checking
13458@subsection An Overview of Type Checking
13459
13460Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, are strongly typed, meaning that the
13461arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
13462otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
13463errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
13464
13465@smallexample
13466int klass::my_method(char *b) @{ return b ? 1 : 2; @}
13467
13468(@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0)
13469$1 = 2
13470@exdent but
13471(@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0x1234)
13472Cannot resolve method klass::my_method to any overloaded instance
13473@end smallexample
13474
13475The second example fails because in C@t{++} the integer constant
13476@samp{0x1234} is not type-compatible with the pointer parameter type.
13477
13478For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
13479@value{GDBN} to not enforce strict type checking or
13480to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
13481When type checking is disabled, @value{GDBN} successfully evaluates
13482expressions like the second example above.
13483
13484Even if type checking is off, there may be other reasons
13485related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
13486For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
13487a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
13488with the language in use and usually arise from expressions which make
13489little sense to evaluate anyway.
13490
13491@value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling type checking:
13492
13493@kindex set check type
13494@kindex show check type
13495@table @code
13496@item set check type on
13497@itemx set check type off
13498Set strict type checking on or off. If any type mismatches occur in
13499evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
13500message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
13501
13502@item show check type
13503Show the current setting of type checking and whether @value{GDBN}
13504is enforcing strict type checking rules.
13505@end table
13506
13507@cindex range checking
13508@cindex checks, range
13509@node Range Checking
13510@subsection An Overview of Range Checking
13511
13512In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
13513bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
13514checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
13515computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
13516not exceed the bounds of the array.
13517
13518For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
13519@value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
13520always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
13521warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
13522
13523A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
13524array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
13525of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
13526error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
13527result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
13528the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
13529
13530@smallexample
13531@var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
13532@end smallexample
13533
13534This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
13535specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
13536Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
13537
13538@value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
13539
13540@kindex set check range
13541@kindex show check range
13542@table @code
13543@item set check range auto
13544Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
13545@xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
13546each language.
13547
13548@item set check range on
13549@itemx set check range off
13550Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
13551current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
13552match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
13553then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
13554
13555@item set check range warn
13556Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
13557but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
13558expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
13559memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
13560systems).
13561
13562@item show range
13563Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
13564being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
13565@end table
13566
13567@node Supported Languages
13568@section Supported Languages
13569
13570@value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Go, Objective-C, Fortran, Java,
13571OpenCL C, Pascal, assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
13572@c This is false ...
13573Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
13574language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
13575and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
13576,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
13577language.
13578
13579The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
13580supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
13581tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
13582@value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
13583formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
13584books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
13585language reference or tutorial.
13586
13587@menu
13588* C:: C and C@t{++}
13589* D:: D
13590* Go:: Go
13591* Objective-C:: Objective-C
13592* OpenCL C:: OpenCL C
13593* Fortran:: Fortran
13594* Pascal:: Pascal
13595* Modula-2:: Modula-2
13596* Ada:: Ada
13597@end menu
13598
13599@node C
13600@subsection C and C@t{++}
13601
13602@cindex C and C@t{++}
13603@cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
13604
13605Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
13606to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
13607together.
13608
13609@cindex C@t{++}
13610@cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
13611@cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
13612The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
13613compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
13614effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
13615C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
13616compiler (@code{aCC}).
13617
13618@menu
13619* C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
13620* C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
13621* C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
13622* C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
13623* C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
13624* Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
13625* Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
13626* Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
13627@end menu
13628
13629@node C Operators
13630@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
13631
13632@cindex C and C@t{++} operators
13633
13634Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
13635@code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
13636often defined on groups of types.
13637
13638For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
13639
13640@itemize @bullet
13641
13642@item
13643@emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
13644specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
13645
13646@item
13647@emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
13648@code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
13649
13650@item
13651@emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
13652
13653@item
13654@emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
13655
13656@end itemize
13657
13658@noindent
13659The following operators are supported. They are listed here
13660in order of increasing precedence:
13661
13662@table @code
13663@item ,
13664The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
13665are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
13666expression being the last expression evaluated.
13667
13668@item =
13669Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
13670assigned. Defined on scalar types.
13671
13672@item @var{op}=
13673Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
13674and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
13675@w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
13676@var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
13677@code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
13678
13679@item ?:
13680The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
13681of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
13682integral type.
13683
13684@item ||
13685Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13686
13687@item &&
13688Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
13689
13690@item |
13691Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13692
13693@item ^
13694Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13695
13696@item &
13697Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
13698
13699@item ==@r{, }!=
13700Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
13701expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
13702
13703@item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
13704Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
13705Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
13706and non-zero for true.
13707
13708@item <<@r{, }>>
13709left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
13710
13711@item @@
13712The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
13713
13714@item +@r{, }-
13715Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
13716pointer types.
13717
13718@item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
13719Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
13720defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
13721integral types.
13722
13723@item ++@r{, }--
13724Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
13725operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
13726when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
13727operation takes place.
13728
13729@item *
13730Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
13731@code{++}.
13732
13733@item &
13734Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
13735
13736For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
13737allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
13738to examine the address
13739where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
13740stored.
13741
13742@item -
13743Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
13744precedence as @code{++}.
13745
13746@item !
13747Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
13748@code{++}.
13749
13750@item ~
13751Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
13752@code{++}.
13753
13754
13755@item .@r{, }->
13756Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
13757@value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
13758pointer based on the stored type information.
13759Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
13760
13761@item .*@r{, }->*
13762Dereferences of pointers to members.
13763
13764@item []
13765Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
13766@code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
13767
13768@item ()
13769Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
13770
13771@item ::
13772C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
13773and @code{class} types.
13774
13775@item ::
13776Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
13777(@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
13778above.
13779@end table
13780
13781If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
13782attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
13783predefined meaning.
13784
13785@node C Constants
13786@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
13787
13788@cindex C and C@t{++} constants
13789
13790@value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
13791following ways:
13792
13793@itemize @bullet
13794@item
13795Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
13796specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
13797by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
13798@samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
13799@code{long} value.
13800
13801@item
13802Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
13803point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
13804exponent. An exponent is of the form:
13805@samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
13806sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
13807A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
13808@samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
13809the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
13810a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
13811constant.
13812
13813@item
13814Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
13815integral equivalents.
13816
13817@item
13818Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
13819(@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
13820(usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
13821be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
13822the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
13823of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
13824@samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
13825@samp{\n} for newline.
13826
13827Wide character constants can be written by prefixing a character
13828constant with @samp{L}, as in C. For example, @samp{L'x'} is the wide
13829form of @samp{x}. The target wide character set is used when
13830computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
13831
13832@item
13833String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
13834double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
13835above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
13836a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
13837characters.
13838
13839Wide string constants can be written by prefixing a string constant
13840with @samp{L}, as in C. The target wide character set is used when
13841computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
13842
13843@item
13844Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
13845to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
13846
13847@item
13848Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
13849and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
13850integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
13851and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
13852@end itemize
13853
13854@node C Plus Plus Expressions
13855@subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
13856
13857@cindex expressions in C@t{++}
13858@value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
13859
13860@cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
13861@cindex C@t{++} compilers
13862@cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
13863@cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
13864@quotation
13865@emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use
13866the proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently,
13867@value{GDBN} works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled
13868with the most recent version of @value{NGCC} possible. The DWARF
13869debugging format is preferred; @value{NGCC} defaults to this on most
13870popular platforms. Other compilers and/or debug formats are likely to
13871work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug C@t{++}
13872code. @xref{Compilation}.
13873@end quotation
13874
13875@enumerate
13876
13877@cindex member functions
13878@item
13879Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
13880
13881@smallexample
13882count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
13883@end smallexample
13884
13885@vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
13886@cindex namespace in C@t{++}
13887@item
13888While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
13889expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
13890that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
13891pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}. @code{using}
13892declarations in the current scope are also respected by @value{GDBN}.
13893
13894@cindex call overloaded functions
13895@cindex overloaded functions, calling
13896@cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
13897@item
13898You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
13899call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
13900perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
13901calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
13902in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
13903default arguments.
13904
13905It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
13906promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
13907class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
13908functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
13909number of function arguments.
13910
13911Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
13912@code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
13913,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
13914
13915You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
13916explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
13917@smallexample
13918p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
13919@end smallexample
13920
13921The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
13922see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
13923
13924@cindex reference declarations
13925@item
13926@value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
13927them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
13928dereferenced.
13929
13930In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
13931reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
13932avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
13933The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
13934you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
13935
13936@item
13937@value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
13938expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
13939one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
13940necessary, for example in an expression like
13941@samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
13942resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
13943debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
13944
13945@item
13946@value{GDBN} performs argument-dependent lookup, following the C@t{++}
13947specification.
13948@end enumerate
13949
13950@node C Defaults
13951@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
13952
13953@cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
13954
13955If you allow @value{GDBN} to set range checking automatically, it
13956defaults to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
13957C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
13958selects the working language.
13959
13960If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
13961recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
13962@file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
13963these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
13964@xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
13965for further details.
13966
13967@node C Checks
13968@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
13969
13970@cindex C and C@t{++} checks
13971
13972By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, strict type
13973checking is used. However, if you turn type checking off, @value{GDBN}
13974will allow certain non-standard conversions, such as promoting integer
13975constants to pointers.
13976
13977Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
13978indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
13979that is not itself an array.
13980
13981@node Debugging C
13982@subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
13983
13984The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
13985the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
13986inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
13987appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
13988
13989The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
13990with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
13991,Expressions}.
13992
13993@node Debugging C Plus Plus
13994@subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
13995
13996@cindex commands for C@t{++}
13997
13998Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
13999designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
14000
14001@table @code
14002@cindex break in overloaded functions
14003@item @r{breakpoint menus}
14004When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
14005@value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
14006locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
14007@xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
14008
14009@cindex overloading in C@t{++}
14010@item rbreak @var{regex}
14011Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
14012breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
14013classes.
14014@xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
14015
14016@cindex C@t{++} exception handling
14017@item catch throw
14018@itemx catch rethrow
14019@itemx catch catch
14020Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
14021Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
14022
14023@cindex inheritance
14024@item ptype @var{typename}
14025Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
14026@var{typename}.
14027@xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
14028
14029@item info vtbl @var{expression}.
14030The @code{info vtbl} command can be used to display the virtual
14031method tables of the object computed by @var{expression}. This shows
14032one entry per virtual table; there may be multiple virtual tables when
14033multiple inheritance is in use.
14034
14035@cindex C@t{++} symbol display
14036@item set print demangle
14037@itemx show print demangle
14038@itemx set print asm-demangle
14039@itemx show print asm-demangle
14040Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
14041displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
14042@xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
14043
14044@item set print object
14045@itemx show print object
14046Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
14047@xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
14048
14049@item set print vtbl
14050@itemx show print vtbl
14051Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
14052@xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
14053(The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
14054ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
14055
14056@kindex set overload-resolution
14057@cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
14058@item set overload-resolution on
14059Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
14060is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
14061and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
14062using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
14063Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
14064If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
14065
14066@item set overload-resolution off
14067Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
14068overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
14069chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
14070symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
14071overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
14072searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
14073argument types.
14074
14075@kindex show overload-resolution
14076@item show overload-resolution
14077Show the current setting of overload resolution.
14078
14079@item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
14080You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
14081the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
14082@code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
14083also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
14084available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
14085@xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
14086@end table
14087
14088@node Decimal Floating Point
14089@subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
14090@cindex decimal floating point format
14091
14092@value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
14093decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
14094@code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
14095specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
14096
14097There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
14098Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
14099PowerPC and S/390. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the
14100configured target.
14101
14102Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
14103to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
14104(using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
14105
14106In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
14107point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
14108underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
14109
14110In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
14111to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
14112See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
14113
14114@node D
14115@subsection D
14116
14117@cindex D
14118@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
14119GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
14120specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
14121
14122@node Go
14123@subsection Go
14124
14125@cindex Go (programming language)
14126@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Go and compiled with
14127@file{gccgo} or @file{6g} compilers.
14128
14129Here is a summary of the Go-specific features and restrictions:
14130
14131@table @code
14132@cindex current Go package
14133@item The current Go package
14134The name of the current package does not need to be specified when
14135specifying global variables and functions.
14136
14137For example, given the program:
14138
14139@example
14140package main
14141var myglob = "Shall we?"
14142func main () @{
14143 // ...
14144@}
14145@end example
14146
14147When stopped inside @code{main} either of these work:
14148
14149@example
14150(gdb) p myglob
14151(gdb) p main.myglob
14152@end example
14153
14154@cindex builtin Go types
14155@item Builtin Go types
14156The @code{string} type is recognized by @value{GDBN} and is printed
14157as a string.
14158
14159@cindex builtin Go functions
14160@item Builtin Go functions
14161The @value{GDBN} expression parser recognizes the @code{unsafe.Sizeof}
14162function and handles it internally.
14163
14164@cindex restrictions on Go expressions
14165@item Restrictions on Go expressions
14166All Go operators are supported except @code{&^}.
14167The Go @code{_} ``blank identifier'' is not supported.
14168Automatic dereferencing of pointers is not supported.
14169@end table
14170
14171@node Objective-C
14172@subsection Objective-C
14173
14174@cindex Objective-C
14175This section provides information about some commands and command
14176options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
14177@ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
14178few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
14179
14180@menu
14181* Method Names in Commands::
14182* The Print Command with Objective-C::
14183@end menu
14184
14185@node Method Names in Commands
14186@subsubsection Method Names in Commands
14187
14188The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
14189names as line specifications:
14190
14191@kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
14192@kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
14193@kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
14194@kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
14195@kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
14196@itemize
14197@item @code{clear}
14198@item @code{break}
14199@item @code{info line}
14200@item @code{jump}
14201@item @code{list}
14202@end itemize
14203
14204A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
14205
14206@smallexample
14207-[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
14208@end smallexample
14209
14210where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
14211plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
14212name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
14213brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
14214source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
14215instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
14216debugged, enter:
14217
14218@smallexample
14219break -[Fruit create]
14220@end smallexample
14221
14222To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
14223enter:
14224
14225@smallexample
14226list +[NSText initialize]
14227@end smallexample
14228
14229In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
14230required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
14231sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
14232is also possible to specify just a method name:
14233
14234@smallexample
14235break create
14236@end smallexample
14237
14238You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
14239your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
14240you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
14241method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
14242none apply.
14243
14244As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
14245@code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
14246
14247@smallexample
14248clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
14249@end smallexample
14250
14251@node The Print Command with Objective-C
14252@subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
14253@cindex Objective-C, print objects
14254@kindex print-object
14255@kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
14256
14257The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
14258
14259@smallexample
14260print -[@var{object} hash]
14261@end smallexample
14262
14263@cindex print an Objective-C object description
14264@cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
14265@noindent
14266will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
14267and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
14268@code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
14269the description of an object. However, this command may only work
14270with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
14271function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
14272
14273@node OpenCL C
14274@subsection OpenCL C
14275
14276@cindex OpenCL C
14277This section provides information about @value{GDBN}s OpenCL C support.
14278
14279@menu
14280* OpenCL C Datatypes::
14281* OpenCL C Expressions::
14282* OpenCL C Operators::
14283@end menu
14284
14285@node OpenCL C Datatypes
14286@subsubsection OpenCL C Datatypes
14287
14288@cindex OpenCL C Datatypes
14289@value{GDBN} supports the builtin scalar and vector datatypes specified
14290by OpenCL 1.1. In addition the half- and double-precision floating point
14291data types of the @code{cl_khr_fp16} and @code{cl_khr_fp64} OpenCL
14292extensions are also known to @value{GDBN}.
14293
14294@node OpenCL C Expressions
14295@subsubsection OpenCL C Expressions
14296
14297@cindex OpenCL C Expressions
14298@value{GDBN} supports accesses to vector components including the access as
14299lvalue where possible. Since OpenCL C is based on C99 most C expressions
14300supported by @value{GDBN} can be used as well.
14301
14302@node OpenCL C Operators
14303@subsubsection OpenCL C Operators
14304
14305@cindex OpenCL C Operators
14306@value{GDBN} supports the operators specified by OpenCL 1.1 for scalar and
14307vector data types.
14308
14309@node Fortran
14310@subsection Fortran
14311@cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
14312
14313@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
14314currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
14315
14316@cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
14317Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
14318among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
14319functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
14320will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
14321underscore.
14322
14323@menu
14324* Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
14325* Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
14326* Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
14327@end menu
14328
14329@node Fortran Operators
14330@subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
14331
14332@cindex Fortran operators and expressions
14333
14334Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
14335@code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
14336arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
14337
14338@table @code
14339@item **
14340The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
14341of the second one.
14342
14343@item :
14344The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
14345represent a section of array.
14346
14347@item %
14348The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
14349types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
14350this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
14351union type.
14352@end table
14353
14354@node Fortran Defaults
14355@subsubsection Fortran Defaults
14356
14357@cindex Fortran Defaults
14358
14359Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
14360default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
14361change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
14362@ref{Symbols}, for the details.
14363
14364@node Special Fortran Commands
14365@subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
14366
14367@cindex Special Fortran commands
14368
14369@value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
14370such as displaying common blocks.
14371
14372@table @code
14373@cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
14374@kindex info common
14375@item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
14376This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
14377block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
14378all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
14379printed.
14380@end table
14381
14382@node Pascal
14383@subsection Pascal
14384
14385@cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
14386Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
14387nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
14388entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
14389syntax.
14390
14391The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
14392controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
14393@xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
14394
14395@node Modula-2
14396@subsection Modula-2
14397
14398@cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
14399
14400The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
14401output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
14402developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
14403attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
14404to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
14405table.
14406
14407@cindex expressions in Modula-2
14408@menu
14409* M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
14410* Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
14411* M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
14412* M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
14413* M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
14414* Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
14415* M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
14416* M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
14417* GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
14418@end menu
14419
14420@node M2 Operators
14421@subsubsection Operators
14422@cindex Modula-2 operators
14423
14424Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
14425@code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
14426often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
14427following definitions hold:
14428
14429@itemize @bullet
14430
14431@item
14432@emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
14433their subranges.
14434
14435@item
14436@emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
14437
14438@item
14439@emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
14440
14441@item
14442@emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
14443@var{type}}.
14444
14445@item
14446@emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
14447
14448@item
14449@emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
14450
14451@item
14452@emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
14453@end itemize
14454
14455@noindent
14456The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
14457increasing precedence:
14458
14459@table @code
14460@item ,
14461Function argument or array index separator.
14462
14463@item :=
14464Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
14465@var{value}.
14466
14467@item <@r{, }>
14468Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
14469types.
14470
14471@item <=@r{, }>=
14472Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
14473on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
14474set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
14475
14476@item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
14477Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
14478Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
14479available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
14480comment character.
14481
14482@item IN
14483Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
14484Same precedence as @code{<}.
14485
14486@item OR
14487Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
14488
14489@item AND@r{, }&
14490Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
14491
14492@item @@
14493The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
14494
14495@item +@r{, }-
14496Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
14497and difference on set types.
14498
14499@item *
14500Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
14501on set types.
14502
14503@item /
14504Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
14505types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
14506
14507@item DIV@r{, }MOD
14508Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
14509precedence as @code{*}.
14510
14511@item -
14512Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
14513
14514@item ^
14515Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
14516
14517@item NOT
14518Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
14519@code{^}.
14520
14521@item .
14522@code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
14523precedence as @code{^}.
14524
14525@item []
14526Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
14527
14528@item ()
14529Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
14530as @code{^}.
14531
14532@item ::@r{, }.
14533@value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
14534@end table
14535
14536@quotation
14537@emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
14538treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
14539@code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
14540@code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
14541@end quotation
14542
14543
14544@node Built-In Func/Proc
14545@subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
14546@cindex Modula-2 built-ins
14547
14548Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
14549In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
14550
14551@table @var
14552
14553@item a
14554represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
14555
14556@item c
14557represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
14558
14559@item i
14560represents a variable or constant of integral type.
14561
14562@item m
14563represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
14564same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
14565be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
14566
14567@item n
14568represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
14569
14570@item r
14571represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
14572
14573@item t
14574represents a type.
14575
14576@item v
14577represents a variable.
14578
14579@item x
14580represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
14581explanation of the function for details.
14582@end table
14583
14584All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
14585
14586@table @code
14587@item ABS(@var{n})
14588Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
14589
14590@item CAP(@var{c})
14591If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
14592equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
14593
14594@item CHR(@var{i})
14595Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
14596
14597@item DEC(@var{v})
14598Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
14599
14600@item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
14601Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
14602new value.
14603
14604@item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
14605Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
14606set.
14607
14608@item FLOAT(@var{i})
14609Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
14610
14611@item HIGH(@var{a})
14612Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
14613
14614@item INC(@var{v})
14615Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
14616
14617@item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
14618Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
14619new value.
14620
14621@item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
14622Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
14623there. Returns the new set.
14624
14625@item MAX(@var{t})
14626Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
14627
14628@item MIN(@var{t})
14629Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
14630
14631@item ODD(@var{i})
14632Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
14633
14634@item ORD(@var{x})
14635Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
14636value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
14637@sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
14638integral, character and enumerated types.
14639
14640@item SIZE(@var{x})
14641Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
14642
14643@item TRUNC(@var{r})
14644Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
14645
14646@item TSIZE(@var{x})
14647Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
14648
14649@item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
14650Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
14651@end table
14652
14653@quotation
14654@emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
14655@value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
14656an error.
14657@end quotation
14658
14659@cindex Modula-2 constants
14660@node M2 Constants
14661@subsubsection Constants
14662
14663@value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
14664ways:
14665
14666@itemize @bullet
14667
14668@item
14669Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
14670expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
14671rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
14672trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
14673
14674@item
14675Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
14676decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
14677then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
14678@samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
14679digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
14680digits.
14681
14682@item
14683Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
14684like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
14685also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
14686followed by a @samp{C}.
14687
14688@item
14689String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
14690pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
14691Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
14692Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
14693sequences.
14694
14695@item
14696Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
14697
14698@item
14699Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
14700@code{FALSE}.
14701
14702@item
14703Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
14704
14705@item
14706Set constants are not yet supported.
14707@end itemize
14708
14709@node M2 Types
14710@subsubsection Modula-2 Types
14711@cindex Modula-2 types
14712
14713Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
14714syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
14715types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
14716print the contents of variables declared using these type.
14717This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
14718sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
14719
14720The first example contains the following section of code:
14721
14722@smallexample
14723VAR
14724 s: SET OF CHAR ;
14725 r: [20..40] ;
14726@end smallexample
14727
14728@noindent
14729and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
14730@code{r} and @code{s}.
14731
14732@smallexample
14733(@value{GDBP}) print s
14734@{'A'..'C', 'Z'@}
14735(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14736SET OF CHAR
14737(@value{GDBP}) print r
1473821
14739(@value{GDBP}) ptype r
14740[20..40]
14741@end smallexample
14742
14743@noindent
14744Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
14745
14746@smallexample
14747VAR
14748 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
14749@end smallexample
14750
14751@noindent
14752then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
14753
14754@smallexample
14755(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14756type = SET ['A'..'Z']
14757@end smallexample
14758
14759@noindent
14760Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
14761expressions using the debugger.
14762
14763The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
14764and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
14765
14766@smallexample
14767VAR
14768 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
14769@end smallexample
14770
14771@smallexample
14772(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14773ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
14774@end smallexample
14775
14776Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
14777is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
14778arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
14779above.
14780
14781Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
14782
14783@smallexample
14784TYPE
14785 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
14786 t = [blue..yellow] ;
14787VAR
14788 s: t ;
14789BEGIN
14790 s := blue ;
14791@end smallexample
14792
14793@noindent
14794The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
14795and value of a variable.
14796
14797@smallexample
14798(@value{GDBP}) print s
14799$1 = blue
14800(@value{GDBP}) ptype t
14801type = [blue..yellow]
14802@end smallexample
14803
14804@noindent
14805In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
14806displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
14807their @code{C} counterparts.
14808
14809@smallexample
14810VAR
14811 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
14812BEGIN
14813 s[1] := 1 ;
14814@end smallexample
14815
14816@smallexample
14817(@value{GDBP}) print s
14818$1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
14819(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14820type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
14821@end smallexample
14822
14823The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
14824pointer types as shown in this example:
14825
14826@smallexample
14827VAR
14828 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
14829BEGIN
14830 NEW(s) ;
14831 s^[1] := 1 ;
14832@end smallexample
14833
14834@noindent
14835and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
14836
14837@smallexample
14838(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14839type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
14840@end smallexample
14841
14842@value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
14843Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
14844types:
14845
14846@smallexample
14847TYPE
14848 foo = RECORD
14849 f1: CARDINAL ;
14850 f2: CHAR ;
14851 f3: myarray ;
14852 END ;
14853
14854 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
14855 myrange = [-2..2] ;
14856VAR
14857 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
14858@end smallexample
14859
14860@noindent
14861and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
14862below.
14863
14864@smallexample
14865(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14866type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
14867 f1 : CARDINAL;
14868 f2 : CHAR;
14869 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
14870END
14871@end smallexample
14872
14873@node M2 Defaults
14874@subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
14875@cindex Modula-2 defaults
14876
14877If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
14878both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
14879Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
14880selected the working language.
14881
14882If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
14883code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
14884working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
14885Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
14886
14887@node Deviations
14888@subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
14889@cindex Modula-2, deviations from
14890
14891A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
14892This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
14893
14894@itemize @bullet
14895@item
14896Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
14897integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
14898debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
14899pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
14900through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
14901returned a pointer.)
14902
14903@item
14904C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
14905non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
14906escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
14907printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
14908
14909@item
14910The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
14911argument.
14912
14913@item
14914All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
14915@end itemize
14916
14917@node M2 Checks
14918@subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
14919@cindex Modula-2 checks
14920
14921@quotation
14922@emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
14923range checking.
14924@end quotation
14925@c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
14926
14927@value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
14928
14929@itemize @bullet
14930@item
14931They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
14932@var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
14933
14934@item
14935They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
14936@sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
14937@end itemize
14938
14939As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
14940whose types are not equivalent is an error.
14941
14942Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
14943index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
14944
14945@node M2 Scope
14946@subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
14947@cindex scope
14948@cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
14949@cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
14950@ifinfo
14951@vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
14952@c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
14953@end ifinfo
14954@ifnotinfo
14955@vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
14956@end ifnotinfo
14957
14958There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
14959(@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
14960similar syntax:
14961
14962@smallexample
14963
14964@var{module} . @var{id}
14965@var{scope} :: @var{id}
14966@end smallexample
14967
14968@noindent
14969where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
14970@var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
14971identifier within your program, except another module.
14972
14973Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
14974specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
14975found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
14976enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
14977
14978Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
14979the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
14980definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
14981an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
14982module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
14983@var{module}.
14984
14985@node GDB/M2
14986@subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
14987
14988Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
14989Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
14990specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
14991@samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
14992apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
14993analogue in Modula-2.
14994
14995The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
14996with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
14997intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
14998created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
14999address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
15000@samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
15001
15002@cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
15003In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
15004interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
15005
15006@node Ada
15007@subsection Ada
15008@cindex Ada
15009
15010The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
15011output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
15012Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
15013attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
15014to be difficult.
15015
15016
15017@cindex expressions in Ada
15018@menu
15019* Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
15020 and semantics supported by Ada mode
15021 in @value{GDBN}.
15022* Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
15023* Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
15024* Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
15025* Ada Exceptions:: Ada Exceptions
15026* Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
15027* Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
15028* Ravenscar Profile:: Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar
15029 Profile
15030* Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
15031@end menu
15032
15033@node Ada Mode Intro
15034@subsubsection Introduction
15035@cindex Ada mode, general
15036
15037The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
15038syntax, with some extensions.
15039The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
15040
15041@itemize @bullet
15042@item
15043That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
15044arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
15045leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
15046program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
15047
15048@item
15049That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
15050are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
15051
15052@item
15053That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
15054@end itemize
15055
15056Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
15057user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
15058according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
15059names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
15060ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
15061
15062The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
15063As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
15064was translated from an Ada source file.
15065
15066While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
15067mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
15068(@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
15069middle (to allow based literals).
15070
15071The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
15072the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
15073actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
15074the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
15075procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
15076functions to procedures elsewhere.
15077
15078@node Omissions from Ada
15079@subsubsection Omissions from Ada
15080@cindex Ada, omissions from
15081
15082Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
15083
15084@itemize @bullet
15085@item
15086Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
15087
15088@itemize @minus
15089@item
15090@t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
15091 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
15092
15093@item
15094@t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
15095
15096@item
15097@t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
15098
15099@item
15100@t{'Tag}.
15101
15102@item
15103@t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
15104operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
15105
15106@item
15107@t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
15108@t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
15109
15110@item
15111@t{'Address}.
15112@end itemize
15113
15114@item
15115The names in
15116@code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
15117concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
15118not currently available.
15119
15120@item
15121Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
15122equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
15123for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
15124They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
15125types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
15126(in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
15127zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
15128indeterminate values.
15129
15130@item
15131The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
15132@code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
15133are not implemented.
15134
15135@item
15136@cindex array aggregates (Ada)
15137@cindex record aggregates (Ada)
15138@cindex aggregates (Ada)
15139There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
15140permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
15141
15142@smallexample
15143(@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
15144(@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
15145(@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
15146(@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
15147(@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
15148(@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
15149@end smallexample
15150
15151Changing a
15152discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
15153undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
15154However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
15155them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
15156aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
15157declared to have a type such as:
15158
15159@smallexample
15160type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
15161 Id : Integer;
15162 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
15163end record;
15164@end smallexample
15165
15166you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
15167assignments:
15168
15169@smallexample
15170(@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
15171(@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
15172@end smallexample
15173
15174As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
15175rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
15176components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
15177component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
15178original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
15179indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
15180redundant component associations, although which component values are
15181assigned in such cases is not defined.
15182
15183@item
15184Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
15185
15186@item
15187The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
15188than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
15189which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
15190looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
15191function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
15192the proper resolution.
15193
15194@item
15195The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
15196
15197@item
15198Entry calls are not implemented.
15199
15200@item
15201Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
15202formats are not supported.
15203
15204@item
15205It is not possible to slice a packed array.
15206
15207@item
15208The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
15209are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
15210context.
15211Should your program
15212redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
15213you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
15214@end itemize
15215
15216@node Additions to Ada
15217@subsubsection Additions to Ada
15218@cindex Ada, deviations from
15219
15220As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
15221extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
15222
15223@itemize @bullet
15224@item
15225If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
15226a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
15227then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
15228@var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
15229Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
15230in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
15231Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
15232which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
15233
15234@item
15235@code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
15236appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
15237you must typically surround it in single quotes.
15238
15239@item
15240The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
15241@var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
15242
15243@item
15244A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
15245(@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
15246@end itemize
15247
15248In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
15249additions specific to Ada:
15250
15251@itemize @bullet
15252@item
15253The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
15254its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
15255
15256@smallexample
15257(@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
15258(@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
15259@end smallexample
15260
15261@item
15262The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
15263the value of its right-hand operand.
15264This allows, for example,
15265complex conditional breaks:
15266
15267@smallexample
15268(@value{GDBP}) break f
15269(@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
15270@end smallexample
15271
15272@item
15273Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
15274characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
15275which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
15276@samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
15277(single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
15278sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
15279in strings. For example,
15280@smallexample
15281 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
15282@end smallexample
15283@noindent
15284contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
15285after each period.
15286
15287@item
15288The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
15289@t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
15290to write
15291
15292@smallexample
15293(@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
15294@end smallexample
15295
15296@item
15297When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
15298array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
15299For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
15300of 3 might print as
15301
15302@smallexample
15303(3 => 10, 17, 1)
15304@end smallexample
15305
15306@noindent
15307That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
15308clause.
15309
15310@item
15311You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
15312multi-character subsequence of
15313their names (an exact match gets preference).
15314For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
15315in place of @t{a'length}.
15316
15317@item
15318@cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
15319Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
15320to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
15321some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
15322For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
15323enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
15324For example,
15325@smallexample
15326(@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
15327@end smallexample
15328
15329@item
15330Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
15331access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
15332specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
15333selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
15334object.
15335
15336@end itemize
15337
15338@node Stopping Before Main Program
15339@subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
15340
15341@cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
15342It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
15343before reaching the main procedure.
15344As defined in the Ada Reference
15345Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
15346@code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
15347elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
15348@code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
15349
15350@node Ada Exceptions
15351@subsubsection Ada Exceptions
15352
15353A command is provided to list all Ada exceptions:
15354
15355@table @code
15356@kindex info exceptions
15357@item info exceptions
15358@itemx info exceptions @var{regexp}
15359The @code{info exceptions} command allows you to list all Ada exceptions
15360defined within the program being debugged, as well as their addresses.
15361With a regular expression, @var{regexp}, as argument, only those exceptions
15362whose names match @var{regexp} are listed.
15363@end table
15364
15365Below is a small example, showing how the command can be used, first
15366without argument, and next with a regular expression passed as an
15367argument.
15368
15369@smallexample
15370(@value{GDBP}) info exceptions
15371All defined Ada exceptions:
15372constraint_error: 0x613da0
15373program_error: 0x613d20
15374storage_error: 0x613ce0
15375tasking_error: 0x613ca0
15376const.aint_global_e: 0x613b00
15377(@value{GDBP}) info exceptions const.aint
15378All Ada exceptions matching regular expression "const.aint":
15379constraint_error: 0x613da0
15380const.aint_global_e: 0x613b00
15381@end smallexample
15382
15383It is also possible to ask @value{GDBN} to stop your program's execution
15384when an exception is raised. For more details, see @ref{Set Catchpoints}.
15385
15386@node Ada Tasks
15387@subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
15388@cindex Ada, tasking
15389
15390Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
15391@value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
15392
15393@table @code
15394@kindex info tasks
15395@item info tasks
15396This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
15397
15398
15399@smallexample
15400@iftex
15401@leftskip=0.5cm
15402@end iftex
15403(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15404 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15405 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15406 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
15407 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
15408* 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
15409
15410@end smallexample
15411
15412@noindent
15413In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
15414task currently being inspected.
15415
15416@table @asis
15417@item ID
15418Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
15419
15420@item TID
15421The Ada task ID.
15422
15423@item P-ID
15424The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
15425
15426@item Pri
15427The base priority of the task.
15428
15429@item State
15430Current state of the task.
15431
15432@table @code
15433@item Unactivated
15434The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
15435executing.
15436
15437@item Runnable
15438The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
15439for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
15440
15441@item Terminated
15442The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
15443that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
15444terminated themselves.
15445
15446@item Child Activation Wait
15447The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
15448
15449@item Accept Statement
15450The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
15451
15452@item Waiting on entry call
15453The task is waiting on an entry call.
15454
15455@item Async Select Wait
15456The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
15457select statement.
15458
15459@item Delay Sleep
15460The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
15461alternative open.
15462
15463@item Child Termination Wait
15464The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
15465waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
15466waiting on a terminate Phase.
15467
15468@item Wait Child in Term Alt
15469The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
15470finish terminating.
15471
15472@item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
15473The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
15474@end table
15475
15476@item Name
15477Name of the task in the program.
15478
15479@end table
15480
15481@kindex info task @var{taskno}
15482@item info task @var{taskno}
15483This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
15484the following example:
15485@smallexample
15486@iftex
15487@leftskip=0.5cm
15488@end iftex
15489(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15490 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15491 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15492* 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
15493(@value{GDBP}) info task 2
15494Ada Task: 0x807c468
15495Name: task_1
15496Thread: 0x807f378
15497Parent: 1 (main_task)
15498Base Priority: 15
15499State: Runnable
15500@end smallexample
15501
15502@item task
15503@kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
15504@cindex current Ada task ID
15505This command prints the ID of the current task.
15506
15507@smallexample
15508@iftex
15509@leftskip=0.5cm
15510@end iftex
15511(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15512 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15513 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15514* 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
15515(@value{GDBP}) task
15516[Current task is 2]
15517@end smallexample
15518
15519@item task @var{taskno}
15520@cindex Ada task switching
15521This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
15522command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
15523from the current task to the given task.
15524
15525@smallexample
15526@iftex
15527@leftskip=0.5cm
15528@end iftex
15529(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15530 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15531 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15532* 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
15533(@value{GDBP}) task 1
15534[Switching to task 1]
15535#0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
15536(@value{GDBP}) bt
15537#0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
15538#1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
15539#2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
15540#3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
15541#4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
15542@end smallexample
15543
15544@item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
15545@itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
15546@cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
15547@cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
15548@kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
15549These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
15550command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
15551@var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
15552in @ref{Specify Location}.
15553
15554Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
15555to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
15556particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
15557numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
15558column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
15559
15560If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
15561breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
15562program.
15563
15564You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
15565well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
15566breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
15567
15568For example,
15569
15570@smallexample
15571@iftex
15572@leftskip=0.5cm
15573@end iftex
15574(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15575 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15576 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15577 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
15578 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
15579* 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
15580(@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
15581Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
15582(@value{GDBP}) cont
15583Continuing.
15584task # 1 running
15585task # 2 running
15586
15587Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
1558815 flush;
15589(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15590 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15591 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15592* 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
15593 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
15594 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
15595@end smallexample
15596@end table
15597
15598@node Ada Tasks and Core Files
15599@subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
15600@cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
15601
15602When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
15603tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
15604the platform being used.
15605For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
15606switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
15607as usual.
15608
15609On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
15610memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
15611a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
15612privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
15613Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
15614file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
15615
15616@node Ravenscar Profile
15617@subsubsection Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar Profile
15618@cindex Ravenscar Profile
15619
15620The @dfn{Ravenscar Profile} is a subset of the Ada tasking features,
15621specifically designed for systems with safety-critical real-time
15622requirements.
15623
15624@table @code
15625@kindex set ravenscar task-switching on
15626@cindex task switching with program using Ravenscar Profile
15627@item set ravenscar task-switching on
15628Allows task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
15629Profile. This is the default.
15630
15631@kindex set ravenscar task-switching off
15632@item set ravenscar task-switching off
15633Turn off task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
15634Profile. This is mostly intended to disable the code that adds support
15635for the Ravenscar Profile, in case a bug in either @value{GDBN} or in
15636the Ravenscar runtime is preventing @value{GDBN} from working properly.
15637To be effective, this command should be run before the program is started.
15638
15639@kindex show ravenscar task-switching
15640@item show ravenscar task-switching
15641Show whether it is possible to switch from task to task in a program
15642using the Ravenscar Profile.
15643
15644@end table
15645
15646@node Ada Glitches
15647@subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
15648@cindex Ada, problems
15649
15650Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
15651we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
15652@value{GDBN},
15653some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
15654and the GNU Ada compiler.
15655
15656@itemize @bullet
15657@item
15658Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
15659storage are invisible to the debugger.
15660
15661@item
15662Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
15663argument lists are treated as positional).
15664
15665@item
15666Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
15667
15668@item
15669Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
15670floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
15671the host machine.
15672
15673@item
15674The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
15675the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
15676this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
15677look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
15678symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
15679defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
15680local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
15681GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
15682you can usually resolve the confusion
15683by qualifying the problematic names with package
15684@code{Standard} explicitly.
15685@end itemize
15686
15687Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
15688information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
15689of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
15690around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
15691to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
15692enabled.
15693
15694@kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
15695@kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
15696@table @code
15697
15698@item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
15699Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
15700value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
15701types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
15702a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
15703This is the default.
15704
15705@item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
15706This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
15707sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
15708trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
15709the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
15710@code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
15711recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
15712
15713@end table
15714
15715@cindex GNAT descriptive types
15716@cindex GNAT encoding
15717Internally, the debugger also relies on the compiler following a number
15718of conventions known as the @samp{GNAT Encoding}, all documented in
15719@file{gcc/ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources. This encoding describes
15720how the debugging information should be generated for certain types.
15721In particular, this convention makes use of @dfn{descriptive types},
15722which are artificial types generated purely to help the debugger.
15723
15724These encodings were defined at a time when the debugging information
15725format used was not powerful enough to describe some of the more complex
15726types available in Ada. Since DWARF allows us to express nearly all
15727Ada features, the long-term goal is to slowly replace these descriptive
15728types by their pure DWARF equivalent. To facilitate that transition,
15729a new maintenance option is available to force the debugger to ignore
15730those descriptive types. It allows the user to quickly evaluate how
15731well @value{GDBN} works without them.
15732
15733@table @code
15734
15735@kindex maint ada set ignore-descriptive-types
15736@item maintenance ada set ignore-descriptive-types [on|off]
15737Control whether the debugger should ignore descriptive types.
15738The default is not to ignore descriptives types (@code{off}).
15739
15740@kindex maint ada show ignore-descriptive-types
15741@item maintenance ada show ignore-descriptive-types
15742Show if descriptive types are ignored by @value{GDBN}.
15743
15744@end table
15745
15746@node Unsupported Languages
15747@section Unsupported Languages
15748
15749@cindex unsupported languages
15750@cindex minimal language
15751In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
15752@value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
15753It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
15754of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
15755This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
15756an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
15757
15758If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
15759select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
15760language.
15761
15762@node Symbols
15763@chapter Examining the Symbol Table
15764
15765The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
15766symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
15767program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
15768does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
15769program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
15770(@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
15771file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
15772
15773@cindex symbol names
15774@cindex names of symbols
15775@cindex quoting names
15776Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
15777characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
15778most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
15779source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
15780are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
15781ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
15782@samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
15783@samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
15784
15785@smallexample
15786p 'foo.c'::x
15787@end smallexample
15788
15789@noindent
15790looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
15791
15792@table @code
15793@cindex case-insensitive symbol names
15794@cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
15795@kindex set case-sensitive
15796@item set case-sensitive on
15797@itemx set case-sensitive off
15798@itemx set case-sensitive auto
15799Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
15800with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
15801Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
15802case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
15803case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
15804you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
15805suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
15806matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
15807case-insensitive matches.
15808
15809@kindex show case-sensitive
15810@item show case-sensitive
15811This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
15812lookups.
15813
15814@kindex set print type methods
15815@item set print type methods
15816@itemx set print type methods on
15817@itemx set print type methods off
15818Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a class, it displays any methods
15819declared in that class. You can control this behavior either by
15820passing the appropriate flag to @code{ptype}, or using @command{set
15821print type methods}. Specifying @code{on} will cause @value{GDBN} to
15822display the methods; this is the default. Specifying @code{off} will
15823cause @value{GDBN} to omit the methods.
15824
15825@kindex show print type methods
15826@item show print type methods
15827This command shows the current setting of method display when printing
15828classes.
15829
15830@kindex set print type typedefs
15831@item set print type typedefs
15832@itemx set print type typedefs on
15833@itemx set print type typedefs off
15834
15835Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a class, it displays any typedefs
15836defined in that class. You can control this behavior either by
15837passing the appropriate flag to @code{ptype}, or using @command{set
15838print type typedefs}. Specifying @code{on} will cause @value{GDBN} to
15839display the typedef definitions; this is the default. Specifying
15840@code{off} will cause @value{GDBN} to omit the typedef definitions.
15841Note that this controls whether the typedef definition itself is
15842printed, not whether typedef names are substituted when printing other
15843types.
15844
15845@kindex show print type typedefs
15846@item show print type typedefs
15847This command shows the current setting of typedef display when
15848printing classes.
15849
15850@kindex info address
15851@cindex address of a symbol
15852@item info address @var{symbol}
15853Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
15854variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
15855local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
15856is always stored.
15857
15858Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
15859at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
15860the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
15861
15862@kindex info symbol
15863@cindex symbol from address
15864@cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
15865@item info symbol @var{addr}
15866Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
15867If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
15868nearest symbol and an offset from it:
15869
15870@smallexample
15871(@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
15872_initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
15873@end smallexample
15874
15875@noindent
15876This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
15877it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
15878
15879For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
15880library containing the symbol is also printed:
15881
15882@smallexample
15883(@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
15884_start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
15885(@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
15886__read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
15887@end smallexample
15888
15889@kindex whatis
15890@item whatis[/@var{flags}] [@var{arg}]
15891Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression
15892or a name of a data type. With no argument, print the data type of
15893@code{$}, the last value in the value history.
15894
15895If @var{arg} is an expression (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), it
15896is not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
15897assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place.
15898
15899If @var{arg} is a variable or an expression, @code{whatis} prints its
15900literal type as it is used in the source code. If the type was
15901defined using a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will @emph{not} print
15902the data type underlying the @code{typedef}. If the type of the
15903variable or the expression is a compound data type, such as
15904@code{struct} or @code{class}, @code{whatis} never prints their
15905fields or methods. It just prints the @code{struct}/@code{class}
15906name (a.k.a.@: its @dfn{tag}). If you want to see the members of
15907such a compound data type, use @code{ptype}.
15908
15909If @var{arg} is a type name that was defined using @code{typedef},
15910@code{whatis} @dfn{unrolls} only one level of that @code{typedef}.
15911Unrolling means that @code{whatis} will show the underlying type used
15912in the @code{typedef} declaration of @var{arg}. However, if that
15913underlying type is also a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will not
15914unroll it.
15915
15916For C code, the type names may also have the form @samp{class
15917@var{class-name}}, @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union
15918@var{union-tag}} or @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
15919
15920@var{flags} can be used to modify how the type is displayed.
15921Available flags are:
15922
15923@table @code
15924@item r
15925Display in ``raw'' form. Normally, @value{GDBN} substitutes template
15926parameters and typedefs defined in a class when printing the class'
15927members. The @code{/r} flag disables this.
15928
15929@item m
15930Do not print methods defined in the class.
15931
15932@item M
15933Print methods defined in the class. This is the default, but the flag
15934exists in case you change the default with @command{set print type methods}.
15935
15936@item t
15937Do not print typedefs defined in the class. Note that this controls
15938whether the typedef definition itself is printed, not whether typedef
15939names are substituted when printing other types.
15940
15941@item T
15942Print typedefs defined in the class. This is the default, but the flag
15943exists in case you change the default with @command{set print type typedefs}.
15944@end table
15945
15946@kindex ptype
15947@item ptype[/@var{flags}] [@var{arg}]
15948@code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
15949detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
15950@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
15951
15952Contrary to @code{whatis}, @code{ptype} always unrolls any
15953@code{typedef}s in its argument declaration, whether the argument is
15954a variable, expression, or a data type. This means that @code{ptype}
15955of a variable or an expression will not print literally its type as
15956present in the source code---use @code{whatis} for that. @code{typedef}s at
15957the pointer or reference targets are also unrolled. Only @code{typedef}s of
15958fields, methods and inner @code{class typedef}s of @code{struct}s,
15959@code{class}es and @code{union}s are not unrolled even with @code{ptype}.
15960
15961For example, for this variable declaration:
15962
15963@smallexample
15964typedef double real_t;
15965struct complex @{ real_t real; double imag; @};
15966typedef struct complex complex_t;
15967complex_t var;
15968real_t *real_pointer_var;
15969@end smallexample
15970
15971@noindent
15972the two commands give this output:
15973
15974@smallexample
15975@group
15976(@value{GDBP}) whatis var
15977type = complex_t
15978(@value{GDBP}) ptype var
15979type = struct complex @{
15980 real_t real;
15981 double imag;
15982@}
15983(@value{GDBP}) whatis complex_t
15984type = struct complex
15985(@value{GDBP}) whatis struct complex
15986type = struct complex
15987(@value{GDBP}) ptype struct complex
15988type = struct complex @{
15989 real_t real;
15990 double imag;
15991@}
15992(@value{GDBP}) whatis real_pointer_var
15993type = real_t *
15994(@value{GDBP}) ptype real_pointer_var
15995type = double *
15996@end group
15997@end smallexample
15998
15999@noindent
16000As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
16001the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
16002
16003@cindex incomplete type
16004Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
16005of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
16006program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
16007the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
16008given these declarations:
16009
16010@smallexample
16011 struct foo;
16012 struct foo *fooptr;
16013@end smallexample
16014
16015@noindent
16016but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
16017
16018@smallexample
16019 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
16020 $1 = <incomplete type>
16021@end smallexample
16022
16023@noindent
16024``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
16025completely specified.
16026
16027@kindex info types
16028@item info types @var{regexp}
16029@itemx info types
16030Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
16031expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
16032no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
16033complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
16034types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
16035@samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
16036name is @code{value}.
16037
16038This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
16039@code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
16040lists all source files where a type is defined.
16041
16042@kindex info type-printers
16043@item info type-printers
16044Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled may
16045have ``type printers'' available. When using @command{ptype} or
16046@command{whatis}, these printers are consulted when the name of a type
16047is needed. @xref{Type Printing API}, for more information on writing
16048type printers.
16049
16050@code{info type-printers} displays all the available type printers.
16051
16052@kindex enable type-printer
16053@kindex disable type-printer
16054@item enable type-printer @var{name}@dots{}
16055@item disable type-printer @var{name}@dots{}
16056These commands can be used to enable or disable type printers.
16057
16058@kindex info scope
16059@cindex local variables
16060@item info scope @var{location}
16061List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
16062accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
16063an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
16064to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
16065details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
16066
16067@smallexample
16068(@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
16069Scope for command_line_handler:
16070Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
16071Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
16072Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
16073Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
16074Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
16075Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
16076Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
16077@end smallexample
16078
16079@noindent
16080This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
16081during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
16082collect}.
16083
16084@kindex info source
16085@item info source
16086Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
16087the function containing the current point of execution:
16088@itemize @bullet
16089@item
16090the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
16091@item
16092the directory it was compiled in,
16093@item
16094its length, in lines,
16095@item
16096which programming language it is written in,
16097@item
16098whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
16099if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
16100@item
16101whether the debugging information includes information about
16102preprocessor macros.
16103@end itemize
16104
16105
16106@kindex info sources
16107@item info sources
16108Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
16109debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
16110have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
16111
16112@kindex info functions
16113@item info functions
16114Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
16115
16116@item info functions @var{regexp}
16117Print the names and data types of all defined functions
16118whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
16119Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
16120include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
16121start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
16122that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
16123@samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
16124
16125@kindex info variables
16126@item info variables
16127Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
16128outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
16129
16130@item info variables @var{regexp}
16131Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
16132variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
16133@var{regexp}.
16134
16135@kindex info classes
16136@cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
16137@item info classes
16138@itemx info classes @var{regexp}
16139Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
16140(with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
16141expression.
16142
16143@kindex info selectors
16144@item info selectors
16145@itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
16146Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
16147(with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
16148expression.
16149
16150@ignore
16151This was never implemented.
16152@kindex info methods
16153@item info methods
16154@itemx info methods @var{regexp}
16155The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
16156methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
16157specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
16158C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
16159from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
16160@code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
16161which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
16162@end ignore
16163
16164@cindex opaque data types
16165@kindex set opaque-type-resolution
16166@item set opaque-type-resolution on
16167Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
16168declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
16169@code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
16170source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
16171another source file. The default is on.
16172
16173A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
16174the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
16175
16176@item set opaque-type-resolution off
16177Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
16178is printed as follows:
16179@smallexample
16180@{<no data fields>@}
16181@end smallexample
16182
16183@kindex show opaque-type-resolution
16184@item show opaque-type-resolution
16185Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
16186
16187@kindex maint print symbols
16188@cindex symbol dump
16189@kindex maint print psymbols
16190@cindex partial symbol dump
16191@kindex maint print msymbols
16192@cindex minimal symbol dump
16193@item maint print symbols @var{filename}
16194@itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
16195@itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
16196Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
16197These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
16198symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
16199symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
16200collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
16201only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
16202command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
16203use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
16204symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
16205files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
16206@samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
16207required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
16208@xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
16209@value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
16210
16211@kindex maint info symtabs
16212@kindex maint info psymtabs
16213@cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
16214@cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
16215@cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
16216@cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
16217@item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
16218@itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
16219
16220List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
16221structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
16222given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
16223copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
16224structure in more detail. For example:
16225
16226@smallexample
16227(@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
16228@{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
16229 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
16230 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
16231 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
16232 readin no
16233 fullname (null)
16234 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
16235 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
16236 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
16237 dependencies (none)
16238 @}
16239@}
16240(@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
16241(@value{GDBP})
16242@end smallexample
16243@noindent
16244We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
16245the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
16246and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
16247If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
16248read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
16249
16250@smallexample
16251(@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
16252Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
16253line 1574.
16254(@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
16255@{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
16256 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
16257 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
16258 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
16259 dirname (null)
16260 fullname (null)
16261 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
16262 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
16263 debugformat DWARF 2
16264 @}
16265@}
16266(@value{GDBP})
16267@end smallexample
16268@end table
16269
16270
16271@node Altering
16272@chapter Altering Execution
16273
16274Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
16275find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
16276correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
16277experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
16278program.
16279
16280For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
16281locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
16282address, or even return prematurely from a function.
16283
16284@menu
16285* Assignment:: Assignment to variables
16286* Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
16287* Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
16288* Returning:: Returning from a function
16289* Calling:: Calling your program's functions
16290* Patching:: Patching your program
16291@end menu
16292
16293@node Assignment
16294@section Assignment to Variables
16295
16296@cindex assignment
16297@cindex setting variables
16298To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
16299@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
16300
16301@smallexample
16302print x=4
16303@end smallexample
16304
16305@noindent
16306stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
16307value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
16308@xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
16309information on operators in supported languages.
16310
16311@kindex set variable
16312@cindex variables, setting
16313If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
16314@code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
16315really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
16316not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
16317,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
16318
16319If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
16320appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
16321variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
16322to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
16323program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
16324a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
16325command @code{set width}:
16326
16327@smallexample
16328(@value{GDBP}) whatis width
16329type = double
16330(@value{GDBP}) p width
16331$4 = 13
16332(@value{GDBP}) set width=47
16333Invalid syntax in expression.
16334@end smallexample
16335
16336@noindent
16337The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
16338order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
16339
16340@smallexample
16341(@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
16342@end smallexample
16343
16344Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
16345with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
16346@code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
16347your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
16348to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
16349the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
16350
16351@smallexample
16352@group
16353(@value{GDBP}) whatis g
16354type = double
16355(@value{GDBP}) p g
16356$1 = 1
16357(@value{GDBP}) set g=4
16358(@value{GDBP}) p g
16359$2 = 1
16360(@value{GDBP}) r
16361The program being debugged has been started already.
16362Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
16363Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
16364"/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
16365 Invalid bfd target.
16366(@value{GDBP}) show g
16367The current BFD target is "=4".
16368@end group
16369@end smallexample
16370
16371@noindent
16372The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
16373@code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
16374@code{g}, use
16375
16376@smallexample
16377(@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
16378@end smallexample
16379
16380@value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
16381freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
16382and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
16383same length or shorter.
16384@comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
16385@comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
16386
16387To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
16388construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
16389(@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
16390to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
16391and representation in memory), and
16392
16393@smallexample
16394set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
16395@end smallexample
16396
16397@noindent
16398stores the value 4 into that memory location.
16399
16400@node Jumping
16401@section Continuing at a Different Address
16402
16403Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
16404it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
16405an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
16406
16407@table @code
16408@kindex jump
16409@kindex j @r{(@code{jump})}
16410@item jump @var{linespec}
16411@itemx j @var{linespec}
16412@itemx jump @var{location}
16413@itemx j @var{location}
16414Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
16415@var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
16416breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
16417different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
16418practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
16419@code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
16420
16421The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
16422the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
16423register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
16424a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
16425be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
16426of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
16427confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
16428executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
16429well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
16430@end table
16431
16432@c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
16433On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
16434command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
16435difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
16436changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
16437example,
16438
16439@smallexample
16440set $pc = 0x485
16441@end smallexample
16442
16443@noindent
16444makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
16445address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
16446@xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
16447
16448The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
16449up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
16450that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
16451detail.
16452
16453@c @group
16454@node Signaling
16455@section Giving your Program a Signal
16456@cindex deliver a signal to a program
16457
16458@table @code
16459@kindex signal
16460@item signal @var{signal}
16461Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
16462signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
16463signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
16464SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
16465
16466Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
16467giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
16468a signal and would ordinarily see the signal when resumed with the
16469@code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
16470signal.
16471
16472@code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
16473after executing the command.
16474@end table
16475@c @end group
16476
16477Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
16478@code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
16479causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
16480the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
16481passes the signal directly to your program.
16482
16483
16484@node Returning
16485@section Returning from a Function
16486
16487@table @code
16488@cindex returning from a function
16489@kindex return
16490@item return
16491@itemx return @var{expression}
16492You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
16493command. If you give an
16494@var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
16495value.
16496@end table
16497
16498When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
16499(and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
16500discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
16501be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
16502
16503This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
16504Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
16505innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
16506specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
16507of functions.
16508
16509The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
16510program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
16511returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
16512and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
16513selected stack frame returns naturally.
16514
16515@value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
16516the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
16517type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
16518OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
16519CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
16520registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
16521specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
16522current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
16523assignment into the right register(s).
16524
16525Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
16526use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
16527debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
16528function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
16529int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
16530into a @code{long long int}:
16531
16532@smallexample
16533Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
1653429 return 31;
16535(@value{GDBP}) return -1
16536Make func return now? (y or n) y
16537#0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
1653843 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
16539(@value{GDBP})
16540@end smallexample
16541
16542However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
16543function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
16544to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
16545in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
16546typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
16547of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
16548architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
16549an appropriate cast explicitly:
16550
16551@smallexample
16552Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
16553(@value{GDBP}) return -1
16554Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
16555Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
16556(@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
16557Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
16558#0 0x00400526 in main ()
16559(@value{GDBP})
16560@end smallexample
16561
16562@node Calling
16563@section Calling Program Functions
16564
16565@table @code
16566@cindex calling functions
16567@cindex inferior functions, calling
16568@item print @var{expr}
16569Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
16570@var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
16571debugged.
16572
16573@kindex call
16574@item call @var{expr}
16575Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
16576returned values.
16577
16578You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
16579execute a function from your program that does not return anything
16580(a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
16581with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
16582print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
16583value history.
16584@end table
16585
16586It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
16587@code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
16588the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
16589in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
16590
16591Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
16592call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
16593exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
16594frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
16595an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
16596dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
16597seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
16598in that case is controlled by the
16599@code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
16600
16601@table @code
16602@item set unwindonsignal
16603@kindex set unwindonsignal
16604@cindex unwind stack in called functions
16605@cindex call dummy stack unwinding
16606Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
16607that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
16608@value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
16609the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
16610default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
16611received.
16612
16613@item show unwindonsignal
16614@kindex show unwindonsignal
16615Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
16616@value{GDBN}.
16617
16618@item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
16619@kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
16620@cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
16621@cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
16622Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
16623unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
16624debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
16625it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
16626the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
16627the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
16628
16629@item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
16630@kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
16631Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
16632@value{GDBN}.
16633
16634@end table
16635
16636@cindex weak alias functions
16637Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
16638for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
16639the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
16640which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
16641As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
16642even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
16643function instead.
16644
16645@node Patching
16646@section Patching Programs
16647
16648@cindex patching binaries
16649@cindex writing into executables
16650@cindex writing into corefiles
16651
16652By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
16653executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
16654alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
16655patching your program's binary.
16656
16657If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
16658explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
16659want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
16660repairs.
16661
16662@table @code
16663@kindex set write
16664@item set write on
16665@itemx set write off
16666If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
16667core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
16668off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
16669
16670If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
16671@code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
16672write}, for your new setting to take effect.
16673
16674@item show write
16675@kindex show write
16676Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
16677as well as reading.
16678@end table
16679
16680@node GDB Files
16681@chapter @value{GDBN} Files
16682
16683@value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
16684both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
16685program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
16686@value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
16687
16688@menu
16689* Files:: Commands to specify files
16690* Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
16691* MiniDebugInfo:: Debugging information in a special section
16692* Index Files:: Index files speed up GDB
16693* Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
16694* Data Files:: GDB data files
16695@end menu
16696
16697@node Files
16698@section Commands to Specify Files
16699
16700@cindex symbol table
16701@cindex core dump file
16702
16703You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
16704way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
16705@value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
16706Out of @value{GDBN}}).
16707
16708Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
16709@value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
16710specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
16711via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
16712Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
16713new files are useful.
16714
16715@table @code
16716@cindex executable file
16717@kindex file
16718@item file @var{filename}
16719Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
16720symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
16721executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
16722directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
16723@value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
16724directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
16725to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
16726and your program, using the @code{path} command.
16727
16728@cindex unlinked object files
16729@cindex patching object files
16730You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
16731the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
16732file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
16733if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
16734@kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
16735that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
16736case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
16737the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
16738
16739@item file
16740@code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
16741has on both executable file and the symbol table.
16742
16743@kindex exec-file
16744@item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
16745Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
16746in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
16747if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
16748discard information on the executable file.
16749
16750@kindex symbol-file
16751@item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
16752Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
16753searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
16754table and program to run from the same file.
16755
16756@code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
16757program's symbol table.
16758
16759The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
16760some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
16761contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
16762which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
16763@value{GDBN}.
16764
16765@code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
16766executing it once.
16767
16768When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
16769understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
16770generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
16771other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
16772Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
16773using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
16774optimized code.
16775
16776For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
16777using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
16778symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
16779quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
16780details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
16781
16782The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
16783start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
16784occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
16785file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
16786pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
16787Warnings and Messages}.)
16788
16789We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
16790symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
16791symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
16792still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
16793in stabs format.
16794
16795@kindex readnow
16796@cindex reading symbols immediately
16797@cindex symbols, reading immediately
16798@item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
16799@itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
16800You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
16801tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
16802load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
16803entire symbol table available.
16804
16805@c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
16806@c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
16807@c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
16808@c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
16809@c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
16810@c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
16811@c files.
16812
16813@kindex core-file
16814@item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
16815@itemx core
16816Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
16817of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
16818address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
16819executable file itself for other parts.
16820
16821@code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
16822to be used.
16823
16824Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
16825under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
16826wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
16827the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
16828(@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
16829
16830@kindex add-symbol-file
16831@cindex dynamic linking
16832@item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
16833@itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
16834@itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} -s @var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
16835The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
16836information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
16837when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
16838into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
16839address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
16840this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
16841of @samp{-s @var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
16842section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
16843@var{address} as an expression.
16844
16845The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
16846originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
16847@code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
16848thus read is kept in addition to the old.
16849
16850Changes can be reverted using the command @code{remove-symbol-file}.
16851
16852@cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
16853@cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
16854@cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
16855@cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
16856@cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
16857Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
16858executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
16859relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
16860information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
16861
16862@itemize @bullet
16863@item
16864the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
16865that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
16866@item
16867every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
16868been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
16869@item
16870you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
16871provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
16872@end itemize
16873
16874@noindent
16875Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
16876relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
16877typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
16878important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
16879procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
16880assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
16881general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
16882relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
16883as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
16884way.
16885
16886@code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
16887
16888@kindex remove-symbol-file
16889@item remove-symbol-file @var{filename}
16890@item remove-symbol-file -a @var{address}
16891Remove a symbol file added via the @code{add-symbol-file} command. The
16892file to remove can be identified by its @var{filename} or by an @var{address}
16893that lies within the boundaries of this symbol file in memory. Example:
16894
16895@smallexample
16896(gdb) add-symbol-file /home/user/gdb/mylib.so 0x7ffff7ff9480
16897add symbol table from file "/home/user/gdb/mylib.so" at
16898 .text_addr = 0x7ffff7ff9480
16899(y or n) y
16900Reading symbols from /home/user/gdb/mylib.so...done.
16901(gdb) remove-symbol-file -a 0x7ffff7ff9480
16902Remove symbol table from file "/home/user/gdb/mylib.so"? (y or n) y
16903(gdb)
16904@end smallexample
16905
16906
16907@code{remove-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
16908
16909@kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
16910@cindex @code{syscall DSO}
16911@cindex load symbols from memory
16912@item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
16913Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
16914object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
16915For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
16916process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
16917some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
16918evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
16919For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
16920@code{exec-file} commands in advance.
16921
16922@kindex add-shared-symbol-files
16923@kindex assf
16924@item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
16925@itemx assf @var{library-file}
16926The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
16927in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
16928alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
16929@value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
16930@value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
16931@code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
16932library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
16933@code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
16934
16935@kindex section
16936@item section @var{section} @var{addr}
16937The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
16938@var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
16939exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
16940@code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
16941itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
16942@code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
16943their addresses.
16944
16945@kindex info files
16946@kindex info target
16947@item info files
16948@itemx info target
16949@code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
16950current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
16951including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
16952use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
16953command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
16954current ones.
16955
16956@kindex maint info sections
16957@item maint info sections
16958Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
16959is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
16960displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
16961offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
16962@code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
16963may be arbitrarily combined):
16964
16965@table @code
16966@item ALLOBJ
16967Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
16968@item @var{sections}
16969Display info only for named @var{sections}.
16970@item @var{section-flags}
16971Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
16972The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
16973@table @code
16974@item ALLOC
16975Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
16976Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
16977@item LOAD
16978Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
16979Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
16980@item RELOC
16981Section needs to be relocated before loading.
16982@item READONLY
16983Section cannot be modified by the child process.
16984@item CODE
16985Section contains executable code only.
16986@item DATA
16987Section contains data only (no executable code).
16988@item ROM
16989Section will reside in ROM.
16990@item CONSTRUCTOR
16991Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
16992@item HAS_CONTENTS
16993Section is not empty.
16994@item NEVER_LOAD
16995An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
16996@item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
16997A notification to the linker that the section contains
16998COFF shared library information.
16999@item IS_COMMON
17000Section contains common symbols.
17001@end table
17002@end table
17003@kindex set trust-readonly-sections
17004@cindex read-only sections
17005@item set trust-readonly-sections on
17006Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
17007really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
17008In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
17009out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
17010For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
17011enhancement to debugging performance.
17012
17013The default is off.
17014
17015@item set trust-readonly-sections off
17016Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
17017the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
17018and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
17019
17020@item show trust-readonly-sections
17021Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
17022@end table
17023
17024All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
17025as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
17026name and remembers it that way.
17027
17028@cindex shared libraries
17029@anchor{Shared Libraries}
17030@value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
17031and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
17032
17033On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
17034shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
17035
17036@value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
17037when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
17038(Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
17039references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
17040debugging a core file).
17041
17042On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
17043automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
17044
17045@c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
17046@c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
17047@c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
17048
17049There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
17050symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
17051particularly large or there are many of them.
17052
17053To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
17054commands:
17055
17056@table @code
17057@kindex set auto-solib-add
17058@item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
17059If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
17060will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
17061attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
17062informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
17063is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
17064@code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
17065
17066@cindex memory used for symbol tables
17067If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
17068takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
17069memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
17070symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
17071auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
17072library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
17073@var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
17074the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
17075
17076@kindex show auto-solib-add
17077@item show auto-solib-add
17078Display the current autoloading mode.
17079@end table
17080
17081@cindex load shared library
17082To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
17083command:
17084
17085@table @code
17086@kindex info sharedlibrary
17087@kindex info share
17088@item info share @var{regex}
17089@itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
17090Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
17091that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
17092all shared libraries that are loaded.
17093
17094@kindex sharedlibrary
17095@kindex share
17096@item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
17097@itemx share @var{regex}
17098Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
17099Unix regular expression.
17100As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
17101required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
17102@var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
17103loaded.
17104
17105@item nosharedlibrary
17106@kindex nosharedlibrary
17107@cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
17108Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
17109that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
17110libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
17111discarded.
17112@end table
17113
17114Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
17115when any of shared library events happen. The best way to do this is
17116to use @code{catch load} and @code{catch unload} (@pxref{Set
17117Catchpoints}).
17118
17119@value{GDBN} also supports the the @code{set stop-on-solib-events}
17120command for this. This command exists for historical reasons. It is
17121less useful than setting a catchpoint, because it does not allow for
17122conditions or commands as a catchpoint does.
17123
17124@table @code
17125@item set stop-on-solib-events
17126@kindex set stop-on-solib-events
17127This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
17128when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
17129The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
17130shared library.
17131
17132@item show stop-on-solib-events
17133@kindex show stop-on-solib-events
17134Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
17135library events happen.
17136@end table
17137
17138Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
17139configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
17140this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
17141on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
17142libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
17143provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
17144copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
17145not.
17146
17147@cindex where to look for shared libraries
17148For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
17149libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
17150may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
17151to specify the search directories for target libraries.
17152
17153@table @code
17154@cindex prefix for shared library file names
17155@cindex system root, alternate
17156@kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
17157@kindex set sysroot
17158@item set sysroot @var{path}
17159Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
17160absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
17161runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
17162target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
17163libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
17164the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
17165under @var{path}.
17166
17167If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
17168retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
17169supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
17170command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
17171The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
17172(if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
17173@footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
17174that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
17175variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
17176
17177For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
17178SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
17179absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
17180@value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
17181slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
17182
17183@smallexample
17184 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
17185@end smallexample
17186
17187Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
17188@var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
17189system:
17190
17191@smallexample
17192 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
17193@end smallexample
17194
17195If that does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries removing
17196the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
17197for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
17198colons:
17199
17200@smallexample
17201 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
17202@end smallexample
17203
17204This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
17205with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
17206copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
17207@samp{z}):
17208
17209@smallexample
17210 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
17211 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
17212 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
17213@end smallexample
17214
17215@noindent
17216and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
17217@value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
17218@file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
17219
17220If that still does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries
17221removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
17222
17223@smallexample
17224 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
17225@end smallexample
17226
17227This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
17228if you don't want or need to.
17229
17230The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
17231sysroot}.
17232
17233@cindex default system root
17234@cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
17235You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
17236@samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
17237@value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
17238@samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
17239automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
17240location.
17241
17242@kindex show sysroot
17243@item show sysroot
17244Display the current shared library prefix.
17245
17246@kindex set solib-search-path
17247@item set solib-search-path @var{path}
17248If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
17249directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
17250is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
17251path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
17252use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
17253@samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
17254finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
17255it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
17256of shared library symbols.
17257
17258@kindex show solib-search-path
17259@item show solib-search-path
17260Display the current shared library search path.
17261
17262@cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
17263@kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
17264@kindex show target-file-system-kind
17265@item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
17266Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
17267
17268Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
17269make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
17270example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
17271system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
17272@value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
17273@file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
17274drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
17275indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
17276normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
17277the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
17278as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
17279it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
17280shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
17281with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
17282@code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
17283to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
17284map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
17285semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
17286to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
17287tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
17288current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
17289Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
17290
17291@table @code
17292@item unix
17293Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
17294kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
17295are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
17296the forward slash.
17297
17298@item dos-based
17299Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
17300File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
17301followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
17302both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
17303considered directory separators.
17304
17305@item auto
17306Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
17307target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
17308This is the default.
17309@end table
17310@end table
17311
17312@cindex file name canonicalization
17313@cindex base name differences
17314When processing file names provided by the user, @value{GDBN}
17315frequently needs to compare them to the file names recorded in the
17316program's debug info. Normally, @value{GDBN} compares just the
17317@dfn{base names} of the files as strings, which is reasonably fast
17318even for very large programs. (The base name of a file is the last
17319portion of its name, after stripping all the leading directories.)
17320This shortcut in comparison is based upon the assumption that files
17321cannot have more than one base name. This is usually true, but
17322references to files that use symlinks or similar filesystem
17323facilities violate that assumption. If your program records files
17324using such facilities, or if you provide file names to @value{GDBN}
17325using symlinks etc., you can set @code{basenames-may-differ} to
17326@code{true} to instruct @value{GDBN} to completely canonicalize each
17327pair of file names it needs to compare. This will make file-name
17328comparisons accurate, but at a price of a significant slowdown.
17329
17330@table @code
17331@item set basenames-may-differ
17332@kindex set basenames-may-differ
17333Set whether a source file may have multiple base names.
17334
17335@item show basenames-may-differ
17336@kindex show basenames-may-differ
17337Show whether a source file may have multiple base names.
17338@end table
17339
17340@node Separate Debug Files
17341@section Debugging Information in Separate Files
17342@cindex separate debugging information files
17343@cindex debugging information in separate files
17344@cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
17345@cindex debugging information directory, global
17346@cindex global debugging information directories
17347@cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
17348@cindex @file{.build-id} directory
17349
17350@value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
17351file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
17352@value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
17353Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
17354than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
17355information for their executables in separate files, which users can
17356install only when they need to debug a problem.
17357
17358@value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
17359file:
17360
17361@itemize @bullet
17362@item
17363The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
17364the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
17365usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
17366name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
17367(e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
17368debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
17369checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
17370the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
17371
17372@item
17373The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
17374also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
17375only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
17376for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
17377this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
17378command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
17379The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
17380explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
17381below.
17382@end itemize
17383
17384Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
17385uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
17386
17387@itemize @bullet
17388@item
17389For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
17390the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
17391directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under each one of the global debug
17392directories, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
17393directories of the executable's absolute file name.
17394
17395@item
17396For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
17397@file{.build-id} subdirectory of each one of the global debug directories for
17398a file named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
17399first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
17400are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
17401hex characters, not 10.)
17402@end itemize
17403
17404So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
17405@file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
17406file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
17407@code{abcdef1234}. If the list of the global debug directories includes
17408@file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
17409debug information files, in the indicated order:
17410
17411@itemize @minus
17412@item
17413@file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
17414@item
17415@file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
17416@item
17417@file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
17418@item
17419@file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
17420@end itemize
17421
17422@anchor{debug-file-directory}
17423Global debugging info directories default to what is set by @value{GDBN}
17424configure option @option{--with-separate-debug-dir}. During @value{GDBN} run
17425you can also set the global debugging info directories, and view the list
17426@value{GDBN} is currently using.
17427
17428@table @code
17429
17430@kindex set debug-file-directory
17431@item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
17432Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
17433information files to @var{directory}. Multiple path components can be set
17434concatenating them by a path separator.
17435
17436@kindex show debug-file-directory
17437@item show debug-file-directory
17438Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
17439information files.
17440
17441@end table
17442
17443@cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
17444@cindex debug link sections
17445A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
17446@code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
17447
17448@itemize
17449@item
17450A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
17451a zero byte,
17452@item
17453zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
17454boundary within the section, and
17455@item
17456a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
17457executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
17458information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
17459zero as the @var{crc} argument.
17460@end itemize
17461
17462Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
17463contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
17464described above.
17465
17466@cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
17467@cindex build ID sections
17468The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
17469ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
17470often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
17471It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
17472the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
17473algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
17474content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
17475value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
17476stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
17477
17478The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
17479executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
17480debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
17481should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
17482but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
17483in an ordinary executable.
17484
17485The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
17486@samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
17487the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
17488following commands:
17489
17490@smallexample
17491@kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
17492@kbd{strip -g foo}
17493@end smallexample
17494
17495@noindent
17496These commands remove the debugging
17497information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
17498@file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
17499two files:
17500
17501@itemize @bullet
17502@item
17503The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
17504behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
17505
17506@smallexample
17507@kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
17508@end smallexample
17509
17510Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
17511a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
17512foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
17513the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
17514
17515@item
17516Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
17517the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
17518compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
17519utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
17520@end itemize
17521
17522@noindent
17523
17524@cindex CRC algorithm definition
17525The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
17526IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
17527
17528@c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
17529@c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
17530@c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
17531@c different ways!
17532@ifhtml
17533@display
17534@html
17535 <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>
17536 + <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
17537@end html
17538@end display
17539@end ifhtml
17540@ifnothtml
17541@display
17542 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
17543 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
17544@end display
17545@end ifnothtml
17546
17547The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
17548significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
17549@code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
17550the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
17551CRC.
17552
17553@emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
17554@dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{Remote Protocol,
17555, @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol}). However in the
17556case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed @emph{most}
17557significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so trailing
17558zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
17559
17560To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
17561which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
17562initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
17563this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
17564@code{0xffffffff}.
17565
17566@kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
17567@smallexample
17568unsigned long
17569gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
17570 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
17571@{
17572 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
17573 @{
17574 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
17575 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
17576 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
17577 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
17578 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
17579 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
17580 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
17581 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
17582 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
17583 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
17584 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
17585 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
17586 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
17587 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
17588 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
17589 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
17590 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
17591 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
17592 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
17593 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
17594 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
17595 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
17596 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
17597 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
17598 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
17599 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
17600 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
17601 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
17602 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
17603 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
17604 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
17605 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
17606 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
17607 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
17608 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
17609 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
17610 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
17611 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
17612 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
17613 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
17614 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
17615 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
17616 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
17617 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
17618 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
17619 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
17620 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
17621 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
17622 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
17623 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
17624 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
17625 0x2d02ef8d
17626 @};
17627 unsigned char *end;
17628
17629 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
17630 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
17631 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
17632 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
17633@}
17634@end smallexample
17635
17636@noindent
17637This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
17638
17639@node MiniDebugInfo
17640@section Debugging information in a special section
17641@cindex separate debug sections
17642@cindex @samp{.gnu_debugdata} section
17643
17644Some systems ship pre-built executables and libraries that have a
17645special @samp{.gnu_debugdata} section. This feature is called
17646@dfn{MiniDebugInfo}. This section holds an LZMA-compressed object and
17647is used to supply extra symbols for backtraces.
17648
17649The intent of this section is to provide extra minimal debugging
17650information for use in simple backtraces. It is not intended to be a
17651replacement for full separate debugging information (@pxref{Separate
17652Debug Files}). The example below shows the intended use; however,
17653@value{GDBN} does not currently put restrictions on what sort of
17654debugging information might be included in the section.
17655
17656@value{GDBN} has support for this extension. If the section exists,
17657then it is used provided that no other source of debugging information
17658can be found, and that @value{GDBN} was configured with LZMA support.
17659
17660This section can be easily created using @command{objcopy} and other
17661standard utilities:
17662
17663@smallexample
17664# Extract the dynamic symbols from the main binary, there is no need
17665# to also have these in the normal symbol table.
17666nm -D @var{binary} --format=posix --defined-only \
17667 | awk '@{ print $1 @}' | sort > dynsyms
17668
17669# Extract all the text (i.e. function) symbols from the debuginfo.
17670# (Note that we actually also accept "D" symbols, for the benefit
17671# of platforms like PowerPC64 that use function descriptors.)
17672nm @var{binary} --format=posix --defined-only \
17673 | awk '@{ if ($2 == "T" || $2 == "t" || $2 == "D") print $1 @}' \
17674 | sort > funcsyms
17675
17676# Keep all the function symbols not already in the dynamic symbol
17677# table.
17678comm -13 dynsyms funcsyms > keep_symbols
17679
17680# Separate full debug info into debug binary.
17681objcopy --only-keep-debug @var{binary} debug
17682
17683# Copy the full debuginfo, keeping only a minimal set of symbols and
17684# removing some unnecessary sections.
17685objcopy -S --remove-section .gdb_index --remove-section .comment \
17686 --keep-symbols=keep_symbols debug mini_debuginfo
17687
17688# Drop the full debug info from the original binary.
17689strip --strip-all -R .comment @var{binary}
17690
17691# Inject the compressed data into the .gnu_debugdata section of the
17692# original binary.
17693xz mini_debuginfo
17694objcopy --add-section .gnu_debugdata=mini_debuginfo.xz @var{binary}
17695@end smallexample
17696
17697@node Index Files
17698@section Index Files Speed Up @value{GDBN}
17699@cindex index files
17700@cindex @samp{.gdb_index} section
17701
17702When @value{GDBN} finds a symbol file, it scans the symbols in the
17703file in order to construct an internal symbol table. This lets most
17704@value{GDBN} operations work quickly---at the cost of a delay early
17705on. For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so
17706@value{GDBN} provides a way to build an index, which speeds up
17707startup.
17708
17709The index is stored as a section in the symbol file. @value{GDBN} can
17710write the index to a file, then you can put it into the symbol file
17711using @command{objcopy}.
17712
17713To create an index file, use the @code{save gdb-index} command:
17714
17715@table @code
17716@item save gdb-index @var{directory}
17717@kindex save gdb-index
17718Create an index file for each symbol file currently known by
17719@value{GDBN}. Each file is named after its corresponding symbol file,
17720with @samp{.gdb-index} appended, and is written into the given
17721@var{directory}.
17722@end table
17723
17724Once you have created an index file you can merge it into your symbol
17725file, here named @file{symfile}, using @command{objcopy}:
17726
17727@smallexample
17728$ objcopy --add-section .gdb_index=symfile.gdb-index \
17729 --set-section-flags .gdb_index=readonly symfile symfile
17730@end smallexample
17731
17732@value{GDBN} will normally ignore older versions of @file{.gdb_index}
17733sections that have been deprecated. Usually they are deprecated because
17734they are missing a new feature or have performance issues.
17735To tell @value{GDBN} to use a deprecated index section anyway
17736specify @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
17737The default is @code{off}.
17738This can speed up startup, but may result in some functionality being lost.
17739@xref{Index Section Format}.
17740
17741@emph{Warning:} Setting @code{use-deprecated-index-sections} to @code{on}
17742must be done before gdb reads the file. The following will not work:
17743
17744@smallexample
17745$ gdb -ex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
17746@end smallexample
17747
17748Instead you must do, for example,
17749
17750@smallexample
17751$ gdb -iex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
17752@end smallexample
17753
17754There are currently some limitation on indices. They only work when
17755for DWARF debugging information, not stabs. And, they do not
17756currently work for programs using Ada.
17757
17758@node Symbol Errors
17759@section Errors Reading Symbol Files
17760
17761While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
17762such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
17763output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
17764they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
17765debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
17766about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
17767only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
17768times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
17769to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
17770complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
17771Messages}).
17772
17773The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
17774
17775@table @code
17776@item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
17777
17778The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
17779(such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
17780error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
17781in its outer scope blocks.
17782
17783@value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
17784the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
17785may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
17786function.
17787
17788@item block at @var{address} out of order
17789
17790The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
17791order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
17792do so.
17793
17794@value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
17795locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
17796can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
17797@code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
17798Messages}.)
17799
17800@item bad block start address patched
17801
17802The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
17803smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
17804to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
17805
17806@value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
17807starting on the previous source line.
17808
17809@item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
17810
17811@cindex foo
17812Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
17813larger than the size of the string table.
17814
17815@value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
17816name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
17817with this name.
17818
17819@item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
17820
17821The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
17822not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
17823uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
17824
17825@value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
17826This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
17827are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
17828debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
17829on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
17830and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
17831
17832@item stub type has NULL name
17833
17834@value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
17835
17836@item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
17837The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
17838information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
17839it.
17840
17841@item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
17842
17843@value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
17844
17845@end table
17846
17847@node Data Files
17848@section GDB Data Files
17849
17850@cindex prefix for data files
17851@value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
17852are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
17853
17854You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
17855is currently using.
17856
17857@table @code
17858@kindex set data-directory
17859@item set data-directory @var{directory}
17860Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
17861to @var{directory}.
17862
17863@kindex show data-directory
17864@item show data-directory
17865Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
17866@end table
17867
17868@cindex default data directory
17869@cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
17870You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
17871@samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
17872@value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
17873@samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
17874automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
17875location.
17876
17877The data directory may also be specified with the
17878@code{--data-directory} command line option.
17879@xref{Mode Options}.
17880
17881@node Targets
17882@chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
17883
17884@cindex debugging target
17885A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
17886
17887Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
17888in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
17889you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
17890flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
17891host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
17892realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
17893command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
17894(@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
17895
17896@cindex target architecture
17897It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
17898architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
17899one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
17900command.
17901
17902@table @code
17903@kindex set architecture
17904@kindex show architecture
17905@item set architecture @var{arch}
17906This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
17907value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
17908supported architectures.
17909
17910@item show architecture
17911Show the current target architecture.
17912
17913@item set processor
17914@itemx processor
17915@kindex set processor
17916@kindex show processor
17917These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
17918and @code{show architecture}.
17919@end table
17920
17921@menu
17922* Active Targets:: Active targets
17923* Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
17924* Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
17925@end menu
17926
17927@node Active Targets
17928@section Active Targets
17929
17930@cindex stacking targets
17931@cindex active targets
17932@cindex multiple targets
17933
17934There are multiple classes of targets such as: processes, executable files or
17935recording sessions. Core files belong to the process class, making core file
17936and process mutually exclusive. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} can work concurrently
17937on multiple active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for
17938example) start a process and inspect its activity, while still having access to
17939the executable file after the process finishes. Or if you start process
17940recording (@pxref{Reverse Execution}) and @code{reverse-step} there, you are
17941presented a virtual layer of the recording target, while the process target
17942remains stopped at the chronologically last point of the process execution.
17943
17944Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new core
17945file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}). To
17946specify as a target a process that is already running, use the @code{attach}
17947command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
17948
17949@node Target Commands
17950@section Commands for Managing Targets
17951
17952@table @code
17953@item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
17954Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
17955process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
17956facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
17957protocol of the target machine.
17958
17959Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
17960typically include things like device names or host names to connect
17961with, process numbers, and baud rates.
17962
17963The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
17964after executing the command.
17965
17966@kindex help target
17967@item help target
17968Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
17969currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
17970(@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
17971
17972@item help target @var{name}
17973Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
17974select it.
17975
17976@kindex set gnutarget
17977@item set gnutarget @var{args}
17978@value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
17979knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
17980a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
17981with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
17982with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
17983
17984@quotation
17985@emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
17986you must know the actual BFD name.
17987@end quotation
17988
17989@noindent
17990@xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
17991
17992@kindex show gnutarget
17993@item show gnutarget
17994Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
17995@code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
17996@value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
17997and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BFD target is "auto"}.
17998@end table
17999
18000@cindex common targets
18001Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
18002configuration):
18003
18004@table @code
18005@kindex target
18006@item target exec @var{program}
18007@cindex executable file target
18008An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
18009@samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
18010
18011@item target core @var{filename}
18012@cindex core dump file target
18013A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
18014@samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
18015
18016@item target remote @var{medium}
18017@cindex remote target
18018A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
18019connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
18020protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
18021
18022For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
18023machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
18024
18025@smallexample
18026target remote /dev/ttya
18027@end smallexample
18028
18029@code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
18030useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
18031system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
18032clobbered by the download.
18033
18034@item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
18035@cindex built-in simulator target
18036Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
18037In general,
18038@smallexample
18039 target sim
18040 load
18041 run
18042@end smallexample
18043@noindent
18044works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
18045drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
18046provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
18047see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
18048Processors}.
18049
18050@end table
18051
18052Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
18053your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
18054
18055Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
18056you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
18057various aspects of this process.
18058
18059@table @code
18060
18061@item set hash
18062@kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
18063@cindex hash mark while downloading
18064This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
18065downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
18066displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
18067monitor.
18068
18069@item show hash
18070@kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
18071Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
18072
18073@item set debug monitor
18074@kindex set debug monitor
18075@cindex display remote monitor communications
18076Enable or disable display of communications messages between
18077@value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
18078
18079@item show debug monitor
18080@kindex show debug monitor
18081Show the current status of displaying communications between
18082@value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
18083@end table
18084
18085@table @code
18086
18087@kindex load @var{filename}
18088@item load @var{filename}
18089@anchor{load}
18090Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
18091@value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
18092is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
18093on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
18094@code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
18095the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
18096
18097If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
18098execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
18099target is @dots{}}''
18100
18101The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
18102For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
18103link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
18104specifies a fixed address.
18105@c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
18106
18107Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
18108load programs into flash memory.
18109
18110@code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
18111@end table
18112
18113@node Byte Order
18114@section Choosing Target Byte Order
18115
18116@cindex choosing target byte order
18117@cindex target byte order
18118
18119Some types of processors, such as the @acronym{MIPS}, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
18120offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
18121orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
18122designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
18123which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
18124@value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
18125
18126@table @code
18127@kindex set endian
18128@item set endian big
18129Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
18130
18131@item set endian little
18132Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
18133
18134@item set endian auto
18135Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
18136executable.
18137
18138@item show endian
18139Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
18140
18141@end table
18142
18143Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
18144data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
18145target system.
18146
18147
18148@node Remote Debugging
18149@chapter Debugging Remote Programs
18150@cindex remote debugging
18151
18152If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
18153@value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
18154For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
18155or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
18156powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
18157
18158Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
18159to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
18160@value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
18161but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
18162write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
18163communicate with @value{GDBN}.
18164
18165Other remote targets may be available in your
18166configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
18167
18168@menu
18169* Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
18170* File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
18171* Server:: Using the gdbserver program
18172* Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
18173* Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
18174@end menu
18175
18176@node Connecting
18177@section Connecting to a Remote Target
18178
18179On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
18180your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
18181Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
18182program as the first argument.
18183
18184@cindex @code{target remote}
18185@value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
18186over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
18187each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
18188program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
18189@code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
18190Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
18191
18192@table @code
18193
18194@item target remote @var{serial-device}
18195@cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
18196Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
18197to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
18198
18199@smallexample
18200target remote /dev/ttyb
18201@end smallexample
18202
18203If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
18204@samp{--baud} option, or use the @code{set serial baud} command
18205(@pxref{Remote Configuration, set serial baud}) before the
18206@code{target} command.
18207
18208@item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
18209@itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
18210@cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
18211Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
18212The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
18213address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
18214the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
18215it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
18216target.
18217
18218For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
18219@code{manyfarms}:
18220
18221@smallexample
18222target remote manyfarms:2828
18223@end smallexample
18224
18225If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
18226debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
18227same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
18228port 1234 on your local machine:
18229
18230@smallexample
18231target remote :1234
18232@end smallexample
18233@noindent
18234
18235Note that the colon is still required here.
18236
18237@item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
18238@cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
18239Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
18240connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
18241
18242@smallexample
18243target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
18244@end smallexample
18245
18246When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
18247keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
18248can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
18249cause havoc with your debugging session.
18250
18251@item target remote | @var{command}
18252@cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
18253Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
18254pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
18255by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
18256protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
18257standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
18258that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
18259using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
18260
18261If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
18262@value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
18263program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
18264
18265@end table
18266
18267Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
18268commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
18269running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
18270need to use @kbd{run}.
18271
18272@cindex interrupting remote programs
18273@cindex remote programs, interrupting
18274Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
18275interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
18276program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
18277and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
18278interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
18279
18280@smallexample
18281Interrupted while waiting for the program.
18282Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
18283@end smallexample
18284
18285If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
18286(If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
18287remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
18288goes back to waiting.
18289
18290@table @code
18291@kindex detach (remote)
18292@item detach
18293When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
18294@code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
18295Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
18296will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
18297command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
18298
18299@kindex disconnect
18300@item disconnect
18301The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
18302the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
18303(this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
18304the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
18305another target.
18306
18307@cindex send command to remote monitor
18308@cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
18309@cindex add new commands for external monitor
18310@kindex monitor
18311@item monitor @var{cmd}
18312This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
18313remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
18314sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
18315can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
18316and implement.
18317@end table
18318
18319@node File Transfer
18320@section Sending files to a remote system
18321@cindex remote target, file transfer
18322@cindex file transfer
18323@cindex sending files to remote systems
18324
18325Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
18326connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
18327for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
18328running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
18329e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
18330the only way to upload or download files.
18331
18332Not all remote targets support these commands.
18333
18334@table @code
18335@kindex remote put
18336@item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
18337Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
18338@value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
18339
18340@kindex remote get
18341@item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
18342Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
18343on the host system.
18344
18345@kindex remote delete
18346@item remote delete @var{targetfile}
18347Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
18348
18349@end table
18350
18351@node Server
18352@section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
18353
18354@kindex gdbserver
18355@cindex remote connection without stubs
18356@code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
18357allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
18358@code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
18359
18360@code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
18361because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
18362that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
18363@code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
18364@value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
18365because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
18366also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
18367started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
18368Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
18369the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
18370do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
18371by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
18372choice for debugging.
18373
18374@value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
18375or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
18376protocol.
18377
18378@quotation
18379@emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
18380Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
18381@value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
18382target system with the same privileges as the user running
18383@code{gdbserver}.
18384@end quotation
18385
18386@subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
18387@cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
18388@cindex @code{gdbserver}, command-line arguments
18389
18390Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
18391program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
18392@code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
18393strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
18394system does all the symbol handling.
18395
18396To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
18397the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
18398syntax is:
18399
18400@smallexample
18401target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
18402@end smallexample
18403
18404@var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line), or a TCP
18405hostname and portnumber, or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
18406stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}.
18407For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
18408@samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
18409@file{/dev/com1}:
18410
18411@smallexample
18412target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
18413@end smallexample
18414
18415@code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
18416with it.
18417
18418To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
18419
18420@smallexample
18421target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
18422@end smallexample
18423
18424The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
18425specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
18426TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
18427expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
18428(Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
18429you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
18430TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
18431reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
18432conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
18433and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
18434@code{target remote} command.
18435
18436The @code{stdio} connection is useful when starting @code{gdbserver}
18437with ssh:
18438
18439@smallexample
18440(gdb) target remote | ssh -T hostname gdbserver - hello
18441@end smallexample
18442
18443The @samp{-T} option to ssh is provided because we don't need a remote pty,
18444and we don't want escape-character handling. Ssh does this by default when
18445a command is provided, the flag is provided to make it explicit.
18446You could elide it if you want to.
18447
18448Programs started with stdio-connected gdbserver have @file{/dev/null} for
18449@code{stdin}, and @code{stdout},@code{stderr} are sent back to gdb for
18450display through a pipe connected to gdbserver.
18451Both @code{stdout} and @code{stderr} use the same pipe.
18452
18453@subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
18454@cindex attach to a program, @code{gdbserver}
18455@cindex @option{--attach}, @code{gdbserver} option
18456
18457On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
18458This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
18459
18460@smallexample
18461target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
18462@end smallexample
18463
18464@var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
18465to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
18466
18467@pindex pidof
18468You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
18469@code{pidof} utility:
18470
18471@smallexample
18472target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
18473@end smallexample
18474
18475In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
18476has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
18477@code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
18478
18479@subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
18480@cindex @code{gdbserver}, multiple processes
18481@cindex multiple processes with @code{gdbserver}
18482
18483When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
18484@code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
18485program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
18486and @code{gdbserver} exits.
18487
18488If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
18489enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
18490detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
18491though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
18492commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
18493The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
18494remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
18495arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
18496redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
18497
18498@cindex @option{--multi}, @code{gdbserver} option
18499To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
18500or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
18501Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
18502the program you want to debug.
18503
18504In multi-process mode @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit unless you
18505use the option @option{--once}. You can terminate it by using
18506@code{monitor exit} (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}). Note that the
18507conditions under which @code{gdbserver} terminates depend on how @value{GDBN}
18508connects to it (@kbd{target remote} or @kbd{target extended-remote}). The
18509@option{--multi} option to @code{gdbserver} has no influence on that.
18510
18511@subsubsection TCP port allocation lifecycle of @code{gdbserver}
18512
18513This section applies only when @code{gdbserver} is run to listen on a TCP port.
18514
18515@code{gdbserver} normally terminates after all of its debugged processes have
18516terminated in @kbd{target remote} mode. On the other hand, for @kbd{target
18517extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver} stays running even with no processes left.
18518@value{GDBN} normally terminates the spawned debugged process on its exit,
18519which normally also terminates @code{gdbserver} in the @kbd{target remote}
18520mode. Therefore, when the connection drops unexpectedly, and @value{GDBN}
18521cannot ask @code{gdbserver} to kill its debugged processes, @code{gdbserver}
18522stays running even in the @kbd{target remote} mode.
18523
18524When @code{gdbserver} stays running, @value{GDBN} can connect to it again later.
18525Such reconnecting is useful for features like @ref{disconnected tracing}. For
18526completeness, at most one @value{GDBN} can be connected at a time.
18527
18528@cindex @option{--once}, @code{gdbserver} option
18529By default, @code{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
18530subsequent connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
18531with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
18532connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session. This
18533means no further connections to @code{gdbserver} will be possible after the
18534first one. It also means @code{gdbserver} will terminate after the first
18535connection with remote @value{GDBN} has closed, even for unexpectedly closed
18536connections and even in the @kbd{target extended-remote} mode. The
18537@option{--once} option allows reusing the same port number for connecting to
18538multiple instances of @code{gdbserver} running on the same host, since each
18539instance closes its port after the first connection.
18540
18541@anchor{Other Command-Line Arguments for gdbserver}
18542@subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
18543
18544@cindex @option{--debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
18545The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
18546status information about the debugging process.
18547@cindex @option{--remote-debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
18548The @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
18549remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
18550@code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
18551
18552@cindex @option{--debug-format}, @code{gdbserver} option
18553The @option{--debug-format=option1[,option2,...]} option tells
18554@code{gdbserver} to include additional information in each output.
18555Possible options are:
18556
18557@table @code
18558@item none
18559Turn off all extra information in debugging output.
18560@item all
18561Turn on all extra information in debugging output.
18562@item timestamps
18563Include a timestamp in each line of debugging output.
18564@end table
18565
18566Options are processed in order. Thus, for example, if @option{none}
18567appears last then no additional information is added to debugging output.
18568
18569@cindex @option{--wrapper}, @code{gdbserver} option
18570The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
18571for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
18572wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
18573@kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
18574
18575@code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
18576command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
18577program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
18578runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
18579
18580You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
18581its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
18582this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
18583with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
18584
18585For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
18586the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
18587environment:
18588
18589@smallexample
18590$ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
18591@end smallexample
18592
18593@subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
18594
18595Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
18596
18597First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
18598your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
18599@code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
18600was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
18601
18602The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
18603and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
18604system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
18605are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
18606during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
18607files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
18608programs.
18609
18610Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
18611For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
18612the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
18613text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
18614@samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
18615command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
18616already on the target.
18617
18618@subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
18619@cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
18620@anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
18621
18622During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
18623@code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
18624Here are the available commands.
18625
18626@table @code
18627@item monitor help
18628List the available monitor commands.
18629
18630@item monitor set debug 0
18631@itemx monitor set debug 1
18632Disable or enable general debugging messages.
18633
18634@item monitor set remote-debug 0
18635@itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
18636Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
18637protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
18638
18639@item monitor set debug-format option1@r{[},option2,...@r{]}
18640Specify additional text to add to debugging messages.
18641Possible options are:
18642
18643@table @code
18644@item none
18645Turn off all extra information in debugging output.
18646@item all
18647Turn on all extra information in debugging output.
18648@item timestamps
18649Include a timestamp in each line of debugging output.
18650@end table
18651
18652Options are processed in order. Thus, for example, if @option{none}
18653appears last then no additional information is added to debugging output.
18654
18655@item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
18656@cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
18657When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
18658directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
18659libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
18660@samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to its default value.
18661
18662The special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path} is
18663not supported in @code{gdbserver}.
18664
18665@item monitor exit
18666Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
18667@code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
18668detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
18669Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
18670of a multi-process mode debug session.
18671
18672@end table
18673
18674@subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
18675@cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
18676
18677On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints, fast
18678tracepoints and static tracepoints.
18679
18680For fast or static tracepoints to work, a special library called the
18681@dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
18682This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
18683@code{gdbserver}. In addition, support for static tracepoints
18684requires building the in-process agent library with static tracepoints
18685support. At present, the UST (LTTng Userspace Tracer,
18686@url{http://lttng.org/ust}) tracing engine is supported. This support
18687is automatically available if UST development headers are found in the
18688standard include path when @code{gdbserver} is built, or if
18689@code{gdbserver} was explicitly configured using @option{--with-ust}
18690to point at such headers. You can explicitly disable the support
18691using @option{--with-ust=no}.
18692
18693There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
18694
18695@table @code
18696@item Specifying it as dependency at link time
18697
18698You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
18699library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
18700@code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
18701
18702@item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
18703
18704You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
18705your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
18706support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
18707cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
18708in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
18709@option{--wrapper} command line option.
18710
18711@item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
18712
18713On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
18714by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
18715of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
18716systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
18717command for that. For example:
18718
18719@smallexample
18720(@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
18721@end smallexample
18722
18723Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
18724available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
18725@end table
18726
18727On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
18728systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
18729remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
18730loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
18731program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
18732case, before being able to use any of the fast or static tracepoints
18733features, you need to let the loader run and load the shared
18734libraries. The simplest way to do that is to run the program to the
18735main procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
18736@code{gdbserver} like so:
18737
18738@smallexample
18739$ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
18740@end smallexample
18741
18742Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
18743
18744@smallexample
18745$ gdb myprogram
18746(@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
187470x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
18748(@value{GDBP}) b main
18749(@value{GDBP}) continue
18750@end smallexample
18751
18752The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
18753process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
18754command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
18755process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints, list static
18756tracepoint markers, probe static tracepoints markers, and start
18757tracing.
18758
18759@node Remote Configuration
18760@section Remote Configuration
18761
18762@kindex set remote
18763@kindex show remote
18764This section documents the configuration options available when
18765debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
18766extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
18767system-call-allowed}.
18768
18769@table @code
18770@item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
18771@cindex address size for remote targets
18772@cindex bits in remote address
18773Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
18774number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
18775that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
18776default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
18777
18778@item show remoteaddresssize
18779Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
18780
18781@item set serial baud @var{n}
18782@cindex baud rate for remote targets
18783Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
18784value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
18785remote targets.
18786
18787@item show serial baud
18788Show the current speed of the remote connection.
18789
18790@item set remotebreak
18791@cindex interrupt remote programs
18792@cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
18793@anchor{set remotebreak}
18794If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
18795when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
18796on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
18797character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
18798expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
18799
18800@item show remotebreak
18801Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
18802interrupt the remote program.
18803
18804@item set remoteflow on
18805@itemx set remoteflow off
18806@kindex set remoteflow
18807Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
18808on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
18809
18810@item show remoteflow
18811@kindex show remoteflow
18812Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
18813
18814@item set remotelogbase @var{base}
18815Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
18816communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
18817@code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
18818@code{ascii}.
18819
18820@item show remotelogbase
18821Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
18822protocol.
18823
18824@item set remotelogfile @var{file}
18825@cindex record serial communications on file
18826Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
18827default is not to record at all.
18828
18829@item show remotelogfile.
18830Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
18831serial communications.
18832
18833@item set remotetimeout @var{num}
18834@cindex timeout for serial communications
18835@cindex remote timeout
18836Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
18837@var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
18838
18839@item show remotetimeout
18840Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
18841responses.
18842
18843@cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
18844@cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
18845@anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
18846@anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
18847@item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
18848@itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
18849Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
18850watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
18851
18852@cindex limit hardware watchpoints length
18853@cindex remote target, limit watchpoints length
18854@anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit}
18855@item set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit @var{limit}
18856Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} bytes for the maximum length of
18857a remote hardware watchpoint. A limit of -1, the default, is treated
18858as unlimited.
18859
18860@item show remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit
18861Show the current limit (in bytes) of the maximum length of
18862a remote hardware watchpoint.
18863
18864@item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
18865@itemx show remote exec-file
18866@anchor{set remote exec-file}
18867@cindex executable file, for remote target
18868Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
18869extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
18870target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
18871filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
18872
18873@item set remote interrupt-sequence
18874@cindex interrupt remote programs
18875@cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
18876Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
18877@samp{BREAK-g} as the
18878sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
18879@samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
18880is high level of serial line for some certain time.
18881Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
18882It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
18883
18884@item show interrupt-sequence
18885Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
18886is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
18887@code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
18888also known as Magic SysRq g.
18889
18890@item set remote interrupt-on-connect
18891@cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
18892Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
18893@value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
18894Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
18895which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
18896
18897@item show interrupt-on-connect
18898Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
18899to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
18900
18901@kindex set tcp
18902@kindex show tcp
18903@item set tcp auto-retry on
18904@cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
18905Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
18906debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
18907condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
18908before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
18909enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
18910to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
18911@code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
18912
18913@item set tcp auto-retry off
18914Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
18915
18916@item show tcp auto-retry
18917Show the current auto-retry setting.
18918
18919@item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
18920@itemx set tcp connect-timeout unlimited
18921@cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
18922@cindex timeout, for remote target connection
18923Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
18924@var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
18925(enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
18926that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
18927value. If @var{seconds} is @code{unlimited}, there is no timeout and
18928@value{GDBN} will keep attempting to establish a connection forever,
18929unless interrupted with @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The default is 15 seconds.
18930
18931@item show tcp connect-timeout
18932Show the current connection timeout setting.
18933@end table
18934
18935@cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
18936The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
18937your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
18938can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
18939packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
18940packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
18941or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
18942all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
18943see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
18944
18945During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
18946If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
18947in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
18948@value{GDBN} developers.
18949
18950For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
18951packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
18952are:
18953
18954@multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
18955@item Command Name
18956@tab Remote Packet
18957@tab Related Features
18958
18959@item @code{fetch-register}
18960@tab @code{p}
18961@tab @code{info registers}
18962
18963@item @code{set-register}
18964@tab @code{P}
18965@tab @code{set}
18966
18967@item @code{binary-download}
18968@tab @code{X}
18969@tab @code{load}, @code{set}
18970
18971@item @code{read-aux-vector}
18972@tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
18973@tab @code{info auxv}
18974
18975@item @code{symbol-lookup}
18976@tab @code{qSymbol}
18977@tab Detecting multiple threads
18978
18979@item @code{attach}
18980@tab @code{vAttach}
18981@tab @code{attach}
18982
18983@item @code{verbose-resume}
18984@tab @code{vCont}
18985@tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
18986
18987@item @code{run}
18988@tab @code{vRun}
18989@tab @code{run}
18990
18991@item @code{software-breakpoint}
18992@tab @code{Z0}
18993@tab @code{break}
18994
18995@item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
18996@tab @code{Z1}
18997@tab @code{hbreak}
18998
18999@item @code{write-watchpoint}
19000@tab @code{Z2}
19001@tab @code{watch}
19002
19003@item @code{read-watchpoint}
19004@tab @code{Z3}
19005@tab @code{rwatch}
19006
19007@item @code{access-watchpoint}
19008@tab @code{Z4}
19009@tab @code{awatch}
19010
19011@item @code{target-features}
19012@tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
19013@tab @code{set architecture}
19014
19015@item @code{library-info}
19016@tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
19017@tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
19018
19019@item @code{memory-map}
19020@tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
19021@tab @code{info mem}
19022
19023@item @code{read-sdata-object}
19024@tab @code{qXfer:sdata:read}
19025@tab @code{print $_sdata}
19026
19027@item @code{read-spu-object}
19028@tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
19029@tab @code{info spu}
19030
19031@item @code{write-spu-object}
19032@tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
19033@tab @code{info spu}
19034
19035@item @code{read-siginfo-object}
19036@tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
19037@tab @code{print $_siginfo}
19038
19039@item @code{write-siginfo-object}
19040@tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
19041@tab @code{set $_siginfo}
19042
19043@item @code{threads}
19044@tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
19045@tab @code{info threads}
19046
19047@item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
19048@tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
19049@tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
19050
19051@item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
19052@tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
19053@tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
19054
19055@item @code{search-memory}
19056@tab @code{qSearch:memory}
19057@tab @code{find}
19058
19059@item @code{supported-packets}
19060@tab @code{qSupported}
19061@tab Remote communications parameters
19062
19063@item @code{pass-signals}
19064@tab @code{QPassSignals}
19065@tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
19066
19067@item @code{program-signals}
19068@tab @code{QProgramSignals}
19069@tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
19070
19071@item @code{hostio-close-packet}
19072@tab @code{vFile:close}
19073@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
19074
19075@item @code{hostio-open-packet}
19076@tab @code{vFile:open}
19077@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
19078
19079@item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
19080@tab @code{vFile:pread}
19081@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
19082
19083@item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
19084@tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
19085@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
19086
19087@item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
19088@tab @code{vFile:unlink}
19089@tab @code{remote delete}
19090
19091@item @code{hostio-readlink-packet}
19092@tab @code{vFile:readlink}
19093@tab Host I/O
19094
19095@item @code{noack-packet}
19096@tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
19097@tab Packet acknowledgment
19098
19099@item @code{osdata}
19100@tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
19101@tab @code{info os}
19102
19103@item @code{query-attached}
19104@tab @code{qAttached}
19105@tab Querying remote process attach state.
19106
19107@item @code{trace-buffer-size}
19108@tab @code{QTBuffer:size}
19109@tab @code{set trace-buffer-size}
19110
19111@item @code{trace-status}
19112@tab @code{qTStatus}
19113@tab @code{tstatus}
19114
19115@item @code{traceframe-info}
19116@tab @code{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
19117@tab Traceframe info
19118
19119@item @code{install-in-trace}
19120@tab @code{InstallInTrace}
19121@tab Install tracepoint in tracing
19122
19123@item @code{disable-randomization}
19124@tab @code{QDisableRandomization}
19125@tab @code{set disable-randomization}
19126
19127@item @code{conditional-breakpoints-packet}
19128@tab @code{Z0 and Z1}
19129@tab @code{Support for target-side breakpoint condition evaluation}
19130@end multitable
19131
19132@node Remote Stub
19133@section Implementing a Remote Stub
19134
19135@cindex debugging stub, example
19136@cindex remote stub, example
19137@cindex stub example, remote debugging
19138The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
19139communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
19140@value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
19141these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
19142implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
19143with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
19144organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
19145
19146@cindex remote serial debugging, overview
19147To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
19148@dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
19149prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
19150program, you need:
19151
19152@enumerate
19153@item
19154A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
19155have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
19156your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
19157
19158@item
19159A C subroutine library to support your program's
19160subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
19161
19162@item
19163A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
19164download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
19165manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
19166documentation.
19167@end enumerate
19168
19169The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
19170communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
19171machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
19172
19173@table @emph
19174@item On the host,
19175@value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
19176else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
19177(@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
19178
19179@item On the target,
19180you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
19181implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
19182subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
19183
19184On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
19185@code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
19186@xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
19187@end table
19188
19189The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
19190machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
19191@sc{sparc} boards.
19192
19193@cindex remote serial stub list
19194These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
19195
19196@table @code
19197
19198@item i386-stub.c
19199@cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
19200@cindex Intel
19201@cindex i386
19202For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
19203
19204@item m68k-stub.c
19205@cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
19206@cindex Motorola 680x0
19207@cindex m680x0
19208For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
19209
19210@item sh-stub.c
19211@cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
19212@cindex Renesas
19213@cindex SH
19214For Renesas SH architectures.
19215
19216@item sparc-stub.c
19217@cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
19218@cindex Sparc
19219For @sc{sparc} architectures.
19220
19221@item sparcl-stub.c
19222@cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
19223@cindex Fujitsu
19224@cindex SparcLite
19225For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
19226
19227@end table
19228
19229The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
19230recently added stubs.
19231
19232@menu
19233* Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
19234* Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
19235* Debug Session:: Putting it all together
19236@end menu
19237
19238@node Stub Contents
19239@subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
19240
19241@cindex remote serial stub
19242The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
19243subroutines:
19244
19245@table @code
19246@item set_debug_traps
19247@findex set_debug_traps
19248@cindex remote serial stub, initialization
19249This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
19250program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly in your
19251program's startup code.
19252
19253@item handle_exception
19254@findex handle_exception
19255@cindex remote serial stub, main routine
19256This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
19257explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
19258run when a trap is triggered.
19259
19260@code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
19261execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
19262with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
19263protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
19264representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
19265information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
19266retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
19267execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
19268@code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
19269machine.
19270
19271@item breakpoint
19272@cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
19273Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
19274breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
19275way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
19276machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
19277pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
19278@code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
19279simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
19280again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
19281your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
19282@value{GDBN} session gets control.
19283
19284Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
19285to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
19286start of your debugging session.
19287@end table
19288
19289@node Bootstrapping
19290@subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
19291
19292@cindex remote stub, support routines
19293The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
19294chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
19295debugging target machine.
19296
19297First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
19298serial port.
19299
19300@table @code
19301@item int getDebugChar()
19302@findex getDebugChar
19303Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
19304It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
19305different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
19306
19307@item void putDebugChar(int)
19308@findex putDebugChar
19309Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
19310It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
19311different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
19312@end table
19313
19314@cindex control C, and remote debugging
19315@cindex interrupting remote targets
19316If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
19317running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
19318for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
19319character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
19320remote system to stop.
19321
19322Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
19323probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
19324is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
19325@value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
19326
19327Other routines you need to supply are:
19328
19329@table @code
19330@item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
19331@findex exceptionHandler
19332Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
19333handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
19334way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
19335are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
19336containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
19337@var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
19338its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
19339might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
19340exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
19341@var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
19342and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
19343you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
19344should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
19345
19346For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
19347gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
19348should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
19349@sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
19350help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
19351
19352@item void flush_i_cache()
19353@findex flush_i_cache
19354On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
19355instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
19356instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
19357
19358On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
19359function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
19360@end table
19361
19362@noindent
19363You must also make sure this library routine is available:
19364
19365@table @code
19366@item void *memset(void *, int, int)
19367@findex memset
19368This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
19369memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
19370@code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
19371either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
19372@end table
19373
19374If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
19375library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
19376but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
19377subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
19378
19379
19380@node Debug Session
19381@subsection Putting it All Together
19382
19383@cindex remote serial debugging summary
19384In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
19385steps.
19386
19387@enumerate
19388@item
19389Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
19390(@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
19391@display
19392@code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
19393@code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
19394@end display
19395
19396@item
19397Insert these lines in your program's startup code, before the main
19398procedure is called:
19399
19400@smallexample
19401set_debug_traps();
19402breakpoint();
19403@end smallexample
19404
19405On some machines, when a breakpoint trap is raised, the hardware
19406automatically makes the PC point to the instruction after the
19407breakpoint. If your machine doesn't do that, you may need to adjust
19408@code{handle_exception} to arrange for it to return to the instruction
19409after the breakpoint on this first invocation, so that your program
19410doesn't keep hitting the initial breakpoint instead of making
19411progress.
19412
19413@item
19414For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
19415@code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
19416
19417@smallexample
19418void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
19419@end smallexample
19420
19421@noindent
19422but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
19423function in your program, that function is called when
19424@code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
19425error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
19426one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
19427
19428@item
19429Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
19430your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
19431
19432@item
19433Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
19434the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
19435
19436@item
19437@c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
19438@c document that. FIXME.
19439Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
19440whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
19441
19442@item
19443Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
19444(@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
19445
19446@end enumerate
19447
19448@node Configurations
19449@chapter Configuration-Specific Information
19450
19451While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
19452cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
19453describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
19454
19455There are three major categories of configurations: native
19456configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
19457operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
19458different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
19459are quite different from each other.
19460
19461@menu
19462* Native::
19463* Embedded OS::
19464* Embedded Processors::
19465* Architectures::
19466@end menu
19467
19468@node Native
19469@section Native
19470
19471This section describes details specific to particular native
19472configurations.
19473
19474@menu
19475* HP-UX:: HP-UX
19476* BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
19477* SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
19478* DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
19479* Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
19480* Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
19481* Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
19482@end menu
19483
19484@node HP-UX
19485@subsection HP-UX
19486
19487On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
19488begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
19489name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
19490
19491
19492@node BSD libkvm Interface
19493@subsection BSD libkvm Interface
19494
19495@cindex libkvm
19496@cindex kernel memory image
19497@cindex kernel crash dump
19498
19499BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
19500interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
19501memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
19502uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
19503dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
19504special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
19505the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
19506@code{kvm} target:
19507
19508@smallexample
19509(@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
19510@end smallexample
19511
19512For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
19513argument:
19514
19515@smallexample
19516(@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
19517@end smallexample
19518
19519Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
19520available:
19521
19522@table @code
19523@kindex kvm
19524@item kvm pcb
19525Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
19526
19527@item kvm proc
19528Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
19529modern FreeBSD systems.
19530@end table
19531
19532@node SVR4 Process Information
19533@subsection SVR4 Process Information
19534@cindex /proc
19535@cindex examine process image
19536@cindex process info via @file{/proc}
19537
19538Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
19539@samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
19540process using file-system subroutines.
19541
19542If @value{GDBN} is configured for an operating system with this
19543facility, the command @code{info proc} is available to report
19544information about the process running your program, or about any
19545process running on your system. This includes, as of this writing,
19546@sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital Unix), Solaris, and Irix, but
19547not HP-UX, for example.
19548
19549This command may also work on core files that were created on a system
19550that has the @samp{/proc} facility.
19551
19552@table @code
19553@kindex info proc
19554@cindex process ID
19555@item info proc
19556@itemx info proc @var{process-id}
19557Summarize available information about any running process. If a
19558process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
19559that process; otherwise display information about the program being
19560debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
19561line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
19562executable file's absolute file name.
19563
19564On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
19565@samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
19566within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
19567a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
19568needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
19569a process ID rather than a thread ID).
19570
19571@item info proc cmdline
19572@cindex info proc cmdline
19573Show the original command line of the process. This command is
19574specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
19575
19576@item info proc cwd
19577@cindex info proc cwd
19578Show the current working directory of the process. This command is
19579specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
19580
19581@item info proc exe
19582@cindex info proc exe
19583Show the name of executable of the process. This command is specific
19584to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
19585
19586@item info proc mappings
19587@cindex memory address space mappings
19588Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
19589information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
19590rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
19591includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
19592memory access rights to that range.
19593
19594@item info proc stat
19595@itemx info proc status
19596@cindex process detailed status information
19597These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
19598the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
19599how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
19600the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
19601consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
19602value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
19603(type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
19604
19605@item info proc all
19606Show all the information about the process described under all of the
19607above @code{info proc} subcommands.
19608
19609@ignore
19610@comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
19611@comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
19612@comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
19613@kindex info proc times
19614@item info proc times
19615Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
19616its children.
19617
19618@kindex info proc id
19619@item info proc id
19620Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
19621the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
19622@end ignore
19623
19624@item set procfs-trace
19625@kindex set procfs-trace
19626@cindex @code{procfs} API calls
19627This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
19628
19629@item show procfs-trace
19630@kindex show procfs-trace
19631Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
19632
19633@item set procfs-file @var{file}
19634@kindex set procfs-file
19635Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
19636@var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
19637contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
19638standard output.
19639
19640@item show procfs-file
19641@kindex show procfs-file
19642Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
19643
19644@item proc-trace-entry
19645@itemx proc-trace-exit
19646@itemx proc-untrace-entry
19647@itemx proc-untrace-exit
19648@kindex proc-trace-entry
19649@kindex proc-trace-exit
19650@kindex proc-untrace-entry
19651@kindex proc-untrace-exit
19652These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
19653from the @code{syscall} interface.
19654
19655@item info pidlist
19656@kindex info pidlist
19657@cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
19658For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
19659processes and all the threads within each process.
19660
19661@item info meminfo
19662@kindex info meminfo
19663@cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
19664For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
19665@end table
19666
19667@node DJGPP Native
19668@subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
19669@cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
19670@cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
19671@cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
19672
19673@cindex DPMI
19674@sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
19675MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
19676that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
19677top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
19678
19679@value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
19680defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
19681subsection describes those commands.
19682
19683@table @code
19684@kindex info dos
19685@item info dos
19686This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
19687information about the target system and important OS structures.
19688
19689@kindex sysinfo
19690@cindex MS-DOS system info
19691@cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
19692@item info dos sysinfo
19693This command displays assorted information about the underlying
19694platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
19695DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
19696
19697@cindex GDT
19698@cindex LDT
19699@cindex IDT
19700@cindex segment descriptor tables
19701@cindex descriptor tables display
19702@item info dos gdt
19703@itemx info dos ldt
19704@itemx info dos idt
19705These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
19706and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
19707tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
19708that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
19709descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
19710descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
19711rights.
19712
19713A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
19714segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
19715allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
19716conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
19717additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
19718
19719@cindex garbled pointers
19720These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
19721Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
19722displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
19723display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
19724example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
19725debugged program's data segment:
19726
19727@smallexample
19728@exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
19729@exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
19730@end smallexample
19731
19732@noindent
19733This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
19734the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
19735
19736@cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
19737@item info dos pde
19738@itemx info dos pte
19739These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
19740Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
19741data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
19742into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
19743page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
19744may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
19745Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
19746that is currently in use.
19747
19748Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
19749Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
19750the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
19751@kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
19752Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
19753means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
19754the specified entry in the Page Directory.
19755
19756@cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
19757These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
19758Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
19759controller.
19760
19761These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
19762
19763@cindex physical address from linear address
19764@item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
19765This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
19766address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
19767already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
19768because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
19769segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
19770the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
19771
19772@smallexample
19773@exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
19774@exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
19775@exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
19776@end smallexample
19777
19778@noindent
19779This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
19780whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
19781attributes of that page.
19782
19783Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
19784since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
19785address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
19786be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
19787declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
19788@code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
19789
19790Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
19791transfer buffer:
19792
19793@smallexample
19794@exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
19795@exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
19796@exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
19797@end smallexample
19798
19799@noindent
19800(The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
198013rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
19802clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
19803memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
19804linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
19805
19806This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
19807@end table
19808
19809@cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
19810In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
19811debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
19812to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
19813
19814@table @code
19815@kindex set com1base
19816@kindex set com1irq
19817@kindex set com2base
19818@kindex set com2irq
19819@kindex set com3base
19820@kindex set com3irq
19821@kindex set com4base
19822@kindex set com4irq
19823@item set com1base @var{addr}
19824This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
19825port.
19826
19827@item set com1irq @var{irq}
19828This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
19829for the @file{COM1} serial port.
19830
19831There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
19832etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
19833other 3 COM ports.
19834
19835@kindex show com1base
19836@kindex show com1irq
19837@kindex show com2base
19838@kindex show com2irq
19839@kindex show com3base
19840@kindex show com3irq
19841@kindex show com4base
19842@kindex show com4irq
19843The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
19844display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
19845lines used by the COM ports.
19846
19847@item info serial
19848@kindex info serial
19849@cindex DOS serial port status
19850This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
19851port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
19852IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
19853counts of various errors encountered so far.
19854@end table
19855
19856
19857@node Cygwin Native
19858@subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
19859@cindex MS Windows debugging
19860@cindex native Cygwin debugging
19861@cindex Cygwin-specific commands
19862
19863@value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
19864DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
19865
19866@cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
19867@cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
19868MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
19869special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
19870by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
19871supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
19872sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
19873ignores @kbd{C-c}.
19874
19875There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
19876this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
19877described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
19878
19879@table @code
19880@kindex info w32
19881@item info w32
19882This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
19883information about the target system and important OS structures.
19884
19885@item info w32 selector
19886This command displays information returned by
19887the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
19888It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
19889a long value to give the information about this given selector.
19890Without argument, this command displays information
19891about the six segment registers.
19892
19893@item info w32 thread-information-block
19894This command displays thread specific information stored in the
19895Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
19896selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
19897
19898@kindex info dll
19899@item info dll
19900This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
19901
19902@kindex dll-symbols
19903@item dll-symbols
19904This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
19905add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
19906
19907@kindex set cygwin-exceptions
19908@cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
19909@cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
19910@item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
19911If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
19912happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
19913@value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
19914exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
19915``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
19916Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
19917@value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
19918
19919@kindex show cygwin-exceptions
19920@item show cygwin-exceptions
19921Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
19922inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
19923
19924@kindex set new-console
19925@item set new-console @var{mode}
19926If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
19927be started in a new console on next start.
19928If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
19929be started in the same console as the debugger.
19930
19931@kindex show new-console
19932@item show new-console
19933Displays whether a new console is used
19934when the debuggee is started.
19935
19936@kindex set new-group
19937@item set new-group @var{mode}
19938This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
19939start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
19940This affects the way the Windows OS handles
19941@samp{Ctrl-C}.
19942
19943@kindex show new-group
19944@item show new-group
19945Displays current value of new-group boolean.
19946
19947@kindex set debugevents
19948@item set debugevents
19949This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
19950to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
19951signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
19952unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
19953Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
19954
19955@kindex set debugexec
19956@item set debugexec
19957This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
19958(such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
19959
19960@kindex set debugexceptions
19961@item set debugexceptions
19962This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
19963debuggee seen by the debugger.
19964
19965@kindex set debugmemory
19966@item set debugmemory
19967This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
19968and writes by the debugger.
19969
19970@kindex set shell
19971@item set shell
19972This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
19973via a shell or directly (default value is on).
19974
19975@kindex show shell
19976@item show shell
19977Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
19978
19979@end table
19980
19981@menu
19982* Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
19983@end menu
19984
19985@node Non-debug DLL Symbols
19986@subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
19987@cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
19988@cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
19989
19990Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
19991not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
19992@file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
19993symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
19994information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
19995describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
19996``minimal symbols''.
19997
19998Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
19999will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
20000start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
20001program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
20002@value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
20003see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
20004@code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
20005explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
20006cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
20007which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
20008
20009@subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
20010
20011In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
20012tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
20013DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
20014also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
20015sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
20016(particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
20017necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
20018contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
20019exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
20020
20021Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
20022though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
20023symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
20024some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
20025@code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
20026(@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
20027
20028@smallexample
20029(@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
20030All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
20031
20032Non-debugging symbols:
200330x77e885f4 CreateFileA
200340x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
20035@end smallexample
20036
20037@smallexample
20038(@value{GDBP}) info function !
20039All functions matching regular expression "!":
20040
20041Non-debugging symbols:
200420x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
200430x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
200440x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
20045[etc...]
20046@end smallexample
20047
20048@subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
20049
20050Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
20051type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
20052refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
20053contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
20054contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
20055means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
20056a function within a DLL without a running program.
20057
20058Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
20059automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
20060variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
20061type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
20062problem:
20063
20064@smallexample
20065(@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
20066$1 = 268572168
20067@end smallexample
20068
20069@smallexample
20070(@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
200710x10021610: "\230y\""
20072@end smallexample
20073
20074And two possible solutions:
20075
20076@smallexample
20077(@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
20078$2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
20079@end smallexample
20080
20081@smallexample
20082(@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
200830x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
20084(@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
200850x10021608: 0x0022fd98
20086(@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
200870x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
20088@end smallexample
20089
20090Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
20091starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
20092examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
20093function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
20094to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
20095
20096@smallexample
20097(@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
20098Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
20099@end smallexample
20100
20101The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
20102break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
20103safe.
20104
20105@node Hurd Native
20106@subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
20107@cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
20108
20109This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
20110@sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
20111
20112@table @code
20113@item set signals
20114@itemx set sigs
20115@kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
20116@kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
20117This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
20118@value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
20119affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
20120@code{signals}.
20121
20122@item show signals
20123@itemx show sigs
20124@kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
20125@kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
20126Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
20127
20128@item set signal-thread
20129@itemx set sigthread
20130@kindex set signal-thread
20131@kindex set sigthread
20132This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
20133thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
20134process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
20135signal-thread}.
20136
20137@item show signal-thread
20138@itemx show sigthread
20139@kindex show signal-thread
20140@kindex show sigthread
20141These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
20142delivered a signal.
20143
20144@item set stopped
20145@kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
20146This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
20147as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
20148continued by delivering a signal to it.
20149
20150@item show stopped
20151@kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
20152This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
20153stopped.
20154
20155@item set exceptions
20156@kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
20157Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
20158When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
20159single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
20160trapping on.
20161
20162@item show exceptions
20163@kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
20164Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
20165
20166@item set task pause
20167@kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
20168@cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
20169@cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
20170This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
20171Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
20172whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
20173effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
20174to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
20175thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
20176
20177@item show task pause
20178@kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
20179Show the current state of task suspension.
20180
20181@item set task detach-suspend-count
20182@cindex task suspend count
20183@cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20184This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
20185@value{GDBN} detaches from it.
20186
20187@item show task detach-suspend-count
20188Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
20189
20190@item set task exception-port
20191@itemx set task excp
20192@cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20193This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
20194forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
20195rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
20196
20197@item set noninvasive
20198@cindex noninvasive task options
20199This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
20200invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
20201is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
20202@code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
20203
20204@item info send-rights
20205@itemx info receive-rights
20206@itemx info port-rights
20207@itemx info port-sets
20208@itemx info dead-names
20209@itemx info ports
20210@itemx info psets
20211@cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20212@cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20213@cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20214@cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20215@cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20216These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
20217receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
20218There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
20219port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
20220
20221@item set thread pause
20222@kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
20223@cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20224@cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
20225This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
20226control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
20227thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
20228off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
20229Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
20230control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
20231task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
20232only the current thread.
20233
20234@item show thread pause
20235@kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
20236This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
20237
20238@item set thread run
20239This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
20240
20241@item show thread run
20242Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
20243
20244@item set thread detach-suspend-count
20245@cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20246@cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20247This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
20248thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
20249found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
20250takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
20251
20252@item show thread detach-suspend-count
20253Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
20254detaching.
20255
20256@item set thread exception-port
20257@itemx set thread excp
20258Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
20259overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
20260@code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
20261
20262@item set thread takeover-suspend-count
20263Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
20264value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
20265changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
20266
20267@item set thread default
20268@itemx show thread default
20269@cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20270Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
20271default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
20272thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
20273variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
20274threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
20275the non-default commands.
20276@end table
20277
20278@node Darwin
20279@subsection Darwin
20280@cindex Darwin
20281
20282@value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
20283
20284@table @code
20285@item set debug darwin @var{num}
20286@kindex set debug darwin
20287When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
20288the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
20289
20290@item show debug darwin
20291@kindex show debug darwin
20292Show the current state of Darwin messages.
20293
20294@item set debug mach-o @var{num}
20295@kindex set debug mach-o
20296When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
20297@value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
20298file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
20299values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
20300problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
20301usage.
20302
20303@item show debug mach-o
20304@kindex show debug mach-o
20305Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
20306
20307@item set mach-exceptions on
20308@itemx set mach-exceptions off
20309@kindex set mach-exceptions
20310On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
20311mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
20312Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
20313better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
20314
20315@item show mach-exceptions
20316@kindex show mach-exceptions
20317Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
20318@end table
20319
20320
20321@node Embedded OS
20322@section Embedded Operating Systems
20323
20324This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
20325embedded operating systems that are available for several different
20326architectures.
20327
20328@menu
20329* VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
20330@end menu
20331
20332@value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
20333various real-time operating systems.
20334
20335@node VxWorks
20336@subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
20337
20338@cindex VxWorks
20339
20340@table @code
20341
20342@kindex target vxworks
20343@item target vxworks @var{machinename}
20344A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
20345is the target system's machine name or IP address.
20346
20347@end table
20348
20349On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
20350current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
20351
20352@value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
20353VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
20354the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
20355both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
20356@code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
20357installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
20358@value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
20359
20360@table @code
20361@item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
20362@kindex vxworks-timeout
20363All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
20364This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
20365seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
20366your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
20367of a thin network line.
20368@end table
20369
20370The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
20371this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
20372procedures.
20373
20374@findex INCLUDE_RDB
20375To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
20376to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
20377library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
20378VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
20379kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
20380source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
20381information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
20382manual.
20383@c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
20384
20385Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
20386your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
20387run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
20388@code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
20389
20390@value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
20391
20392@smallexample
20393(vxgdb)
20394@end smallexample
20395
20396@menu
20397* VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
20398* VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
20399* VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
20400@end menu
20401
20402@node VxWorks Connection
20403@subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
20404
20405The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
20406network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
20407
20408@smallexample
20409(vxgdb) target vxworks tt
20410@end smallexample
20411
20412@need 750
20413@value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
20414
20415@smallexample
20416Attaching remote machine across net...
20417Connected to tt.
20418@end smallexample
20419
20420@need 1000
20421@value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
20422loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
20423these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
20424path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
20425to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
20426
20427@smallexample
20428prog.o: No such file or directory.
20429@end smallexample
20430
20431When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
20432the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
20433command again.
20434
20435@node VxWorks Download
20436@subsubsection VxWorks Download
20437
20438@cindex download to VxWorks
20439If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
20440object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
20441@code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
20442incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
20443command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
20444to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
20445table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
20446the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
20447filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
20448Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
20449to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
20450the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
20451@file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
20452and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
20453program, type this on VxWorks:
20454
20455@smallexample
20456-> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
20457@end smallexample
20458
20459@noindent
20460Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
20461
20462@smallexample
20463(vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
20464(vxgdb) load prog.o
20465@end smallexample
20466
20467@value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
20468
20469@smallexample
20470Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
20471@end smallexample
20472
20473You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
20474after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
20475this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
20476auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
20477history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
20478debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
20479table.)
20480
20481@node VxWorks Attach
20482@subsubsection Running Tasks
20483
20484@cindex running VxWorks tasks
20485You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
20486follows:
20487
20488@smallexample
20489(vxgdb) attach @var{task}
20490@end smallexample
20491
20492@noindent
20493where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
20494or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
20495the time of attachment.
20496
20497@node Embedded Processors
20498@section Embedded Processors
20499
20500This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
20501configurations.
20502
20503@cindex send command to simulator
20504Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
20505allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
20506
20507@table @code
20508@item sim @var{command}
20509@kindex sim@r{, a command}
20510Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
20511documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
20512acceptable commands.
20513@end table
20514
20515
20516@menu
20517* ARM:: ARM RDI
20518* M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
20519* M68K:: Motorola M68K
20520* MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
20521* MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
20522* PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
20523* PA:: HP PA Embedded
20524* Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
20525* Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
20526* Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
20527* AVR:: Atmel AVR
20528* CRIS:: CRIS
20529* Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
20530@end menu
20531
20532@node ARM
20533@subsection ARM
20534@cindex ARM RDI
20535
20536@table @code
20537@kindex target rdi
20538@item target rdi @var{dev}
20539ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
20540use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
20541monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
20542
20543@kindex target rdp
20544@item target rdp @var{dev}
20545ARM Demon monitor.
20546
20547@end table
20548
20549@value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
20550
20551@table @code
20552@item set arm disassembler
20553@kindex set arm
20554This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
20555@code{"std"} style is the standard style.
20556
20557@item show arm disassembler
20558@kindex show arm
20559Show the current disassembly style.
20560
20561@item set arm apcs32
20562@cindex ARM 32-bit mode
20563This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
20564
20565@item show arm apcs32
20566Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
20567
20568@item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
20569This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
20570argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
20571
20572@table @code
20573@item auto
20574Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
20575@item softfpa
20576Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
20577processors.
20578@item fpa
20579GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
20580@item softvfp
20581Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
20582@item vfp
20583VFP co-processor.
20584@end table
20585
20586@item show arm fpu
20587Show the current type of the FPU.
20588
20589@item set arm abi
20590This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
20591
20592@item show arm abi
20593Show the currently used ABI.
20594
20595@item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
20596@value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
20597whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
20598@value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
20599available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
20600use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
20601register).
20602
20603@item show arm fallback-mode
20604Show the current fallback instruction mode.
20605
20606@item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
20607This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
20608instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
20609causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
20610of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
20611
20612@item show arm force-mode
20613Show the current forced instruction mode.
20614
20615@item set debug arm
20616Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
20617target support subsystem.
20618
20619@item show debug arm
20620Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
20621@end table
20622
20623The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
20624using the RDI interface:
20625
20626@table @code
20627@item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
20628@kindex rdilogfile
20629@cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
20630Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
20631With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
20632no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
20633@file{rdi.log}.
20634
20635@item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
20636@kindex rdilogenable
20637Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
20638enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
20639no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
20640ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
20641are logged to a file.
20642
20643@item set rdiromatzero
20644@kindex set rdiromatzero
20645@cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
20646Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
20647vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
20648(the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
20649effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
20650
20651@item show rdiromatzero
20652@kindex show rdiromatzero
20653Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
20654
20655@item set rdiheartbeat
20656@kindex set rdiheartbeat
20657@cindex RDI heartbeat
20658Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
20659turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
20660well as the Angel monitor.
20661
20662@item show rdiheartbeat
20663@kindex show rdiheartbeat
20664Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
20665@end table
20666
20667@table @code
20668@item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
20669The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
20670
20671@table @code
20672@item --swi-support=@var{type}
20673Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support.
20674@var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
20675The default value is @code{all}.
20676
20677@table @code
20678@item none
20679@item demon
20680@item angel
20681@item redboot
20682@item all
20683@end table
20684@end table
20685@end table
20686
20687@node M32R/D
20688@subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
20689
20690@table @code
20691@kindex target m32r
20692@item target m32r @var{dev}
20693Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
20694
20695@kindex target m32rsdi
20696@item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
20697Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
20698@end table
20699
20700The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
20701
20702@table @code
20703@item set download-path @var{path}
20704@kindex set download-path
20705@cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
20706Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
20707
20708@item show download-path
20709@kindex show download-path
20710Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
20711
20712@item set board-address @var{addr}
20713@kindex set board-address
20714@cindex M32-EVA target board address
20715Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
20716
20717@item show board-address
20718@kindex show board-address
20719Show the current IP address of the target board.
20720
20721@item set server-address @var{addr}
20722@kindex set server-address
20723@cindex download server address (M32R)
20724Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
20725host machine.
20726
20727@item show server-address
20728@kindex show server-address
20729Display the IP address of the download server.
20730
20731@item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
20732@kindex upload@r{, M32R}
20733Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
20734upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
20735executable file is uploaded.
20736
20737@item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
20738@kindex tload@r{, M32R}
20739Test the @code{upload} command.
20740@end table
20741
20742The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
20743
20744@table @code
20745@item sdireset
20746@kindex sdireset
20747@cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
20748This command resets the SDI connection.
20749
20750@item sdistatus
20751@kindex sdistatus
20752This command shows the SDI connection status.
20753
20754@item debug_chaos
20755@kindex debug_chaos
20756@cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
20757Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
20758
20759@item use_debug_dma
20760@kindex use_debug_dma
20761Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
20762
20763@item use_mon_code
20764@kindex use_mon_code
20765Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
20766
20767@item use_ib_break
20768@kindex use_ib_break
20769Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
20770
20771@item use_dbt_break
20772@kindex use_dbt_break
20773Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
20774@end table
20775
20776@node M68K
20777@subsection M68k
20778
20779The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
20780target command for the following ROM monitor.
20781
20782@table @code
20783
20784@kindex target dbug
20785@item target dbug @var{dev}
20786dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
20787
20788@end table
20789
20790@node MicroBlaze
20791@subsection MicroBlaze
20792@cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
20793@cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
20794
20795The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
20796FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
20797usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
20798Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
20799This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
20800the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
20801communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
20802presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
20803@code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
20804this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
20805commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
20806
20807Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
20808
20809@table @code
20810@item target remote :1234
20811Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
20812on the same system as @code{xmd}.
20813
20814@item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
20815Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
20816running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
20817
20818@item load
20819Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
20820
20821@item set debug microblaze @var{n}
20822Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
20823
20824@item show debug microblaze @var{n}
20825Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
20826@end table
20827
20828@node MIPS Embedded
20829@subsection @acronym{MIPS} Embedded
20830
20831@cindex @acronym{MIPS} boards
20832@value{GDBN} can use the @acronym{MIPS} remote debugging protocol to talk to a
20833@acronym{MIPS} board attached to a serial line. This is available when
20834you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-elf}.
20835
20836@need 1000
20837Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
20838
20839@table @code
20840@item target mips @var{port}
20841@kindex target mips @var{port}
20842To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
20843name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
20844command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
20845the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
20846been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
20847download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
20848
20849For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
20850port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
20851debugger:
20852
20853@smallexample
20854host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
20855@value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
20856(@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
20857(@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
20858(@value{GDBP}) run
20859@end smallexample
20860
20861@item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
20862On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
20863connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
20864concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
20865@samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
20866
20867@item target pmon @var{port}
20868@kindex target pmon @var{port}
20869PMON ROM monitor.
20870
20871@item target ddb @var{port}
20872@kindex target ddb @var{port}
20873NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
20874
20875@item target lsi @var{port}
20876@kindex target lsi @var{port}
20877LSI variant of PMON.
20878
20879@kindex target r3900
20880@item target r3900 @var{dev}
20881Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
20882
20883@kindex target array
20884@item target array @var{dev}
20885Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
20886
20887@end table
20888
20889
20890@noindent
20891@value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for @acronym{MIPS} targets:
20892
20893@table @code
20894@item set mipsfpu double
20895@itemx set mipsfpu single
20896@itemx set mipsfpu none
20897@itemx set mipsfpu auto
20898@itemx show mipsfpu
20899@kindex set mipsfpu
20900@kindex show mipsfpu
20901@cindex @acronym{MIPS} remote floating point
20902@cindex floating point, @acronym{MIPS} remote
20903If your target board does not support the @acronym{MIPS} floating point
20904coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
20905need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
20906file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
20907functions which return floating point values. It also allows
20908@value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
20909functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
20910with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
20911processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
20912double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
20913@samp{set mipsfpu double}.
20914
20915In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
20916floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
20917and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
20918
20919As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
20920@samp{show mipsfpu}.
20921
20922@item set timeout @var{seconds}
20923@itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
20924@itemx show timeout
20925@itemx show retransmit-timeout
20926@cindex @code{timeout}, @acronym{MIPS} protocol
20927@cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, @acronym{MIPS} protocol
20928@kindex set timeout
20929@kindex show timeout
20930@kindex set retransmit-timeout
20931@kindex show retransmit-timeout
20932You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the @acronym{MIPS}
20933remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
20934default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
20935waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
20936retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
20937You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
20938retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
20939@value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-elf}.)
20940
20941The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
20942is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
20943forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
20944to run before stopping.
20945
20946@item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
20947@kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20948@cindex synchronize with remote @acronym{MIPS} target
20949Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
20950it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
20951characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
20952
20953@item show syn-garbage-limit
20954@kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20955Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
20956trying to synchronize with the remote system.
20957
20958@item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
20959@kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20960@cindex remote monitor prompt
20961Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
20962remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
20963@table @asis
20964@item pmon target
20965@samp{PMON}
20966@item ddb target
20967@samp{NEC010}
20968@item lsi target
20969@samp{PMON>}
20970@end table
20971
20972@item show monitor-prompt
20973@kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20974Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
20975remote monitor.
20976
20977@item set monitor-warnings
20978@kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20979Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
20980has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
20981display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
20982PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
20983
20984@item show monitor-warnings
20985@kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20986Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
20987
20988@item pmon @var{command}
20989@kindex pmon@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20990@cindex send PMON command
20991This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
20992monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
20993@end table
20994
20995@node PowerPC Embedded
20996@subsection PowerPC Embedded
20997
20998@cindex DVC register
20999@value{GDBN} supports using the DVC (Data Value Compare) register to
21000implement in hardware simple hardware watchpoint conditions of the form:
21001
21002@smallexample
21003(@value{GDBP}) watch @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} \
21004 if @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} == @var{CONSTANT EXPRESSION}
21005@end smallexample
21006
21007The DVC register will be automatically used when @value{GDBN} detects
21008such pattern in a condition expression, and the created watchpoint uses one
21009debug register (either the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on and the
21010variable is scalar, or the variable has a length of one byte). This feature
21011is available in native @value{GDBN} running on a Linux kernel version 2.6.34
21012or newer.
21013
21014When running on PowerPC embedded processors, @value{GDBN} automatically uses
21015ranged hardware watchpoints, unless the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on,
21016in which case watchpoints using only one debug register are created when
21017watching variables of scalar types.
21018
21019You can create an artificial array to watch an arbitrary memory
21020region using one of the following commands (@pxref{Expressions}):
21021
21022@smallexample
21023(@value{GDBP}) watch *((char *) @var{address})@@@var{length}
21024(@value{GDBP}) watch @{char[@var{length}]@} @var{address}
21025@end smallexample
21026
21027PowerPC embedded processors support masked watchpoints. See the discussion
21028about the @code{mask} argument in @ref{Set Watchpoints}.
21029
21030@cindex ranged breakpoint
21031PowerPC embedded processors support hardware accelerated
21032@dfn{ranged breakpoints}. A ranged breakpoint stops execution of
21033the inferior whenever it executes an instruction at any address within
21034the range it specifies. To set a ranged breakpoint in @value{GDBN},
21035use the @code{break-range} command.
21036
21037@value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
21038
21039@table @code
21040@kindex break-range
21041@item break-range @var{start-location}, @var{end-location}
21042Set a breakpoint for an address range.
21043@var{start-location} and @var{end-location} can specify a function name,
21044a line number, an offset of lines from the current line or from the start
21045location, or an address of an instruction (see @ref{Specify Location},
21046for a list of all the possible ways to specify a @var{location}.)
21047The breakpoint will stop execution of the inferior whenever it
21048executes an instruction at any address within the specified range,
21049(including @var{start-location} and @var{end-location}.)
21050
21051@kindex set powerpc
21052@item set powerpc soft-float
21053@itemx show powerpc soft-float
21054Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
21055convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
21056on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
21057
21058@item set powerpc vector-abi
21059@itemx show powerpc vector-abi
21060Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
21061arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
21062@samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
21063@samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
21064registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
21065based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
21066
21067@item set powerpc exact-watchpoints
21068@itemx show powerpc exact-watchpoints
21069Allow @value{GDBN} to use only one debug register when watching a variable
21070of scalar type, thus assuming that the variable is accessed through the
21071address of its first byte.
21072
21073@kindex target dink32
21074@item target dink32 @var{dev}
21075DINK32 ROM monitor.
21076
21077@kindex target ppcbug
21078@item target ppcbug @var{dev}
21079@kindex target ppcbug1
21080@item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
21081PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
21082
21083@kindex target sds
21084@item target sds @var{dev}
21085SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
21086@end table
21087
21088@cindex SDS protocol
21089The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
21090by @value{GDBN}:
21091
21092@table @code
21093@item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
21094@kindex set sdstimeout
21095Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
21096default is 2 seconds.
21097
21098@item show sdstimeout
21099@kindex show sdstimeout
21100Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
21101
21102@item sds @var{command}
21103@kindex sds@r{, a command}
21104Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
21105@end table
21106
21107
21108@node PA
21109@subsection HP PA Embedded
21110
21111@table @code
21112
21113@kindex target op50n
21114@item target op50n @var{dev}
21115OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
21116
21117@kindex target w89k
21118@item target w89k @var{dev}
21119W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
21120
21121@end table
21122
21123@node Sparclet
21124@subsection Tsqware Sparclet
21125
21126@cindex Sparclet
21127
21128@value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
21129Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
21130@value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
21131both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
21132@code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
21133
21134@table @code
21135@item remotetimeout @var{args}
21136@kindex remotetimeout
21137@value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
21138This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
21139seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
21140@end table
21141
21142@cindex compiling, on Sparclet
21143When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
21144information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
21145load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
21146@samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
21147
21148@smallexample
21149sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
21150@end smallexample
21151
21152You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
21153
21154@smallexample
21155sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
21156@end smallexample
21157
21158@cindex running, on Sparclet
21159Once you have set
21160your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
21161run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
21162(or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
21163
21164@value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
21165
21166@smallexample
21167(gdbslet)
21168@end smallexample
21169
21170@menu
21171* Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
21172* Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
21173* Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
21174* Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
21175@end menu
21176
21177@node Sparclet File
21178@subsubsection Setting File to Debug
21179
21180The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
21181
21182@smallexample
21183(gdbslet) file prog
21184@end smallexample
21185
21186@need 1000
21187@value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
21188@value{GDBN} locates
21189the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
21190path.
21191If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
21192files will be searched as well.
21193@value{GDBN} locates
21194the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
21195path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
21196If it fails
21197to find a file, it displays a message such as:
21198
21199@smallexample
21200prog: No such file or directory.
21201@end smallexample
21202
21203When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
21204the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
21205@code{target} command again.
21206
21207@node Sparclet Connection
21208@subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
21209
21210The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
21211To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
21212
21213@smallexample
21214(gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
21215Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
21216main () at ../prog.c:3
21217@end smallexample
21218
21219@need 750
21220@value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
21221
21222@smallexample
21223Connected to ttya.
21224@end smallexample
21225
21226@node Sparclet Download
21227@subsubsection Sparclet Download
21228
21229@cindex download to Sparclet
21230Once connected to the Sparclet target,
21231you can use the @value{GDBN}
21232@code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
21233The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
21234command.
21235Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
21236address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
21237offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
21238of each of the file's sections.
21239For instance, if the program
21240@file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
21241and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
21242
21243@smallexample
21244(gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
21245Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
21246@end smallexample
21247
21248If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
21249to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
21250to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
21251
21252@node Sparclet Execution
21253@subsubsection Running and Debugging
21254
21255@cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
21256You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
21257commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
21258manual for the list of commands.
21259
21260@smallexample
21261(gdbslet) b main
21262Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
21263(gdbslet) run
21264Starting program: prog
21265Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
212663 char *symarg = 0;
21267(gdbslet) step
212684 char *execarg = "hello!";
21269(gdbslet)
21270@end smallexample
21271
21272@node Sparclite
21273@subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
21274
21275@table @code
21276
21277@kindex target sparclite
21278@item target sparclite @var{dev}
21279Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
21280You must use an additional command to debug the program.
21281For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
21282remote protocol.
21283
21284@end table
21285
21286@node Z8000
21287@subsection Zilog Z8000
21288
21289@cindex Z8000
21290@cindex simulator, Z8000
21291@cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
21292
21293When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
21294a Z8000 simulator.
21295
21296For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
21297unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
21298segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
21299appropriate by inspecting the object code.
21300
21301@table @code
21302@item target sim @var{args}
21303@kindex sim
21304@kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
21305Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
21306options, specify them via @var{args}.
21307@end table
21308
21309@noindent
21310After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
21311CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
21312@code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
21313to run your program, and so on.
21314
21315As well as making available all the usual machine registers
21316(@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
21317additional items of information as specially named registers:
21318
21319@table @code
21320
21321@item cycles
21322Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
21323
21324@item insts
21325Counts instructions run in the simulator.
21326
21327@item time
21328Execution time in 60ths of a second.
21329
21330@end table
21331
21332You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
21333conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
21334conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
21335simulated clock ticks.
21336
21337@node AVR
21338@subsection Atmel AVR
21339@cindex AVR
21340
21341When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
21342following AVR-specific commands:
21343
21344@table @code
21345@item info io_registers
21346@kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
21347@cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
21348This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
21349each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
21350@end table
21351
21352@node CRIS
21353@subsection CRIS
21354@cindex CRIS
21355
21356When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
21357following CRIS-specific commands:
21358
21359@table @code
21360@item set cris-version @var{ver}
21361@cindex CRIS version
21362Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
21363The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
21364case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
21365
21366@item show cris-version
21367Show the current CRIS version.
21368
21369@item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
21370@cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
21371Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
21372Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
21373@code{R59}.
21374
21375@item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
21376Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
21377
21378@item set cris-mode @var{mode}
21379@cindex CRIS mode
21380Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
21381debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
21382@samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
21383
21384@item show cris-mode
21385Show the current CRIS mode.
21386@end table
21387
21388@node Super-H
21389@subsection Renesas Super-H
21390@cindex Super-H
21391
21392For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
21393commands:
21394
21395@table @code
21396@item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
21397@kindex set sh calling-convention
21398Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
21399Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
21400With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
21401convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
21402that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
21403is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
21404is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
21405regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
21406default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
21407does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
21408
21409@item show sh calling-convention
21410@kindex show sh calling-convention
21411Show the current calling convention setting.
21412
21413@end table
21414
21415
21416@node Architectures
21417@section Architectures
21418
21419This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
21420all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
21421
21422@menu
21423* AArch64::
21424* i386::
21425* Alpha::
21426* MIPS::
21427* HPPA:: HP PA architecture
21428* SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
21429* PowerPC::
21430* Nios II::
21431@end menu
21432
21433@node AArch64
21434@subsection AArch64
21435@cindex AArch64 support
21436
21437When @value{GDBN} is debugging the AArch64 architecture, it provides the
21438following special commands:
21439
21440@table @code
21441@item set debug aarch64
21442@kindex set debug aarch64
21443This command determines whether AArch64 architecture-specific debugging
21444messages are to be displayed.
21445
21446@item show debug aarch64
21447Show whether AArch64 debugging messages are displayed.
21448
21449@end table
21450
21451@node i386
21452@subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
21453
21454@table @code
21455@item set struct-convention @var{mode}
21456@kindex set struct-convention
21457@cindex struct return convention
21458@cindex struct/union returned in registers
21459Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
21460@code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
21461@var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
21462default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
21463are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
21464@code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
21465be returned in a register.
21466
21467@item show struct-convention
21468@kindex show struct-convention
21469Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
21470from functions.
21471@end table
21472
21473@subsubsection Intel(R) @dfn{Memory Protection Extensions} (MPX).
21474@cindex Intel(R) Memory Protection Extensions (MPX).
21475
21476Memory Protection Extension (MPX) adds the bound registers @samp{BND0}
21477@footnote{The register named with capital letters represent the architecture
21478registers.} through @samp{BND3}. Bound registers store a pair of 64-bit values
21479which are the lower bound and upper bound. Bounds are effective addresses or
21480memory locations. The upper bounds are architecturally represented in 1's
21481complement form. A bound having lower bound = 0, and upper bound = 0
21482(1's complement of all bits set) will allow access to the entire address space.
21483
21484@samp{BND0} through @samp{BND3} are represented in @value{GDBN} as @samp{bnd0raw}
21485through @samp{bnd3raw}. Pseudo registers @samp{bnd0} through @samp{bnd3}
21486display the upper bound performing the complement of one operation on the
21487upper bound value, i.e.@ when upper bound in @samp{bnd0raw} is 0 in the
21488@value{GDBN} @samp{bnd0} it will be @code{0xfff@dots{}}. In this sense it
21489can also be noted that the upper bounds are inclusive.
21490
21491As an example, assume that the register BND0 holds bounds for a pointer having
21492access allowed for the range between 0x32 and 0x71. The values present on
21493bnd0raw and bnd registers are presented as follows:
21494
21495@smallexample
21496 bnd0raw = @{0x32, 0xffffffff8e@}
21497 bnd0 = @{lbound = 0x32, ubound = 0x71@} : size 64
21498@end smallexample
21499
21500This way the raw value can be accessed via bnd0raw@dots{}bnd3raw. Any
21501change on bnd0@dots{}bnd3 or bnd0raw@dots{}bnd3raw is reflect on its
21502counterpart. When the bnd0@dots{}bnd3 registers are displayed via
21503Python, the display includes the memory size, in bits, accessible to
21504the pointer.
21505
21506@node Alpha
21507@subsection Alpha
21508
21509See the following section.
21510
21511@node MIPS
21512@subsection @acronym{MIPS}
21513
21514@cindex stack on Alpha
21515@cindex stack on @acronym{MIPS}
21516@cindex Alpha stack
21517@cindex @acronym{MIPS} stack
21518Alpha- and @acronym{MIPS}-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
21519sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
21520find the beginning of a function.
21521
21522@cindex response time, @acronym{MIPS} debugging
21523To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
21524@value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
21525you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
21526commands:
21527
21528@table @code
21529@cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, @acronym{MIPS})
21530@item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
21531Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
21532search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
21533default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
21534larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
21535and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
21536this command when debugging a stripped executable.
21537
21538@item show heuristic-fence-post
21539Display the current limit.
21540@end table
21541
21542@noindent
21543These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
21544for debugging programs on Alpha or @acronym{MIPS} processors.
21545
21546Several @acronym{MIPS}-specific commands are available when debugging @acronym{MIPS}
21547programs:
21548
21549@table @code
21550@item set mips abi @var{arg}
21551@kindex set mips abi
21552@cindex set ABI for @acronym{MIPS}
21553Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
21554values of @var{arg} are:
21555
21556@table @samp
21557@item auto
21558The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
21559default).
21560@item o32
21561@item o64
21562@item n32
21563@item n64
21564@item eabi32
21565@item eabi64
21566@end table
21567
21568@item show mips abi
21569@kindex show mips abi
21570Show the @acronym{MIPS} ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
21571
21572@item set mips compression @var{arg}
21573@kindex set mips compression
21574@cindex code compression, @acronym{MIPS}
21575Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} compressed
21576@acronym{ISA, Instruction Set Architecture} encoding is used by the
21577inferior. @value{GDBN} uses this for code disassembly and other
21578internal interpretation purposes. This setting is only referred to
21579when no executable has been associated with the debugging session or
21580the executable does not provide information about the encoding it uses.
21581Otherwise this setting is automatically updated from information
21582provided by the executable.
21583
21584Possible values of @var{arg} are @samp{mips16} and @samp{micromips}.
21585The default compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding is @samp{mips16}, as
21586executables containing @acronym{MIPS16} code frequently are not
21587identified as such.
21588
21589This setting is ``sticky''; that is, it retains its value across
21590debugging sessions until reset either explicitly with this command or
21591implicitly from an executable.
21592
21593The compiler and/or assembler typically add symbol table annotations to
21594identify functions compiled for the @acronym{MIPS16} or
21595@acronym{microMIPS} @acronym{ISA}s. If these function-scope annotations
21596are present, @value{GDBN} uses them in preference to the global
21597compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding setting.
21598
21599@item show mips compression
21600@kindex show mips compression
21601Show the @acronym{MIPS} compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding used by
21602@value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
21603
21604@item set mipsfpu
21605@itemx show mipsfpu
21606@xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
21607
21608@item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
21609@kindex set mips mask-address
21610@cindex @acronym{MIPS} addresses, masking
21611This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
21612@acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
21613@samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
21614setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
21615
21616@item show mips mask-address
21617@kindex show mips mask-address
21618Show whether the upper 32 bits of @acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off or
21619not.
21620
21621@item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21622@kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21623This command controls compatibility with 64-bit @acronym{MIPS} targets that
21624transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old @acronym{MIPS} 64 target
21625that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
21626and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
21627
21628@item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21629@kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21630Show the current setting of compatibility with older @acronym{MIPS} 64 targets.
21631
21632@item set debug mips
21633@kindex set debug mips
21634This command turns on and off debugging messages for the @acronym{MIPS}-specific
21635target code in @value{GDBN}.
21636
21637@item show debug mips
21638@kindex show debug mips
21639Show the current setting of @acronym{MIPS} debugging messages.
21640@end table
21641
21642
21643@node HPPA
21644@subsection HPPA
21645@cindex HPPA support
21646
21647When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
21648following special commands:
21649
21650@table @code
21651@item set debug hppa
21652@kindex set debug hppa
21653This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
21654messages are to be displayed.
21655
21656@item show debug hppa
21657Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
21658
21659@item maint print unwind @var{address}
21660@kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
21661This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
21662given @var{address}.
21663
21664@end table
21665
21666
21667@node SPU
21668@subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
21669@cindex Cell Broadband Engine
21670@cindex SPU
21671
21672When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
21673it provides the following special commands:
21674
21675@table @code
21676@item info spu event
21677@kindex info spu
21678Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
21679and pending event status.
21680
21681@item info spu signal
21682Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
21683signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
21684notification channels.
21685
21686@item info spu mailbox
21687Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
21688in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
21689SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
21690
21691@item info spu dma
21692Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
21693DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
21694and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
21695
21696@item info spu proxydma
21697Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
21698Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
21699and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
21700
21701@end table
21702
21703When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
21704on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
21705special commands:
21706
21707@table @code
21708@item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
21709@kindex set spu
21710Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
21711will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
21712function. The default is @code{off}.
21713
21714@item show spu stop-on-load
21715@kindex show spu
21716Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
21717
21718@item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
21719Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
21720@code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
21721cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
21722view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
21723does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
21724
21725@item show spu auto-flush-cache
21726Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
21727
21728@end table
21729
21730@node PowerPC
21731@subsection PowerPC
21732@cindex PowerPC architecture
21733
21734When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
21735pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
21736numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
21737in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
21738@code{f0} or @code{f2}.
21739
21740The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
21741by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
21742@code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
21743
21744For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
21745wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
21746
21747@node Nios II
21748@subsection Nios II
21749@cindex Nios II architecture
21750
21751When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Nios II architecture,
21752it provides the following special commands:
21753
21754@table @code
21755
21756@item set debug nios2
21757@kindex set debug nios2
21758This command turns on and off debugging messages for the Nios II
21759target code in @value{GDBN}.
21760
21761@item show debug nios2
21762@kindex show debug nios2
21763Show the current setting of Nios II debugging messages.
21764@end table
21765
21766@node Controlling GDB
21767@chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
21768
21769You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
21770@code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
21771data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
21772described here.
21773
21774@menu
21775* Prompt:: Prompt
21776* Editing:: Command editing
21777* Command History:: Command history
21778* Screen Size:: Screen size
21779* Numbers:: Numbers
21780* ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
21781* Auto-loading:: Automatically loading associated files
21782* Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
21783* Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
21784* Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
21785@end menu
21786
21787@node Prompt
21788@section Prompt
21789
21790@cindex prompt
21791
21792@value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
21793called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
21794can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
21795instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
21796the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
21797which one you are talking to.
21798
21799@emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
21800prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
21801or a prompt that does not.
21802
21803@table @code
21804@kindex set prompt
21805@item set prompt @var{newprompt}
21806Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
21807
21808@kindex show prompt
21809@item show prompt
21810Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
21811@end table
21812
21813Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled have
21814prompt extensions. The commands for interacting with these extensions
21815are:
21816
21817@table @code
21818@kindex set extended-prompt
21819@item set extended-prompt @var{prompt}
21820Set an extended prompt that allows for substitutions.
21821@xref{gdb.prompt}, for a list of escape sequences that can be used for
21822substitution. Any escape sequences specified as part of the prompt
21823string are replaced with the corresponding strings each time the prompt
21824is displayed.
21825
21826For example:
21827
21828@smallexample
21829set extended-prompt Current working directory: \w (gdb)
21830@end smallexample
21831
21832Note that when an extended-prompt is set, it takes control of the
21833@var{prompt_hook} hook. @xref{prompt_hook}, for further information.
21834
21835@kindex show extended-prompt
21836@item show extended-prompt
21837Prints the extended prompt. Any escape sequences specified as part of
21838the prompt string with @code{set extended-prompt}, are replaced with the
21839corresponding strings each time the prompt is displayed.
21840@end table
21841
21842@node Editing
21843@section Command Editing
21844@cindex readline
21845@cindex command line editing
21846
21847@value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
21848@sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
21849command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
21850or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
21851substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
21852debugging sessions.
21853
21854You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
21855command @code{set}.
21856
21857@table @code
21858@kindex set editing
21859@cindex editing
21860@item set editing
21861@itemx set editing on
21862Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
21863
21864@item set editing off
21865Disable command line editing.
21866
21867@kindex show editing
21868@item show editing
21869Show whether command line editing is enabled.
21870@end table
21871
21872@ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
21873@xref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library},
21874@end ifset
21875@ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
21876@xref{Command Line Editing},
21877@end ifclear
21878for more details about the Readline
21879interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
21880encouraged to read that chapter.
21881
21882@node Command History
21883@section Command History
21884@cindex command history
21885
21886@value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
21887debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
21888happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
21889history facility.
21890
21891@value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
21892package, to provide the history facility.
21893@ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
21894@xref{Using History Interactively, , , history, GNU History Library},
21895@end ifset
21896@ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
21897@xref{Using History Interactively},
21898@end ifclear
21899for the detailed description of the History library.
21900
21901To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
21902the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
21903(@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
21904means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
21905affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
21906pressed on a line by itself.
21907
21908@cindex @code{server}, command prefix
21909The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
21910history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
21911use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
21912
21913Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
21914history.
21915
21916@table @code
21917@cindex history substitution
21918@cindex history file
21919@kindex set history filename
21920@cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
21921@item set history filename @var{fname}
21922Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
21923This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
21924list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
21925exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
21926the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
21927to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
21928@file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
21929is not set.
21930
21931@cindex save command history
21932@kindex set history save
21933@item set history save
21934@itemx set history save on
21935Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
21936@code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
21937
21938@item set history save off
21939Stop recording command history in a file.
21940
21941@cindex history size
21942@kindex set history size
21943@cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
21944@item set history size @var{size}
21945@itemx set history size unlimited
21946Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
21947This defaults to the value of the environment variable
21948@code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set. If @var{size}
21949is @code{unlimited}, the number of commands @value{GDBN} keeps in the
21950history list is unlimited.
21951@end table
21952
21953History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
21954@ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
21955@xref{Event Designators, , , history, GNU History Library},
21956@end ifset
21957@ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
21958@xref{Event Designators},
21959@end ifclear
21960for more details.
21961
21962@cindex history expansion, turn on/off
21963Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
21964is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
21965@code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
21966follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
21967a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
21968history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
21969@kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
21970
21971The commands to control history expansion are:
21972
21973@table @code
21974@item set history expansion on
21975@itemx set history expansion
21976@kindex set history expansion
21977Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
21978
21979@item set history expansion off
21980Disable history expansion.
21981
21982@c @group
21983@kindex show history
21984@item show history
21985@itemx show history filename
21986@itemx show history save
21987@itemx show history size
21988@itemx show history expansion
21989These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
21990@code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
21991@c @end group
21992@end table
21993
21994@table @code
21995@kindex show commands
21996@cindex show last commands
21997@cindex display command history
21998@item show commands
21999Display the last ten commands in the command history.
22000
22001@item show commands @var{n}
22002Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
22003
22004@item show commands +
22005Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
22006@end table
22007
22008@node Screen Size
22009@section Screen Size
22010@cindex size of screen
22011@cindex pauses in output
22012
22013Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
22014information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
22015@value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
22016output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
22017to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
22018determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
22019printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
22020rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
22021
22022Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
22023driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
22024together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
22025@code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
22026you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
22027width} commands:
22028
22029@table @code
22030@kindex set height
22031@kindex set width
22032@kindex show width
22033@kindex show height
22034@item set height @var{lpp}
22035@itemx set height unlimited
22036@itemx show height
22037@itemx set width @var{cpl}
22038@itemx set width unlimited
22039@itemx show width
22040These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
22041a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
22042commands display the current settings.
22043
22044If you specify a height of either @code{unlimited} or zero lines,
22045@value{GDBN} does not pause during output no matter how long the
22046output is. This is useful if output is to a file or to an editor
22047buffer.
22048
22049Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width unlimited} or @samp{set
22050width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN} from wrapping its output.
22051
22052@item set pagination on
22053@itemx set pagination off
22054@kindex set pagination
22055Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
22056pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height unlimited}. Note that
22057running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
22058Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
22059
22060@item show pagination
22061@kindex show pagination
22062Show the current pagination mode.
22063@end table
22064
22065@node Numbers
22066@section Numbers
22067@cindex number representation
22068@cindex entering numbers
22069
22070You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
22071@value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
22072@samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
22073begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
22074@samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
2207510; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
22076format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
22077both input and output with the commands described below.
22078
22079@table @code
22080@kindex set input-radix
22081@item set input-radix @var{base}
22082Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
22083for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
22084specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
22085example, any of
22086
22087@smallexample
22088set input-radix 012
22089set input-radix 10.
22090set input-radix 0xa
22091@end smallexample
22092
22093@noindent
22094sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
22095leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
22096@samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
22097interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
22098@samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
22099change the radix.
22100
22101@kindex set output-radix
22102@item set output-radix @var{base}
22103Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
22104for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
22105specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
22106
22107@kindex show input-radix
22108@item show input-radix
22109Display the current default base for numeric input.
22110
22111@kindex show output-radix
22112@item show output-radix
22113Display the current default base for numeric display.
22114
22115@item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
22116@itemx show radix
22117@kindex set radix
22118@kindex show radix
22119These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
22120of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
22121the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
22122default value of 10.
22123
22124@end table
22125
22126@node ABI
22127@section Configuring the Current ABI
22128
22129@value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
22130application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
22131conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
22132current ABI.
22133
22134@cindex OS ABI
22135@kindex set osabi
22136@kindex show osabi
22137@cindex Newlib OS ABI and its influence on the longjmp handling
22138
22139One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
22140system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
22141@value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
22142but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
22143One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
22144an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
22145not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
22146platform provides.
22147
22148When @value{GDBN} is debugging the AArch64 architecture, it provides a
22149``Newlib'' OS ABI. This is useful for handling @code{setjmp} and
22150@code{longjmp} when debugging binaries that use the @sc{newlib} C library.
22151The ``Newlib'' OS ABI can be selected by @code{set osabi Newlib}.
22152
22153@table @code
22154@item show osabi
22155Show the OS ABI currently in use.
22156
22157@item set osabi
22158With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
22159
22160@item set osabi @var{abi}
22161Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
22162@end table
22163
22164@cindex float promotion
22165
22166Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
22167function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
22168(i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
22169according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
22170(i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
22171@code{double} and then passed.
22172
22173Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
22174a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
22175as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
22176
22177@table @code
22178@kindex set coerce-float-to-double
22179@item set coerce-float-to-double
22180@itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
22181Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
22182to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
22183
22184@item set coerce-float-to-double off
22185Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
22186functions.
22187
22188@kindex show coerce-float-to-double
22189@item show coerce-float-to-double
22190Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
22191@end table
22192
22193@kindex set cp-abi
22194@kindex show cp-abi
22195@value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
22196objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
22197used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
22198programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
22199multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
22200program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
22201Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
22202before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
22203``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
22204use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
22205``auto''.
22206
22207@table @code
22208@item show cp-abi
22209Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
22210
22211@item set cp-abi
22212With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
22213
22214@item set cp-abi @var{abi}
22215@itemx set cp-abi auto
22216Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
22217@end table
22218
22219@node Auto-loading
22220@section Automatically loading associated files
22221@cindex auto-loading
22222
22223@value{GDBN} sometimes reads files with commands and settings automatically,
22224without being explicitly told so by the user. We call this feature
22225@dfn{auto-loading}. While auto-loading is useful for automatically adapting
22226@value{GDBN} to the needs of your project, it can sometimes produce unexpected
22227results or introduce security risks (e.g., if the file comes from untrusted
22228sources).
22229
22230@menu
22231* Init File in the Current Directory:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load local-gdbinit}
22232* libthread_db.so.1 file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load libthread-db}
22233
22234* Auto-loading safe path:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load safe-path}
22235* Auto-loading verbose mode:: @samp{set/show debug auto-load}
22236@end menu
22237
22238There are various kinds of files @value{GDBN} can automatically load.
22239In addition to these files, @value{GDBN} supports auto-loading code written
22240in various extension languages. @xref{Auto-loading extensions}.
22241
22242Note that loading of these associated files (including the local @file{.gdbinit}
22243file) requires accordingly configured @code{auto-load safe-path}
22244(@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
22245
22246For these reasons, @value{GDBN} includes commands and options to let you
22247control when to auto-load files and which files should be auto-loaded.
22248
22249@table @code
22250@anchor{set auto-load off}
22251@kindex set auto-load off
22252@item set auto-load off
22253Globally disable loading of all auto-loaded files.
22254You may want to use this command with the @samp{-iex} option
22255(@pxref{Option -init-eval-command}) such as:
22256@smallexample
22257$ @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load off" untrusted-executable corefile}
22258@end smallexample
22259
22260Be aware that system init file (@pxref{System-wide configuration})
22261and init files from your home directory (@pxref{Home Directory Init File})
22262still get read (as they come from generally trusted directories).
22263To prevent @value{GDBN} from auto-loading even those init files, use the
22264@option{-nx} option (@pxref{Mode Options}), in addition to
22265@code{set auto-load no}.
22266
22267@anchor{show auto-load}
22268@kindex show auto-load
22269@item show auto-load
22270Show whether auto-loading of each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) is enabled
22271or disabled.
22272
22273@smallexample
22274(gdb) show auto-load
22275gdb-scripts: Auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is on.
22276libthread-db: Auto-loading of inferior specific libthread_db is on.
22277local-gdbinit: Auto-loading of .gdbinit script from current directory
22278 is on.
22279python-scripts: Auto-loading of Python scripts is on.
22280safe-path: List of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
22281 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
22282scripts-directory: List of directories from which to load auto-loaded scripts
22283 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
22284@end smallexample
22285
22286@anchor{info auto-load}
22287@kindex info auto-load
22288@item info auto-load
22289Print whether each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) have been auto-loaded or
22290not.
22291
22292@smallexample
22293(gdb) info auto-load
22294gdb-scripts:
22295Loaded Script
22296Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb
22297libthread-db: No auto-loaded libthread-db.
22298local-gdbinit: Local .gdbinit file "/home/user/gdb/.gdbinit" has been
22299 loaded.
22300python-scripts:
22301Loaded Script
22302Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py
22303@end smallexample
22304@end table
22305
22306These are @value{GDBN} control commands for the auto-loading:
22307
22308@multitable @columnfractions .5 .5
22309@item @xref{set auto-load off}.
22310@tab Disable auto-loading globally.
22311@item @xref{show auto-load}.
22312@tab Show setting of all kinds of files.
22313@item @xref{info auto-load}.
22314@tab Show state of all kinds of files.
22315@item @xref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
22316@tab Control for @value{GDBN} command scripts.
22317@item @xref{show auto-load gdb-scripts}.
22318@tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
22319@item @xref{info auto-load gdb-scripts}.
22320@tab Show state of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
22321@item @xref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
22322@tab Control for @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
22323@item @xref{show auto-load python-scripts}.
22324@tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
22325@item @xref{info auto-load python-scripts}.
22326@tab Show state of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
22327@item @xref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
22328@tab Control for @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
22329@item @xref{show auto-load scripts-directory}.
22330@tab Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
22331@item @xref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
22332@tab Control for init file in the current directory.
22333@item @xref{show auto-load local-gdbinit}.
22334@tab Show setting of init file in the current directory.
22335@item @xref{info auto-load local-gdbinit}.
22336@tab Show state of init file in the current directory.
22337@item @xref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
22338@tab Control for thread debugging library.
22339@item @xref{show auto-load libthread-db}.
22340@tab Show setting of thread debugging library.
22341@item @xref{info auto-load libthread-db}.
22342@tab Show state of thread debugging library.
22343@item @xref{set auto-load safe-path}.
22344@tab Control directories trusted for automatic loading.
22345@item @xref{show auto-load safe-path}.
22346@tab Show directories trusted for automatic loading.
22347@item @xref{add-auto-load-safe-path}.
22348@tab Add directory trusted for automatic loading.
22349@end multitable
22350
22351@node Init File in the Current Directory
22352@subsection Automatically loading init file in the current directory
22353@cindex auto-loading init file in the current directory
22354
22355By default, @value{GDBN} reads and executes the canned sequences of commands
22356from init file (if any) in the current working directory,
22357see @ref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}.
22358
22359Note that loading of this local @file{.gdbinit} file also requires accordingly
22360configured @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
22361
22362@table @code
22363@anchor{set auto-load local-gdbinit}
22364@kindex set auto-load local-gdbinit
22365@item set auto-load local-gdbinit [on|off]
22366Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands
22367(@pxref{Sequences}) found in init file in the current directory.
22368
22369@anchor{show auto-load local-gdbinit}
22370@kindex show auto-load local-gdbinit
22371@item show auto-load local-gdbinit
22372Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands from init file in the
22373current directory is enabled or disabled.
22374
22375@anchor{info auto-load local-gdbinit}
22376@kindex info auto-load local-gdbinit
22377@item info auto-load local-gdbinit
22378Print whether canned sequences of commands from init file in the
22379current directory have been auto-loaded.
22380@end table
22381
22382@node libthread_db.so.1 file
22383@subsection Automatically loading thread debugging library
22384@cindex auto-loading libthread_db.so.1
22385
22386This feature is currently present only on @sc{gnu}/Linux native hosts.
22387
22388@value{GDBN} reads in some cases thread debugging library from places specific
22389to the inferior (@pxref{set libthread-db-search-path}).
22390
22391The special @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entry @samp{$sdir} is processed
22392without checking this @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} switch as system
22393libraries have to be trusted in general. In all other cases of
22394@samp{libthread-db-search-path} entries @value{GDBN} checks first if @samp{set
22395auto-load libthread-db} is enabled before trying to open such thread debugging
22396library.
22397
22398Note that loading of this debugging library also requires accordingly configured
22399@code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
22400
22401@table @code
22402@anchor{set auto-load libthread-db}
22403@kindex set auto-load libthread-db
22404@item set auto-load libthread-db [on|off]
22405Enable or disable the auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library.
22406
22407@anchor{show auto-load libthread-db}
22408@kindex show auto-load libthread-db
22409@item show auto-load libthread-db
22410Show whether auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library is
22411enabled or disabled.
22412
22413@anchor{info auto-load libthread-db}
22414@kindex info auto-load libthread-db
22415@item info auto-load libthread-db
22416Print the list of all loaded inferior specific thread debugging libraries and
22417for each such library print list of inferior @var{pid}s using it.
22418@end table
22419
22420@node Auto-loading safe path
22421@subsection Security restriction for auto-loading
22422@cindex auto-loading safe-path
22423
22424As the files of inferior can come from untrusted source (such as submitted by
22425an application user) @value{GDBN} does not always load any files automatically.
22426@value{GDBN} provides the @samp{set auto-load safe-path} setting to list
22427directories trusted for loading files not explicitly requested by user.
22428Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern.
22429
22430If the path is not set properly you will see a warning and the file will not
22431get loaded:
22432
22433@smallexample
22434$ ./gdb -q ./gdb
22435Reading symbols from /home/user/gdb/gdb...done.
22436warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been
22437 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
22438 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
22439warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py" auto-loading has been
22440 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
22441 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
22442@end smallexample
22443
22444@noindent
22445To instruct @value{GDBN} to go ahead and use the init files anyway,
22446invoke @value{GDBN} like this:
22447
22448@smallexample
22449$ gdb -q -iex "set auto-load safe-path /home/user/gdb" ./gdb
22450@end smallexample
22451
22452The list of trusted directories is controlled by the following commands:
22453
22454@table @code
22455@anchor{set auto-load safe-path}
22456@kindex set auto-load safe-path
22457@item set auto-load safe-path @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
22458Set the list of directories (and their subdirectories) trusted for automatic
22459loading and execution of scripts. You can also enter a specific trusted file.
22460Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern; wildcards do not match
22461directory separator - see @code{FNM_PATHNAME} for system function @code{fnmatch}
22462(@pxref{Wildcard Matching, fnmatch, , libc, GNU C Library Reference Manual}).
22463If you omit @var{directories}, @samp{auto-load safe-path} will be reset to
22464its default value as specified during @value{GDBN} compilation.
22465
22466The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
22467systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
22468to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
22469
22470@anchor{show auto-load safe-path}
22471@kindex show auto-load safe-path
22472@item show auto-load safe-path
22473Show the list of directories trusted for automatic loading and execution of
22474scripts.
22475
22476@anchor{add-auto-load-safe-path}
22477@kindex add-auto-load-safe-path
22478@item add-auto-load-safe-path
22479Add an entry (or list of entries) the list of directories trusted for automatic
22480loading and execution of scripts. Multiple entries may be delimited by the
22481host platform path separator in use.
22482@end table
22483
22484This variable defaults to what @code{--with-auto-load-dir} has been configured
22485to (@pxref{with-auto-load-dir}). @file{$debugdir} and @file{$datadir}
22486substitution applies the same as for @ref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
22487The default @code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by
22488@value{GDBN} configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-safe-path}.
22489
22490Setting this variable to @file{/} disables this security protection,
22491corresponding @value{GDBN} configuration option is
22492@option{--without-auto-load-safe-path}.
22493This variable is supposed to be set to the system directories writable by the
22494system superuser only. Users can add their source directories in init files in
22495their home directories (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). See also deprecated
22496init file in the current directory
22497(@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}).
22498
22499To force @value{GDBN} to load the files it declined to load in the previous
22500example, you could use one of the following ways:
22501
22502@table @asis
22503@item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{add-auto-load-safe-path ~/src/gdb}
22504Specify this trusted directory (or a file) as additional component of the list.
22505You have to specify also any existing directories displayed by
22506by @samp{show auto-load safe-path} (such as @samp{/usr:/bin} in this example).
22507
22508@item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /usr:/bin:~/src/gdb" @dots{}}
22509Specify this directory as in the previous case but just for a single
22510@value{GDBN} session.
22511
22512@item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /" @dots{}}
22513Disable auto-loading safety for a single @value{GDBN} session.
22514This assumes all the files you debug during this @value{GDBN} session will come
22515from trusted sources.
22516
22517@item @kbd{./configure --without-auto-load-safe-path}
22518During compilation of @value{GDBN} you may disable any auto-loading safety.
22519This assumes all the files you will ever debug with this @value{GDBN} come from
22520trusted sources.
22521@end table
22522
22523On the other hand you can also explicitly forbid automatic files loading which
22524also suppresses any such warning messages:
22525
22526@table @asis
22527@item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load no" @dots{}}
22528You can use @value{GDBN} command-line option for a single @value{GDBN} session.
22529
22530@item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{set auto-load no}
22531Disable auto-loading globally for the user
22532(@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). While it is improbable, you could also
22533use system init file instead (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
22534@end table
22535
22536This setting applies to the file names as entered by user. If no entry matches
22537@value{GDBN} tries as a last resort to also resolve all the file names into
22538their canonical form (typically resolving symbolic links) and compare the
22539entries again. @value{GDBN} already canonicalizes most of the filenames on its
22540own before starting the comparison so a canonical form of directories is
22541recommended to be entered.
22542
22543@node Auto-loading verbose mode
22544@subsection Displaying files tried for auto-load
22545@cindex auto-loading verbose mode
22546
22547For better visibility of all the file locations where you can place scripts to
22548be auto-loaded with inferior --- or to protect yourself against accidental
22549execution of untrusted scripts --- @value{GDBN} provides a feature for printing
22550all the files attempted to be loaded. Both existing and non-existing files may
22551be printed.
22552
22553For example the list of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
22554(@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}) applies also to canonicalized filenames which
22555may not be too obvious while setting it up.
22556
22557@smallexample
22558(gdb) set debug auto-load on
22559(gdb) file ~/src/t/true
22560auto-load: Loading canned sequences of commands script "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb"
22561 for objfile "/tmp/true".
22562auto-load: Updating directories of "/usr:/opt".
22563auto-load: Using directory "/usr".
22564auto-load: Using directory "/opt".
22565warning: File "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been declined
22566 by your `auto-load safe-path' set to "/usr:/opt".
22567@end smallexample
22568
22569@table @code
22570@anchor{set debug auto-load}
22571@kindex set debug auto-load
22572@item set debug auto-load [on|off]
22573Set whether to print the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded.
22574
22575@anchor{show debug auto-load}
22576@kindex show debug auto-load
22577@item show debug auto-load
22578Show whether printing of the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded is turned
22579on or off.
22580@end table
22581
22582@node Messages/Warnings
22583@section Optional Warnings and Messages
22584
22585@cindex verbose operation
22586@cindex optional warnings
22587By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
22588running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
22589command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
22590internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
22591
22592Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
22593which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
22594see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
22595
22596@table @code
22597@kindex set verbose
22598@item set verbose on
22599Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
22600
22601@item set verbose off
22602Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
22603
22604@kindex show verbose
22605@item show verbose
22606Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
22607@end table
22608
22609By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
22610object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
22611find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
22612Symbol Files}).
22613
22614@table @code
22615
22616@kindex set complaints
22617@item set complaints @var{limit}
22618Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
22619unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
22620@var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
22621to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
22622
22623@kindex show complaints
22624@item show complaints
22625Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
22626
22627@end table
22628
22629@anchor{confirmation requests}
22630By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
22631lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
22632you try to run a program which is already running:
22633
22634@smallexample
22635(@value{GDBP}) run
22636The program being debugged has been started already.
22637Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
22638@end smallexample
22639
22640If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
22641commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
22642
22643@table @code
22644
22645@kindex set confirm
22646@cindex flinching
22647@cindex confirmation
22648@cindex stupid questions
22649@item set confirm off
22650Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
22651the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
22652automatically disables confirmation requests.
22653
22654@item set confirm on
22655Enables confirmation requests (the default).
22656
22657@kindex show confirm
22658@item show confirm
22659Displays state of confirmation requests.
22660
22661@end table
22662
22663@cindex command tracing
22664If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
22665useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
22666printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
22667quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
22668
22669@table @code
22670@kindex set trace-commands
22671@cindex command scripts, debugging
22672@item set trace-commands on
22673Enable command tracing.
22674@item set trace-commands off
22675Disable command tracing.
22676@item show trace-commands
22677Display the current state of command tracing.
22678@end table
22679
22680@node Debugging Output
22681@section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
22682@cindex optional debugging messages
22683
22684@value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
22685various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
22686interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
22687section documents those commands.
22688
22689@table @code
22690@kindex set exec-done-display
22691@item set exec-done-display
22692Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
22693completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
22694asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
22695@kindex show exec-done-display
22696@item show exec-done-display
22697Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
22698notification.
22699@kindex set debug
22700@cindex ARM AArch64
22701@item set debug aarch64
22702Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to ARM AArch64.
22703The default is off.
22704@kindex show debug
22705@item show debug aarch64
22706Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
22707ARM AArch64.
22708@cindex gdbarch debugging info
22709@cindex architecture debugging info
22710@item set debug arch
22711Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
22712@item show debug arch
22713Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
22714@item set debug aix-solib
22715@cindex AIX shared library debugging
22716Control display of debugging messages from the AIX shared library
22717support module. The default is off.
22718@item show debug aix-thread
22719Show the current state of displaying AIX shared library debugging messages.
22720@item set debug aix-thread
22721@cindex AIX threads
22722Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
22723module.
22724@item show debug aix-thread
22725Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
22726@item set debug check-physname
22727@cindex physname
22728Check the results of the ``physname'' computation. When reading DWARF
22729debugging information for C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} attempts to compute
22730each entity's name. @value{GDBN} can do this computation in two
22731different ways, depending on exactly what information is present.
22732When enabled, this setting causes @value{GDBN} to compute the names
22733both ways and display any discrepancies.
22734@item show debug check-physname
22735Show the current state of ``physname'' checking.
22736@item set debug coff-pe-read
22737@cindex COFF/PE exported symbols
22738Control display of debugging messages related to reading of COFF/PE
22739exported symbols. The default is off.
22740@item show debug coff-pe-read
22741Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
22742reading of COFF/PE exported symbols.
22743@item set debug dwarf2-die
22744@cindex DWARF2 DIEs
22745Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
22746The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
22747A value of zero turns off the display.
22748@item show debug dwarf2-die
22749Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
22750@item set debug dwarf2-read
22751@cindex DWARF2 Reading
22752Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to reading
22753DWARF debug info. The default is 0 (off).
22754A value of 1 provides basic information.
22755A value greater than 1 provides more verbose information.
22756@item show debug dwarf2-read
22757Show the current state of DWARF2 reader debugging.
22758@item set debug displaced
22759@cindex displaced stepping debugging info
22760Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
22761displaced stepping support. The default is off.
22762@item show debug displaced
22763Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
22764related to displaced stepping.
22765@item set debug event
22766@cindex event debugging info
22767Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
22768default is off.
22769@item show debug event
22770Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
22771info.
22772@item set debug expression
22773@cindex expression debugging info
22774Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
22775expression parsing. The default is off.
22776@item show debug expression
22777Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
22778@value{GDBN} expression parsing.
22779@item set debug frame
22780@cindex frame debugging info
22781Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
22782default is off.
22783@item show debug frame
22784Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
22785info.
22786@item set debug gnu-nat
22787@cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
22788Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
22789@item show debug gnu-nat
22790Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
22791@item set debug infrun
22792@cindex inferior debugging info
22793Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
22794The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
22795for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
22796@item show debug infrun
22797Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
22798@item set debug jit
22799@cindex just-in-time compilation, debugging messages
22800Turns on or off debugging messages from JIT debug support.
22801@item show debug jit
22802Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} JIT debugging.
22803@item set debug lin-lwp
22804@cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
22805@cindex Linux lightweight processes
22806Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
22807@item show debug lin-lwp
22808Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
22809@item set debug mach-o
22810@cindex Mach-O symbols processing
22811Control display of debugging messages related to Mach-O symbols
22812processing. The default is off.
22813@item show debug mach-o
22814Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
22815reading of COFF/PE exported symbols.
22816@item set debug notification
22817@cindex remote async notification debugging info
22818Turns on or off debugging messages about remote async notification.
22819The default is off.
22820@item show debug notification
22821Displays the current state of remote async notification debugging messages.
22822@item set debug observer
22823@cindex observer debugging info
22824Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
22825includes info such as the notification of observable events.
22826@item show debug observer
22827Displays the current state of observer debugging.
22828@item set debug overload
22829@cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
22830Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
22831info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
22832is off.
22833@item show debug overload
22834Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
22835debugging info.
22836@cindex expression parser, debugging info
22837@cindex debug expression parser
22838@item set debug parser
22839Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
22840Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
22841parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
22842details. The default is off.
22843@item show debug parser
22844Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
22845@cindex packets, reporting on stdout
22846@cindex serial connections, debugging
22847@cindex debug remote protocol
22848@cindex remote protocol debugging
22849@cindex display remote packets
22850@item set debug remote
22851Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
22852the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
22853@value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
22854@item show debug remote
22855Displays the state of display of remote packets.
22856@item set debug serial
22857Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
22858default is off.
22859@item show debug serial
22860Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
22861info.
22862@item set debug solib-frv
22863@cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
22864Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
22865@item show debug solib-frv
22866Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
22867messages.
22868@item set debug symfile
22869@cindex symbol file functions
22870Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to symbol file functions.
22871The default is off. @xref{Files}.
22872@item show debug symfile
22873Show the current state of symbol file debugging messages.
22874@item set debug symtab-create
22875@cindex symbol table creation
22876Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to symbol table creation.
22877The default is 0 (off).
22878A value of 1 provides basic information.
22879A value greater than 1 provides more verbose information.
22880@item show debug symtab-create
22881Show the current state of symbol table creation debugging.
22882@item set debug target
22883@cindex target debugging info
22884Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
22885includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
22886default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
22887value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
22888until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
22889@item show debug target
22890Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
22891info.
22892@item set debug timestamp
22893@cindex timestampping debugging info
22894Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
22895When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
22896message.
22897@item show debug timestamp
22898Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
22899debugging info.
22900@item set debugvarobj
22901@cindex variable object debugging info
22902Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
22903info. The default is off.
22904@item show debugvarobj
22905Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
22906debugging info.
22907@item set debug xml
22908@cindex XML parser debugging
22909Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
22910@item show debug xml
22911Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
22912@end table
22913
22914@node Other Misc Settings
22915@section Other Miscellaneous Settings
22916@cindex miscellaneous settings
22917
22918@table @code
22919@kindex set interactive-mode
22920@item set interactive-mode
22921If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to assume that GDB was started
22922in a terminal. In practice, this means that @value{GDBN} should wait
22923for the user to answer queries generated by commands entered at
22924the command prompt. If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate
22925in the opposite mode, and it uses the default answers to all queries.
22926If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} tries to determine whether
22927its standard input is a terminal, and works in interactive-mode if it
22928is, non-interactively otherwise.
22929
22930In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
22931correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
22932in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
22933inside a cygwin window.
22934
22935@kindex show interactive-mode
22936@item show interactive-mode
22937Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
22938@end table
22939
22940@node Extending GDB
22941@chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
22942@cindex extending GDB
22943
22944@value{GDBN} provides several mechanisms for extension.
22945@value{GDBN} also provides the ability to automatically load
22946extensions when it reads a file for debugging. This allows the
22947user to automatically customize @value{GDBN} for the program
22948being debugged.
22949
22950@menu
22951* Sequences:: Canned Sequences of @value{GDBN} Commands
22952* Python:: Extending @value{GDBN} using Python
22953* Auto-loading extensions:: Automatically loading extensions
22954* Aliases:: Creating new spellings of existing commands
22955@end menu
22956
22957To facilitate the use of extension languages, @value{GDBN} is capable
22958of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
22959can recognize which extension language is being used by looking at
22960the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
22961are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
22962@xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
22963
22964You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
22965setting:
22966
22967@table @code
22968@kindex set script-extension
22969@kindex show script-extension
22970@item set script-extension off
22971All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
22972
22973@item set script-extension soft
22974The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
22975extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
22976evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
22977the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
22978
22979@item set script-extension strict
22980The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
22981extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
22982language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
22983
22984@item show script-extension
22985Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
22986
22987@end table
22988
22989@node Sequences
22990@section Canned Sequences of Commands
22991
22992Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
22993Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
22994commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
22995files.
22996
22997@menu
22998* Define:: How to define your own commands
22999* Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
23000* Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
23001* Output:: Commands for controlled output
23002* Auto-loading sequences:: Controlling auto-loaded command files
23003@end menu
23004
23005@node Define
23006@subsection User-defined Commands
23007
23008@cindex user-defined command
23009@cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
23010A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
23011which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
23012@code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
23013separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
23014via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
23015
23016@smallexample
23017define adder
23018 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
23019end
23020@end smallexample
23021
23022@noindent
23023To execute the command use:
23024
23025@smallexample
23026adder 1 2 3
23027@end smallexample
23028
23029@noindent
23030This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
23031its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
23032reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
23033functions calls.
23034
23035@cindex argument count in user-defined commands
23036@cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
23037In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
23038been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
23039
23040@smallexample
23041define adder
23042 if $argc == 2
23043 print $arg0 + $arg1
23044 end
23045 if $argc == 3
23046 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
23047 end
23048end
23049@end smallexample
23050
23051@table @code
23052
23053@kindex define
23054@item define @var{commandname}
23055Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
23056by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
23057@var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
23058numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
23059prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
23060a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
23061
23062The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
23063which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
23064commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
23065
23066@kindex document
23067@kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
23068@item document @var{commandname}
23069Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
23070accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
23071defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
23072reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
23073After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
23074@var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
23075
23076You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
23077documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
23078does not change the documentation.
23079
23080@kindex dont-repeat
23081@cindex don't repeat command
23082@item dont-repeat
23083Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
23084command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
23085(@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
23086
23087@kindex help user-defined
23088@item help user-defined
23089List all user-defined commands and all python commands defined in class
23090COMAND_USER. The first line of the documentation or docstring is
23091included (if any).
23092
23093@kindex show user
23094@item show user
23095@itemx show user @var{commandname}
23096Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
23097not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
23098definitions for all user-defined commands.
23099This does not work for user-defined python commands.
23100
23101@cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
23102@kindex show max-user-call-depth
23103@kindex set max-user-call-depth
23104@item show max-user-call-depth
23105@itemx set max-user-call-depth
23106The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
23107levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
23108infinite recursion and aborts the command.
23109This does not apply to user-defined python commands.
23110@end table
23111
23112In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
23113use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
23114
23115When user-defined commands are executed, the
23116commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
23117stops execution of the user-defined command.
23118
23119If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
23120without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
23121commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
23122messages when used in a user-defined command.
23123
23124@node Hooks
23125@subsection User-defined Command Hooks
23126@cindex command hooks
23127@cindex hooks, for commands
23128@cindex hooks, pre-command
23129
23130@kindex hook
23131You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
23132command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
23133command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
23134before that command.
23135
23136@cindex hooks, post-command
23137@kindex hookpost
23138A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
23139Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
23140@samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
23141that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
23142pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
23143
23144It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
23145occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
23146
23147@c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
23148@c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
23149
23150@kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
23151In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
23152(@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
23153execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
23154displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
23155
23156For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
23157single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
23158you could define:
23159
23160@smallexample
23161define hook-stop
23162handle SIGALRM nopass
23163end
23164
23165define hook-run
23166handle SIGALRM pass
23167end
23168
23169define hook-continue
23170handle SIGALRM pass
23171end
23172@end smallexample
23173
23174As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
23175command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
23176you could define:
23177
23178@smallexample
23179define hook-echo
23180echo <<<---
23181end
23182
23183define hookpost-echo
23184echo --->>>\n
23185end
23186
23187(@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
23188<<<---Hello World--->>>
23189(@value{GDBP})
23190
23191@end smallexample
23192
23193You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
23194not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
23195name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
23196@c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
23197@c or not?
23198You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
23199@code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
23200@samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
23201
23202If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
23203@value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
23204(before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
23205
23206If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
23207get a warning from the @code{define} command.
23208
23209@node Command Files
23210@subsection Command Files
23211
23212@cindex command files
23213@cindex scripting commands
23214A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
23215@value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
23216also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
23217does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
23218terminal.
23219
23220You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
23221command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
23222scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
23223using the @code{script-extension} setting.
23224@xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
23225
23226@table @code
23227@kindex source
23228@cindex execute commands from a file
23229@item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
23230Execute the command file @var{filename}.
23231@end table
23232
23233The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
23234unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
23235@emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
23236printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
23237execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
23238
23239@value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
23240If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
23241directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
23242(specified with the @samp{directory} command);
23243except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
23244is not relevant to scripts.
23245
23246If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
23247on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
23248The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
23249search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
23250and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
23251look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
23252The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
23253For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
23254the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
23255look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
23256For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
23257it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
23258@file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
23259will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
23260
23261If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
23262each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
23263@var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
23264
23265Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
23266without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
23267normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
23268when called from command files.
23269
23270@value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
23271mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
23272standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
23273not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
23274the next command.
23275
23276@smallexample
23277gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
23278@end smallexample
23279
23280(The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
23281will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
23282would be directed to @file{log}.
23283
23284Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
23285commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
23286complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
23287variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
23288built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
23289deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
23290complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
23291conditionally, etc.
23292
23293@table @code
23294@kindex if
23295@kindex else
23296@item if
23297@itemx else
23298This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
23299commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
23300expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
23301are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
23302There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
23303of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
23304end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
23305
23306@kindex while
23307@item while
23308This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
23309@code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
23310to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
23311line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
23312@dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
23313executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
23314
23315@kindex loop_break
23316@item loop_break
23317This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
23318Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
23319line.
23320
23321@kindex loop_continue
23322@item loop_continue
23323This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
23324in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
23325branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
23326the controlling expression.
23327
23328@kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
23329@item end
23330Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
23331@code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
23332@end table
23333
23334
23335@node Output
23336@subsection Commands for Controlled Output
23337
23338During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
23339@value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
23340explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
23341describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
23342want.
23343
23344@table @code
23345@kindex echo
23346@item echo @var{text}
23347@c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
23348@c because it is not in ANSI.
23349Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
23350@var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
23351newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
23352In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
23353by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
23354string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
23355trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
23356To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
23357@samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
23358
23359A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
23360the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
23361
23362@smallexample
23363echo This is some text\n\
23364which is continued\n\
23365onto several lines.\n
23366@end smallexample
23367
23368produces the same output as
23369
23370@smallexample
23371echo This is some text\n
23372echo which is continued\n
23373echo onto several lines.\n
23374@end smallexample
23375
23376@kindex output
23377@item output @var{expression}
23378Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
23379newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
23380value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
23381on expressions.
23382
23383@item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
23384Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
23385the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
23386Formats}, for more information.
23387
23388@kindex printf
23389@item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
23390Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
23391the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
23392@var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
23393which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
23394specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
23395executing the code below:
23396
23397@smallexample
23398printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
23399@end smallexample
23400
23401As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
23402are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
23403by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
23404evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
23405style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
23406printed.
23407
23408For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
23409
23410@smallexample
23411printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
23412@end smallexample
23413
23414@code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
23415specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
23416character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
23417
23418@itemize @bullet
23419@item
23420The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
23421
23422@item
23423The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
23424width.
23425
23426@item
23427The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
23428@code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
23429
23430@item
23431The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
23432supported.
23433
23434@item
23435The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
23436
23437@item
23438The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
23439@end itemize
23440
23441@noindent
23442Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
23443underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
23444the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
23445supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
23446
23447As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
23448sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
23449@samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
23450single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
23451supported.
23452
23453Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
23454(@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
23455together with a floating point specifier.
23456letters:
23457
23458@itemize @bullet
23459@item
23460@samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
23461
23462@item
23463@samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
23464
23465@item
23466@samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
23467@end itemize
23468
23469If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
23470support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
23471such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
23472
23473In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
23474available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
23475
23476Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
23477@smallexample
23478printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
23479@end smallexample
23480
23481@kindex eval
23482@item eval @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
23483Convert the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
23484the string @var{template} to a command line, and call it.
23485
23486@end table
23487
23488@node Auto-loading sequences
23489@subsection Controlling auto-loading native @value{GDBN} scripts
23490@cindex native script auto-loading
23491
23492When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
23493command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
23494@value{GDBN} will look for the command file @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb}.
23495@xref{Auto-loading extensions}.
23496
23497Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled,
23498and the list of auto-loaded scripts can be printed.
23499
23500@table @code
23501@anchor{set auto-load gdb-scripts}
23502@kindex set auto-load gdb-scripts
23503@item set auto-load gdb-scripts [on|off]
23504Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts.
23505
23506@anchor{show auto-load gdb-scripts}
23507@kindex show auto-load gdb-scripts
23508@item show auto-load gdb-scripts
23509Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is enabled or
23510disabled.
23511
23512@anchor{info auto-load gdb-scripts}
23513@kindex info auto-load gdb-scripts
23514@cindex print list of auto-loaded canned sequences of commands scripts
23515@item info auto-load gdb-scripts [@var{regexp}]
23516Print the list of all canned sequences of commands scripts that @value{GDBN}
23517auto-loaded.
23518@end table
23519
23520If @var{regexp} is supplied only canned sequences of commands scripts with
23521matching names are printed.
23522
23523@node Python
23524@section Extending @value{GDBN} using Python
23525@cindex python scripting
23526@cindex scripting with python
23527
23528You can extend @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
23529Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
23530@value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
23531
23532@cindex python directory
23533Python scripts used by @value{GDBN} should be installed in
23534@file{@var{data-directory}/python}, where @var{data-directory} is
23535the data directory as determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}).
23536This directory, known as the @dfn{python directory},
23537is automatically added to the Python Search Path in order to allow
23538the Python interpreter to locate all scripts installed at this location.
23539
23540Additionally, @value{GDBN} commands and convenience functions which
23541are written in Python and are located in the
23542@file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/command} or
23543@file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/function} directories are
23544automatically imported when @value{GDBN} starts.
23545
23546@menu
23547* Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
23548* Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
23549* Python Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
23550* Python modules:: Python modules provided by @value{GDBN}.
23551@end menu
23552
23553@node Python Commands
23554@subsection Python Commands
23555@cindex python commands
23556@cindex commands to access python
23557
23558@value{GDBN} provides two commands for accessing the Python interpreter,
23559and one related setting:
23560
23561@table @code
23562@kindex python-interactive
23563@kindex pi
23564@item python-interactive @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23565@itemx pi @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23566Without an argument, the @code{python-interactive} command can be used
23567to start an interactive Python prompt. To return to @value{GDBN},
23568type the @code{EOF} character (e.g., @kbd{Ctrl-D} on an empty prompt).
23569
23570Alternatively, a single-line Python command can be given as an
23571argument and evaluated. If the command is an expression, the result
23572will be printed; otherwise, nothing will be printed. For example:
23573
23574@smallexample
23575(@value{GDBP}) python-interactive 2 + 3
235765
23577@end smallexample
23578
23579@kindex python
23580@kindex py
23581@item python @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23582@itemx py @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23583The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
23584
23585If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
23586argument as a Python command. For example:
23587
23588@smallexample
23589(@value{GDBP}) python print 23
2359023
23591@end smallexample
23592
23593If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
23594multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
23595script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
23596@code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
23597containing @code{end}. For example:
23598
23599@smallexample
23600(@value{GDBP}) python
23601Type python script
23602End with a line saying just "end".
23603>print 23
23604>end
2360523
23606@end smallexample
23607
23608@kindex set python print-stack
23609@item set python print-stack
23610By default, @value{GDBN} will print only the message component of a
23611Python exception when an error occurs in a Python script. This can be
23612controlled using @code{set python print-stack}: if @code{full}, then
23613full Python stack printing is enabled; if @code{none}, then Python stack
23614and message printing is disabled; if @code{message}, the default, only
23615the message component of the error is printed.
23616@end table
23617
23618It is also possible to execute a Python script from the @value{GDBN}
23619interpreter:
23620
23621@table @code
23622@item source @file{script-name}
23623The script name must end with @samp{.py} and @value{GDBN} must be configured
23624to recognize the script language based on filename extension using
23625the @code{script-extension} setting. @xref{Extending GDB, ,Extending GDB}.
23626
23627@item python execfile ("script-name")
23628This method is based on the @code{execfile} Python built-in function,
23629and thus is always available.
23630@end table
23631
23632@node Python API
23633@subsection Python API
23634@cindex python api
23635@cindex programming in python
23636
23637You can get quick online help for @value{GDBN}'s Python API by issuing
23638the command @w{@kbd{python help (gdb)}}.
23639
23640Functions and methods which have two or more optional arguments allow
23641them to be specified using keyword syntax. This allows passing some
23642optional arguments while skipping others. Example:
23643@w{@code{gdb.some_function ('foo', bar = 1, baz = 2)}}.
23644
23645@menu
23646* Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
23647* Exception Handling:: How Python exceptions are translated.
23648* Values From Inferior:: Python representation of values.
23649* Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
23650* Pretty Printing API:: Pretty-printing values.
23651* Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
23652* Writing a Pretty-Printer:: Writing a Pretty-Printer.
23653* Type Printing API:: Pretty-printing types.
23654* Frame Filter API:: Filtering Frames.
23655* Frame Decorator API:: Decorating Frames.
23656* Writing a Frame Filter:: Writing a Frame Filter.
23657* Inferiors In Python:: Python representation of inferiors (processes)
23658* Events In Python:: Listening for events from @value{GDBN}.
23659* Threads In Python:: Accessing inferior threads from Python.
23660* Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
23661* Parameters In Python:: Adding new @value{GDBN} parameters.
23662* Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
23663* Progspaces In Python:: Program spaces.
23664* Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
23665* Frames In Python:: Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
23666* Blocks In Python:: Accessing blocks from Python.
23667* Symbols In Python:: Python representation of symbols.
23668* Symbol Tables In Python:: Python representation of symbol tables.
23669* Line Tables In Python:: Python representation of line tables.
23670* Breakpoints In Python:: Manipulating breakpoints using Python.
23671* Finish Breakpoints in Python:: Setting Breakpoints on function return
23672 using Python.
23673* Lazy Strings In Python:: Python representation of lazy strings.
23674* Architectures In Python:: Python representation of architectures.
23675@end menu
23676
23677@node Basic Python
23678@subsubsection Basic Python
23679
23680@cindex python stdout
23681@cindex python pagination
23682At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
23683@code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
23684A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
23685output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
23686situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
23687
23688Some care must be taken when writing Python code to run in
23689@value{GDBN}. Two things worth noting in particular:
23690
23691@itemize @bullet
23692@item
23693@value{GDBN} install handlers for @code{SIGCHLD} and @code{SIGINT}.
23694Python code must not override these, or even change the options using
23695@code{sigaction}. If your program changes the handling of these
23696signals, @value{GDBN} will most likely stop working correctly. Note
23697that it is unfortunately common for GUI toolkits to install a
23698@code{SIGCHLD} handler.
23699
23700@item
23701@value{GDBN} takes care to mark its internal file descriptors as
23702close-on-exec. However, this cannot be done in a thread-safe way on
23703all platforms. Your Python programs should be aware of this and
23704should both create new file descriptors with the close-on-exec flag
23705set and arrange to close unneeded file descriptors before starting a
23706child process.
23707@end itemize
23708
23709@cindex python functions
23710@cindex python module
23711@cindex gdb module
23712@value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
23713methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
23714@value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
23715use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
23716
23717@findex gdb.PYTHONDIR
23718@defvar gdb.PYTHONDIR
23719A string containing the python directory (@pxref{Python}).
23720@end defvar
23721
23722@findex gdb.execute
23723@defun gdb.execute (command @r{[}, from_tty @r{[}, to_string@r{]]})
23724Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
23725If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
23726translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
23727
23728@var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
23729command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
23730It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
23731
23732By default, any output produced by @var{command} is sent to
23733@value{GDBN}'s standard output. If the @var{to_string} parameter is
23734@code{True}, then output will be collected by @code{gdb.execute} and
23735returned as a string. The default is @code{False}, in which case the
23736return value is @code{None}. If @var{to_string} is @code{True}, the
23737@value{GDBN} virtual terminal will be temporarily set to unlimited width
23738and height, and its pagination will be disabled; @pxref{Screen Size}.
23739@end defun
23740
23741@findex gdb.breakpoints
23742@defun gdb.breakpoints ()
23743Return a sequence holding all of @value{GDBN}'s breakpoints.
23744@xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for more information.
23745@end defun
23746
23747@findex gdb.parameter
23748@defun gdb.parameter (parameter)
23749Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
23750string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
23751spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
23752@samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
23753
23754If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
23755@code{gdb.error} (@pxref{Exception Handling}). Otherwise, the
23756parameter's value is converted to a Python value of the appropriate
23757type, and returned.
23758@end defun
23759
23760@findex gdb.history
23761@defun gdb.history (number)
23762Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
23763History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
23764If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
23765and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
23766find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
23767return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
23768doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{gdb.error} exception will be
23769raised.
23770
23771If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
23772@code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
23773@end defun
23774
23775@findex gdb.parse_and_eval
23776@defun gdb.parse_and_eval (expression)
23777Parse @var{expression} as an expression in the current language,
23778evaluate it, and return the result as a @code{gdb.Value}.
23779@var{expression} must be a string.
23780
23781This function can be useful when implementing a new command
23782(@pxref{Commands In Python}), as it provides a way to parse the
23783command's argument as an expression. It is also useful simply to
23784compute values, for example, it is the only way to get the value of a
23785convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) as a @code{gdb.Value}.
23786@end defun
23787
23788@findex gdb.find_pc_line
23789@defun gdb.find_pc_line (pc)
23790Return the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object corresponding to the
23791@var{pc} value. @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}. If an invalid
23792value of @var{pc} is passed as an argument, then the @code{symtab} and
23793@code{line} attributes of the returned @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object
23794will be @code{None} and 0 respectively.
23795@end defun
23796
23797@findex gdb.post_event
23798@defun gdb.post_event (event)
23799Put @var{event}, a callable object taking no arguments, into
23800@value{GDBN}'s internal event queue. This callable will be invoked at
23801some later point, during @value{GDBN}'s event processing. Events
23802posted using @code{post_event} will be run in the order in which they
23803were posted; however, there is no way to know when they will be
23804processed relative to other events inside @value{GDBN}.
23805
23806@value{GDBN} is not thread-safe. If your Python program uses multiple
23807threads, you must be careful to only call @value{GDBN}-specific
23808functions in the main @value{GDBN} thread. @code{post_event} ensures
23809this. For example:
23810
23811@smallexample
23812(@value{GDBP}) python
23813>import threading
23814>
23815>class Writer():
23816> def __init__(self, message):
23817> self.message = message;
23818> def __call__(self):
23819> gdb.write(self.message)
23820>
23821>class MyThread1 (threading.Thread):
23822> def run (self):
23823> gdb.post_event(Writer("Hello "))
23824>
23825>class MyThread2 (threading.Thread):
23826> def run (self):
23827> gdb.post_event(Writer("World\n"))
23828>
23829>MyThread1().start()
23830>MyThread2().start()
23831>end
23832(@value{GDBP}) Hello World
23833@end smallexample
23834@end defun
23835
23836@findex gdb.write
23837@defun gdb.write (string @r{[}, stream{]})
23838Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated output stream. The
23839optional @var{stream} determines the stream to print to. The default
23840stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible stream
23841values are:
23842
23843@table @code
23844@findex STDOUT
23845@findex gdb.STDOUT
23846@item gdb.STDOUT
23847@value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
23848
23849@findex STDERR
23850@findex gdb.STDERR
23851@item gdb.STDERR
23852@value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
23853
23854@findex STDLOG
23855@findex gdb.STDLOG
23856@item gdb.STDLOG
23857@value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
23858@end table
23859
23860Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
23861call this function and will automatically direct the output to the
23862relevant stream.
23863@end defun
23864
23865@findex gdb.flush
23866@defun gdb.flush ()
23867Flush the buffer of a @value{GDBN} paginated stream so that the
23868contents are displayed immediately. @value{GDBN} will flush the
23869contents of a stream automatically when it encounters a newline in the
23870buffer. The optional @var{stream} determines the stream to flush. The
23871default stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible
23872stream values are:
23873
23874@table @code
23875@findex STDOUT
23876@findex gdb.STDOUT
23877@item gdb.STDOUT
23878@value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
23879
23880@findex STDERR
23881@findex gdb.STDERR
23882@item gdb.STDERR
23883@value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
23884
23885@findex STDLOG
23886@findex gdb.STDLOG
23887@item gdb.STDLOG
23888@value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
23889
23890@end table
23891
23892Flushing @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
23893call this function for the relevant stream.
23894@end defun
23895
23896@findex gdb.target_charset
23897@defun gdb.target_charset ()
23898Return the name of the current target character set (@pxref{Character
23899Sets}). This differs from @code{gdb.parameter('target-charset')} in
23900that @samp{auto} is never returned.
23901@end defun
23902
23903@findex gdb.target_wide_charset
23904@defun gdb.target_wide_charset ()
23905Return the name of the current target wide character set
23906(@pxref{Character Sets}). This differs from
23907@code{gdb.parameter('target-wide-charset')} in that @samp{auto} is
23908never returned.
23909@end defun
23910
23911@findex gdb.solib_name
23912@defun gdb.solib_name (address)
23913Return the name of the shared library holding the given @var{address}
23914as a string, or @code{None}.
23915@end defun
23916
23917@findex gdb.decode_line
23918@defun gdb.decode_line @r{[}expression@r{]}
23919Return locations of the line specified by @var{expression}, or of the
23920current line if no argument was given. This function returns a Python
23921tuple containing two elements. The first element contains a string
23922holding any unparsed section of @var{expression} (or @code{None} if
23923the expression has been fully parsed). The second element contains
23924either @code{None} or another tuple that contains all the locations
23925that match the expression represented as @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line}
23926objects (@pxref{Symbol Tables In Python}). If @var{expression} is
23927provided, it is decoded the way that @value{GDBN}'s inbuilt
23928@code{break} or @code{edit} commands do (@pxref{Specify Location}).
23929@end defun
23930
23931@defun gdb.prompt_hook (current_prompt)
23932@anchor{prompt_hook}
23933
23934If @var{prompt_hook} is callable, @value{GDBN} will call the method
23935assigned to this operation before a prompt is displayed by
23936@value{GDBN}.
23937
23938The parameter @code{current_prompt} contains the current @value{GDBN}
23939prompt. This method must return a Python string, or @code{None}. If
23940a string is returned, the @value{GDBN} prompt will be set to that
23941string. If @code{None} is returned, @value{GDBN} will continue to use
23942the current prompt.
23943
23944Some prompts cannot be substituted in @value{GDBN}. Secondary prompts
23945such as those used by readline for command input, and annotation
23946related prompts are prohibited from being changed.
23947@end defun
23948
23949@node Exception Handling
23950@subsubsection Exception Handling
23951@cindex python exceptions
23952@cindex exceptions, python
23953
23954When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
23955uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
23956@value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
23957@code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
23958terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
23959exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
23960backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
23961
23962@smallexample
23963(@value{GDBP}) python print foo
23964Traceback (most recent call last):
23965 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
23966NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
23967@end smallexample
23968
23969@value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by
23970Python code are converted to Python exceptions. The type of the
23971Python exception depends on the error.
23972
23973@ftable @code
23974@item gdb.error
23975This is the base class for most exceptions generated by @value{GDBN}.
23976It is derived from @code{RuntimeError}, for compatibility with earlier
23977versions of @value{GDBN}.
23978
23979If an error occurring in @value{GDBN} does not fit into some more
23980specific category, then the generated exception will have this type.
23981
23982@item gdb.MemoryError
23983This is a subclass of @code{gdb.error} which is thrown when an
23984operation tried to access invalid memory in the inferior.
23985
23986@item KeyboardInterrupt
23987User interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
23988prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception.
23989@end ftable
23990
23991In all cases, your exception handler will see the @value{GDBN} error
23992message as its value and the Python call stack backtrace at the Python
23993statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
23994traceback.
23995
23996@findex gdb.GdbError
23997When implementing @value{GDBN} commands in Python via @code{gdb.Command},
23998it is useful to be able to throw an exception that doesn't cause a
23999traceback to be printed. For example, the user may have invoked the
24000command incorrectly. Use the @code{gdb.GdbError} exception
24001to handle this case. Example:
24002
24003@smallexample
24004(gdb) python
24005>class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
24006> """Greet the whole world."""
24007> def __init__ (self):
24008> super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_USER)
24009> def invoke (self, args, from_tty):
24010> argv = gdb.string_to_argv (args)
24011> if len (argv) != 0:
24012> raise gdb.GdbError ("hello-world takes no arguments")
24013> print "Hello, World!"
24014>HelloWorld ()
24015>end
24016(gdb) hello-world 42
24017hello-world takes no arguments
24018@end smallexample
24019
24020@node Values From Inferior
24021@subsubsection Values From Inferior
24022@cindex values from inferior, with Python
24023@cindex python, working with values from inferior
24024
24025@cindex @code{gdb.Value}
24026@value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
24027an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
24028for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
24029fetching values when necessary.
24030
24031Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
24032Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
24033an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
24034
24035@smallexample
24036bar = some_val + 2
24037@end smallexample
24038
24039@noindent
24040As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
24041whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
24042
24043Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
24044be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
24045@code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
24046can access its @code{foo} element with:
24047
24048@smallexample
24049bar = some_val['foo']
24050@end smallexample
24051
24052@cindex getting structure elements using gdb.Field objects as subscripts
24053Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object. Structure
24054elements can also be accessed by using @code{gdb.Field} objects as
24055subscripts (@pxref{Types In Python}, for more information on
24056@code{gdb.Field} objects). For example, if @code{foo_field} is a
24057@code{gdb.Field} object corresponding to element @code{foo} of the above
24058structure, then @code{bar} can also be accessed as follows:
24059
24060@smallexample
24061bar = some_val[foo_field]
24062@end smallexample
24063
24064A @code{gdb.Value} that represents a function can be executed via
24065inferior function call. Any arguments provided to the call must match
24066the function's prototype, and must be provided in the order specified
24067by that prototype.
24068
24069For example, @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance
24070representing a function that takes two integers as arguments. To
24071execute this function, call it like so:
24072
24073@smallexample
24074result = some_val (10,20)
24075@end smallexample
24076
24077Any values returned from a function call will be stored as a
24078@code{gdb.Value}.
24079
24080The following attributes are provided:
24081
24082@defvar Value.address
24083If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
24084@code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
24085this attribute holds @code{None}.
24086@end defvar
24087
24088@cindex optimized out value in Python
24089@defvar Value.is_optimized_out
24090This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
24091this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
24092@end defvar
24093
24094@defvar Value.type
24095The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
24096@code{gdb.Type} object (@pxref{Types In Python}).
24097@end defvar
24098
24099@defvar Value.dynamic_type
24100The dynamic type of this @code{gdb.Value}. This uses C@t{++} run-time
24101type information (@acronym{RTTI}) to determine the dynamic type of the
24102value. If this value is of class type, it will return the class in
24103which the value is embedded, if any. If this value is of pointer or
24104reference to a class type, it will compute the dynamic type of the
24105referenced object, and return a pointer or reference to that type,
24106respectively. In all other cases, it will return the value's static
24107type.
24108
24109Note that this feature will only work when debugging a C@t{++} program
24110that includes @acronym{RTTI} for the object in question. Otherwise,
24111it will just return the static type of the value as in @kbd{ptype foo}
24112(@pxref{Symbols, ptype}).
24113@end defvar
24114
24115@defvar Value.is_lazy
24116The value of this read-only boolean attribute is @code{True} if this
24117@code{gdb.Value} has not yet been fetched from the inferior.
24118@value{GDBN} does not fetch values until necessary, for efficiency.
24119For example:
24120
24121@smallexample
24122myval = gdb.parse_and_eval ('somevar')
24123@end smallexample
24124
24125The value of @code{somevar} is not fetched at this time. It will be
24126fetched when the value is needed, or when the @code{fetch_lazy}
24127method is invoked.
24128@end defvar
24129
24130The following methods are provided:
24131
24132@defun Value.__init__ (@var{val})
24133Many Python values can be converted directly to a @code{gdb.Value} via
24134this object initializer. Specifically:
24135
24136@table @asis
24137@item Python boolean
24138A Python boolean is converted to the boolean type from the current
24139language.
24140
24141@item Python integer
24142A Python integer is converted to the C @code{long} type for the
24143current architecture.
24144
24145@item Python long
24146A Python long is converted to the C @code{long long} type for the
24147current architecture.
24148
24149@item Python float
24150A Python float is converted to the C @code{double} type for the
24151current architecture.
24152
24153@item Python string
24154A Python string is converted to a target string, using the current
24155target encoding.
24156
24157@item @code{gdb.Value}
24158If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.Value}, then a copy of the value is made.
24159
24160@item @code{gdb.LazyString}
24161If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings In
24162Python}), then the lazy string's @code{value} method is called, and
24163its result is used.
24164@end table
24165@end defun
24166
24167@defun Value.cast (type)
24168Return a new instance of @code{gdb.Value} that is the result of
24169casting this instance to the type described by @var{type}, which must
24170be a @code{gdb.Type} object. If the cast cannot be performed for some
24171reason, this method throws an exception.
24172@end defun
24173
24174@defun Value.dereference ()
24175For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
24176whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
24177@code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
24178
24179@smallexample
24180int *foo;
24181@end smallexample
24182
24183@noindent
24184then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
24185@code{foo} points to like this:
24186
24187@smallexample
24188bar = foo.dereference ()
24189@end smallexample
24190
24191The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
24192value pointed to by @code{foo}.
24193
24194A similar function @code{Value.referenced_value} exists which also
24195returns @code{gdb.Value} objects corresonding to the values pointed to
24196by pointer values (and additionally, values referenced by reference
24197values). However, the behavior of @code{Value.dereference}
24198differs from @code{Value.referenced_value} by the fact that the
24199behavior of @code{Value.dereference} is identical to applying the C
24200unary operator @code{*} on a given value. For example, consider a
24201reference to a pointer @code{ptrref}, declared in your C@t{++} program
24202as
24203
24204@smallexample
24205typedef int *intptr;
24206...
24207int val = 10;
24208intptr ptr = &val;
24209intptr &ptrref = ptr;
24210@end smallexample
24211
24212Though @code{ptrref} is a reference value, one can apply the method
24213@code{Value.dereference} to the @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding
24214to it and obtain a @code{gdb.Value} which is identical to that
24215corresponding to @code{val}. However, if you apply the method
24216@code{Value.referenced_value}, the result would be a @code{gdb.Value}
24217object identical to that corresponding to @code{ptr}.
24218
24219@smallexample
24220py_ptrref = gdb.parse_and_eval ("ptrref")
24221py_val = py_ptrref.dereference ()
24222py_ptr = py_ptrref.referenced_value ()
24223@end smallexample
24224
24225The @code{gdb.Value} object @code{py_val} is identical to that
24226corresponding to @code{val}, and @code{py_ptr} is identical to that
24227corresponding to @code{ptr}. In general, @code{Value.dereference} can
24228be applied whenever the C unary operator @code{*} can be applied
24229to the corresponding C value. For those cases where applying both
24230@code{Value.dereference} and @code{Value.referenced_value} is allowed,
24231the results obtained need not be identical (as we have seen in the above
24232example). The results are however identical when applied on
24233@code{gdb.Value} objects corresponding to pointers (@code{gdb.Value}
24234objects with type code @code{TYPE_CODE_PTR}) in a C/C@t{++} program.
24235@end defun
24236
24237@defun Value.referenced_value ()
24238For pointer or reference data types, this method returns a new
24239@code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the value referenced by the
24240pointer/reference value. For pointer data types,
24241@code{Value.dereference} and @code{Value.referenced_value} produce
24242identical results. The difference between these methods is that
24243@code{Value.dereference} cannot get the values referenced by reference
24244values. For example, consider a reference to an @code{int}, declared
24245in your C@t{++} program as
24246
24247@smallexample
24248int val = 10;
24249int &ref = val;
24250@end smallexample
24251
24252@noindent
24253then applying @code{Value.dereference} to the @code{gdb.Value} object
24254corresponding to @code{ref} will result in an error, while applying
24255@code{Value.referenced_value} will result in a @code{gdb.Value} object
24256identical to that corresponding to @code{val}.
24257
24258@smallexample
24259py_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval ("ref")
24260er_ref = py_ref.dereference () # Results in error
24261py_val = py_ref.referenced_value () # Returns the referenced value
24262@end smallexample
24263
24264The @code{gdb.Value} object @code{py_val} is identical to that
24265corresponding to @code{val}.
24266@end defun
24267
24268@defun Value.dynamic_cast (type)
24269Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{dynamic_cast}
24270operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
24271@end defun
24272
24273@defun Value.reinterpret_cast (type)
24274Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{reinterpret_cast}
24275operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
24276@end defun
24277
24278@defun Value.string (@r{[}encoding@r{[}, errors@r{[}, length@r{]]]})
24279If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
24280converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
24281throw an exception.
24282
24283Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
24284@code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
24285language.
24286
24287For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
24288array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
24289by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
24290argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
24291ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
24292
24293If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
24294naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
24295@code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
24296the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
24297@code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
24298to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
24299@var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
24300(@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
24301will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
24302
24303The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
24304argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
24305
24306If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
24307fetched and converted to the given length.
24308@end defun
24309
24310@defun Value.lazy_string (@r{[}encoding @r{[}, length@r{]]})
24311If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
24312converts the contents to a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings
24313In Python}). Otherwise, this method will throw an exception.
24314
24315If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
24316naming the encoding of the @code{gdb.LazyString}. Some examples are:
24317@samp{ascii}, @samp{iso-8859-6} or @samp{utf-8}. If the
24318@var{encoding} argument is an encoding that @value{GDBN} does
24319recognize, @value{GDBN} will raise an error.
24320
24321When a lazy string is printed, the @value{GDBN} encoding machinery is
24322used to convert the string during printing. If the optional
24323@var{encoding} argument is not provided, or is an empty string,
24324@value{GDBN} will automatically select the encoding most suitable for
24325the string type. For further information on encoding in @value{GDBN}
24326please see @ref{Character Sets}.
24327
24328If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
24329fetched and encoded to the length of characters specified. If
24330the @var{length} argument is not provided, the string will be fetched
24331and encoded until a null of appropriate width is found.
24332@end defun
24333
24334@defun Value.fetch_lazy ()
24335If the @code{gdb.Value} object is currently a lazy value
24336(@code{gdb.Value.is_lazy} is @code{True}), then the value is
24337fetched from the inferior. Any errors that occur in the process
24338will produce a Python exception.
24339
24340If the @code{gdb.Value} object is not a lazy value, this method
24341has no effect.
24342
24343This method does not return a value.
24344@end defun
24345
24346
24347@node Types In Python
24348@subsubsection Types In Python
24349@cindex types in Python
24350@cindex Python, working with types
24351
24352@tindex gdb.Type
24353@value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
24354@code{gdb.Type}.
24355
24356The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
24357module:
24358
24359@findex gdb.lookup_type
24360@defun gdb.lookup_type (name @r{[}, block@r{]})
24361This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
24362type to look up. It must be a string.
24363
24364If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
24365Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
24366
24367Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
24368If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
24369@end defun
24370
24371If the type is a structure or class type, or an enum type, the fields
24372of that type can be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}.
24373For example, if @code{some_type} is a @code{gdb.Type} instance holding
24374a structure type, you can access its @code{foo} field with:
24375
24376@smallexample
24377bar = some_type['foo']
24378@end smallexample
24379
24380@code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Field} object; see below under the
24381description of the @code{Type.fields} method for a description of the
24382@code{gdb.Field} class.
24383
24384An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
24385
24386@defvar Type.code
24387The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
24388@code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
24389@end defvar
24390
24391@defvar Type.name
24392The name of this type. If this type has no name, then @code{None}
24393is returned.
24394@end defvar
24395
24396@defvar Type.sizeof
24397The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
24398target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
24399unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
24400@end defvar
24401
24402@defvar Type.tag
24403The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
24404@code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
24405languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
24406@code{None} is returned.
24407@end defvar
24408
24409The following methods are provided:
24410
24411@defun Type.fields ()
24412For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
24413types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
24414have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
24415field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
24416represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
24417into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
24418
24419Each field is a @code{gdb.Field} object, with some pre-defined attributes:
24420@table @code
24421@item bitpos
24422This attribute is not available for @code{enum} or @code{static}
24423(as in C@t{++} or Java) fields. The value is the position, counting
24424in bits, from the start of the containing type.
24425
24426@item enumval
24427This attribute is only available for @code{enum} fields, and its value
24428is the enumeration member's integer representation.
24429
24430@item name
24431The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
24432
24433@item artificial
24434This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
24435it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
24436always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
24437
24438@item is_base_class
24439This is @code{True} if the field represents a base class of a C@t{++}
24440structure. This attribute is always provided, and is @code{False}
24441if the field is not a base class of the type that is the argument of
24442@code{fields}, or if that type was not a C@t{++} class.
24443
24444@item bitsize
24445If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
24446non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
24447this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
24448
24449@item type
24450The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
24451but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
24452
24453@item parent_type
24454The type which contains this field. This is an instance of
24455@code{gdb.Type}.
24456@end table
24457@end defun
24458
24459@defun Type.array (@var{n1} @r{[}, @var{n2}@r{]})
24460Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an array of this
24461type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
24462the array; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
24463given, the first argument is the lower bound of the array, and the
24464second argument is the upper bound of the array. An array's length
24465must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
24466@end defun
24467
24468@defun Type.vector (@var{n1} @r{[}, @var{n2}@r{]})
24469Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a vector of this
24470type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
24471the vector; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
24472given, the first argument is the lower bound of the vector, and the
24473second argument is the upper bound of the vector. A vector's length
24474must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
24475
24476The difference between an @code{array} and a @code{vector} is that
24477arrays behave like in C: when used in expressions they decay to a pointer
24478to the first element whereas vectors are treated as first class values.
24479@end defun
24480
24481@defun Type.const ()
24482Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
24483@code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
24484@end defun
24485
24486@defun Type.volatile ()
24487Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
24488@code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
24489@end defun
24490
24491@defun Type.unqualified ()
24492Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
24493variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
24494@code{volatile}.
24495@end defun
24496
24497@defun Type.range ()
24498Return a Python @code{Tuple} object that contains two elements: the
24499low bound of the argument type and the high bound of that type. If
24500the type does not have a range, @value{GDBN} will raise a
24501@code{gdb.error} exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
24502@end defun
24503
24504@defun Type.reference ()
24505Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
24506type.
24507@end defun
24508
24509@defun Type.pointer ()
24510Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a pointer to this
24511type.
24512@end defun
24513
24514@defun Type.strip_typedefs ()
24515Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
24516after removing all layers of typedefs.
24517@end defun
24518
24519@defun Type.target ()
24520Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
24521of this type.
24522
24523For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
24524object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
24525the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
24526the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
24527the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
24528target type is the aliased type.
24529
24530If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
24531exception.
24532@end defun
24533
24534@defun Type.template_argument (n @r{[}, block@r{]})
24535If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
24536return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
24537@var{n}th template argument.
24538
24539If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
24540exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
24541
24542If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
24543Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
24544@end defun
24545
24546
24547Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
24548into. The available type categories are represented by constants
24549defined in the @code{gdb} module:
24550
24551@table @code
24552@findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
24553@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
24554@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
24555The type is a pointer.
24556
24557@findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
24558@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
24559@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
24560The type is an array.
24561
24562@findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
24563@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
24564@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
24565The type is a structure.
24566
24567@findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
24568@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
24569@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
24570The type is a union.
24571
24572@findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
24573@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
24574@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
24575The type is an enum.
24576
24577@findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
24578@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
24579@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
24580A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
24581
24582@findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
24583@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
24584@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
24585The type is a function.
24586
24587@findex TYPE_CODE_INT
24588@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
24589@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
24590The type is an integer type.
24591
24592@findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
24593@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
24594@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
24595A floating point type.
24596
24597@findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
24598@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
24599@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
24600The special type @code{void}.
24601
24602@findex TYPE_CODE_SET
24603@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
24604@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
24605A Pascal set type.
24606
24607@findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
24608@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
24609@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
24610A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
24611
24612@findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
24613@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
24614@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
24615A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
24616language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
24617
24618@findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
24619@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
24620@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
24621A string of bits. It is deprecated.
24622
24623@findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
24624@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
24625@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
24626An unknown or erroneous type.
24627
24628@findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
24629@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
24630@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
24631A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
24632
24633@findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
24634@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
24635@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
24636A pointer-to-member-function.
24637
24638@findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
24639@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
24640@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
24641A pointer-to-member.
24642
24643@findex TYPE_CODE_REF
24644@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
24645@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
24646A reference type.
24647
24648@findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
24649@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
24650@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
24651A character type.
24652
24653@findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
24654@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
24655@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
24656A boolean type.
24657
24658@findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
24659@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
24660@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
24661A complex float type.
24662
24663@findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
24664@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
24665@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
24666A typedef to some other type.
24667
24668@findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
24669@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
24670@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
24671A C@t{++} namespace.
24672
24673@findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
24674@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
24675@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
24676A decimal floating point type.
24677
24678@findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
24679@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
24680@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
24681A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
24682convenience functions.
24683@end table
24684
24685Further support for types is provided in the @code{gdb.types}
24686Python module (@pxref{gdb.types}).
24687
24688@node Pretty Printing API
24689@subsubsection Pretty Printing API
24690
24691An example output is provided (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
24692
24693A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
24694specific interface, defined here.
24695
24696@defun pretty_printer.children (self)
24697@value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
24698children of the pretty-printer's value.
24699
24700This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
24701protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
24702two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
24703second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
24704object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
24705
24706This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
24707as though the value has no children.
24708@end defun
24709
24710@defun pretty_printer.display_hint (self)
24711The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
24712formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
24713consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
24714printed.
24715
24716This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
24717string.
24718
24719Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
24720
24721@table @samp
24722@item array
24723Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
24724uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
24725@code{set print array}.
24726
24727@item map
24728Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
24729children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
24730values.
24731
24732@item string
24733Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
24734printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
24735kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
24736string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
24737adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
24738@code{set print elements}, and the like.
24739@end table
24740@end defun
24741
24742@defun pretty_printer.to_string (self)
24743@value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
24744representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
24745
24746When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
24747then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
24748@code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
24749the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
24750depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
24751print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
24752the result of @code{children}.
24753
24754If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
24755
24756Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
24757then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
24758another pretty-printer.
24759
24760If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
24761@code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
24762the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
24763pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
24764strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
24765
24766Finally, if this method returns @code{None} then no further operations
24767are peformed in this method and nothing is printed.
24768
24769If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
24770@end defun
24771
24772@value{GDBN} provides a function which can be used to look up the
24773default pretty-printer for a @code{gdb.Value}:
24774
24775@findex gdb.default_visualizer
24776@defun gdb.default_visualizer (value)
24777This function takes a @code{gdb.Value} object as an argument. If a
24778pretty-printer for this value exists, then it is returned. If no such
24779printer exists, then this returns @code{None}.
24780@end defun
24781
24782@node Selecting Pretty-Printers
24783@subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
24784
24785The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
24786functions or callable objects that have been registered via addition
24787as a pretty-printer. Printers in this list are called @code{global}
24788printers, they're available when debugging all inferiors.
24789Each @code{gdb.Progspace} contains a @code{pretty_printers} attribute.
24790Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
24791attribute.
24792
24793Each function on these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
24794argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
24795interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}). If a function
24796cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
24797@code{None}.
24798
24799@value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
24800@code{gdb.Objfile} in the current program space and iteratively calls
24801each enabled lookup routine in the list for that @code{gdb.Objfile}
24802until it receives a pretty-printer object.
24803If no pretty-printer is found in the objfile lists, @value{GDBN} then
24804searches the pretty-printer list of the current program space,
24805calling each enabled function until an object is returned.
24806After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
24807@code{gdb.pretty_printers} list, again calling each enabled function until an
24808object is returned.
24809
24810The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
24811given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
24812and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
24813object is returned.
24814
24815For various reasons a pretty-printer may not work.
24816For example, the underlying data structure may have changed and
24817the pretty-printer is out of date.
24818
24819The consequences of a broken pretty-printer are severe enough that
24820@value{GDBN} provides support for enabling and disabling individual
24821printers. For example, if @code{print frame-arguments} is on,
24822a backtrace can become highly illegible if any argument is printed
24823with a broken printer.
24824
24825Pretty-printers are enabled and disabled by attaching an @code{enabled}
24826attribute to the registered function or callable object. If this attribute
24827is present and its value is @code{False}, the printer is disabled, otherwise
24828the printer is enabled.
24829
24830@node Writing a Pretty-Printer
24831@subsubsection Writing a Pretty-Printer
24832@cindex writing a pretty-printer
24833
24834A pretty-printer consists of two parts: a lookup function to detect
24835if the type is supported, and the printer itself.
24836
24837Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
24838written. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for details on the API this class
24839must provide.
24840
24841@smallexample
24842class StdStringPrinter(object):
24843 "Print a std::string"
24844
24845 def __init__(self, val):
24846 self.val = val
24847
24848 def to_string(self):
24849 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
24850
24851 def display_hint(self):
24852 return 'string'
24853@end smallexample
24854
24855And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
24856example above might be written.
24857
24858@smallexample
24859def str_lookup_function(val):
24860 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
24861 if lookup_tag == None:
24862 return None
24863 regex = re.compile("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
24864 if regex.match(lookup_tag):
24865 return StdStringPrinter(val)
24866 return None
24867@end smallexample
24868
24869The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
24870match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
24871printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
24872returns @code{None}.
24873
24874We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
24875package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
24876further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
24877This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
24878your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
24879different names.
24880
24881You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Python Auto-loading}) such that it
24882can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
24883ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
24884printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
24885the current objfile.
24886
24887Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
24888inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
24889Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
24890@value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
24891Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
24892because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
24893printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
24894printers for the specific version of the library used by each
24895inferior.
24896
24897To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}),
24898this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
24899
24900@smallexample
24901def register_printers(objfile):
24902 objfile.pretty_printers.append(str_lookup_function)
24903@end smallexample
24904
24905@noindent
24906And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
24907
24908@smallexample
24909import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
24910gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers(gdb.current_objfile())
24911@end smallexample
24912
24913The previous example illustrates a basic pretty-printer.
24914There are a few things that can be improved on.
24915The printer doesn't have a name, making it hard to identify in a
24916list of installed printers. The lookup function has a name, but
24917lookup functions can have arbitrary, even identical, names.
24918
24919Second, the printer only handles one type, whereas a library typically has
24920several types. One could install a lookup function for each desired type
24921in the library, but one could also have a single lookup function recognize
24922several types. The latter is the conventional way this is handled.
24923If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
24924@dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
24925
24926The @code{gdb.printing} module provides a formal way of solving these
24927problems (@pxref{gdb.printing}).
24928Here is another example that handles multiple types.
24929
24930These are the types we are going to pretty-print:
24931
24932@smallexample
24933struct foo @{ int a, b; @};
24934struct bar @{ struct foo x, y; @};
24935@end smallexample
24936
24937Here are the printers:
24938
24939@smallexample
24940class fooPrinter:
24941 """Print a foo object."""
24942
24943 def __init__(self, val):
24944 self.val = val
24945
24946 def to_string(self):
24947 return ("a=<" + str(self.val["a"]) +
24948 "> b=<" + str(self.val["b"]) + ">")
24949
24950class barPrinter:
24951 """Print a bar object."""
24952
24953 def __init__(self, val):
24954 self.val = val
24955
24956 def to_string(self):
24957 return ("x=<" + str(self.val["x"]) +
24958 "> y=<" + str(self.val["y"]) + ">")
24959@end smallexample
24960
24961This example doesn't need a lookup function, that is handled by the
24962@code{gdb.printing} module. Instead a function is provided to build up
24963the object that handles the lookup.
24964
24965@smallexample
24966import gdb.printing
24967
24968def build_pretty_printer():
24969 pp = gdb.printing.RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter(
24970 "my_library")
24971 pp.add_printer('foo', '^foo$', fooPrinter)
24972 pp.add_printer('bar', '^bar$', barPrinter)
24973 return pp
24974@end smallexample
24975
24976And here is the autoload support:
24977
24978@smallexample
24979import gdb.printing
24980import my_library
24981gdb.printing.register_pretty_printer(
24982 gdb.current_objfile(),
24983 my_library.build_pretty_printer())
24984@end smallexample
24985
24986Finally, when this printer is loaded into @value{GDBN}, here is the
24987corresponding output of @samp{info pretty-printer}:
24988
24989@smallexample
24990(gdb) info pretty-printer
24991my_library.so:
24992 my_library
24993 foo
24994 bar
24995@end smallexample
24996
24997@node Type Printing API
24998@subsubsection Type Printing API
24999@cindex type printing API for Python
25000
25001@value{GDBN} provides a way for Python code to customize type display.
25002This is mainly useful for substituting canonical typedef names for
25003types.
25004
25005@cindex type printer
25006A @dfn{type printer} is just a Python object conforming to a certain
25007protocol. A simple base class implementing the protocol is provided;
25008see @ref{gdb.types}. A type printer must supply at least:
25009
25010@defivar type_printer enabled
25011A boolean which is True if the printer is enabled, and False
25012otherwise. This is manipulated by the @code{enable type-printer}
25013and @code{disable type-printer} commands.
25014@end defivar
25015
25016@defivar type_printer name
25017The name of the type printer. This must be a string. This is used by
25018the @code{enable type-printer} and @code{disable type-printer}
25019commands.
25020@end defivar
25021
25022@defmethod type_printer instantiate (self)
25023This is called by @value{GDBN} at the start of type-printing. It is
25024only called if the type printer is enabled. This method must return a
25025new object that supplies a @code{recognize} method, as described below.
25026@end defmethod
25027
25028
25029When displaying a type, say via the @code{ptype} command, @value{GDBN}
25030will compute a list of type recognizers. This is done by iterating
25031first over the per-objfile type printers (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}),
25032followed by the per-progspace type printers (@pxref{Progspaces In
25033Python}), and finally the global type printers.
25034
25035@value{GDBN} will call the @code{instantiate} method of each enabled
25036type printer. If this method returns @code{None}, then the result is
25037ignored; otherwise, it is appended to the list of recognizers.
25038
25039Then, when @value{GDBN} is going to display a type name, it iterates
25040over the list of recognizers. For each one, it calls the recognition
25041function, stopping if the function returns a non-@code{None} value.
25042The recognition function is defined as:
25043
25044@defmethod type_recognizer recognize (self, type)
25045If @var{type} is not recognized, return @code{None}. Otherwise,
25046return a string which is to be printed as the name of @var{type}.
25047@var{type} will be an instance of @code{gdb.Type} (@pxref{Types In
25048Python}).
25049@end defmethod
25050
25051@value{GDBN} uses this two-pass approach so that type printers can
25052efficiently cache information without holding on to it too long. For
25053example, it can be convenient to look up type information in a type
25054printer and hold it for a recognizer's lifetime; if a single pass were
25055done then type printers would have to make use of the event system in
25056order to avoid holding information that could become stale as the
25057inferior changed.
25058
25059@node Frame Filter API
25060@subsubsection Filtering Frames.
25061@cindex frame filters api
25062
25063Frame filters are Python objects that manipulate the visibility of a
25064frame or frames when a backtrace (@pxref{Backtrace}) is printed by
25065@value{GDBN}.
25066
25067Only commands that print a backtrace, or, in the case of @sc{gdb/mi}
25068commands (@pxref{GDB/MI}), those that return a collection of frames
25069are affected. The commands that work with frame filters are:
25070
25071@code{backtrace} (@pxref{backtrace-command,, The backtrace command}),
25072@code{-stack-list-frames}
25073(@pxref{-stack-list-frames,, The -stack-list-frames command}),
25074@code{-stack-list-variables} (@pxref{-stack-list-variables,, The
25075-stack-list-variables command}), @code{-stack-list-arguments}
25076@pxref{-stack-list-arguments,, The -stack-list-arguments command}) and
25077@code{-stack-list-locals} (@pxref{-stack-list-locals,, The
25078-stack-list-locals command}).
25079
25080A frame filter works by taking an iterator as an argument, applying
25081actions to the contents of that iterator, and returning another
25082iterator (or, possibly, the same iterator it was provided in the case
25083where the filter does not perform any operations). Typically, frame
25084filters utilize tools such as the Python's @code{itertools} module to
25085work with and create new iterators from the source iterator.
25086Regardless of how a filter chooses to apply actions, it must not alter
25087the underlying @value{GDBN} frame or frames, or attempt to alter the
25088call-stack within @value{GDBN}. This preserves data integrity within
25089@value{GDBN}. Frame filters are executed on a priority basis and care
25090should be taken that some frame filters may have been executed before,
25091and that some frame filters will be executed after.
25092
25093An important consideration when designing frame filters, and well
25094worth reflecting upon, is that frame filters should avoid unwinding
25095the call stack if possible. Some stacks can run very deep, into the
25096tens of thousands in some cases. To search every frame when a frame
25097filter executes may be too expensive at that step. The frame filter
25098cannot know how many frames it has to iterate over, and it may have to
25099iterate through them all. This ends up duplicating effort as
25100@value{GDBN} performs this iteration when it prints the frames. If
25101the filter can defer unwinding frames until frame decorators are
25102executed, after the last filter has executed, it should. @xref{Frame
25103Decorator API}, for more information on decorators. Also, there are
25104examples for both frame decorators and filters in later chapters.
25105@xref{Writing a Frame Filter}, for more information.
25106
25107The Python dictionary @code{gdb.frame_filters} contains key/object
25108pairings that comprise a frame filter. Frame filters in this
25109dictionary are called @code{global} frame filters, and they are
25110available when debugging all inferiors. These frame filters must
25111register with the dictionary directly. In addition to the
25112@code{global} dictionary, there are other dictionaries that are loaded
25113with different inferiors via auto-loading (@pxref{Python
25114Auto-loading}). The two other areas where frame filter dictionaries
25115can be found are: @code{gdb.Progspace} which contains a
25116@code{frame_filters} dictionary attribute, and each @code{gdb.Objfile}
25117object which also contains a @code{frame_filters} dictionary
25118attribute.
25119
25120When a command is executed from @value{GDBN} that is compatible with
25121frame filters, @value{GDBN} combines the @code{global},
25122@code{gdb.Progspace} and all @code{gdb.Objfile} dictionaries currently
25123loaded. All of the @code{gdb.Objfile} dictionaries are combined, as
25124several frames, and thus several object files, might be in use.
25125@value{GDBN} then prunes any frame filter whose @code{enabled}
25126attribute is @code{False}. This pruned list is then sorted according
25127to the @code{priority} attribute in each filter.
25128
25129Once the dictionaries are combined, pruned and sorted, @value{GDBN}
25130creates an iterator which wraps each frame in the call stack in a
25131@code{FrameDecorator} object, and calls each filter in order. The
25132output from the previous filter will always be the input to the next
25133filter, and so on.
25134
25135Frame filters have a mandatory interface which each frame filter must
25136implement, defined here:
25137
25138@defun FrameFilter.filter (iterator)
25139@value{GDBN} will call this method on a frame filter when it has
25140reached the order in the priority list for that filter.
25141
25142For example, if there are four frame filters:
25143
25144@smallexample
25145Name Priority
25146
25147Filter1 5
25148Filter2 10
25149Filter3 100
25150Filter4 1
25151@end smallexample
25152
25153The order that the frame filters will be called is:
25154
25155@smallexample
25156Filter3 -> Filter2 -> Filter1 -> Filter4
25157@end smallexample
25158
25159Note that the output from @code{Filter3} is passed to the input of
25160@code{Filter2}, and so on.
25161
25162This @code{filter} method is passed a Python iterator. This iterator
25163contains a sequence of frame decorators that wrap each
25164@code{gdb.Frame}, or a frame decorator that wraps another frame
25165decorator. The first filter that is executed in the sequence of frame
25166filters will receive an iterator entirely comprised of default
25167@code{FrameDecorator} objects. However, after each frame filter is
25168executed, the previous frame filter may have wrapped some or all of
25169the frame decorators with their own frame decorator. As frame
25170decorators must also conform to a mandatory interface, these
25171decorators can be assumed to act in a uniform manner (@pxref{Frame
25172Decorator API}).
25173
25174This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
25175protocol. Each item in the iterator must be an object conforming to
25176the frame decorator interface. If a frame filter does not wish to
25177perform any operations on this iterator, it should return that
25178iterator untouched.
25179
25180This method is not optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will
25181raise and print an error.
25182@end defun
25183
25184@defvar FrameFilter.name
25185The @code{name} attribute must be Python string which contains the
25186name of the filter displayed by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Frame Filter
25187Management}). This attribute may contain any combination of letters
25188or numbers. Care should be taken to ensure that it is unique. This
25189attribute is mandatory.
25190@end defvar
25191
25192@defvar FrameFilter.enabled
25193The @code{enabled} attribute must be Python boolean. This attribute
25194indicates to @value{GDBN} whether the frame filter is enabled, and
25195should be considered when frame filters are executed. If
25196@code{enabled} is @code{True}, then the frame filter will be executed
25197when any of the backtrace commands detailed earlier in this chapter
25198are executed. If @code{enabled} is @code{False}, then the frame
25199filter will not be executed. This attribute is mandatory.
25200@end defvar
25201
25202@defvar FrameFilter.priority
25203The @code{priority} attribute must be Python integer. This attribute
25204controls the order of execution in relation to other frame filters.
25205There are no imposed limits on the range of @code{priority} other than
25206it must be a valid integer. The higher the @code{priority} attribute,
25207the sooner the frame filter will be executed in relation to other
25208frame filters. Although @code{priority} can be negative, it is
25209recommended practice to assume zero is the lowest priority that a
25210frame filter can be assigned. Frame filters that have the same
25211priority are executed in unsorted order in that priority slot. This
25212attribute is mandatory.
25213@end defvar
25214
25215@node Frame Decorator API
25216@subsubsection Decorating Frames.
25217@cindex frame decorator api
25218
25219Frame decorators are sister objects to frame filters (@pxref{Frame
25220Filter API}). Frame decorators are applied by a frame filter and can
25221only be used in conjunction with frame filters.
25222
25223The purpose of a frame decorator is to customize the printed content
25224of each @code{gdb.Frame} in commands where frame filters are executed.
25225This concept is called decorating a frame. Frame decorators decorate
25226a @code{gdb.Frame} with Python code contained within each API call.
25227This separates the actual data contained in a @code{gdb.Frame} from
25228the decorated data produced by a frame decorator. This abstraction is
25229necessary to maintain integrity of the data contained in each
25230@code{gdb.Frame}.
25231
25232Frame decorators have a mandatory interface, defined below.
25233
25234@value{GDBN} already contains a frame decorator called
25235@code{FrameDecorator}. This contains substantial amounts of
25236boilerplate code to decorate the content of a @code{gdb.Frame}. It is
25237recommended that other frame decorators inherit and extend this
25238object, and only to override the methods needed.
25239
25240@defun FrameDecorator.elided (self)
25241
25242The @code{elided} method groups frames together in a hierarchical
25243system. An example would be an interpreter, where multiple low-level
25244frames make up a single call in the interpreted language. In this
25245example, the frame filter would elide the low-level frames and present
25246a single high-level frame, representing the call in the interpreted
25247language, to the user.
25248
25249The @code{elided} function must return an iterable and this iterable
25250must contain the frames that are being elided wrapped in a suitable
25251frame decorator. If no frames are being elided this function may
25252return an empty iterable, or @code{None}. Elided frames are indented
25253from normal frames in a @code{CLI} backtrace, or in the case of
25254@code{GDB/MI}, are placed in the @code{children} field of the eliding
25255frame.
25256
25257It is the frame filter's task to also filter out the elided frames from
25258the source iterator. This will avoid printing the frame twice.
25259@end defun
25260
25261@defun FrameDecorator.function (self)
25262
25263This method returns the name of the function in the frame that is to
25264be printed.
25265
25266This method must return a Python string describing the function, or
25267@code{None}.
25268
25269If this function returns @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print any
25270data for this field.
25271@end defun
25272
25273@defun FrameDecorator.address (self)
25274
25275This method returns the address of the frame that is to be printed.
25276
25277This method must return a Python numeric integer type of sufficient
25278size to describe the address of the frame, or @code{None}.
25279
25280If this function returns a @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print
25281any data for this field.
25282@end defun
25283
25284@defun FrameDecorator.filename (self)
25285
25286This method returns the filename and path associated with this frame.
25287
25288This method must return a Python string containing the filename and
25289the path to the object file backing the frame, or @code{None}.
25290
25291If this function returns a @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print
25292any data for this field.
25293@end defun
25294
25295@defun FrameDecorator.line (self):
25296
25297This method returns the line number associated with the current
25298position within the function addressed by this frame.
25299
25300This method must return a Python integer type, or @code{None}.
25301
25302If this function returns a @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print
25303any data for this field.
25304@end defun
25305
25306@defun FrameDecorator.frame_args (self)
25307@anchor{frame_args}
25308
25309This method must return an iterable, or @code{None}. Returning an
25310empty iterable, or @code{None} means frame arguments will not be
25311printed for this frame. This iterable must contain objects that
25312implement two methods, described here.
25313
25314This object must implement a @code{argument} method which takes a
25315single @code{self} parameter and must return a @code{gdb.Symbol}
25316(@pxref{Symbols In Python}), or a Python string. The object must also
25317implement a @code{value} method which takes a single @code{self}
25318parameter and must return a @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From
25319Inferior}), a Python value, or @code{None}. If the @code{value}
25320method returns @code{None}, and the @code{argument} method returns a
25321@code{gdb.Symbol}, @value{GDBN} will look-up and print the value of
25322the @code{gdb.Symbol} automatically.
25323
25324A brief example:
25325
25326@smallexample
25327class SymValueWrapper():
25328
25329 def __init__(self, symbol, value):
25330 self.sym = symbol
25331 self.val = value
25332
25333 def value(self):
25334 return self.val
25335
25336 def symbol(self):
25337 return self.sym
25338
25339class SomeFrameDecorator()
25340...
25341...
25342 def frame_args(self):
25343 args = []
25344 try:
25345 block = self.inferior_frame.block()
25346 except:
25347 return None
25348
25349 # Iterate over all symbols in a block. Only add
25350 # symbols that are arguments.
25351 for sym in block:
25352 if not sym.is_argument:
25353 continue
25354 args.append(SymValueWrapper(sym,None))
25355
25356 # Add example synthetic argument.
25357 args.append(SymValueWrapper(``foo'', 42))
25358
25359 return args
25360@end smallexample
25361@end defun
25362
25363@defun FrameDecorator.frame_locals (self)
25364
25365This method must return an iterable or @code{None}. Returning an
25366empty iterable, or @code{None} means frame local arguments will not be
25367printed for this frame.
25368
25369The object interface, the description of the various strategies for
25370reading frame locals, and the example are largely similar to those
25371described in the @code{frame_args} function, (@pxref{frame_args,,The
25372frame filter frame_args function}). Below is a modified example:
25373
25374@smallexample
25375class SomeFrameDecorator()
25376...
25377...
25378 def frame_locals(self):
25379 vars = []
25380 try:
25381 block = self.inferior_frame.block()
25382 except:
25383 return None
25384
25385 # Iterate over all symbols in a block. Add all
25386 # symbols, except arguments.
25387 for sym in block:
25388 if sym.is_argument:
25389 continue
25390 vars.append(SymValueWrapper(sym,None))
25391
25392 # Add an example of a synthetic local variable.
25393 vars.append(SymValueWrapper(``bar'', 99))
25394
25395 return vars
25396@end smallexample
25397@end defun
25398
25399@defun FrameDecorator.inferior_frame (self):
25400
25401This method must return the underlying @code{gdb.Frame} that this
25402frame decorator is decorating. @value{GDBN} requires the underlying
25403frame for internal frame information to determine how to print certain
25404values when printing a frame.
25405@end defun
25406
25407@node Writing a Frame Filter
25408@subsubsection Writing a Frame Filter
25409@cindex writing a frame filter
25410
25411There are three basic elements that a frame filter must implement: it
25412must correctly implement the documented interface (@pxref{Frame Filter
25413API}), it must register itself with @value{GDBN}, and finally, it must
25414decide if it is to work on the data provided by @value{GDBN}. In all
25415cases, whether it works on the iterator or not, each frame filter must
25416return an iterator. A bare-bones frame filter follows the pattern in
25417the following example.
25418
25419@smallexample
25420import gdb
25421
25422class FrameFilter():
25423
25424 def __init__(self):
25425 # Frame filter attribute creation.
25426 #
25427 # 'name' is the name of the filter that GDB will display.
25428 #
25429 # 'priority' is the priority of the filter relative to other
25430 # filters.
25431 #
25432 # 'enabled' is a boolean that indicates whether this filter is
25433 # enabled and should be executed.
25434
25435 self.name = "Foo"
25436 self.priority = 100
25437 self.enabled = True
25438
25439 # Register this frame filter with the global frame_filters
25440 # dictionary.
25441 gdb.frame_filters[self.name] = self
25442
25443 def filter(self, frame_iter):
25444 # Just return the iterator.
25445 return frame_iter
25446@end smallexample
25447
25448The frame filter in the example above implements the three
25449requirements for all frame filters. It implements the API, self
25450registers, and makes a decision on the iterator (in this case, it just
25451returns the iterator untouched).
25452
25453The first step is attribute creation and assignment, and as shown in
25454the comments the filter assigns the following attributes: @code{name},
25455@code{priority} and whether the filter should be enabled with the
25456@code{enabled} attribute.
25457
25458The second step is registering the frame filter with the dictionary or
25459dictionaries that the frame filter has interest in. As shown in the
25460comments, this filter just registers itself with the global dictionary
25461@code{gdb.frame_filters}. As noted earlier, @code{gdb.frame_filters}
25462is a dictionary that is initialized in the @code{gdb} module when
25463@value{GDBN} starts. What dictionary a filter registers with is an
25464important consideration. Generally, if a filter is specific to a set
25465of code, it should be registered either in the @code{objfile} or
25466@code{progspace} dictionaries as they are specific to the program
25467currently loaded in @value{GDBN}. The global dictionary is always
25468present in @value{GDBN} and is never unloaded. Any filters registered
25469with the global dictionary will exist until @value{GDBN} exits. To
25470avoid filters that may conflict, it is generally better to register
25471frame filters against the dictionaries that more closely align with
25472the usage of the filter currently in question. @xref{Python
25473Auto-loading}, for further information on auto-loading Python scripts.
25474
25475@value{GDBN} takes a hands-off approach to frame filter registration,
25476therefore it is the frame filter's responsibility to ensure
25477registration has occurred, and that any exceptions are handled
25478appropriately. In particular, you may wish to handle exceptions
25479relating to Python dictionary key uniqueness. It is mandatory that
25480the dictionary key is the same as frame filter's @code{name}
25481attribute. When a user manages frame filters (@pxref{Frame Filter
25482Management}), the names @value{GDBN} will display are those contained
25483in the @code{name} attribute.
25484
25485The final step of this example is the implementation of the
25486@code{filter} method. As shown in the example comments, we define the
25487@code{filter} method and note that the method must take an iterator,
25488and also must return an iterator. In this bare-bones example, the
25489frame filter is not very useful as it just returns the iterator
25490untouched. However this is a valid operation for frame filters that
25491have the @code{enabled} attribute set, but decide not to operate on
25492any frames.
25493
25494In the next example, the frame filter operates on all frames and
25495utilizes a frame decorator to perform some work on the frames.
25496@xref{Frame Decorator API}, for further information on the frame
25497decorator interface.
25498
25499This example works on inlined frames. It highlights frames which are
25500inlined by tagging them with an ``[inlined]'' tag. By applying a
25501frame decorator to all frames with the Python @code{itertools imap}
25502method, the example defers actions to the frame decorator. Frame
25503decorators are only processed when @value{GDBN} prints the backtrace.
25504
25505This introduces a new decision making topic: whether to perform
25506decision making operations at the filtering step, or at the printing
25507step. In this example's approach, it does not perform any filtering
25508decisions at the filtering step beyond mapping a frame decorator to
25509each frame. This allows the actual decision making to be performed
25510when each frame is printed. This is an important consideration, and
25511well worth reflecting upon when designing a frame filter. An issue
25512that frame filters should avoid is unwinding the stack if possible.
25513Some stacks can run very deep, into the tens of thousands in some
25514cases. To search every frame to determine if it is inlined ahead of
25515time may be too expensive at the filtering step. The frame filter
25516cannot know how many frames it has to iterate over, and it would have
25517to iterate through them all. This ends up duplicating effort as
25518@value{GDBN} performs this iteration when it prints the frames.
25519
25520In this example decision making can be deferred to the printing step.
25521As each frame is printed, the frame decorator can examine each frame
25522in turn when @value{GDBN} iterates. From a performance viewpoint,
25523this is the most appropriate decision to make as it avoids duplicating
25524the effort that the printing step would undertake anyway. Also, if
25525there are many frame filters unwinding the stack during filtering, it
25526can substantially delay the printing of the backtrace which will
25527result in large memory usage, and a poor user experience.
25528
25529@smallexample
25530class InlineFilter():
25531
25532 def __init__(self):
25533 self.name = "InlinedFrameFilter"
25534 self.priority = 100
25535 self.enabled = True
25536 gdb.frame_filters[self.name] = self
25537
25538 def filter(self, frame_iter):
25539 frame_iter = itertools.imap(InlinedFrameDecorator,
25540 frame_iter)
25541 return frame_iter
25542@end smallexample
25543
25544This frame filter is somewhat similar to the earlier example, except
25545that the @code{filter} method applies a frame decorator object called
25546@code{InlinedFrameDecorator} to each element in the iterator. The
25547@code{imap} Python method is light-weight. It does not proactively
25548iterate over the iterator, but rather creates a new iterator which
25549wraps the existing one.
25550
25551Below is the frame decorator for this example.
25552
25553@smallexample
25554class InlinedFrameDecorator(FrameDecorator):
25555
25556 def __init__(self, fobj):
25557 super(InlinedFrameDecorator, self).__init__(fobj)
25558
25559 def function(self):
25560 frame = fobj.inferior_frame()
25561 name = str(frame.name())
25562
25563 if frame.type() == gdb.INLINE_FRAME:
25564 name = name + " [inlined]"
25565
25566 return name
25567@end smallexample
25568
25569This frame decorator only defines and overrides the @code{function}
25570method. It lets the supplied @code{FrameDecorator}, which is shipped
25571with @value{GDBN}, perform the other work associated with printing
25572this frame.
25573
25574The combination of these two objects create this output from a
25575backtrace:
25576
25577@smallexample
25578#0 0x004004e0 in bar () at inline.c:11
25579#1 0x00400566 in max [inlined] (b=6, a=12) at inline.c:21
25580#2 0x00400566 in main () at inline.c:31
25581@end smallexample
25582
25583So in the case of this example, a frame decorator is applied to all
25584frames, regardless of whether they may be inlined or not. As
25585@value{GDBN} iterates over the iterator produced by the frame filters,
25586@value{GDBN} executes each frame decorator which then makes a decision
25587on what to print in the @code{function} callback. Using a strategy
25588like this is a way to defer decisions on the frame content to printing
25589time.
25590
25591@subheading Eliding Frames
25592
25593It might be that the above example is not desirable for representing
25594inlined frames, and a hierarchical approach may be preferred. If we
25595want to hierarchically represent frames, the @code{elided} frame
25596decorator interface might be preferable.
25597
25598This example approaches the issue with the @code{elided} method. This
25599example is quite long, but very simplistic. It is out-of-scope for
25600this section to write a complete example that comprehensively covers
25601all approaches of finding and printing inlined frames. However, this
25602example illustrates the approach an author might use.
25603
25604This example comprises of three sections.
25605
25606@smallexample
25607class InlineFrameFilter():
25608
25609 def __init__(self):
25610 self.name = "InlinedFrameFilter"
25611 self.priority = 100
25612 self.enabled = True
25613 gdb.frame_filters[self.name] = self
25614
25615 def filter(self, frame_iter):
25616 return ElidingInlineIterator(frame_iter)
25617@end smallexample
25618
25619This frame filter is very similar to the other examples. The only
25620difference is this frame filter is wrapping the iterator provided to
25621it (@code{frame_iter}) with a custom iterator called
25622@code{ElidingInlineIterator}. This again defers actions to when
25623@value{GDBN} prints the backtrace, as the iterator is not traversed
25624until printing.
25625
25626The iterator for this example is as follows. It is in this section of
25627the example where decisions are made on the content of the backtrace.
25628
25629@smallexample
25630class ElidingInlineIterator:
25631 def __init__(self, ii):
25632 self.input_iterator = ii
25633
25634 def __iter__(self):
25635 return self
25636
25637 def next(self):
25638 frame = next(self.input_iterator)
25639
25640 if frame.inferior_frame().type() != gdb.INLINE_FRAME:
25641 return frame
25642
25643 try:
25644 eliding_frame = next(self.input_iterator)
25645 except StopIteration:
25646 return frame
25647 return ElidingFrameDecorator(eliding_frame, [frame])
25648@end smallexample
25649
25650This iterator implements the Python iterator protocol. When the
25651@code{next} function is called (when @value{GDBN} prints each frame),
25652the iterator checks if this frame decorator, @code{frame}, is wrapping
25653an inlined frame. If it is not, it returns the existing frame decorator
25654untouched. If it is wrapping an inlined frame, it assumes that the
25655inlined frame was contained within the next oldest frame,
25656@code{eliding_frame}, which it fetches. It then creates and returns a
25657frame decorator, @code{ElidingFrameDecorator}, which contains both the
25658elided frame, and the eliding frame.
25659
25660@smallexample
25661class ElidingInlineDecorator(FrameDecorator):
25662
25663 def __init__(self, frame, elided_frames):
25664 super(ElidingInlineDecorator, self).__init__(frame)
25665 self.frame = frame
25666 self.elided_frames = elided_frames
25667
25668 def elided(self):
25669 return iter(self.elided_frames)
25670@end smallexample
25671
25672This frame decorator overrides one function and returns the inlined
25673frame in the @code{elided} method. As before it lets
25674@code{FrameDecorator} do the rest of the work involved in printing
25675this frame. This produces the following output.
25676
25677@smallexample
25678#0 0x004004e0 in bar () at inline.c:11
25679#2 0x00400529 in main () at inline.c:25
25680 #1 0x00400529 in max (b=6, a=12) at inline.c:15
25681@end smallexample
25682
25683In that output, @code{max} which has been inlined into @code{main} is
25684printed hierarchically. Another approach would be to combine the
25685@code{function} method, and the @code{elided} method to both print a
25686marker in the inlined frame, and also show the hierarchical
25687relationship.
25688
25689@node Inferiors In Python
25690@subsubsection Inferiors In Python
25691@cindex inferiors in Python
25692
25693@findex gdb.Inferior
25694Programs which are being run under @value{GDBN} are called inferiors
25695(@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). Python scripts can access
25696information about and manipulate inferiors controlled by @value{GDBN}
25697via objects of the @code{gdb.Inferior} class.
25698
25699The following inferior-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
25700module:
25701
25702@defun gdb.inferiors ()
25703Return a tuple containing all inferior objects.
25704@end defun
25705
25706@defun gdb.selected_inferior ()
25707Return an object representing the current inferior.
25708@end defun
25709
25710A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following attributes:
25711
25712@defvar Inferior.num
25713ID of inferior, as assigned by GDB.
25714@end defvar
25715
25716@defvar Inferior.pid
25717Process ID of the inferior, as assigned by the underlying operating
25718system.
25719@end defvar
25720
25721@defvar Inferior.was_attached
25722Boolean signaling whether the inferior was created using `attach', or
25723started by @value{GDBN} itself.
25724@end defvar
25725
25726A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following methods:
25727
25728@defun Inferior.is_valid ()
25729Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Inferior} object is valid,
25730@code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Inferior} object will become invalid
25731if the inferior no longer exists within @value{GDBN}. All other
25732@code{gdb.Inferior} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid
25733at the time the method is called.
25734@end defun
25735
25736@defun Inferior.threads ()
25737This method returns a tuple holding all the threads which are valid
25738when it is called. If there are no valid threads, the method will
25739return an empty tuple.
25740@end defun
25741
25742@findex Inferior.read_memory
25743@defun Inferior.read_memory (address, length)
25744Read @var{length} bytes of memory from the inferior, starting at
25745@var{address}. Returns a buffer object, which behaves much like an array
25746or a string. It can be modified and given to the
25747@code{Inferior.write_memory} function. In @code{Python} 3, the return
25748value is a @code{memoryview} object.
25749@end defun
25750
25751@findex Inferior.write_memory
25752@defun Inferior.write_memory (address, buffer @r{[}, length@r{]})
25753Write the contents of @var{buffer} to the inferior, starting at
25754@var{address}. The @var{buffer} parameter must be a Python object
25755which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
25756object returned from @code{Inferior.read_memory}. If given, @var{length}
25757determines the number of bytes from @var{buffer} to be written.
25758@end defun
25759
25760@findex gdb.search_memory
25761@defun Inferior.search_memory (address, length, pattern)
25762Search a region of the inferior memory starting at @var{address} with
25763the given @var{length} using the search pattern supplied in
25764@var{pattern}. The @var{pattern} parameter must be a Python object
25765which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
25766object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. Returns a Python @code{Long}
25767containing the address where the pattern was found, or @code{None} if
25768the pattern could not be found.
25769@end defun
25770
25771@node Events In Python
25772@subsubsection Events In Python
25773@cindex inferior events in Python
25774
25775@value{GDBN} provides a general event facility so that Python code can be
25776notified of various state changes, particularly changes that occur in
25777the inferior.
25778
25779An @dfn{event} is just an object that describes some state change. The
25780type of the object and its attributes will vary depending on the details
25781of the change. All the existing events are described below.
25782
25783In order to be notified of an event, you must register an event handler
25784with an @dfn{event registry}. An event registry is an object in the
25785@code{gdb.events} module which dispatches particular events. A registry
25786provides methods to register and unregister event handlers:
25787
25788@defun EventRegistry.connect (object)
25789Add the given callable @var{object} to the registry. This object will be
25790called when an event corresponding to this registry occurs.
25791@end defun
25792
25793@defun EventRegistry.disconnect (object)
25794Remove the given @var{object} from the registry. Once removed, the object
25795will no longer receive notifications of events.
25796@end defun
25797
25798Here is an example:
25799
25800@smallexample
25801def exit_handler (event):
25802 print "event type: exit"
25803 print "exit code: %d" % (event.exit_code)
25804
25805gdb.events.exited.connect (exit_handler)
25806@end smallexample
25807
25808In the above example we connect our handler @code{exit_handler} to the
25809registry @code{events.exited}. Once connected, @code{exit_handler} gets
25810called when the inferior exits. The argument @dfn{event} in this example is
25811of type @code{gdb.ExitedEvent}. As you can see in the example the
25812@code{ExitedEvent} object has an attribute which indicates the exit code of
25813the inferior.
25814
25815The following is a listing of the event registries that are available and
25816details of the events they emit:
25817
25818@table @code
25819
25820@item events.cont
25821Emits @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
25822
25823Some events can be thread specific when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
25824mode. When represented in Python, these events all extend
25825@code{gdb.ThreadEvent}. Note, this event is not emitted directly; instead,
25826events which are emitted by this or other modules might extend this event.
25827Examples of these events are @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} and
25828@code{gdb.ContinueEvent}.
25829
25830@defvar ThreadEvent.inferior_thread
25831In non-stop mode this attribute will be set to the specific thread which was
25832involved in the emitted event. Otherwise, it will be set to @code{None}.
25833@end defvar
25834
25835Emits @code{gdb.ContinueEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
25836
25837This event indicates that the inferior has been continued after a stop. For
25838inherited attribute refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above.
25839
25840@item events.exited
25841Emits @code{events.ExitedEvent} which indicates that the inferior has exited.
25842@code{events.ExitedEvent} has two attributes:
25843@defvar ExitedEvent.exit_code
25844An integer representing the exit code, if available, which the inferior
25845has returned. (The exit code could be unavailable if, for example,
25846@value{GDBN} detaches from the inferior.) If the exit code is unavailable,
25847the attribute does not exist.
25848@end defvar
25849@defvar ExitedEvent inferior
25850A reference to the inferior which triggered the @code{exited} event.
25851@end defvar
25852
25853@item events.stop
25854Emits @code{gdb.StopEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
25855
25856Indicates that the inferior has stopped. All events emitted by this registry
25857extend StopEvent. As a child of @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}, @code{gdb.StopEvent}
25858will indicate the stopped thread when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
25859mode. Refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above for more details.
25860
25861Emits @code{gdb.SignalEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
25862
25863This event indicates that the inferior or one of its threads has received as
25864signal. @code{gdb.SignalEvent} has the following attributes:
25865
25866@defvar SignalEvent.stop_signal
25867A string representing the signal received by the inferior. A list of possible
25868signal values can be obtained by running the command @code{info signals} in
25869the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
25870@end defvar
25871
25872Also emits @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
25873
25874@code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} event indicates that one or more breakpoints have
25875been hit, and has the following attributes:
25876
25877@defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoints
25878A sequence containing references to all the breakpoints (type
25879@code{gdb.Breakpoint}) that were hit.
25880@xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Breakpoint} object.
25881@end defvar
25882@defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoint
25883A reference to the first breakpoint that was hit.
25884This function is maintained for backward compatibility and is now deprecated
25885in favor of the @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent.breakpoints} attribute.
25886@end defvar
25887
25888@item events.new_objfile
25889Emits @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} which indicates that a new object file has
25890been loaded by @value{GDBN}. @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} has one attribute:
25891
25892@defvar NewObjFileEvent.new_objfile
25893A reference to the object file (@code{gdb.Objfile}) which has been loaded.
25894@xref{Objfiles In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Objfile} object.
25895@end defvar
25896
25897@end table
25898
25899@node Threads In Python
25900@subsubsection Threads In Python
25901@cindex threads in python
25902
25903@findex gdb.InferiorThread
25904Python scripts can access information about, and manipulate inferior threads
25905controlled by @value{GDBN}, via objects of the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} class.
25906
25907The following thread-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
25908module:
25909
25910@findex gdb.selected_thread
25911@defun gdb.selected_thread ()
25912This function returns the thread object for the selected thread. If there
25913is no selected thread, this will return @code{None}.
25914@end defun
25915
25916A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following attributes:
25917
25918@defvar InferiorThread.name
25919The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using
25920@code{thread name}, then this returns that name. Otherwise, if an
25921OS-supplied name is available, then it is returned. Otherwise, this
25922returns @code{None}.
25923
25924This attribute can be assigned to. The new value must be a string
25925object, which sets the new name, or @code{None}, which removes any
25926user-specified thread name.
25927@end defvar
25928
25929@defvar InferiorThread.num
25930ID of the thread, as assigned by GDB.
25931@end defvar
25932
25933@defvar InferiorThread.ptid
25934ID of the thread, as assigned by the operating system. This attribute is a
25935tuple containing three integers. The first is the Process ID (PID); the second
25936is the Lightweight Process ID (LWPID), and the third is the Thread ID (TID).
25937Either the LWPID or TID may be 0, which indicates that the operating system
25938does not use that identifier.
25939@end defvar
25940
25941A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following methods:
25942
25943@defun InferiorThread.is_valid ()
25944Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object is valid,
25945@code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object will become
25946invalid if the thread exits, or the inferior that the thread belongs
25947is deleted. All other @code{gdb.InferiorThread} methods will throw an
25948exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
25949@end defun
25950
25951@defun InferiorThread.switch ()
25952This changes @value{GDBN}'s currently selected thread to the one represented
25953by this object.
25954@end defun
25955
25956@defun InferiorThread.is_stopped ()
25957Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is stopped.
25958@end defun
25959
25960@defun InferiorThread.is_running ()
25961Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is running.
25962@end defun
25963
25964@defun InferiorThread.is_exited ()
25965Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is exited.
25966@end defun
25967
25968@node Commands In Python
25969@subsubsection Commands In Python
25970
25971@cindex commands in python
25972@cindex python commands
25973You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
25974command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
25975class, most commonly using a subclass.
25976
25977@defun Command.__init__ (name, @var{command_class} @r{[}, @var{completer_class} @r{[}, @var{prefix}@r{]]})
25978The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
25979with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
25980subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
25981
25982@var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
25983multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
25984commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
25985an exception is raised.
25986
25987There is no support for multi-line commands.
25988
25989@var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
25990defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
25991new command in the help system.
25992
25993@var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
25994one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
25995tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
25996given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
25997@code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
25998error will occur when completion is attempted.
25999
26000@var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
26001command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
26002registered.
26003
26004The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
26005documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
26006documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
26007not documented.'' is used.
26008@end defun
26009
26010@cindex don't repeat Python command
26011@defun Command.dont_repeat ()
26012By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
26013blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
26014behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
26015to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
26016@end defun
26017
26018@defun Command.invoke (argument, from_tty)
26019This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
26020
26021@var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
26022leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
26023
26024@var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
26025command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
26026that the command came from elsewhere.
26027
26028If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
26029@code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
26030
26031@findex gdb.string_to_argv
26032To break @var{argument} up into an argv-like string use
26033@code{gdb.string_to_argv}. This function behaves identically to
26034@value{GDBN}'s internal argument lexer @code{buildargv}.
26035It is recommended to use this for consistency.
26036Arguments are separated by spaces and may be quoted.
26037Example:
26038
26039@smallexample
26040print gdb.string_to_argv ("1 2\ \\\"3 '4 \"5' \"6 '7\"")
26041['1', '2 "3', '4 "5', "6 '7"]
26042@end smallexample
26043
26044@end defun
26045
26046@cindex completion of Python commands
26047@defun Command.complete (text, word)
26048This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
26049completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
26050this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
26051(@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
26052complete}).
26053
26054The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
26055holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
26056@var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
26057using a word-breaking heuristic.
26058
26059The @code{complete} method can return several values:
26060@itemize @bullet
26061@item
26062If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
26063used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
26064contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
26065allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
26066string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
26067sequence are ignored.
26068
26069@item
26070If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
26071below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
26072function is invoked, and its result is used.
26073
26074@item
26075All other results are treated as though there were no available
26076completions.
26077@end itemize
26078@end defun
26079
26080When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
26081some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
26082commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
26083listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
26084command. The available classifications are represented by constants
26085defined in the @code{gdb} module:
26086
26087@table @code
26088@findex COMMAND_NONE
26089@findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
26090@item gdb.COMMAND_NONE
26091The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
26092this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
26093
26094@findex COMMAND_RUNNING
26095@findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
26096@item gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
26097The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
26098@code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
26099Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
26100commands in this category.
26101
26102@findex COMMAND_DATA
26103@findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
26104@item gdb.COMMAND_DATA
26105The command is related to data or variables. For example,
26106@code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
26107@kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
26108in this category.
26109
26110@findex COMMAND_STACK
26111@findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
26112@item gdb.COMMAND_STACK
26113The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
26114@code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
26115category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
26116list of commands in this category.
26117
26118@findex COMMAND_FILES
26119@findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
26120@item gdb.COMMAND_FILES
26121This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
26122@code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
26123Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
26124commands in this category.
26125
26126@findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
26127@findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
26128@item gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
26129This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
26130things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
26131but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
26132@code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
26133@kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
26134commands in this category.
26135
26136@findex COMMAND_STATUS
26137@findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
26138@item gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
26139The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
26140state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
26141and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
26142@value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
26143
26144@findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
26145@findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
26146@item gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
26147The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
26148@code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
26149breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
26150this category.
26151
26152@findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
26153@findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
26154@item gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
26155The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
26156@code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
26157@kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
26158commands in this category.
26159
26160@findex COMMAND_USER
26161@findex gdb.COMMAND_USER
26162@item gdb.COMMAND_USER
26163The command is a general purpose command for the user, and typically
26164does not fit in one of the other categories.
26165Type @kbd{help user-defined} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see
26166a list of commands in this category, as well as the list of gdb macros
26167(@pxref{Sequences}).
26168
26169@findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
26170@findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
26171@item gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
26172The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
26173general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
26174@code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
26175obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
26176category.
26177
26178@findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
26179@findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
26180@item gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
26181The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
26182@code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
26183Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
26184commands in this category.
26185@end table
26186
26187A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
26188specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
26189from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
26190constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
26191
26192@table @code
26193@findex COMPLETE_NONE
26194@findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
26195@item gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
26196This constant means that no completion should be done.
26197
26198@findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
26199@findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
26200@item gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
26201This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
26202
26203@findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
26204@findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
26205@item gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
26206This constant means that location completion should be done.
26207@xref{Specify Location}.
26208
26209@findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
26210@findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
26211@item gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
26212This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
26213command names.
26214
26215@findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
26216@findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
26217@item gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
26218This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
26219as the source.
26220
26221@findex COMPLETE_EXPRESSION
26222@findex gdb.COMPLETE_EXPRESSION
26223@item gdb.COMPLETE_EXPRESSION
26224This constant means that completion should be done on expressions.
26225Often this means completing on symbol names, but some language
26226parsers also have support for completing on field names.
26227@end table
26228
26229The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
26230implemented in Python:
26231
26232@smallexample
26233class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
26234 """Greet the whole world."""
26235
26236 def __init__ (self):
26237 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_USER)
26238
26239 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
26240 print "Hello, World!"
26241
26242HelloWorld ()
26243@end smallexample
26244
26245The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
26246registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
26247Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
26248@code{gdb} module explicitly.
26249
26250@node Parameters In Python
26251@subsubsection Parameters In Python
26252
26253@cindex parameters in python
26254@cindex python parameters
26255@tindex gdb.Parameter
26256@tindex Parameter
26257You can implement new @value{GDBN} parameters using Python. A new
26258parameter is implemented as an instance of the @code{gdb.Parameter}
26259class.
26260
26261Parameters are exposed to the user via the @code{set} and
26262@code{show} commands. @xref{Help}.
26263
26264There are many parameters that already exist and can be set in
26265@value{GDBN}. Two examples are: @code{set follow fork} and
26266@code{set charset}. Setting these parameters influences certain
26267behavior in @value{GDBN}. Similarly, you can define parameters that
26268can be used to influence behavior in custom Python scripts and commands.
26269
26270@defun Parameter.__init__ (name, @var{command-class}, @var{parameter-class} @r{[}, @var{enum-sequence}@r{]})
26271The object initializer for @code{Parameter} registers the new
26272parameter with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked
26273from the subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
26274
26275@var{name} is the name of the new parameter. If @var{name} consists
26276of multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
26277parameters. An example of this can be illustrated with the
26278@code{set print} set of parameters. If @var{name} is
26279@code{print foo}, then @code{print} will be searched as the prefix
26280parameter. In this case the parameter can subsequently be accessed in
26281@value{GDBN} as @code{set print foo}.
26282
26283If @var{name} consists of multiple words, and no prefix parameter group
26284can be found, an exception is raised.
26285
26286@var{command-class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
26287(@pxref{Commands In Python}). This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to
26288categorize the new parameter in the help system.
26289
26290@var{parameter-class} should be one of the @samp{PARAM_} constants
26291defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} the type of the new
26292parameter; this information is used for input validation and
26293completion.
26294
26295If @var{parameter-class} is @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then
26296@var{enum-sequence} must be a sequence of strings. These strings
26297represent the possible values for the parameter.
26298
26299If @var{parameter-class} is not @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then the presence
26300of a fourth argument will cause an exception to be thrown.
26301
26302The help text for the new parameter is taken from the Python
26303documentation string for the parameter's class, if there is one. If
26304there is no documentation string, a default value is used.
26305@end defun
26306
26307@defvar Parameter.set_doc
26308If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
26309the help text for this parameter's @code{set} command. The value is
26310examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
26311have no effect.
26312@end defvar
26313
26314@defvar Parameter.show_doc
26315If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
26316the help text for this parameter's @code{show} command. The value is
26317examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
26318have no effect.
26319@end defvar
26320
26321@defvar Parameter.value
26322The @code{value} attribute holds the underlying value of the
26323parameter. It can be read and assigned to just as any other
26324attribute. @value{GDBN} does validation when assignments are made.
26325@end defvar
26326
26327There are two methods that should be implemented in any
26328@code{Parameter} class. These are:
26329
26330@defun Parameter.get_set_string (self)
26331@value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s value has
26332been changed via the @code{set} API (for example, @kbd{set foo off}).
26333The @code{value} attribute has already been populated with the new
26334value and may be used in output. This method must return a string.
26335@end defun
26336
26337@defun Parameter.get_show_string (self, svalue)
26338@value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s
26339@code{show} API has been invoked (for example, @kbd{show foo}). The
26340argument @code{svalue} receives the string representation of the
26341current value. This method must return a string.
26342@end defun
26343
26344When a new parameter is defined, its type must be specified. The
26345available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
26346module:
26347
26348@table @code
26349@findex PARAM_BOOLEAN
26350@findex gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
26351@item gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
26352The value is a plain boolean. The Python boolean values, @code{True}
26353and @code{False} are the only valid values.
26354
26355@findex PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
26356@findex gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
26357@item gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
26358The value has three possible states: true, false, and @samp{auto}. In
26359Python, true and false are represented using boolean constants, and
26360@samp{auto} is represented using @code{None}.
26361
26362@findex PARAM_UINTEGER
26363@findex gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
26364@item gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
26365The value is an unsigned integer. The value of 0 should be
26366interpreted to mean ``unlimited''.
26367
26368@findex PARAM_INTEGER
26369@findex gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
26370@item gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
26371The value is a signed integer. The value of 0 should be interpreted
26372to mean ``unlimited''.
26373
26374@findex PARAM_STRING
26375@findex gdb.PARAM_STRING
26376@item gdb.PARAM_STRING
26377The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, any escape
26378sequences, such as @samp{\t}, @samp{\f}, and octal escapes, are
26379translated into corresponding characters and encoded into the current
26380host charset.
26381
26382@findex PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
26383@findex gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
26384@item gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
26385The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, escapes are
26386passed through untranslated.
26387
26388@findex PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
26389@findex gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
26390@item gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
26391The value is a either a filename (a string), or @code{None}.
26392
26393@findex PARAM_FILENAME
26394@findex gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
26395@item gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
26396The value is a filename. This is just like
26397@code{PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE}, but uses file names for completion.
26398
26399@findex PARAM_ZINTEGER
26400@findex gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
26401@item gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
26402The value is an integer. This is like @code{PARAM_INTEGER}, except 0
26403is interpreted as itself.
26404
26405@findex PARAM_ENUM
26406@findex gdb.PARAM_ENUM
26407@item gdb.PARAM_ENUM
26408The value is a string, which must be one of a collection string
26409constants provided when the parameter is created.
26410@end table
26411
26412@node Functions In Python
26413@subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
26414
26415@cindex writing convenience functions
26416@cindex convenience functions in python
26417@cindex python convenience functions
26418@tindex gdb.Function
26419@tindex Function
26420You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
26421in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
26422class @code{gdb.Function}.
26423
26424@defun Function.__init__ (name)
26425The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
26426@value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
26427a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
26428variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
26429the given @var{name}.
26430
26431The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
26432string for the new class.
26433@end defun
26434
26435@defun Function.invoke (@var{*args})
26436When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
26437to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
26438@code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
26439predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
26440available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
26441standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
26442function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
26443
26444The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
26445expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
26446to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
26447@end defun
26448
26449The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
26450be implemented in Python:
26451
26452@smallexample
26453class Greet (gdb.Function):
26454 """Return string to greet someone.
26455Takes a name as argument."""
26456
26457 def __init__ (self):
26458 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
26459
26460 def invoke (self, name):
26461 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
26462
26463Greet ()
26464@end smallexample
26465
26466The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
26467registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
26468Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
26469@code{gdb} module explicitly.
26470
26471Now you can use the function in an expression:
26472
26473@smallexample
26474(gdb) print $greet("Bob")
26475$1 = "Hello, Bob!"
26476@end smallexample
26477
26478@node Progspaces In Python
26479@subsubsection Program Spaces In Python
26480
26481@cindex progspaces in python
26482@tindex gdb.Progspace
26483@tindex Progspace
26484A program space, or @dfn{progspace}, represents a symbolic view
26485of an address space.
26486It consists of all of the objfiles of the program.
26487@xref{Objfiles In Python}.
26488@xref{Inferiors and Programs, program spaces}, for more details
26489about program spaces.
26490
26491The following progspace-related functions are available in the
26492@code{gdb} module:
26493
26494@findex gdb.current_progspace
26495@defun gdb.current_progspace ()
26496This function returns the program space of the currently selected inferior.
26497@xref{Inferiors and Programs}.
26498@end defun
26499
26500@findex gdb.progspaces
26501@defun gdb.progspaces ()
26502Return a sequence of all the progspaces currently known to @value{GDBN}.
26503@end defun
26504
26505Each progspace is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Progspace}
26506class.
26507
26508@defvar Progspace.filename
26509The file name of the progspace as a string.
26510@end defvar
26511
26512@defvar Progspace.pretty_printers
26513The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
26514used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
26515function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
26516search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
26517which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
26518information.
26519@end defvar
26520
26521@defvar Progspace.type_printers
26522The @code{type_printers} attribute is a list of type printer objects.
26523@xref{Type Printing API}, for more information.
26524@end defvar
26525
26526@defvar Progspace.frame_filters
26527The @code{frame_filters} attribute is a dictionary of frame filter
26528objects. @xref{Frame Filter API}, for more information.
26529@end defvar
26530
26531@node Objfiles In Python
26532@subsubsection Objfiles In Python
26533
26534@cindex objfiles in python
26535@tindex gdb.Objfile
26536@tindex Objfile
26537@value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
26538symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
26539executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
26540separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
26541@value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
26542
26543The following objfile-related functions are available in the
26544@code{gdb} module:
26545
26546@findex gdb.current_objfile
26547@defun gdb.current_objfile ()
26548When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Python Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
26549sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
26550function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
26551this function returns @code{None}.
26552@end defun
26553
26554@findex gdb.objfiles
26555@defun gdb.objfiles ()
26556Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
26557@xref{Objfiles In Python}.
26558@end defun
26559
26560Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
26561class.
26562
26563@defvar Objfile.filename
26564The file name of the objfile as a string.
26565@end defvar
26566
26567@defvar Objfile.pretty_printers
26568The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
26569used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
26570function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
26571search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
26572which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
26573information.
26574@end defvar
26575
26576@defvar Objfile.type_printers
26577The @code{type_printers} attribute is a list of type printer objects.
26578@xref{Type Printing API}, for more information.
26579@end defvar
26580
26581@defvar Objfile.frame_filters
26582The @code{frame_filters} attribute is a dictionary of frame filter
26583objects. @xref{Frame Filter API}, for more information.
26584@end defvar
26585
26586A @code{gdb.Objfile} object has the following methods:
26587
26588@defun Objfile.is_valid ()
26589Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Objfile} object is valid,
26590@code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Objfile} object can become invalid
26591if the object file it refers to is not loaded in @value{GDBN} any
26592longer. All other @code{gdb.Objfile} methods will throw an exception
26593if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
26594@end defun
26595
26596@node Frames In Python
26597@subsubsection Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
26598
26599@cindex frames in python
26600When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
26601stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
26602represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
26603while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
26604to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{gdb.error}
26605exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
26606
26607Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
26608operator, like:
26609
26610@smallexample
26611(@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
26612True
26613@end smallexample
26614
26615The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
26616
26617@findex gdb.selected_frame
26618@defun gdb.selected_frame ()
26619Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
26620@end defun
26621
26622@findex gdb.newest_frame
26623@defun gdb.newest_frame ()
26624Return the newest frame object for the selected thread.
26625@end defun
26626
26627@defun gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
26628Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
26629frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
26630@code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
26631@end defun
26632
26633A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
26634
26635@defun Frame.is_valid ()
26636Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
26637A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
26638exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
26639an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
26640@end defun
26641
26642@defun Frame.name ()
26643Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
26644obtained.
26645@end defun
26646
26647@defun Frame.architecture ()
26648Returns the @code{gdb.Architecture} object corresponding to the frame's
26649architecture. @xref{Architectures In Python}.
26650@end defun
26651
26652@defun Frame.type ()
26653Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of:
26654@table @code
26655@item gdb.NORMAL_FRAME
26656An ordinary stack frame.
26657
26658@item gdb.DUMMY_FRAME
26659A fake stack frame that was created by @value{GDBN} when performing an
26660inferior function call.
26661
26662@item gdb.INLINE_FRAME
26663A frame representing an inlined function. The function was inlined
26664into a @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME} that is older than this one.
26665
26666@item gdb.TAILCALL_FRAME
26667A frame representing a tail call. @xref{Tail Call Frames}.
26668
26669@item gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME
26670A signal trampoline frame. This is the frame created by the OS when
26671it calls into a signal handler.
26672
26673@item gdb.ARCH_FRAME
26674A fake stack frame representing a cross-architecture call.
26675
26676@item gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME
26677This is like @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, but it is only used for the
26678newest frame.
26679@end table
26680@end defun
26681
26682@defun Frame.unwind_stop_reason ()
26683Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
26684more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
26685@code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
26686function to a string. The value can be one of:
26687
26688@table @code
26689@item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_REASON
26690No particular reason (older frames should be available).
26691
26692@item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NULL_ID
26693The previous frame's analyzer returns an invalid result. This is no
26694longer used by @value{GDBN}, and is kept only for backward
26695compatibility.
26696
26697@item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_OUTERMOST
26698This frame is the outermost.
26699
26700@item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_UNAVAILABLE
26701Cannot unwind further, because that would require knowing the
26702values of registers or memory that have not been collected.
26703
26704@item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_INNER_ID
26705This frame ID looks like it ought to belong to a NEXT frame,
26706but we got it for a PREV frame. Normally, this is a sign of
26707unwinder failure. It could also indicate stack corruption.
26708
26709@item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_SAME_ID
26710This frame has the same ID as the previous one. That means
26711that unwinding further would almost certainly give us another
26712frame with exactly the same ID, so break the chain. Normally,
26713this is a sign of unwinder failure. It could also indicate
26714stack corruption.
26715
26716@item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_SAVED_PC
26717The frame unwinder did not find any saved PC, but we needed
26718one to unwind further.
26719
26720@item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR
26721Any stop reason greater or equal to this value indicates some kind
26722of error. This special value facilitates writing code that tests
26723for errors in unwinding in a way that will work correctly even if
26724the list of the other values is modified in future @value{GDBN}
26725versions. Using it, you could write:
26726@smallexample
26727reason = gdb.selected_frame().unwind_stop_reason ()
26728reason_str = gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
26729if reason >= gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR:
26730 print "An error occured: %s" % reason_str
26731@end smallexample
26732@end table
26733
26734@end defun
26735
26736@defun Frame.pc ()
26737Returns the frame's resume address.
26738@end defun
26739
26740@defun Frame.block ()
26741Return the frame's code block. @xref{Blocks In Python}.
26742@end defun
26743
26744@defun Frame.function ()
26745Return the symbol for the function corresponding to this frame.
26746@xref{Symbols In Python}.
26747@end defun
26748
26749@defun Frame.older ()
26750Return the frame that called this frame.
26751@end defun
26752
26753@defun Frame.newer ()
26754Return the frame called by this frame.
26755@end defun
26756
26757@defun Frame.find_sal ()
26758Return the frame's symtab and line object.
26759@xref{Symbol Tables In Python}.
26760@end defun
26761
26762@defun Frame.read_var (variable @r{[}, block@r{]})
26763Return the value of @var{variable} in this frame. If the optional
26764argument @var{block} is provided, search for the variable from that
26765block; otherwise start at the frame's current block (which is
26766determined by the frame's current program counter). @var{variable}
26767must be a string or a @code{gdb.Symbol} object. @var{block} must be a
26768@code{gdb.Block} object.
26769@end defun
26770
26771@defun Frame.select ()
26772Set this frame to be the selected frame. @xref{Stack, ,Examining the
26773Stack}.
26774@end defun
26775
26776@node Blocks In Python
26777@subsubsection Accessing blocks from Python.
26778
26779@cindex blocks in python
26780@tindex gdb.Block
26781
26782In @value{GDBN}, symbols are stored in blocks. A block corresponds
26783roughly to a scope in the source code. Blocks are organized
26784hierarchically, and are represented individually in Python as a
26785@code{gdb.Block}. Blocks rely on debugging information being
26786available.
26787
26788A frame has a block. Please see @ref{Frames In Python}, for a more
26789in-depth discussion of frames.
26790
26791The outermost block is known as the @dfn{global block}. The global
26792block typically holds public global variables and functions.
26793
26794The block nested just inside the global block is the @dfn{static
26795block}. The static block typically holds file-scoped variables and
26796functions.
26797
26798@value{GDBN} provides a method to get a block's superblock, but there
26799is currently no way to examine the sub-blocks of a block, or to
26800iterate over all the blocks in a symbol table (@pxref{Symbol Tables In
26801Python}).
26802
26803Here is a short example that should help explain blocks:
26804
26805@smallexample
26806/* This is in the global block. */
26807int global;
26808
26809/* This is in the static block. */
26810static int file_scope;
26811
26812/* 'function' is in the global block, and 'argument' is
26813 in a block nested inside of 'function'. */
26814int function (int argument)
26815@{
26816 /* 'local' is in a block inside 'function'. It may or may
26817 not be in the same block as 'argument'. */
26818 int local;
26819
26820 @{
26821 /* 'inner' is in a block whose superblock is the one holding
26822 'local'. */
26823 int inner;
26824
26825 /* If this call is expanded by the compiler, you may see
26826 a nested block here whose function is 'inline_function'
26827 and whose superblock is the one holding 'inner'. */
26828 inline_function ();
26829 @}
26830@}
26831@end smallexample
26832
26833A @code{gdb.Block} is iterable. The iterator returns the symbols
26834(@pxref{Symbols In Python}) local to the block. Python programs
26835should not assume that a specific block object will always contain a
26836given symbol, since changes in @value{GDBN} features and
26837infrastructure may cause symbols move across blocks in a symbol
26838table.
26839
26840The following block-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
26841module:
26842
26843@findex gdb.block_for_pc
26844@defun gdb.block_for_pc (pc)
26845Return the innermost @code{gdb.Block} containing the given @var{pc}
26846value. If the block cannot be found for the @var{pc} value specified,
26847the function will return @code{None}.
26848@end defun
26849
26850A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following methods:
26851
26852@defun Block.is_valid ()
26853Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is valid,
26854@code{False} if not. A block object can become invalid if the block it
26855refers to doesn't exist anymore in the inferior. All other
26856@code{gdb.Block} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid at
26857the time the method is called. The block's validity is also checked
26858during iteration over symbols of the block.
26859@end defun
26860
26861A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following attributes:
26862
26863@defvar Block.start
26864The start address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
26865@end defvar
26866
26867@defvar Block.end
26868The end address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
26869@end defvar
26870
26871@defvar Block.function
26872The name of the block represented as a @code{gdb.Symbol}. If the
26873block is not named, then this attribute holds @code{None}. This
26874attribute is not writable.
26875
26876For ordinary function blocks, the superblock is the static block.
26877However, you should note that it is possible for a function block to
26878have a superblock that is not the static block -- for instance this
26879happens for an inlined function.
26880@end defvar
26881
26882@defvar Block.superblock
26883The block containing this block. If this parent block does not exist,
26884this attribute holds @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
26885@end defvar
26886
26887@defvar Block.global_block
26888The global block associated with this block. This attribute is not
26889writable.
26890@end defvar
26891
26892@defvar Block.static_block
26893The static block associated with this block. This attribute is not
26894writable.
26895@end defvar
26896
26897@defvar Block.is_global
26898@code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a global block,
26899@code{False} if not. This attribute is not
26900writable.
26901@end defvar
26902
26903@defvar Block.is_static
26904@code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a static block,
26905@code{False} if not. This attribute is not writable.
26906@end defvar
26907
26908@node Symbols In Python
26909@subsubsection Python representation of Symbols.
26910
26911@cindex symbols in python
26912@tindex gdb.Symbol
26913
26914@value{GDBN} represents every variable, function and type as an
26915entry in a symbol table. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
26916Similarly, Python represents these symbols in @value{GDBN} with the
26917@code{gdb.Symbol} object.
26918
26919The following symbol-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
26920module:
26921
26922@findex gdb.lookup_symbol
26923@defun gdb.lookup_symbol (name @r{[}, block @r{[}, domain@r{]]})
26924This function searches for a symbol by name. The search scope can be
26925restricted to the parameters defined in the optional domain and block
26926arguments.
26927
26928@var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string. The
26929optional @var{block} argument restricts the search to symbols visible
26930in that @var{block}. The @var{block} argument must be a
26931@code{gdb.Block} object. If omitted, the block for the current frame
26932is used. The optional @var{domain} argument restricts
26933the search to the domain type. The @var{domain} argument must be a
26934domain constant defined in the @code{gdb} module and described later
26935in this chapter.
26936
26937The result is a tuple of two elements.
26938The first element is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
26939is not found.
26940If the symbol is found, the second element is @code{True} if the symbol
26941is a field of a method's object (e.g., @code{this} in C@t{++}),
26942otherwise it is @code{False}.
26943If the symbol is not found, the second element is @code{False}.
26944@end defun
26945
26946@findex gdb.lookup_global_symbol
26947@defun gdb.lookup_global_symbol (name @r{[}, domain@r{]})
26948This function searches for a global symbol by name.
26949The search scope can be restricted to by the domain argument.
26950
26951@var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string.
26952The optional @var{domain} argument restricts the search to the domain type.
26953The @var{domain} argument must be a domain constant defined in the @code{gdb}
26954module and described later in this chapter.
26955
26956The result is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
26957is not found.
26958@end defun
26959
26960A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following attributes:
26961
26962@defvar Symbol.type
26963The type of the symbol or @code{None} if no type is recorded.
26964This attribute is represented as a @code{gdb.Type} object.
26965@xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not writable.
26966@end defvar
26967
26968@defvar Symbol.symtab
26969The symbol table in which the symbol appears. This attribute is
26970represented as a @code{gdb.Symtab} object. @xref{Symbol Tables In
26971Python}. This attribute is not writable.
26972@end defvar
26973
26974@defvar Symbol.line
26975The line number in the source code at which the symbol was defined.
26976This is an integer.
26977@end defvar
26978
26979@defvar Symbol.name
26980The name of the symbol as a string. This attribute is not writable.
26981@end defvar
26982
26983@defvar Symbol.linkage_name
26984The name of the symbol, as used by the linker (i.e., may be mangled).
26985This attribute is not writable.
26986@end defvar
26987
26988@defvar Symbol.print_name
26989The name of the symbol in a form suitable for output. This is either
26990@code{name} or @code{linkage_name}, depending on whether the user
26991asked @value{GDBN} to display demangled or mangled names.
26992@end defvar
26993
26994@defvar Symbol.addr_class
26995The address class of the symbol. This classifies how to find the value
26996of a symbol. Each address class is a constant defined in the
26997@code{gdb} module and described later in this chapter.
26998@end defvar
26999
27000@defvar Symbol.needs_frame
27001This is @code{True} if evaluating this symbol's value requires a frame
27002(@pxref{Frames In Python}) and @code{False} otherwise. Typically,
27003local variables will require a frame, but other symbols will not.
27004@end defvar
27005
27006@defvar Symbol.is_argument
27007@code{True} if the symbol is an argument of a function.
27008@end defvar
27009
27010@defvar Symbol.is_constant
27011@code{True} if the symbol is a constant.
27012@end defvar
27013
27014@defvar Symbol.is_function
27015@code{True} if the symbol is a function or a method.
27016@end defvar
27017
27018@defvar Symbol.is_variable
27019@code{True} if the symbol is a variable.
27020@end defvar
27021
27022A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following methods:
27023
27024@defun Symbol.is_valid ()
27025Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symbol} object is valid,
27026@code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symbol} object can become invalid if
27027the symbol it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any longer.
27028All other @code{gdb.Symbol} methods will throw an exception if it is
27029invalid at the time the method is called.
27030@end defun
27031
27032@defun Symbol.value (@r{[}frame@r{]})
27033Compute the value of the symbol, as a @code{gdb.Value}. For
27034functions, this computes the address of the function, cast to the
27035appropriate type. If the symbol requires a frame in order to compute
27036its value, then @var{frame} must be given. If @var{frame} is not
27037given, or if @var{frame} is invalid, then this method will throw an
27038exception.
27039@end defun
27040
27041The available domain categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
27042as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
27043
27044@table @code
27045@findex SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
27046@findex gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
27047@item gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
27048This is used when a domain has not been discovered or none of the
27049following domains apply. This usually indicates an error either
27050in the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
27051@findex SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
27052@findex gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
27053@item gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
27054This domain contains variables, function names, typedef names and enum
27055type values.
27056@findex SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
27057@findex gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
27058@item gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
27059This domain holds struct, union and enum type names.
27060@findex SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
27061@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
27062@item gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
27063This domain contains names of labels (for gotos).
27064@findex SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
27065@findex gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
27066@item gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
27067This domain holds a subset of the @code{SYMBOLS_VAR_DOMAIN}; it
27068contains everything minus functions and types.
27069@findex SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
27070@findex gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
27071@item gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTION_DOMAIN
27072This domain contains all functions.
27073@findex SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
27074@findex gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
27075@item gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
27076This domain contains all types.
27077@end table
27078
27079The available address class categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
27080as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
27081
27082@table @code
27083@findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
27084@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
27085@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
27086If this is returned by address class, it indicates an error either in
27087the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
27088@findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
27089@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
27090@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
27091Value is constant int.
27092@findex SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
27093@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
27094@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
27095Value is at a fixed address.
27096@findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
27097@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
27098@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
27099Value is in a register.
27100@findex SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
27101@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
27102@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
27103Value is an argument. This value is at the offset stored within the
27104symbol inside the frame's argument list.
27105@findex SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
27106@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
27107@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
27108Value address is stored in the frame's argument list. Just like
27109@code{LOC_ARG} except that the value's address is stored at the
27110offset, not the value itself.
27111@findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
27112@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
27113@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
27114Value is a specified register. Just like @code{LOC_REGISTER} except
27115the register holds the address of the argument instead of the argument
27116itself.
27117@findex SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
27118@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
27119@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
27120Value is a local variable.
27121@findex SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
27122@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
27123@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
27124Value not used. Symbols in the domain @code{SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN} all
27125have this class.
27126@findex SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
27127@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
27128@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
27129Value is a block.
27130@findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
27131@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
27132@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
27133Value is a byte-sequence.
27134@findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
27135@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
27136@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
27137Value is at a fixed address, but the address of the variable has to be
27138determined from the minimal symbol table whenever the variable is
27139referenced.
27140@findex SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
27141@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
27142@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
27143The value does not actually exist in the program.
27144@findex SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
27145@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
27146@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
27147The value's address is a computed location.
27148@end table
27149
27150@node Symbol Tables In Python
27151@subsubsection Symbol table representation in Python.
27152
27153@cindex symbol tables in python
27154@tindex gdb.Symtab
27155@tindex gdb.Symtab_and_line
27156
27157Access to symbol table data maintained by @value{GDBN} on the inferior
27158is exposed to Python via two objects: @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} and
27159@code{gdb.Symtab}. Symbol table and line data for a frame is returned
27160from the @code{find_sal} method in @code{gdb.Frame} object.
27161@xref{Frames In Python}.
27162
27163For more information on @value{GDBN}'s symbol table management, see
27164@ref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, for more information.
27165
27166A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following attributes:
27167
27168@defvar Symtab_and_line.symtab
27169The symbol table object (@code{gdb.Symtab}) for this frame.
27170This attribute is not writable.
27171@end defvar
27172
27173@defvar Symtab_and_line.pc
27174Indicates the start of the address range occupied by code for the
27175current source line. This attribute is not writable.
27176@end defvar
27177
27178@defvar Symtab_and_line.last
27179Indicates the end of the address range occupied by code for the current
27180source line. This attribute is not writable.
27181@end defvar
27182
27183@defvar Symtab_and_line.line
27184Indicates the current line number for this object. This
27185attribute is not writable.
27186@end defvar
27187
27188A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following methods:
27189
27190@defun Symtab_and_line.is_valid ()
27191Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object is valid,
27192@code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object can become
27193invalid if the Symbol table and line object it refers to does not
27194exist in @value{GDBN} any longer. All other
27195@code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} methods will throw an exception if it is
27196invalid at the time the method is called.
27197@end defun
27198
27199A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following attributes:
27200
27201@defvar Symtab.filename
27202The symbol table's source filename. This attribute is not writable.
27203@end defvar
27204
27205@defvar Symtab.objfile
27206The symbol table's backing object file. @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
27207This attribute is not writable.
27208@end defvar
27209
27210A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following methods:
27211
27212@defun Symtab.is_valid ()
27213Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab} object is valid,
27214@code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab} object can become invalid if
27215the symbol table it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any
27216longer. All other @code{gdb.Symtab} methods will throw an exception
27217if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
27218@end defun
27219
27220@defun Symtab.fullname ()
27221Return the symbol table's source absolute file name.
27222@end defun
27223
27224@defun Symtab.global_block ()
27225Return the global block of the underlying symbol table.
27226@xref{Blocks In Python}.
27227@end defun
27228
27229@defun Symtab.static_block ()
27230Return the static block of the underlying symbol table.
27231@xref{Blocks In Python}.
27232@end defun
27233
27234@defun Symtab.linetable ()
27235Return the line table associated with the symbol table.
27236@xref{Line Tables In Python}.
27237@end defun
27238
27239@node Line Tables In Python
27240@subsubsection Manipulating line tables using Python
27241
27242@cindex line tables in python
27243@tindex gdb.LineTable
27244
27245Python code can request and inspect line table information from a
27246symbol table that is loaded in @value{GDBN}. A line table is a
27247mapping of source lines to their executable locations in memory. To
27248acquire the line table information for a particular symbol table, use
27249the @code{linetable} function (@pxref{Symbol Tables In Python}).
27250
27251A @code{gdb.LineTable} is iterable. The iterator returns
27252@code{LineTableEntry} objects that correspond to the source line and
27253address for each line table entry. @code{LineTableEntry} objects have
27254the following attributes:
27255
27256@defvar LineTableEntry.line
27257The source line number for this line table entry. This number
27258corresponds to the actual line of source. This attribute is not
27259writable.
27260@end defvar
27261
27262@defvar LineTableEntry.pc
27263The address that is associated with the line table entry where the
27264executable code for that source line resides in memory. This
27265attribute is not writable.
27266@end defvar
27267
27268As there can be multiple addresses for a single source line, you may
27269receive multiple @code{LineTableEntry} objects with matching
27270@code{line} attributes, but with different @code{pc} attributes. The
27271iterator is sorted in ascending @code{pc} order. Here is a small
27272example illustrating iterating over a line table.
27273
27274@smallexample
27275symtab = gdb.selected_frame().find_sal().symtab
27276linetable = symtab.linetable()
27277for line in linetable:
27278 print "Line: "+str(line.line)+" Address: "+hex(line.pc)
27279@end smallexample
27280
27281This will have the following output:
27282
27283@smallexample
27284Line: 33 Address: 0x4005c8L
27285Line: 37 Address: 0x4005caL
27286Line: 39 Address: 0x4005d2L
27287Line: 40 Address: 0x4005f8L
27288Line: 42 Address: 0x4005ffL
27289Line: 44 Address: 0x400608L
27290Line: 42 Address: 0x40060cL
27291Line: 45 Address: 0x400615L
27292@end smallexample
27293
27294In addition to being able to iterate over a @code{LineTable}, it also
27295has the following direct access methods:
27296
27297@defun LineTable.line (line)
27298Return a Python @code{Tuple} of @code{LineTableEntry} objects for any
27299entries in the line table for the given @var{line}. @var{line} refers
27300to the source code line. If there are no entries for that source code
27301@var{line}, the Python @code{None} is returned.
27302@end defun
27303
27304@defun LineTable.has_line (line)
27305Return a Python @code{Boolean} indicating whether there is an entry in
27306the line table for this source line. Return @code{True} if an entry
27307is found, or @code{False} if not.
27308@end defun
27309
27310@defun LineTable.source_lines ()
27311Return a Python @code{List} of the source line numbers in the symbol
27312table. Only lines with executable code locations are returned. The
27313contents of the @code{List} will just be the source line entries
27314represented as Python @code{Long} values.
27315@end defun
27316
27317@node Breakpoints In Python
27318@subsubsection Manipulating breakpoints using Python
27319
27320@cindex breakpoints in python
27321@tindex gdb.Breakpoint
27322
27323Python code can manipulate breakpoints via the @code{gdb.Breakpoint}
27324class.
27325
27326@defun Breakpoint.__init__ (spec @r{[}, type @r{[}, wp_class @r{[},internal @r{[},temporary@r{]]]]})
27327Create a new breakpoint. @var{spec} is a string naming the location
27328of the breakpoint, or an expression that defines a watchpoint. The
27329contents can be any location recognized by the @code{break} command,
27330or in the case of a watchpoint, by the @code{watch} command. The
27331optional @var{type} denotes the breakpoint to create from the types
27332defined later in this chapter. This argument can be either:
27333@code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT} or @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. @var{type}
27334defaults to @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT}. The optional @var{internal}
27335argument allows the breakpoint to become invisible to the user. The
27336breakpoint will neither be reported when created, nor will it be
27337listed in the output from @code{info breakpoints} (but will be listed
27338with the @code{maint info breakpoints} command). The optional
27339@var{temporary} argument makes the breakpoint a temporary breakpoint.
27340Temporary breakpoints are deleted after they have been hit. Any
27341further access to the Python breakpoint after it has been hit will
27342result in a runtime error (as that breakpoint has now been
27343automatically deleted). The optional @var{wp_class} argument defines
27344the class of watchpoint to create, if @var{type} is
27345@code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. If a watchpoint class is not provided, it
27346is assumed to be a @code{gdb.WP_WRITE} class.
27347@end defun
27348
27349@defun Breakpoint.stop (self)
27350The @code{gdb.Breakpoint} class can be sub-classed and, in
27351particular, you may choose to implement the @code{stop} method.
27352If this method is defined in a sub-class of @code{gdb.Breakpoint},
27353it will be called when the inferior reaches any location of a
27354breakpoint which instantiates that sub-class. If the method returns
27355@code{True}, the inferior will be stopped at the location of the
27356breakpoint, otherwise the inferior will continue.
27357
27358If there are multiple breakpoints at the same location with a
27359@code{stop} method, each one will be called regardless of the
27360return status of the previous. This ensures that all @code{stop}
27361methods have a chance to execute at that location. In this scenario
27362if one of the methods returns @code{True} but the others return
27363@code{False}, the inferior will still be stopped.
27364
27365You should not alter the execution state of the inferior (i.e.@:, step,
27366next, etc.), alter the current frame context (i.e.@:, change the current
27367active frame), or alter, add or delete any breakpoint. As a general
27368rule, you should not alter any data within @value{GDBN} or the inferior
27369at this time.
27370
27371Example @code{stop} implementation:
27372
27373@smallexample
27374class MyBreakpoint (gdb.Breakpoint):
27375 def stop (self):
27376 inf_val = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo")
27377 if inf_val == 3:
27378 return True
27379 return False
27380@end smallexample
27381@end defun
27382
27383The available watchpoint types represented by constants are defined in the
27384@code{gdb} module:
27385
27386@table @code
27387@findex WP_READ
27388@findex gdb.WP_READ
27389@item gdb.WP_READ
27390Read only watchpoint.
27391
27392@findex WP_WRITE
27393@findex gdb.WP_WRITE
27394@item gdb.WP_WRITE
27395Write only watchpoint.
27396
27397@findex WP_ACCESS
27398@findex gdb.WP_ACCESS
27399@item gdb.WP_ACCESS
27400Read/Write watchpoint.
27401@end table
27402
27403@defun Breakpoint.is_valid ()
27404Return @code{True} if this @code{Breakpoint} object is valid,
27405@code{False} otherwise. A @code{Breakpoint} object can become invalid
27406if the user deletes the breakpoint. In this case, the object still
27407exists, but the underlying breakpoint does not. In the cases of
27408watchpoint scope, the watchpoint remains valid even if execution of the
27409inferior leaves the scope of that watchpoint.
27410@end defun
27411
27412@defun Breakpoint.delete
27413Permanently deletes the @value{GDBN} breakpoint. This also
27414invalidates the Python @code{Breakpoint} object. Any further access
27415to this object's attributes or methods will raise an error.
27416@end defun
27417
27418@defvar Breakpoint.enabled
27419This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is enabled, and
27420@code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
27421@end defvar
27422
27423@defvar Breakpoint.silent
27424This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is silent, and
27425@code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
27426
27427Note that a breakpoint can also be silent if it has commands and the
27428first command is @code{silent}. This is not reported by the
27429@code{silent} attribute.
27430@end defvar
27431
27432@defvar Breakpoint.thread
27433If the breakpoint is thread-specific, this attribute holds the thread
27434id. If the breakpoint is not thread-specific, this attribute is
27435@code{None}. This attribute is writable.
27436@end defvar
27437
27438@defvar Breakpoint.task
27439If the breakpoint is Ada task-specific, this attribute holds the Ada task
27440id. If the breakpoint is not task-specific (or the underlying
27441language is not Ada), this attribute is @code{None}. This attribute
27442is writable.
27443@end defvar
27444
27445@defvar Breakpoint.ignore_count
27446This attribute holds the ignore count for the breakpoint, an integer.
27447This attribute is writable.
27448@end defvar
27449
27450@defvar Breakpoint.number
27451This attribute holds the breakpoint's number --- the identifier used by
27452the user to manipulate the breakpoint. This attribute is not writable.
27453@end defvar
27454
27455@defvar Breakpoint.type
27456This attribute holds the breakpoint's type --- the identifier used to
27457determine the actual breakpoint type or use-case. This attribute is not
27458writable.
27459@end defvar
27460
27461@defvar Breakpoint.visible
27462This attribute tells whether the breakpoint is visible to the user
27463when set, or when the @samp{info breakpoints} command is run. This
27464attribute is not writable.
27465@end defvar
27466
27467@defvar Breakpoint.temporary
27468This attribute indicates whether the breakpoint was created as a
27469temporary breakpoint. Temporary breakpoints are automatically deleted
27470after that breakpoint has been hit. Access to this attribute, and all
27471other attributes and functions other than the @code{is_valid}
27472function, will result in an error after the breakpoint has been hit
27473(as it has been automatically deleted). This attribute is not
27474writable.
27475@end defvar
27476
27477The available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
27478module:
27479
27480@table @code
27481@findex BP_BREAKPOINT
27482@findex gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
27483@item gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
27484Normal code breakpoint.
27485
27486@findex BP_WATCHPOINT
27487@findex gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
27488@item gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
27489Watchpoint breakpoint.
27490
27491@findex BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
27492@findex gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
27493@item gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
27494Hardware assisted watchpoint.
27495
27496@findex BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
27497@findex gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
27498@item gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
27499Hardware assisted read watchpoint.
27500
27501@findex BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
27502@findex gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
27503@item gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
27504Hardware assisted access watchpoint.
27505@end table
27506
27507@defvar Breakpoint.hit_count
27508This attribute holds the hit count for the breakpoint, an integer.
27509This attribute is writable, but currently it can only be set to zero.
27510@end defvar
27511
27512@defvar Breakpoint.location
27513This attribute holds the location of the breakpoint, as specified by
27514the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have a location
27515(that is, it is a watchpoint) the attribute's value is @code{None}. This
27516attribute is not writable.
27517@end defvar
27518
27519@defvar Breakpoint.expression
27520This attribute holds a breakpoint expression, as specified by
27521the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have an
27522expression (the breakpoint is not a watchpoint) the attribute's value
27523is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
27524@end defvar
27525
27526@defvar Breakpoint.condition
27527This attribute holds the condition of the breakpoint, as specified by
27528the user. It is a string. If there is no condition, this attribute's
27529value is @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
27530@end defvar
27531
27532@defvar Breakpoint.commands
27533This attribute holds the commands attached to the breakpoint. If
27534there are commands, this attribute's value is a string holding all the
27535commands, separated by newlines. If there are no commands, this
27536attribute is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
27537@end defvar
27538
27539@node Finish Breakpoints in Python
27540@subsubsection Finish Breakpoints
27541
27542@cindex python finish breakpoints
27543@tindex gdb.FinishBreakpoint
27544
27545A finish breakpoint is a temporary breakpoint set at the return address of
27546a frame, based on the @code{finish} command. @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint}
27547extends @code{gdb.Breakpoint}. The underlying breakpoint will be disabled
27548and deleted when the execution will run out of the breakpoint scope (i.e.@:
27549@code{Breakpoint.stop} or @code{FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope} triggered).
27550Finish breakpoints are thread specific and must be create with the right
27551thread selected.
27552
27553@defun FinishBreakpoint.__init__ (@r{[}frame@r{]} @r{[}, internal@r{]})
27554Create a finish breakpoint at the return address of the @code{gdb.Frame}
27555object @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is not provided, this defaults to the
27556newest frame. The optional @var{internal} argument allows the breakpoint to
27557become invisible to the user. @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for further
27558details about this argument.
27559@end defun
27560
27561@defun FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope (self)
27562In some circumstances (e.g.@: @code{longjmp}, C@t{++} exceptions, @value{GDBN}
27563@code{return} command, @dots{}), a function may not properly terminate, and
27564thus never hit the finish breakpoint. When @value{GDBN} notices such a
27565situation, the @code{out_of_scope} callback will be triggered.
27566
27567You may want to sub-class @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} and override this
27568method:
27569
27570@smallexample
27571class MyFinishBreakpoint (gdb.FinishBreakpoint)
27572 def stop (self):
27573 print "normal finish"
27574 return True
27575
27576 def out_of_scope ():
27577 print "abnormal finish"
27578@end smallexample
27579@end defun
27580
27581@defvar FinishBreakpoint.return_value
27582When @value{GDBN} is stopped at a finish breakpoint and the frame
27583used to build the @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} object had debug symbols, this
27584attribute will contain a @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the return
27585value of the function. The value will be @code{None} if the function return
27586type is @code{void} or if the return value was not computable. This attribute
27587is not writable.
27588@end defvar
27589
27590@node Lazy Strings In Python
27591@subsubsection Python representation of lazy strings.
27592
27593@cindex lazy strings in python
27594@tindex gdb.LazyString
27595
27596A @dfn{lazy string} is a string whose contents is not retrieved or
27597encoded until it is needed.
27598
27599A @code{gdb.LazyString} is represented in @value{GDBN} as an
27600@code{address} that points to a region of memory, an @code{encoding}
27601that will be used to encode that region of memory, and a @code{length}
27602to delimit the region of memory that represents the string. The
27603difference between a @code{gdb.LazyString} and a string wrapped within
27604a @code{gdb.Value} is that a @code{gdb.LazyString} will be treated
27605differently by @value{GDBN} when printing. A @code{gdb.LazyString} is
27606retrieved and encoded during printing, while a @code{gdb.Value}
27607wrapping a string is immediately retrieved and encoded on creation.
27608
27609A @code{gdb.LazyString} object has the following functions:
27610
27611@defun LazyString.value ()
27612Convert the @code{gdb.LazyString} to a @code{gdb.Value}. This value
27613will point to the string in memory, but will lose all the delayed
27614retrieval, encoding and handling that @value{GDBN} applies to a
27615@code{gdb.LazyString}.
27616@end defun
27617
27618@defvar LazyString.address
27619This attribute holds the address of the string. This attribute is not
27620writable.
27621@end defvar
27622
27623@defvar LazyString.length
27624This attribute holds the length of the string in characters. If the
27625length is -1, then the string will be fetched and encoded up to the
27626first null of appropriate width. This attribute is not writable.
27627@end defvar
27628
27629@defvar LazyString.encoding
27630This attribute holds the encoding that will be applied to the string
27631when the string is printed by @value{GDBN}. If the encoding is not
27632set, or contains an empty string, then @value{GDBN} will select the
27633most appropriate encoding when the string is printed. This attribute
27634is not writable.
27635@end defvar
27636
27637@defvar LazyString.type
27638This attribute holds the type that is represented by the lazy string's
27639type. For a lazy string this will always be a pointer type. To
27640resolve this to the lazy string's character type, use the type's
27641@code{target} method. @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not
27642writable.
27643@end defvar
27644
27645@node Architectures In Python
27646@subsubsection Python representation of architectures
27647@cindex Python architectures
27648
27649@value{GDBN} uses architecture specific parameters and artifacts in a
27650number of its various computations. An architecture is represented
27651by an instance of the @code{gdb.Architecture} class.
27652
27653A @code{gdb.Architecture} class has the following methods:
27654
27655@defun Architecture.name ()
27656Return the name (string value) of the architecture.
27657@end defun
27658
27659@defun Architecture.disassemble (@var{start_pc} @r{[}, @var{end_pc} @r{[}, @var{count}@r{]]})
27660Return a list of disassembled instructions starting from the memory
27661address @var{start_pc}. The optional arguments @var{end_pc} and
27662@var{count} determine the number of instructions in the returned list.
27663If both the optional arguments @var{end_pc} and @var{count} are
27664specified, then a list of at most @var{count} disassembled instructions
27665whose start address falls in the closed memory address interval from
27666@var{start_pc} to @var{end_pc} are returned. If @var{end_pc} is not
27667specified, but @var{count} is specified, then @var{count} number of
27668instructions starting from the address @var{start_pc} are returned. If
27669@var{count} is not specified but @var{end_pc} is specified, then all
27670instructions whose start address falls in the closed memory address
27671interval from @var{start_pc} to @var{end_pc} are returned. If neither
27672@var{end_pc} nor @var{count} are specified, then a single instruction at
27673@var{start_pc} is returned. For all of these cases, each element of the
27674returned list is a Python @code{dict} with the following string keys:
27675
27676@table @code
27677
27678@item addr
27679The value corresponding to this key is a Python long integer capturing
27680the memory address of the instruction.
27681
27682@item asm
27683The value corresponding to this key is a string value which represents
27684the instruction with assembly language mnemonics. The assembly
27685language flavor used is the same as that specified by the current CLI
27686variable @code{disassembly-flavor}. @xref{Machine Code}.
27687
27688@item length
27689The value corresponding to this key is the length (integer value) of the
27690instruction in bytes.
27691
27692@end table
27693@end defun
27694
27695@node Python Auto-loading
27696@subsection Python Auto-loading
27697@cindex Python auto-loading
27698
27699When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
27700command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
27701@value{GDBN} will look for Python support scripts in several ways:
27702@file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} and @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section.
27703@xref{Auto-loading extensions}.
27704
27705The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
27706debugging commands and scripts.
27707
27708Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled,
27709and the list of auto-loaded scripts can be printed.
27710
27711@table @code
27712@anchor{set auto-load python-scripts}
27713@kindex set auto-load python-scripts
27714@item set auto-load python-scripts [on|off]
27715Enable or disable the auto-loading of Python scripts.
27716
27717@anchor{show auto-load python-scripts}
27718@kindex show auto-load python-scripts
27719@item show auto-load python-scripts
27720Show whether auto-loading of Python scripts is enabled or disabled.
27721
27722@anchor{info auto-load python-scripts}
27723@kindex info auto-load python-scripts
27724@cindex print list of auto-loaded Python scripts
27725@item info auto-load python-scripts [@var{regexp}]
27726Print the list of all Python scripts that @value{GDBN} auto-loaded.
27727
27728Also printed is the list of Python scripts that were mentioned in
27729the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section and were not found
27730(@pxref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}).
27731This is useful because their names are not printed when @value{GDBN}
27732tries to load them and fails. There may be many of them, and printing
27733an error message for each one is problematic.
27734
27735If @var{regexp} is supplied only Python scripts with matching names are printed.
27736
27737Example:
27738
27739@smallexample
27740(gdb) info auto-load python-scripts
27741Loaded Script
27742Yes py-section-script.py
27743 full name: /tmp/py-section-script.py
27744No my-foo-pretty-printers.py
27745@end smallexample
27746@end table
27747
27748When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the
27749@dfn{current objfile}. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
27750function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
27751registering objfile-specific pretty-printers and frame-filters.
27752
27753@node Python modules
27754@subsection Python modules
27755@cindex python modules
27756
27757@value{GDBN} comes with several modules to assist writing Python code.
27758
27759@menu
27760* gdb.printing:: Building and registering pretty-printers.
27761* gdb.types:: Utilities for working with types.
27762* gdb.prompt:: Utilities for prompt value substitution.
27763@end menu
27764
27765@node gdb.printing
27766@subsubsection gdb.printing
27767@cindex gdb.printing
27768
27769This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
27770pretty-printers.
27771
27772@table @code
27773@item PrettyPrinter (@var{name}, @var{subprinters}=None)
27774This class specifies the API that makes @samp{info pretty-printer},
27775@samp{enable pretty-printer} and @samp{disable pretty-printer} work.
27776Pretty-printers should generally inherit from this class.
27777
27778@item SubPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
27779For printers that handle multiple types, this class specifies the
27780corresponding API for the subprinters.
27781
27782@item RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
27783Utility class for handling multiple printers, all recognized via
27784regular expressions.
27785@xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for an example.
27786
27787@item FlagEnumerationPrinter (@var{name})
27788A pretty-printer which handles printing of @code{enum} values. Unlike
27789@value{GDBN}'s built-in @code{enum} printing, this printer attempts to
27790work properly when there is some overlap between the enumeration
27791constants. @var{name} is the name of the printer and also the name of
27792the @code{enum} type to look up.
27793
27794@item register_pretty_printer (@var{obj}, @var{printer}, @var{replace}=False)
27795Register @var{printer} with the pretty-printer list of @var{obj}.
27796If @var{replace} is @code{True} then any existing copy of the printer
27797is replaced. Otherwise a @code{RuntimeError} exception is raised
27798if a printer with the same name already exists.
27799@end table
27800
27801@node gdb.types
27802@subsubsection gdb.types
27803@cindex gdb.types
27804
27805This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
27806@code{gdb.Type} objects.
27807
27808@table @code
27809@item get_basic_type (@var{type})
27810Return @var{type} with const and volatile qualifiers stripped,
27811and with typedefs and C@t{++} references converted to the underlying type.
27812
27813C@t{++} example:
27814
27815@smallexample
27816typedef const int const_int;
27817const_int foo (3);
27818const_int& foo_ref (foo);
27819int main () @{ return 0; @}
27820@end smallexample
27821
27822Then in gdb:
27823
27824@smallexample
27825(gdb) start
27826(gdb) python import gdb.types
27827(gdb) python foo_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo_ref")
27828(gdb) python print gdb.types.get_basic_type(foo_ref.type)
27829int
27830@end smallexample
27831
27832@item has_field (@var{type}, @var{field})
27833Return @code{True} if @var{type}, assumed to be a type with fields
27834(e.g., a structure or union), has field @var{field}.
27835
27836@item make_enum_dict (@var{enum_type})
27837Return a Python @code{dictionary} type produced from @var{enum_type}.
27838
27839@item deep_items (@var{type})
27840Returns a Python iterator similar to the standard
27841@code{gdb.Type.iteritems} method, except that the iterator returned
27842by @code{deep_items} will recursively traverse anonymous struct or
27843union fields. For example:
27844
27845@smallexample
27846struct A
27847@{
27848 int a;
27849 union @{
27850 int b0;
27851 int b1;
27852 @};
27853@};
27854@end smallexample
27855
27856@noindent
27857Then in @value{GDBN}:
27858@smallexample
27859(@value{GDBP}) python import gdb.types
27860(@value{GDBP}) python struct_a = gdb.lookup_type("struct A")
27861(@value{GDBP}) python print struct_a.keys ()
27862@{['a', '']@}
27863(@value{GDBP}) python print [k for k,v in gdb.types.deep_items(struct_a)]
27864@{['a', 'b0', 'b1']@}
27865@end smallexample
27866
27867@item get_type_recognizers ()
27868Return a list of the enabled type recognizers for the current context.
27869This is called by @value{GDBN} during the type-printing process
27870(@pxref{Type Printing API}).
27871
27872@item apply_type_recognizers (recognizers, type_obj)
27873Apply the type recognizers, @var{recognizers}, to the type object
27874@var{type_obj}. If any recognizer returns a string, return that
27875string. Otherwise, return @code{None}. This is called by
27876@value{GDBN} during the type-printing process (@pxref{Type Printing
27877API}).
27878
27879@item register_type_printer (locus, printer)
27880This is a convenience function to register a type printer.
27881@var{printer} is the type printer to register. It must implement the
27882type printer protocol. @var{locus} is either a @code{gdb.Objfile}, in
27883which case the printer is registered with that objfile; a
27884@code{gdb.Progspace}, in which case the printer is registered with
27885that progspace; or @code{None}, in which case the printer is
27886registered globally.
27887
27888@item TypePrinter
27889This is a base class that implements the type printer protocol. Type
27890printers are encouraged, but not required, to derive from this class.
27891It defines a constructor:
27892
27893@defmethod TypePrinter __init__ (self, name)
27894Initialize the type printer with the given name. The new printer
27895starts in the enabled state.
27896@end defmethod
27897
27898@end table
27899
27900@node gdb.prompt
27901@subsubsection gdb.prompt
27902@cindex gdb.prompt
27903
27904This module provides a method for prompt value-substitution.
27905
27906@table @code
27907@item substitute_prompt (@var{string})
27908Return @var{string} with escape sequences substituted by values. Some
27909escape sequences take arguments. You can specify arguments inside
27910``@{@}'' immediately following the escape sequence.
27911
27912The escape sequences you can pass to this function are:
27913
27914@table @code
27915@item \\
27916Substitute a backslash.
27917@item \e
27918Substitute an ESC character.
27919@item \f
27920Substitute the selected frame; an argument names a frame parameter.
27921@item \n
27922Substitute a newline.
27923@item \p
27924Substitute a parameter's value; the argument names the parameter.
27925@item \r
27926Substitute a carriage return.
27927@item \t
27928Substitute the selected thread; an argument names a thread parameter.
27929@item \v
27930Substitute the version of GDB.
27931@item \w
27932Substitute the current working directory.
27933@item \[
27934Begin a sequence of non-printing characters. These sequences are
27935typically used with the ESC character, and are not counted in the string
27936length. Example: ``\[\e[0;34m\](gdb)\[\e[0m\]'' will return a
27937blue-colored ``(gdb)'' prompt where the length is five.
27938@item \]
27939End a sequence of non-printing characters.
27940@end table
27941
27942For example:
27943
27944@smallexample
27945substitute_prompt (``frame: \f,
27946 print arguments: \p@{print frame-arguments@}'')
27947@end smallexample
27948
27949@exdent will return the string:
27950
27951@smallexample
27952"frame: main, print arguments: scalars"
27953@end smallexample
27954@end table
27955
27956@node Auto-loading extensions
27957@section Auto-loading extensions
27958@cindex auto-loading extensions
27959
27960@value{GDBN} provides two mechanisms for automatically loading extensions
27961when a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
27962command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library):
27963@file{@var{objfile}-gdb.@var{ext}} and the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts}
27964section of modern file formats like ELF.
27965
27966@menu
27967* objfile-gdb.ext file: objfile-gdbdotext file. The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.@var{ext}} file
27968* .debug_gdb_scripts section: dotdebug_gdb_scripts section. The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
27969* Which flavor to choose?::
27970@end menu
27971
27972The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
27973debugging commands and features.
27974
27975Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled,
27976and the list of auto-loaded scripts can be printed.
27977See the @samp{auto-loading} section of each extension language
27978for more information.
27979For @value{GDBN} command files see @ref{Auto-loading sequences}.
27980For Python files see @ref{Python Auto-loading}.
27981
27982Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
27983@code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
27984
27985@node objfile-gdbdotext file
27986@subsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.@var{ext}} file
27987@cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb}
27988@cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
27989@cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.scm}
27990
27991When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for a file named
27992@file{@var{objfile}-gdb.@var{ext}} (we call it @var{script-name} below),
27993where @var{objfile} is the object file's name and
27994where @var{ext} is the file extension for the extension language:
27995
27996@table @code
27997@item @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb}
27998GDB's own command language
27999@item @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
28000Python
28001@end table
28002
28003@var{script-name} is formed by ensuring that the file name of @var{objfile}
28004is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving @code{.} and @code{..}
28005components, and appending the @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} suffix.
28006If this file exists and is readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a
28007script in the specified extension language.
28008
28009If this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
28010@var{script-name} file in all of the directories as specified below.
28011
28012Note that loading of these files requires an accordingly configured
28013@code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
28014
28015For object files using @file{.exe} suffix @value{GDBN} tries to load first the
28016scripts normally according to its @file{.exe} filename. But if no scripts are
28017found @value{GDBN} also tries script filenames matching the object file without
28018its @file{.exe} suffix. This @file{.exe} stripping is case insensitive and it
28019is attempted on any platform. This makes the script filenames compatible
28020between Unix and MS-Windows hosts.
28021
28022@table @code
28023@anchor{set auto-load scripts-directory}
28024@kindex set auto-load scripts-directory
28025@item set auto-load scripts-directory @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
28026Control @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location. Multiple directory entries
28027may be delimited by the host platform path separator in use
28028(@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS).
28029
28030Each entry here needs to be covered also by the security setting
28031@code{set auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{set auto-load safe-path}).
28032
28033@anchor{with-auto-load-dir}
28034This variable defaults to @file{$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load}. The default
28035@code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by @value{GDBN}
28036configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-dir}.
28037
28038Any reference to @file{$debugdir} will get replaced by
28039@var{debug-file-directory} value (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}) and any
28040reference to @file{$datadir} will get replaced by @var{data-directory} which is
28041determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}). @file{$debugdir} and
28042@file{$datadir} must be placed as a directory component --- either alone or
28043delimited by @file{/} or @file{\} directory separators, depending on the host
28044platform.
28045
28046The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
28047systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
28048to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
28049
28050@anchor{show auto-load scripts-directory}
28051@kindex show auto-load scripts-directory
28052@item show auto-load scripts-directory
28053Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
28054@end table
28055
28056@value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
28057@value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
28058@var{objfile} is opened.
28059So your @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
28060is evaluated more than once.
28061
28062@node dotdebug_gdb_scripts section
28063@subsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
28064@cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
28065
28066For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
28067when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
28068it will look for a special section named @code{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
28069If this section exists, its contents is a list of NUL-terminated names
28070of scripts to load. Each entry begins with a non-NULL prefix byte that
28071specifies the kind of entry, typically the extension language.
28072
28073@value{GDBN} will look for each specified script file first in the
28074current directory and then along the source search path
28075(@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
28076except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
28077directory is not relevant to scripts.
28078
28079Entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
28080for example, this GCC macro for Python scripts.
28081
28082@example
28083/* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remove duplicates. */
28084#define DEFINE_GDB_PY_SCRIPT(script_name) \
28085 asm("\
28086.pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
28087.byte 1 /* Python */\n\
28088.asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
28089.popsection \n\
28090");
28091@end example
28092
28093@noindent
28094Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
28095
28096@example
28097DEFINE_GDB_PY_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
28098@end example
28099
28100The script name may include directories if desired.
28101
28102Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
28103@code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
28104
28105If the macro invocation is put in a header, any application or library
28106using this header will get a reference to the specified script,
28107and with the use of @code{"MS"} attributes on the section, the linker
28108will remove duplicates.
28109
28110@node Which flavor to choose?
28111@subsection Which flavor to choose?
28112
28113Given the multiple ways of auto-loading extensions, it might not always
28114be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
28115
28116@noindent
28117Benefits of the @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} way:
28118
28119@itemize @bullet
28120@item
28121Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
28122
28123@item
28124Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
28125
28126Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
28127in the source search path.
28128For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
28129isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
28130
28131@item
28132Doesn't require source code additions.
28133@end itemize
28134
28135@noindent
28136Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
28137
28138@itemize @bullet
28139@item
28140Works with static linking.
28141
28142Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} way require an objfile to
28143trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
28144objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
28145scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's
28146@file{-gdb.@var{ext}} script.
28147
28148@item
28149Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
28150
28151Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
28152shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} script to.
28153
28154@item
28155Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
28156
28157In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
28158libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
28159@file{-gdb.@var{ext}} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
28160cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
28161@code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
28162top of the source tree to the source search path.
28163@end itemize
28164
28165@node Aliases
28166@section Creating new spellings of existing commands
28167@cindex aliases for commands
28168
28169It is often useful to define alternate spellings of existing commands.
28170For example, if a new @value{GDBN} command defined in Python has
28171a long name to type, it is handy to have an abbreviated version of it
28172that involves less typing.
28173
28174@value{GDBN} itself uses aliases. For example @samp{s} is an alias
28175of the @samp{step} command even though it is otherwise an ambiguous
28176abbreviation of other commands like @samp{set} and @samp{show}.
28177
28178Aliases are also used to provide shortened or more common versions
28179of multi-word commands. For example, @value{GDBN} provides the
28180@samp{tty} alias of the @samp{set inferior-tty} command.
28181
28182You can define a new alias with the @samp{alias} command.
28183
28184@table @code
28185
28186@kindex alias
28187@item alias [-a] [--] @var{ALIAS} = @var{COMMAND}
28188
28189@end table
28190
28191@var{ALIAS} specifies the name of the new alias.
28192Each word of @var{ALIAS} must consist of letters, numbers, dashes and
28193underscores.
28194
28195@var{COMMAND} specifies the name of an existing command
28196that is being aliased.
28197
28198The @samp{-a} option specifies that the new alias is an abbreviation
28199of the command. Abbreviations are not shown in command
28200lists displayed by the @samp{help} command.
28201
28202The @samp{--} option specifies the end of options,
28203and is useful when @var{ALIAS} begins with a dash.
28204
28205Here is a simple example showing how to make an abbreviation
28206of a command so that there is less to type.
28207Suppose you were tired of typing @samp{disas}, the current
28208shortest unambiguous abbreviation of the @samp{disassemble} command
28209and you wanted an even shorter version named @samp{di}.
28210The following will accomplish this.
28211
28212@smallexample
28213(gdb) alias -a di = disas
28214@end smallexample
28215
28216Note that aliases are different from user-defined commands.
28217With a user-defined command, you also need to write documentation
28218for it with the @samp{document} command.
28219An alias automatically picks up the documentation of the existing command.
28220
28221Here is an example where we make @samp{elms} an abbreviation of
28222@samp{elements} in the @samp{set print elements} command.
28223This is to show that you can make an abbreviation of any part
28224of a command.
28225
28226@smallexample
28227(gdb) alias -a set print elms = set print elements
28228(gdb) alias -a show print elms = show print elements
28229(gdb) set p elms 20
28230(gdb) show p elms
28231Limit on string chars or array elements to print is 200.
28232@end smallexample
28233
28234Note that if you are defining an alias of a @samp{set} command,
28235and you want to have an alias for the corresponding @samp{show}
28236command, then you need to define the latter separately.
28237
28238Unambiguously abbreviated commands are allowed in @var{COMMAND} and
28239@var{ALIAS}, just as they are normally.
28240
28241@smallexample
28242(gdb) alias -a set pr elms = set p ele
28243@end smallexample
28244
28245Finally, here is an example showing the creation of a one word
28246alias for a more complex command.
28247This creates alias @samp{spe} of the command @samp{set print elements}.
28248
28249@smallexample
28250(gdb) alias spe = set print elements
28251(gdb) spe 20
28252@end smallexample
28253
28254@node Interpreters
28255@chapter Command Interpreters
28256@cindex command interpreters
28257
28258@value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
28259infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
28260between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
28261
28262@value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
28263interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
28264and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
28265describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
28266
28267By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
28268However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
28269interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
28270startup options. Defined interpreters include:
28271
28272@table @code
28273@item console
28274@cindex console interpreter
28275The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
28276used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
28277@value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
28278
28279@item mi
28280@cindex mi interpreter
28281The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
28282by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
28283or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
28284Interface}.
28285
28286@item mi2
28287@cindex mi2 interpreter
28288The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
28289
28290@item mi1
28291@cindex mi1 interpreter
28292The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
28293
28294@end table
28295
28296@cindex invoke another interpreter
28297The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
28298switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
28299precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
28300enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
28301@value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
28302the IDE inoperable!
28303
28304@kindex interpreter-exec
28305Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
28306commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
28307command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
28308@code{interpreter-exec} command:
28309
28310@smallexample
28311interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
28312@end smallexample
28313
28314@sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
28315@value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
28316
28317@node TUI
28318@chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
28319@cindex TUI
28320@cindex Text User Interface
28321
28322@menu
28323* TUI Overview:: TUI overview
28324* TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
28325* TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
28326* TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
28327* TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
28328@end menu
28329
28330The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
28331interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
28332file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
28333commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
28334on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
28335is available.
28336
28337The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
28338@samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
28339You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
28340using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
28341@xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
28342
28343@node TUI Overview
28344@section TUI Overview
28345
28346In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
28347
28348@table @emph
28349@item command
28350This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
28351prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
28352managed using readline.
28353
28354@item source
28355The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
28356line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
28357
28358@item assembly
28359The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
28360
28361@item register
28362This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
28363when their values change.
28364@end table
28365
28366The source and assembly windows show the current program position
28367by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
28368Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
28369indicates the breakpoint type:
28370
28371@table @code
28372@item B
28373Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
28374
28375@item b
28376Breakpoint which was never hit.
28377
28378@item H
28379Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
28380
28381@item h
28382Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
28383@end table
28384
28385The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
28386
28387@table @code
28388@item +
28389Breakpoint is enabled.
28390
28391@item -
28392Breakpoint is disabled.
28393@end table
28394
28395The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
28396thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
28397changes.
28398
28399These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
28400window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
28401layouts:
28402
28403@itemize @bullet
28404@item
28405source only,
28406
28407@item
28408assembly only,
28409
28410@item
28411source and assembly,
28412
28413@item
28414source and registers, or
28415
28416@item
28417assembly and registers.
28418@end itemize
28419
28420A status line above the command window shows the following information:
28421
28422@table @emph
28423@item target
28424Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
28425(@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
28426
28427@item process
28428Gives the current process or thread number.
28429When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
28430
28431@item function
28432Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
28433The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
28434When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
28435the string @code{??} is displayed.
28436
28437@item line
28438Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
28439When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
28440
28441@item pc
28442Indicates the current program counter address.
28443@end table
28444
28445@node TUI Keys
28446@section TUI Key Bindings
28447@cindex TUI key bindings
28448
28449The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
28450@ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
28451(@pxref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library}).
28452@end ifset
28453@ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
28454(@pxref{Command Line Editing}).
28455@end ifclear
28456The following key bindings are installed for both TUI mode and the
28457@value{GDBN} standard mode.
28458
28459@table @kbd
28460@kindex C-x C-a
28461@item C-x C-a
28462@kindex C-x a
28463@itemx C-x a
28464@kindex C-x A
28465@itemx C-x A
28466Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
28467the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
28468its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
28469the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
28470The screen is then refreshed.
28471
28472@kindex C-x 1
28473@item C-x 1
28474Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
28475either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
28476is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
28477
28478Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
28479
28480@kindex C-x 2
28481@item C-x 2
28482Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
28483layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
28484When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
28485previous layout and the new one.
28486
28487Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
28488
28489@kindex C-x o
28490@item C-x o
28491Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
28492(like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
28493gives the focus to the next TUI window.
28494
28495Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
28496
28497@kindex C-x s
28498@item C-x s
28499Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
28500keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
28501@end table
28502
28503The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
28504
28505@table @asis
28506@kindex PgUp
28507@item @key{PgUp}
28508Scroll the active window one page up.
28509
28510@kindex PgDn
28511@item @key{PgDn}
28512Scroll the active window one page down.
28513
28514@kindex Up
28515@item @key{Up}
28516Scroll the active window one line up.
28517
28518@kindex Down
28519@item @key{Down}
28520Scroll the active window one line down.
28521
28522@kindex Left
28523@item @key{Left}
28524Scroll the active window one column left.
28525
28526@kindex Right
28527@item @key{Right}
28528Scroll the active window one column right.
28529
28530@kindex C-L
28531@item @kbd{C-L}
28532Refresh the screen.
28533@end table
28534
28535Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
28536are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
28537window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
28538other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
28539and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
28540
28541@node TUI Single Key Mode
28542@section TUI Single Key Mode
28543@cindex TUI single key mode
28544
28545The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
28546frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
28547switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
28548
28549@table @kbd
28550@kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28551@item c
28552continue
28553
28554@kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28555@item d
28556down
28557
28558@kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28559@item f
28560finish
28561
28562@kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28563@item n
28564next
28565
28566@kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28567@item q
28568exit the SingleKey mode.
28569
28570@kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28571@item r
28572run
28573
28574@kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28575@item s
28576step
28577
28578@kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28579@item u
28580up
28581
28582@kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28583@item v
28584info locals
28585
28586@kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28587@item w
28588where
28589@end table
28590
28591Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
28592The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
28593it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
28594with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
28595SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
28596this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
28597
28598
28599@node TUI Commands
28600@section TUI-specific Commands
28601@cindex TUI commands
28602
28603The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
28604These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
28605the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
28606of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
28607
28608Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
28609terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
28610interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
28611these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
28612possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
28613
28614@table @code
28615@item info win
28616@kindex info win
28617List and give the size of all displayed windows.
28618
28619@item layout next
28620@kindex layout
28621Display the next layout.
28622
28623@item layout prev
28624Display the previous layout.
28625
28626@item layout src
28627Display the source window only.
28628
28629@item layout asm
28630Display the assembly window only.
28631
28632@item layout split
28633Display the source and assembly window.
28634
28635@item layout regs
28636Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
28637
28638@item focus next
28639@kindex focus
28640Make the next window active for scrolling.
28641
28642@item focus prev
28643Make the previous window active for scrolling.
28644
28645@item focus src
28646Make the source window active for scrolling.
28647
28648@item focus asm
28649Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
28650
28651@item focus regs
28652Make the register window active for scrolling.
28653
28654@item focus cmd
28655Make the command window active for scrolling.
28656
28657@item refresh
28658@kindex refresh
28659Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
28660
28661@item tui reg float
28662@kindex tui reg
28663Show the floating point registers in the register window.
28664
28665@item tui reg general
28666Show the general registers in the register window.
28667
28668@item tui reg next
28669Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
28670their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
28671following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
28672@code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
28673
28674@item tui reg system
28675Show the system registers in the register window.
28676
28677@item update
28678@kindex update
28679Update the source window and the current execution point.
28680
28681@item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
28682@itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
28683@kindex winheight
28684Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
28685lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
28686decrease it.
28687
28688@item tabset @var{nchars}
28689@kindex tabset
28690Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
28691@end table
28692
28693@node TUI Configuration
28694@section TUI Configuration Variables
28695@cindex TUI configuration variables
28696
28697Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
28698
28699@table @code
28700@item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
28701@kindex set tui border-kind
28702Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
28703The possible values are the following:
28704@table @code
28705@item space
28706Use a space character to draw the border.
28707
28708@item ascii
28709Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
28710
28711@item acs
28712Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
28713drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
28714@end table
28715
28716@item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
28717@kindex set tui border-mode
28718@itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
28719@kindex set tui active-border-mode
28720Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
28721or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
28722@table @code
28723@item normal
28724Use normal attributes to display the border.
28725
28726@item standout
28727Use standout mode.
28728
28729@item reverse
28730Use reverse video mode.
28731
28732@item half
28733Use half bright mode.
28734
28735@item half-standout
28736Use half bright and standout mode.
28737
28738@item bold
28739Use extra bright or bold mode.
28740
28741@item bold-standout
28742Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
28743@end table
28744@end table
28745
28746@node Emacs
28747@chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
28748
28749@cindex Emacs
28750@cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
28751A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
28752edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
28753@value{GDBN}.
28754
28755To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
28756executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
28757@value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
28758created Emacs buffer.
28759@c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
28760
28761Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
28762things:
28763
28764@itemize @bullet
28765@item
28766All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
28767the GUD buffer.
28768
28769This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
28770and output done by the program you are debugging.
28771
28772This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
28773commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
28774in this way.
28775
28776All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
28777with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
28778way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
28779stop.
28780
28781@item
28782@value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
28783
28784Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
28785source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
28786left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
28787source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
28788and the source.
28789
28790Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
28791usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
28792@end itemize
28793
28794We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
28795a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
28796that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
28797@xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
28798
28799If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
28800gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
28801your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
28802sets your current working directory to the directory associated
28803with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
28804program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
28805some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
28806@value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
28807buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
28808
28809The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
28810line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
28811that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
28812,Commands to Specify Files}.
28813
28814By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
28815need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
28816keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
28817customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
28818one you want.
28819
28820In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
28821addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
28822
28823@table @kbd
28824@item C-h m
28825Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
28826
28827@item C-c C-s
28828Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
28829update the display window to show the current file and location.
28830
28831@item C-c C-n
28832Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
28833calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
28834to show the current file and location.
28835
28836@item C-c C-i
28837Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
28838display window accordingly.
28839
28840@item C-c C-f
28841Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
28842@code{finish} command.
28843
28844@item C-c C-r
28845Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
28846command.
28847
28848@item C-c <
28849Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
28850(@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
28851like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
28852
28853@item C-c >
28854Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
28855@value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
28856@end table
28857
28858In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
28859tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
28860
28861In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
28862separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
28863Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
28864become the current frame and display the associated source in the
28865source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
28866selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
28867speedbar displays watch expressions.
28868
28869If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
28870it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
28871request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
28872the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
28873frame.
28874
28875The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
28876which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
28877the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
28878communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
28879delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
28880to correspond properly with the code.
28881
28882A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
28883given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
28884Emacs Manual}).
28885
28886@node GDB/MI
28887@chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
28888
28889@unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
28890
28891@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
28892@sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
28893@value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
28894@option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
28895is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
28896use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
28897
28898This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
28899in the form of a reference manual.
28900
28901Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
28902features described below are incomplete and subject to change
28903(@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
28904
28905@unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
28906
28907@cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
28908This chapter uses the following notation:
28909
28910@itemize @bullet
28911@item
28912@code{|} separates two alternatives.
28913
28914@item
28915@code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
28916it may or may not be given.
28917
28918@item
28919@code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
28920may repeat zero or more times.
28921
28922@item
28923@code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
28924may repeat one or more times.
28925
28926@item
28927@code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
28928@end itemize
28929
28930@ignore
28931@heading Dependencies
28932@end ignore
28933
28934@menu
28935* GDB/MI General Design::
28936* GDB/MI Command Syntax::
28937* GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
28938* GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
28939* GDB/MI Output Records::
28940* GDB/MI Simple Examples::
28941* GDB/MI Command Description Format::
28942* GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
28943* GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
28944* GDB/MI Program Context::
28945* GDB/MI Thread Commands::
28946* GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands::
28947* GDB/MI Program Execution::
28948* GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
28949* GDB/MI Variable Objects::
28950* GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
28951* GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
28952* GDB/MI Symbol Query::
28953* GDB/MI File Commands::
28954@ignore
28955* GDB/MI Kod Commands::
28956* GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
28957* GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
28958@end ignore
28959* GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
28960* GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
28961* GDB/MI Ada Exceptions Commands::
28962* GDB/MI Support Commands::
28963* GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
28964@end menu
28965
28966@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28967@node GDB/MI General Design
28968@section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
28969@cindex GDB/MI General Design
28970
28971Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
28972parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
28973and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
28974indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
28975For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
28976requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
28977response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
28978Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
28979target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
28980a command and reported as part of that command response.
28981
28982The important examples of notifications are:
28983@itemize @bullet
28984
28985@item
28986Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
28987target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
28988be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
28989commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
28990different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
28991happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
28992command itself was successfully executed.
28993
28994@item
28995Console output, and status notifications. Console output
28996notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
28997diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
28998report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
28999this information in command response would mean no output is produced
29000until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
29001
29002@item
29003General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
29004the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
29005a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
29006be included in command response, using notification allows for more
29007orthogonal frontend design.
29008
29009@end itemize
29010
29011There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
29012@value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
29013the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
29014processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
29015we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
29016the user interface.
29017
29018
29019@menu
29020* Context management::
29021* Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
29022* Thread groups::
29023@end menu
29024
29025@node Context management
29026@subsection Context management
29027
29028@subsubsection Threads and Frames
29029
29030In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
29031done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
29032Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
29033be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
29034and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
29035because a command line user would not want to specify that information
29036explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
29037@value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
29038to what thread and frame are the current ones.
29039
29040In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
29041useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
29042itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
29043each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
29044want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
29045increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
29046frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
29047should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
29048make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
29049@samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
29050for thread and frame to operate on.
29051
29052Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
29053a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
29054operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
29055current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
29056it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
29057another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
29058the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
29059one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
29060change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
29061No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
29062
29063Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
29064frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
29065right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
29066simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
29067before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
29068to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
29069if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
29070thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
29071optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
29072sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
29073selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
29074change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
29075problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
29076all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
29077right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
29078@samp{--frame} options.
29079
29080@subsubsection Language
29081
29082The execution of several commands depends on which language is selected.
29083By default, the current language (@pxref{show language}) is used.
29084But for commands known to be language-sensitive, it is recommended
29085to use the @samp{--language} option. This option takes one argument,
29086which is the name of the language to use while executing the command.
29087For instance:
29088
29089@smallexample
29090-data-evaluate-expression --language c "sizeof (void*)"
29091^done,value="4"
29092(gdb)
29093@end smallexample
29094
29095The valid language names are the same names accepted by the
29096@samp{set language} command (@pxref{Manually}), excluding @samp{auto},
29097@samp{local} or @samp{unknown}.
29098
29099@node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
29100@subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
29101
29102On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
29103even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
29104command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
29105specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
29106@code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
29107either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
29108frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
29109find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
29110@code{-list-target-features} command.
29111
29112Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
29113many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
29114running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
29115when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
29116it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
29117are running.
29118
29119When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
29120target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
29121some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
29122stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
29123modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
29124that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
29125@code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
29126context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
29127stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
29128@samp{--thread} option).
29129
29130Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
29131highly target dependent. However, the two commands
29132@code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
29133to find the state of a thread, will always work.
29134
29135@node Thread groups
29136@subsection Thread groups
29137@value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
29138On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
29139hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
29140processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
29141mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
29142
29143The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
29144target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
29145accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
29146thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
29147neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
29148current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
29149that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
29150into processes.
29151
29152To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
29153hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
29154@dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
29155thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
29156and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
29157command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
29158thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
29159debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
29160to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
29161the members of specific thread group.
29162
29163To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
29164wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
29165introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
29166@value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
29167@code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
29168groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
29169In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
29170after attaching to that thread group.
29171
29172Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
29173Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
29174type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
29175such thread groups.
29176
29177@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29178@node GDB/MI Command Syntax
29179@section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
29180
29181@menu
29182* GDB/MI Input Syntax::
29183* GDB/MI Output Syntax::
29184@end menu
29185
29186@node GDB/MI Input Syntax
29187@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
29188
29189@cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
29190@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
29191@table @code
29192@item @var{command} @expansion{}
29193@code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
29194
29195@item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
29196@code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
29197@var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
29198
29199@item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
29200@code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
29201@code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
29202
29203@item @var{token} @expansion{}
29204"any sequence of digits"
29205
29206@item @var{option} @expansion{}
29207@code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
29208
29209@item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
29210@code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
29211
29212@item @var{operation} @expansion{}
29213@emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
29214
29215@item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
29216@emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
29217"-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
29218
29219@item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
29220@code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
29221
29222@item @var{nl} @expansion{}
29223@code{CR | CR-LF}
29224@end table
29225
29226@noindent
29227Notes:
29228
29229@itemize @bullet
29230@item
29231The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
29232output is described below.
29233
29234@item
29235The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
29236finishes.
29237
29238@item
29239Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
29240list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
29241followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
29242parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
29243@samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
29244@end itemize
29245
29246Pragmatics:
29247
29248@itemize @bullet
29249@item
29250We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
29251
29252@item
29253We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
29254@end itemize
29255
29256@node GDB/MI Output Syntax
29257@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
29258
29259@cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
29260@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
29261The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
29262followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
29263is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
29264terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
29265
29266If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
29267corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
29268@var{token}.
29269
29270@table @code
29271@item @var{output} @expansion{}
29272@code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
29273
29274@item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
29275@code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
29276
29277@item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
29278@code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
29279
29280@item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
29281@code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
29282
29283@item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
29284@code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output nl}}
29285
29286@item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
29287@code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output nl}}
29288
29289@item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
29290@code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output nl}}
29291
29292@item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
29293@code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )*}
29294
29295@item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
29296@code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
29297
29298@item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
29299@code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
29300depending on the needs---this is still in development).
29301
29302@item @var{result} @expansion{}
29303@code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
29304
29305@item @var{variable} @expansion{}
29306@code{ @var{string} }
29307
29308@item @var{value} @expansion{}
29309@code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
29310
29311@item @var{const} @expansion{}
29312@code{@var{c-string}}
29313
29314@item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
29315@code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
29316
29317@item @var{list} @expansion{}
29318@code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
29319@var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
29320
29321@item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
29322@code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
29323
29324@item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
29325@code{"~" @var{c-string nl}}
29326
29327@item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
29328@code{"@@" @var{c-string nl}}
29329
29330@item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
29331@code{"&" @var{c-string nl}}
29332
29333@item @var{nl} @expansion{}
29334@code{CR | CR-LF}
29335
29336@item @var{token} @expansion{}
29337@emph{any sequence of digits}.
29338@end table
29339
29340@noindent
29341Notes:
29342
29343@itemize @bullet
29344@item
29345All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
29346
29347@item
29348The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
29349for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
29350may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
29351output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
29352all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
29353target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
29354prior command.
29355
29356@item
29357@cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
29358@var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
29359progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
29360prefixed by @samp{+}.
29361
29362@item
29363@cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
29364@var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
29365(stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
29366@samp{*}.
29367
29368@item
29369@cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
29370@var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
29371client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
29372output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
29373
29374@item
29375@cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
29376@var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
29377console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
29378output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
29379
29380@item
29381@cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
29382@var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
29383All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
29384
29385@item
29386@cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
29387@var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
29388instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
29389the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
29390
29391@item
29392@cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
29393New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
29394@var{values}.
29395
29396
29397@end itemize
29398
29399@xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
29400details about the various output records.
29401
29402@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29403@node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
29404@section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
29405
29406@cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
29407@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
29408
29409For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
29410but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
29411that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
29412command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
29413@code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
29414@samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
29415
29416This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
29417recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
29418(@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
29419
29420@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29421@node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
29422@section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
29423@cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
29424
29425The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
29426program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
29427
29428Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
29429by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
29430to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
29431section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
29432might change.
29433
29434Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
29435for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
29436list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
29437parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
29438
29439@itemize @bullet
29440@item
29441New MI commands may be added.
29442
29443@item
29444New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
29445
29446@item
29447The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
29448@code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
29449
29450@c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
29451@c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
29452
29453@c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
29454@c resolve inconsistencies.
29455@end itemize
29456
29457If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
29458will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
29459output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
29460@value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
29461responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
29462
29463@c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
29464@c version?
29465
29466The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
29467end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
29468follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
29469@email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
29470@cindex mailing lists
29471
29472@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29473@node GDB/MI Output Records
29474@section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
29475
29476@menu
29477* GDB/MI Result Records::
29478* GDB/MI Stream Records::
29479* GDB/MI Async Records::
29480* GDB/MI Breakpoint Information::
29481* GDB/MI Frame Information::
29482* GDB/MI Thread Information::
29483* GDB/MI Ada Exception Information::
29484@end menu
29485
29486@node GDB/MI Result Records
29487@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
29488
29489@cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
29490@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
29491In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
29492@sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
29493
29494@table @code
29495@findex ^done
29496@item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
29497The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
29498values.
29499
29500@item "^running"
29501@findex ^running
29502This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
29503was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
29504target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
29505all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
29506identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
29507which threads are resumed.
29508
29509@item "^connected"
29510@findex ^connected
29511@value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
29512
29513@item "^error" "," "msg=" @var{c-string} [ "," "code=" @var{c-string} ]
29514@findex ^error
29515The operation failed. The @code{msg=@var{c-string}} variable contains
29516the corresponding error message.
29517
29518If present, the @code{code=@var{c-string}} variable provides an error
29519code on which consumers can rely on to detect the corresponding
29520error condition. At present, only one error code is defined:
29521
29522@table @samp
29523@item "undefined-command"
29524Indicates that the command causing the error does not exist.
29525@end table
29526
29527@item "^exit"
29528@findex ^exit
29529@value{GDBN} has terminated.
29530
29531@end table
29532
29533@node GDB/MI Stream Records
29534@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
29535
29536@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
29537@cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
29538@value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
29539target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
29540funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
29541
29542Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
29543identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
29544Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
29545@code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
29546line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
29547
29548@table @code
29549@item "~" @var{string-output}
29550The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
29551CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
29552
29553@item "@@" @var{string-output}
29554The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
29555target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
29556asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
29557
29558@item "&" @var{string-output}
29559The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
29560internals.
29561@end table
29562
29563@node GDB/MI Async Records
29564@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
29565
29566@cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
29567@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
29568@dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
29569additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
29570consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
29571target activity (e.g., target stopped).
29572
29573The following is the list of possible async records:
29574
29575@table @code
29576
29577@item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
29578The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
29579specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
29580are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
29581running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
29582The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
29583only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
29584several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
29585all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
29586be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
29587
29588@item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
29589The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
29590following values:
29591
29592@table @code
29593@item breakpoint-hit
29594A breakpoint was reached.
29595@item watchpoint-trigger
29596A watchpoint was triggered.
29597@item read-watchpoint-trigger
29598A read watchpoint was triggered.
29599@item access-watchpoint-trigger
29600An access watchpoint was triggered.
29601@item function-finished
29602An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
29603@item location-reached
29604An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
29605@item watchpoint-scope
29606A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
29607@item end-stepping-range
29608An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
29609similar CLI command was accomplished.
29610@item exited-signalled
29611The inferior exited because of a signal.
29612@item exited
29613The inferior exited.
29614@item exited-normally
29615The inferior exited normally.
29616@item signal-received
29617A signal was received by the inferior.
29618@item solib-event
29619The inferior has stopped due to a library being loaded or unloaded.
29620This can happen when @code{stop-on-solib-events} (@pxref{Files}) is
29621set or when a @code{catch load} or @code{catch unload} catchpoint is
29622in use (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}).
29623@item fork
29624The inferior has forked. This is reported when @code{catch fork}
29625(@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29626@item vfork
29627The inferior has vforked. This is reported in when @code{catch vfork}
29628(@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29629@item syscall-entry
29630The inferior entered a system call. This is reported when @code{catch
29631syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29632@item syscall-entry
29633The inferior returned from a system call. This is reported when
29634@code{catch syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29635@item exec
29636The inferior called @code{exec}. This is reported when @code{catch exec}
29637(@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29638@end table
29639
29640The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
29641-- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
29642mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
29643stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
29644If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
29645value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
29646field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
29647always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
29648several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
29649processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
29650if such information is not available.
29651
29652@item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
29653@itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
29654A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
29655contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
29656group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
29657process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
29658cannot be used in any way.
29659
29660@item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
29661A thread group became associated with a running program,
29662either because the program was just started or the thread group
29663was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
29664@value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
29665contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
29666
29667@item =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"[,exit-code="@var{code}"]
29668A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
29669either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
29670from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
29671thread group. @var{code} is the exit code of the inferior; it exists
29672only when the inferior exited with some code.
29673
29674@item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
29675@itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
29676A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
29677contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
29678field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
29679
29680@item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
29681Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
29682command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
29683command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
29684to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
29685invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
29686@code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
29687
29688We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
29689highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
29690that thread.
29691
29692@item =library-loaded,...
29693Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
29694notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
29695@var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
29696opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
29697@var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
29698library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
29699debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
29700@var{symbols-loaded} field is emitted only for backward compatibility
29701and should not be relied on to convey any useful information. The
29702@var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the thread
29703group in whose context the library was loaded. If the field is
29704absent, it means the library was loaded in the context of all present
29705thread groups.
29706
29707@item =library-unloaded,...
29708Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
29709has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
29710the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
29711The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
29712thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
29713absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
29714thread groups.
29715
29716@item =traceframe-changed,num=@var{tfnum},tracepoint=@var{tpnum}
29717@itemx =traceframe-changed,end
29718Reports that the trace frame was changed and its new number is
29719@var{tfnum}. The number of the tracepoint associated with this trace
29720frame is @var{tpnum}.
29721
29722@item =tsv-created,name=@var{name},initial=@var{initial}
29723Reports that the new trace state variable @var{name} is created with
29724initial value @var{initial}.
29725
29726@item =tsv-deleted,name=@var{name}
29727@itemx =tsv-deleted
29728Reports that the trace state variable @var{name} is deleted or all
29729trace state variables are deleted.
29730
29731@item =tsv-modified,name=@var{name},initial=@var{initial}[,current=@var{current}]
29732Reports that the trace state variable @var{name} is modified with
29733the initial value @var{initial}. The current value @var{current} of
29734trace state variable is optional and is reported if the current
29735value of trace state variable is known.
29736
29737@item =breakpoint-created,bkpt=@{...@}
29738@itemx =breakpoint-modified,bkpt=@{...@}
29739@itemx =breakpoint-deleted,id=@var{number}
29740Reports that a breakpoint was created, modified, or deleted,
29741respectively. Only user-visible breakpoints are reported to the MI
29742user.
29743
29744The @var{bkpt} argument is of the same form as returned by the various
29745breakpoint commands; @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}. The
29746@var{number} is the ordinal number of the breakpoint.
29747
29748Note that if a breakpoint is emitted in the result record of a
29749command, then it will not also be emitted in an async record.
29750
29751@item =record-started,thread-group="@var{id}"
29752@itemx =record-stopped,thread-group="@var{id}"
29753Execution log recording was either started or stopped on an
29754inferior. The @var{id} is the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread
29755group corresponding to the affected inferior.
29756
29757@item =cmd-param-changed,param=@var{param},value=@var{value}
29758Reports that a parameter of the command @code{set @var{param}} is
29759changed to @var{value}. In the multi-word @code{set} command,
29760the @var{param} is the whole parameter list to @code{set} command.
29761For example, In command @code{set check type on}, @var{param}
29762is @code{check type} and @var{value} is @code{on}.
29763
29764@item =memory-changed,thread-group=@var{id},addr=@var{addr},len=@var{len}[,type="code"]
29765Reports that bytes from @var{addr} to @var{data} + @var{len} were
29766written in an inferior. The @var{id} is the identifier of the
29767thread group corresponding to the affected inferior. The optional
29768@code{type="code"} part is reported if the memory written to holds
29769executable code.
29770@end table
29771
29772@node GDB/MI Breakpoint Information
29773@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Information
29774
29775When @value{GDBN} reports information about a breakpoint, a
29776tracepoint, a watchpoint, or a catchpoint, it uses a tuple with the
29777following fields:
29778
29779@table @code
29780@item number
29781The breakpoint number. For a breakpoint that represents one location
29782of a multi-location breakpoint, this will be a dotted pair, like
29783@samp{1.2}.
29784
29785@item type
29786The type of the breakpoint. For ordinary breakpoints this will be
29787@samp{breakpoint}, but many values are possible.
29788
29789@item catch-type
29790If the type of the breakpoint is @samp{catchpoint}, then this
29791indicates the exact type of catchpoint.
29792
29793@item disp
29794This is the breakpoint disposition---either @samp{del}, meaning that
29795the breakpoint will be deleted at the next stop, or @samp{keep},
29796meaning that the breakpoint will not be deleted.
29797
29798@item enabled
29799This indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled, in which case the
29800value is @samp{y}, or disabled, in which case the value is @samp{n}.
29801Note that this is not the same as the field @code{enable}.
29802
29803@item addr
29804The address of the breakpoint. This may be a hexidecimal number,
29805giving the address; or the string @samp{<PENDING>}, for a pending
29806breakpoint; or the string @samp{<MULTIPLE>}, for a breakpoint with
29807multiple locations. This field will not be present if no address can
29808be determined. For example, a watchpoint does not have an address.
29809
29810@item func
29811If known, the function in which the breakpoint appears.
29812If not known, this field is not present.
29813
29814@item filename
29815The name of the source file which contains this function, if known.
29816If not known, this field is not present.
29817
29818@item fullname
29819The full file name of the source file which contains this function, if
29820known. If not known, this field is not present.
29821
29822@item line
29823The line number at which this breakpoint appears, if known.
29824If not known, this field is not present.
29825
29826@item at
29827If the source file is not known, this field may be provided. If
29828provided, this holds the address of the breakpoint, possibly followed
29829by a symbol name.
29830
29831@item pending
29832If this breakpoint is pending, this field is present and holds the
29833text used to set the breakpoint, as entered by the user.
29834
29835@item evaluated-by
29836Where this breakpoint's condition is evaluated, either @samp{host} or
29837@samp{target}.
29838
29839@item thread
29840If this is a thread-specific breakpoint, then this identifies the
29841thread in which the breakpoint can trigger.
29842
29843@item task
29844If this breakpoint is restricted to a particular Ada task, then this
29845field will hold the task identifier.
29846
29847@item cond
29848If the breakpoint is conditional, this is the condition expression.
29849
29850@item ignore
29851The ignore count of the breakpoint.
29852
29853@item enable
29854The enable count of the breakpoint.
29855
29856@item traceframe-usage
29857FIXME.
29858
29859@item static-tracepoint-marker-string-id
29860For a static tracepoint, the name of the static tracepoint marker.
29861
29862@item mask
29863For a masked watchpoint, this is the mask.
29864
29865@item pass
29866A tracepoint's pass count.
29867
29868@item original-location
29869The location of the breakpoint as originally specified by the user.
29870This field is optional.
29871
29872@item times
29873The number of times the breakpoint has been hit.
29874
29875@item installed
29876This field is only given for tracepoints. This is either @samp{y},
29877meaning that the tracepoint is installed, or @samp{n}, meaning that it
29878is not.
29879
29880@item what
29881Some extra data, the exact contents of which are type-dependent.
29882
29883@end table
29884
29885For example, here is what the output of @code{-break-insert}
29886(@pxref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}) might be:
29887
29888@smallexample
29889-> -break-insert main
29890<- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
29891 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
29892 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",thread-groups=["i1"],
29893 times="0"@}
29894<- (gdb)
29895@end smallexample
29896
29897@node GDB/MI Frame Information
29898@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
29899
29900Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
29901frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
29902fields:
29903
29904@table @code
29905@item level
29906The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
29907zero. This field is always present.
29908
29909@item func
29910The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
29911be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
29912
29913@item addr
29914The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
29915
29916@item file
29917The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
29918address. This field may be absent.
29919
29920@item line
29921The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
29922may be absent.
29923
29924@item from
29925The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
29926corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
29927
29928@end table
29929
29930@node GDB/MI Thread Information
29931@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
29932
29933Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
29934uses a tuple with the following fields:
29935
29936@table @code
29937@item id
29938The numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
29939always present.
29940
29941@item target-id
29942Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
29943
29944@item details
29945Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
29946It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
29947frontend. This field is optional.
29948
29949@item state
29950Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
29951thread is presently running. This field is always present.
29952
29953@item core
29954The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
29955thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
29956@end table
29957
29958@node GDB/MI Ada Exception Information
29959@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Exception Information
29960
29961Whenever a @code{*stopped} record is emitted because the program
29962stopped after hitting an exception catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}),
29963@value{GDBN} provides the name of the exception that was raised via
29964the @code{exception-name} field.
29965
29966@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29967@node GDB/MI Simple Examples
29968@section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
29969@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
29970
29971This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
29972the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
29973following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
29974the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
29975
29976Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
29977readability, they don't appear in the real output.
29978
29979@subheading Setting a Breakpoint
29980
29981Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
29982information of the breakpoint.
29983
29984@smallexample
29985-> -break-insert main
29986<- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
29987 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
29988 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",thread-groups=["i1"],
29989 times="0"@}
29990<- (gdb)
29991@end smallexample
29992
29993@subheading Program Execution
29994
29995Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
29996reason that execution stopped.
29997
29998@smallexample
29999-> -exec-run
30000<- ^running
30001<- (gdb)
30002<- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
30003 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
30004 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
30005 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
30006<- (gdb)
30007-> -exec-continue
30008<- ^running
30009<- (gdb)
30010<- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
30011<- (gdb)
30012@end smallexample
30013
30014@subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
30015
30016Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
30017
30018@smallexample
30019-> (gdb)
30020<- -gdb-exit
30021<- ^exit
30022@end smallexample
30023
30024Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
30025take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
30026performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
30027or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
30028@value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
30029fails to exit in reasonable time.
30030
30031@subheading A Bad Command
30032
30033Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
30034
30035@smallexample
30036-> -rubbish
30037<- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
30038<- (gdb)
30039@end smallexample
30040
30041
30042@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30043@node GDB/MI Command Description Format
30044@section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
30045
30046The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
30047commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
30048
30049@subheading Motivation
30050
30051The motivation for this collection of commands.
30052
30053@subheading Introduction
30054
30055A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
30056
30057@subheading Commands
30058
30059For each command in the block, the following is described:
30060
30061@subsubheading Synopsis
30062
30063@smallexample
30064 -command @var{args}@dots{}
30065@end smallexample
30066
30067@subsubheading Result
30068
30069@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30070
30071The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
30072
30073@subsubheading Example
30074
30075Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
30076not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
30077
30078
30079@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30080@node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
30081@section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
30082
30083@cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
30084@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
30085This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
30086breakpoints.
30087
30088@subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
30089@findex -break-after
30090
30091@subsubheading Synopsis
30092
30093@smallexample
30094 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
30095@end smallexample
30096
30097The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
30098hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
30099the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
30100@samp{-break-list} command below.
30101
30102@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30103
30104The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
30105
30106@subsubheading Example
30107
30108@smallexample
30109(gdb)
30110-break-insert main
30111^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
30112enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
30113fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
30114times="0"@}
30115(gdb)
30116-break-after 1 3
30117~
30118^done
30119(gdb)
30120-break-list
30121^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
30122hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30123@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30124@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30125@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30126@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30127@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30128body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30129addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
30130line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
30131(gdb)
30132@end smallexample
30133
30134@ignore
30135@subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
30136@findex -break-catch
30137@end ignore
30138
30139@subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
30140@findex -break-commands
30141
30142@subsubheading Synopsis
30143
30144@smallexample
30145 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
30146@end smallexample
30147
30148Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
30149@var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
30150are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
30151commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
30152functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
30153some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
30154
30155@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30156
30157The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
30158
30159@subsubheading Example
30160
30161@smallexample
30162(gdb)
30163-break-insert main
30164^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
30165enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
30166fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
30167times="0"@}
30168(gdb)
30169-break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
30170^done
30171(gdb)
30172@end smallexample
30173
30174@subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
30175@findex -break-condition
30176
30177@subsubheading Synopsis
30178
30179@smallexample
30180 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
30181@end smallexample
30182
30183Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
30184@var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
30185@samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
30186command below).
30187
30188@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30189
30190The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
30191
30192@subsubheading Example
30193
30194@smallexample
30195(gdb)
30196-break-condition 1 1
30197^done
30198(gdb)
30199-break-list
30200^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
30201hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30202@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30203@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30204@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30205@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30206@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30207body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30208addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
30209line="5",cond="1",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
30210(gdb)
30211@end smallexample
30212
30213@subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
30214@findex -break-delete
30215
30216@subsubheading Synopsis
30217
30218@smallexample
30219 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
30220@end smallexample
30221
30222Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
30223list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
30224
30225@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30226
30227The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
30228
30229@subsubheading Example
30230
30231@smallexample
30232(gdb)
30233-break-delete 1
30234^done
30235(gdb)
30236-break-list
30237^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
30238hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30239@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30240@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30241@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30242@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30243@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30244body=[]@}
30245(gdb)
30246@end smallexample
30247
30248@subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
30249@findex -break-disable
30250
30251@subsubheading Synopsis
30252
30253@smallexample
30254 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
30255@end smallexample
30256
30257Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
30258break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
30259
30260@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30261
30262The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
30263
30264@subsubheading Example
30265
30266@smallexample
30267(gdb)
30268-break-disable 2
30269^done
30270(gdb)
30271-break-list
30272^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
30273hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30274@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30275@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30276@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30277@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30278@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30279body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
30280addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
30281line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
30282(gdb)
30283@end smallexample
30284
30285@subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
30286@findex -break-enable
30287
30288@subsubheading Synopsis
30289
30290@smallexample
30291 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
30292@end smallexample
30293
30294Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
30295
30296@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30297
30298The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
30299
30300@subsubheading Example
30301
30302@smallexample
30303(gdb)
30304-break-enable 2
30305^done
30306(gdb)
30307-break-list
30308^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
30309hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30310@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30311@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30312@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30313@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30314@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30315body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30316addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
30317line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
30318(gdb)
30319@end smallexample
30320
30321@subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
30322@findex -break-info
30323
30324@subsubheading Synopsis
30325
30326@smallexample
30327 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
30328@end smallexample
30329
30330@c REDUNDANT???
30331Get information about a single breakpoint.
30332
30333The result is a table of breakpoints. @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint
30334Information}, for details on the format of each breakpoint in the
30335table.
30336
30337@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30338
30339The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
30340
30341@subsubheading Example
30342N.A.
30343
30344@subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
30345@findex -break-insert
30346
30347@subsubheading Synopsis
30348
30349@smallexample
30350 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
30351 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
30352 [ -p @var{thread-id} ] [ @var{location} ]
30353@end smallexample
30354
30355@noindent
30356If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
30357
30358@itemize @bullet
30359@item function
30360@c @item +offset
30361@c @item -offset
30362@c @item linenum
30363@item filename:linenum
30364@item filename:function
30365@item *address
30366@end itemize
30367
30368The possible optional parameters of this command are:
30369
30370@table @samp
30371@item -t
30372Insert a temporary breakpoint.
30373@item -h
30374Insert a hardware breakpoint.
30375@item -f
30376If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
30377refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
30378breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
30379an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
30380cannot be parsed.
30381@item -d
30382Create a disabled breakpoint.
30383@item -a
30384Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
30385is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
30386@item -c @var{condition}
30387Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
30388@item -i @var{ignore-count}
30389Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
30390@item -p @var{thread-id}
30391Restrict the breakpoint to the specified @var{thread-id}.
30392@end table
30393
30394@subsubheading Result
30395
30396@xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Information}, for details on the format of the
30397resulting breakpoint.
30398
30399Note: this format is open to change.
30400@c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
30401
30402@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30403
30404The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
30405@samp{hbreak}, and @samp{thbreak}. @c and @samp{rbreak}.
30406
30407@subsubheading Example
30408
30409@smallexample
30410(gdb)
30411-break-insert main
30412^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
30413fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],
30414times="0"@}
30415(gdb)
30416-break-insert -t foo
30417^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
30418fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
30419times="0"@}
30420(gdb)
30421-break-list
30422^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
30423hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30424@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30425@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30426@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30427@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30428@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30429body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30430addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
30431fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],
30432times="0"@},
30433bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
30434addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
30435fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
30436times="0"@}]@}
30437(gdb)
30438@c -break-insert -r foo.*
30439@c ~int foo(int, int);
30440@c ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
30441@c "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
30442@c times="0"@}
30443@c (gdb)
30444@end smallexample
30445
30446@subheading The @code{-dprintf-insert} Command
30447@findex -dprintf-insert
30448
30449@subsubheading Synopsis
30450
30451@smallexample
30452 -dprintf-insert [ -t ] [ -f ] [ -d ]
30453 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
30454 [ -p @var{thread-id} ] [ @var{location} ] [ @var{format} ]
30455 [ @var{argument} ]
30456@end smallexample
30457
30458@noindent
30459If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
30460
30461@itemize @bullet
30462@item @var{function}
30463@c @item +offset
30464@c @item -offset
30465@c @item @var{linenum}
30466@item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
30467@item @var{filename}:function
30468@item *@var{address}
30469@end itemize
30470
30471The possible optional parameters of this command are:
30472
30473@table @samp
30474@item -t
30475Insert a temporary breakpoint.
30476@item -f
30477If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example, if it
30478refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
30479breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
30480an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
30481cannot be parsed.
30482@item -d
30483Create a disabled breakpoint.
30484@item -c @var{condition}
30485Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
30486@item -i @var{ignore-count}
30487Set the ignore count of the breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ignore count})
30488to @var{ignore-count}.
30489@item -p @var{thread-id}
30490Restrict the breakpoint to the specified @var{thread-id}.
30491@end table
30492
30493@subsubheading Result
30494
30495@xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Information}, for details on the format of the
30496resulting breakpoint.
30497
30498@c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
30499
30500@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30501
30502The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dprintf}.
30503
30504@subsubheading Example
30505
30506@smallexample
30507(gdb)
305084-dprintf-insert foo "At foo entry\n"
305094^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="dprintf",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30510addr="0x000000000040061b",func="foo",file="mi-dprintf.c",
30511fullname="mi-dprintf.c",line="25",thread-groups=["i1"],
30512times="0",script=@{"printf \"At foo entry\\n\"","continue"@},
30513original-location="foo"@}
30514(gdb)
305155-dprintf-insert 26 "arg=%d, g=%d\n" arg g
305165^done,bkpt=@{number="2",type="dprintf",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30517addr="0x000000000040062a",func="foo",file="mi-dprintf.c",
30518fullname="mi-dprintf.c",line="26",thread-groups=["i1"],
30519times="0",script=@{"printf \"arg=%d, g=%d\\n\", arg, g","continue"@},
30520original-location="mi-dprintf.c:26"@}
30521(gdb)
30522@end smallexample
30523
30524@subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
30525@findex -break-list
30526
30527@subsubheading Synopsis
30528
30529@smallexample
30530 -break-list
30531@end smallexample
30532
30533Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
30534
30535@table @samp
30536@item Number
30537number of the breakpoint
30538@item Type
30539type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
30540@item Disposition
30541should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
30542or @samp{nokeep}
30543@item Enabled
30544is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
30545@item Address
30546memory location at which the breakpoint is set
30547@item What
30548logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
30549name, line number
30550@item Thread-groups
30551list of thread groups to which this breakpoint applies
30552@item Times
30553number of times the breakpoint has been hit
30554@end table
30555
30556If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
30557@code{body} field is an empty list.
30558
30559@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30560
30561The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
30562
30563@subsubheading Example
30564
30565@smallexample
30566(gdb)
30567-break-list
30568^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
30569hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30570@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30571@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30572@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30573@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30574@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30575body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30576addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
30577times="0"@},
30578bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30579addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
30580line="13",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
30581(gdb)
30582@end smallexample
30583
30584Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
30585
30586@smallexample
30587(gdb)
30588-break-list
30589^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
30590hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30591@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30592@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30593@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30594@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30595@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30596body=[]@}
30597(gdb)
30598@end smallexample
30599
30600@subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
30601@findex -break-passcount
30602
30603@subsubheading Synopsis
30604
30605@smallexample
30606 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
30607@end smallexample
30608
30609Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
30610@var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
30611is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
30612command @samp{passcount}.
30613
30614@subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
30615@findex -break-watch
30616
30617@subsubheading Synopsis
30618
30619@smallexample
30620 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
30621@end smallexample
30622
30623Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
30624@dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
30625read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
30626option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
30627trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
30628either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
30629i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
30630@xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
30631
30632Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
30633breakpoints inserted.
30634
30635@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30636
30637The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
30638@samp{rwatch}.
30639
30640@subsubheading Example
30641
30642Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
30643
30644@smallexample
30645(gdb)
30646-break-watch x
30647^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
30648(gdb)
30649-exec-continue
30650^running
30651(gdb)
30652*stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
30653value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
30654frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
30655fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
30656(gdb)
30657@end smallexample
30658
30659Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
30660the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
30661for the watchpoint going out of scope.
30662
30663@smallexample
30664(gdb)
30665-break-watch C
30666^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
30667(gdb)
30668-exec-continue
30669^running
30670(gdb)
30671*stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
30672wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
30673frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
30674file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30675fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
30676(gdb)
30677-exec-continue
30678^running
30679(gdb)
30680*stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
30681frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
30682value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
30683file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30684fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
30685(gdb)
30686@end smallexample
30687
30688Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
30689execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
30690deleted.
30691
30692@smallexample
30693(gdb)
30694-break-watch C
30695^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
30696(gdb)
30697-break-list
30698^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
30699hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30700@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30701@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30702@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30703@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30704@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30705body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30706addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
30707file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30708fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",thread-groups=["i1"],
30709times="1"@},
30710bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
30711enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
30712(gdb)
30713-exec-continue
30714^running
30715(gdb)
30716*stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
30717value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
30718frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
30719file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30720fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
30721(gdb)
30722-break-list
30723^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
30724hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30725@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30726@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30727@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30728@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30729@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30730body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30731addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
30732file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30733fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",thread-groups=["i1"],
30734times="1"@},
30735bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
30736enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],times="-5"@}]@}
30737(gdb)
30738-exec-continue
30739^running
30740^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
30741frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
30742value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
30743file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30744fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
30745(gdb)
30746-break-list
30747^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
30748hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30749@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30750@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30751@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30752@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30753@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30754body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30755addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
30756file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30757fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
30758thread-groups=["i1"],times="1"@}]@}
30759(gdb)
30760@end smallexample
30761
30762
30763@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30764@node GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
30765@section @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoint Commands
30766
30767This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
30768catchpoints.
30769
30770@menu
30771* Shared Library GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
30772* Ada Exception GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
30773@end menu
30774
30775@node Shared Library GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
30776@subsection Shared Library @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoints
30777
30778@subheading The @code{-catch-load} Command
30779@findex -catch-load
30780
30781@subsubheading Synopsis
30782
30783@smallexample
30784 -catch-load [ -t ] [ -d ] @var{regexp}
30785@end smallexample
30786
30787Add a catchpoint for library load events. If the @samp{-t} option is used,
30788the catchpoint is a temporary one (@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting
30789Breakpoints}). If the @samp{-d} option is used, the catchpoint is created
30790in a disabled state. The @samp{regexp} argument is a regular
30791expression used to match the name of the loaded library.
30792
30793
30794@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30795
30796The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch load}.
30797
30798@subsubheading Example
30799
30800@smallexample
30801-catch-load -t foo.so
30802^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="catchpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
30803what="load of library matching foo.so",catch-type="load",times="0"@}
30804(gdb)
30805@end smallexample
30806
30807
30808@subheading The @code{-catch-unload} Command
30809@findex -catch-unload
30810
30811@subsubheading Synopsis
30812
30813@smallexample
30814 -catch-unload [ -t ] [ -d ] @var{regexp}
30815@end smallexample
30816
30817Add a catchpoint for library unload events. If the @samp{-t} option is
30818used, the catchpoint is a temporary one (@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting
30819Breakpoints}). If the @samp{-d} option is used, the catchpoint is
30820created in a disabled state. The @samp{regexp} argument is a regular
30821expression used to match the name of the unloaded library.
30822
30823@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30824
30825The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch unload}.
30826
30827@subsubheading Example
30828
30829@smallexample
30830-catch-unload -d bar.so
30831^done,bkpt=@{number="2",type="catchpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
30832what="load of library matching bar.so",catch-type="unload",times="0"@}
30833(gdb)
30834@end smallexample
30835
30836@node Ada Exception GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
30837@subsection Ada Exception @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoints
30838
30839The following @sc{gdb/mi} commands can be used to create catchpoints
30840that stop the execution when Ada exceptions are being raised.
30841
30842@subheading The @code{-catch-assert} Command
30843@findex -catch-assert
30844
30845@subsubheading Synopsis
30846
30847@smallexample
30848 -catch-assert [ -c @var{condition}] [ -d ] [ -t ]
30849@end smallexample
30850
30851Add a catchpoint for failed Ada assertions.
30852
30853The possible optional parameters for this command are:
30854
30855@table @samp
30856@item -c @var{condition}
30857Make the catchpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
30858@item -d
30859Create a disabled catchpoint.
30860@item -t
30861Create a temporary catchpoint.
30862@end table
30863
30864@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30865
30866The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch assert}.
30867
30868@subsubheading Example
30869
30870@smallexample
30871-catch-assert
30872^done,bkptno="5",bkpt=@{number="5",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
30873enabled="y",addr="0x0000000000404888",what="failed Ada assertions",
30874thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",
30875original-location="__gnat_debug_raise_assert_failure"@}
30876(gdb)
30877@end smallexample
30878
30879@subheading The @code{-catch-exception} Command
30880@findex -catch-exception
30881
30882@subsubheading Synopsis
30883
30884@smallexample
30885 -catch-exception [ -c @var{condition}] [ -d ] [ -e @var{exception-name} ]
30886 [ -t ] [ -u ]
30887@end smallexample
30888
30889Add a catchpoint stopping when Ada exceptions are raised.
30890By default, the command stops the program when any Ada exception
30891gets raised. But it is also possible, by using some of the
30892optional parameters described below, to create more selective
30893catchpoints.
30894
30895The possible optional parameters for this command are:
30896
30897@table @samp
30898@item -c @var{condition}
30899Make the catchpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
30900@item -d
30901Create a disabled catchpoint.
30902@item -e @var{exception-name}
30903Only stop when @var{exception-name} is raised. This option cannot
30904be used combined with @samp{-u}.
30905@item -t
30906Create a temporary catchpoint.
30907@item -u
30908Stop only when an unhandled exception gets raised. This option
30909cannot be used combined with @samp{-e}.
30910@end table
30911
30912@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30913
30914The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{catch exception}
30915and @samp{catch exception unhandled}.
30916
30917@subsubheading Example
30918
30919@smallexample
30920-catch-exception -e Program_Error
30921^done,bkptno="4",bkpt=@{number="4",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
30922enabled="y",addr="0x0000000000404874",
30923what="`Program_Error' Ada exception", thread-groups=["i1"],
30924times="0",original-location="__gnat_debug_raise_exception"@}
30925(gdb)
30926@end smallexample
30927
30928@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30929@node GDB/MI Program Context
30930@section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
30931
30932@subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
30933@findex -exec-arguments
30934
30935
30936@subsubheading Synopsis
30937
30938@smallexample
30939 -exec-arguments @var{args}
30940@end smallexample
30941
30942Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
30943@samp{-exec-run}.
30944
30945@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30946
30947The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
30948
30949@subsubheading Example
30950
30951@smallexample
30952(gdb)
30953-exec-arguments -v word
30954^done
30955(gdb)
30956@end smallexample
30957
30958
30959@ignore
30960@subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
30961@findex -exec-show-arguments
30962
30963@subsubheading Synopsis
30964
30965@smallexample
30966 -exec-show-arguments
30967@end smallexample
30968
30969Print the arguments of the program.
30970
30971@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30972
30973The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
30974
30975@subsubheading Example
30976N.A.
30977@end ignore
30978
30979
30980@subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
30981@findex -environment-cd
30982
30983@subsubheading Synopsis
30984
30985@smallexample
30986 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
30987@end smallexample
30988
30989Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
30990
30991@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30992
30993The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
30994
30995@subsubheading Example
30996
30997@smallexample
30998(gdb)
30999-environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
31000^done
31001(gdb)
31002@end smallexample
31003
31004
31005@subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
31006@findex -environment-directory
31007
31008@subsubheading Synopsis
31009
31010@smallexample
31011 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
31012@end smallexample
31013
31014Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
31015If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
31016search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
31017@samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
31018occurs as normal.
31019Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
31020multiple directories in a single command
31021results in the directories added to the beginning of the
31022search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
31023If blanks are needed as
31024part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
31025the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
31026by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
31027character must not be used
31028in any directory name.
31029If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
31030
31031@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31032
31033The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
31034
31035@subsubheading Example
31036
31037@smallexample
31038(gdb)
31039-environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
31040^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
31041(gdb)
31042-environment-directory ""
31043^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
31044(gdb)
31045-environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
31046^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
31047(gdb)
31048-environment-directory -r
31049^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
31050(gdb)
31051@end smallexample
31052
31053
31054@subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
31055@findex -environment-path
31056
31057@subsubheading Synopsis
31058
31059@smallexample
31060 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
31061@end smallexample
31062
31063Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
31064If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
31065search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
31066supplied in addition to the
31067@samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
31068occurs as normal.
31069Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
31070multiple directories in a single command
31071results in the directories added to the beginning of the
31072search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
31073If blanks are needed as
31074part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
31075the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
31076by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
31077character must not be used
31078in any directory name.
31079If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
31080
31081
31082@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31083
31084The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
31085
31086@subsubheading Example
31087
31088@smallexample
31089(gdb)
31090-environment-path
31091^done,path="/usr/bin"
31092(gdb)
31093-environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
31094^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
31095(gdb)
31096-environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
31097^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
31098(gdb)
31099@end smallexample
31100
31101
31102@subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
31103@findex -environment-pwd
31104
31105@subsubheading Synopsis
31106
31107@smallexample
31108 -environment-pwd
31109@end smallexample
31110
31111Show the current working directory.
31112
31113@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31114
31115The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
31116
31117@subsubheading Example
31118
31119@smallexample
31120(gdb)
31121-environment-pwd
31122^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
31123(gdb)
31124@end smallexample
31125
31126@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31127@node GDB/MI Thread Commands
31128@section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
31129
31130
31131@subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
31132@findex -thread-info
31133
31134@subsubheading Synopsis
31135
31136@smallexample
31137 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
31138@end smallexample
31139
31140Reports information about either a specific thread, if
31141the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
31142threads. When printing information about all threads,
31143also reports the current thread.
31144
31145@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31146
31147The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
31148about all threads.
31149
31150@subsubheading Result
31151
31152The result is a list of threads. The following attributes are
31153defined for a given thread:
31154
31155@table @samp
31156@item current
31157This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
31158
31159@item id
31160The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the thread.
31161
31162@item target-id
31163The identifier that the target uses to refer to the thread.
31164
31165@item details
31166Extra information about the thread, in a target-specific format. This
31167field is optional.
31168
31169@item name
31170The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using the
31171@code{thread name} command, then this name is given. Otherwise, if
31172@value{GDBN} can extract the thread name from the target, then that
31173name is given. If @value{GDBN} cannot find the thread name, then this
31174field is omitted.
31175
31176@item frame
31177The stack frame currently executing in the thread.
31178
31179@item state
31180The thread's state. The @samp{state} field may have the following
31181values:
31182
31183@table @code
31184@item stopped
31185The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
31186threads.
31187
31188@item running
31189The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
31190threads.
31191
31192@end table
31193
31194@item core
31195If @value{GDBN} can find the CPU core on which this thread is running,
31196then this field is the core identifier. This field is optional.
31197
31198@end table
31199
31200@subsubheading Example
31201
31202@smallexample
31203-thread-info
31204^done,threads=[
31205@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
31206 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",
31207 args=[]@},state="running"@},
31208@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
31209 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",
31210 args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
31211 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},
31212 state="running"@}],
31213current-thread-id="1"
31214(gdb)
31215@end smallexample
31216
31217@subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
31218@findex -thread-list-ids
31219
31220@subsubheading Synopsis
31221
31222@smallexample
31223 -thread-list-ids
31224@end smallexample
31225
31226Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
31227end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
31228
31229This command is retained for historical reasons, the
31230@code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
31231
31232@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31233
31234Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
31235
31236@subsubheading Example
31237
31238@smallexample
31239(gdb)
31240-thread-list-ids
31241^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
31242current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
31243(gdb)
31244@end smallexample
31245
31246
31247@subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
31248@findex -thread-select
31249
31250@subsubheading Synopsis
31251
31252@smallexample
31253 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
31254@end smallexample
31255
31256Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
31257current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
31258
31259This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
31260@samp{--thread} option to each command.
31261
31262@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31263
31264The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
31265
31266@subsubheading Example
31267
31268@smallexample
31269(gdb)
31270-exec-next
31271^running
31272(gdb)
31273*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
31274file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
31275(gdb)
31276-thread-list-ids
31277^done,
31278thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
31279number-of-threads="3"
31280(gdb)
31281-thread-select 3
31282^done,new-thread-id="3",
31283frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
31284args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
31285@{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
31286(gdb)
31287@end smallexample
31288
31289@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31290@node GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands
31291@section @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Tasking Commands
31292
31293@subheading The @code{-ada-task-info} Command
31294@findex -ada-task-info
31295
31296@subsubheading Synopsis
31297
31298@smallexample
31299 -ada-task-info [ @var{task-id} ]
31300@end smallexample
31301
31302Reports information about either a specific Ada task, if the
31303@var{task-id} parameter is present, or about all Ada tasks.
31304
31305@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31306
31307The @samp{info tasks} command prints the same information
31308about all Ada tasks (@pxref{Ada Tasks}).
31309
31310@subsubheading Result
31311
31312The result is a table of Ada tasks. The following columns are
31313defined for each Ada task:
31314
31315@table @samp
31316@item current
31317This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
31318
31319@item id
31320The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the Ada task.
31321
31322@item task-id
31323The identifier that the target uses to refer to the Ada task.
31324
31325@item thread-id
31326The identifier of the thread corresponding to the Ada task.
31327
31328This field should always exist, as Ada tasks are always implemented
31329on top of a thread. But if @value{GDBN} cannot find this corresponding
31330thread for any reason, the field is omitted.
31331
31332@item parent-id
31333This field exists only when the task was created by another task.
31334In this case, it provides the ID of the parent task.
31335
31336@item priority
31337The base priority of the task.
31338
31339@item state
31340The current state of the task. For a detailed description of the
31341possible states, see @ref{Ada Tasks}.
31342
31343@item name
31344The name of the task.
31345
31346@end table
31347
31348@subsubheading Example
31349
31350@smallexample
31351-ada-task-info
31352^done,tasks=@{nr_rows="3",nr_cols="8",
31353hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr=""@},
31354@{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="id",colhdr="ID"@},
31355@{width="9",alignment="1",col_name="task-id",colhdr="TID"@},
31356@{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="thread-id",colhdr=""@},
31357@{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="parent-id",colhdr="P-ID"@},
31358@{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="priority",colhdr="Pri"@},
31359@{width="22",alignment="-1",col_name="state",colhdr="State"@},
31360@{width="1",alignment="2",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@}],
31361body=[@{current="*",id="1",task-id=" 644010",thread-id="1",priority="48",
31362state="Child Termination Wait",name="main_task"@}]@}
31363(gdb)
31364@end smallexample
31365
31366@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31367@node GDB/MI Program Execution
31368@section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
31369
31370These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
31371record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
31372asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
31373other cases.
31374
31375@subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
31376@findex -exec-continue
31377
31378@subsubheading Synopsis
31379
31380@smallexample
31381 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
31382@end smallexample
31383
31384Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
31385to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
31386@samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
31387it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
31388@itemize @bullet
31389@item
31390breakpoints or watchpoints
31391@item
31392signals or exceptions
31393@item
31394the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
31395@item
31396the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
31397@end itemize
31398In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
31399Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
31400value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
31401specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
31402ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
31403specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
31404
31405@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31406
31407The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
31408
31409@subsubheading Example
31410
31411@smallexample
31412-exec-continue
31413^running
31414(gdb)
31415@@Hello world
31416*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
31417func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
31418line="13"@}
31419(gdb)
31420@end smallexample
31421
31422
31423@subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
31424@findex -exec-finish
31425
31426@subsubheading Synopsis
31427
31428@smallexample
31429 -exec-finish [--reverse]
31430@end smallexample
31431
31432Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
31433function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
31434If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
31435execution of the inferior program until the point where current
31436function was called.
31437
31438@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31439
31440The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
31441
31442@subsubheading Example
31443
31444Function returning @code{void}.
31445
31446@smallexample
31447-exec-finish
31448^running
31449(gdb)
31450@@hello from foo
31451*stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
31452file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
31453(gdb)
31454@end smallexample
31455
31456Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
31457@value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
31458value itself.
31459
31460@smallexample
31461-exec-finish
31462^running
31463(gdb)
31464*stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
31465args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
31466file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31467gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
31468(gdb)
31469@end smallexample
31470
31471
31472@subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
31473@findex -exec-interrupt
31474
31475@subsubheading Synopsis
31476
31477@smallexample
31478 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
31479@end smallexample
31480
31481Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
31482associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
31483that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
31484appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
31485interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
31486
31487Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
31488asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
31489@samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
31490reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
31491
31492In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
31493All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
31494@samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
31495option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
31496
31497@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31498
31499The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
31500
31501@subsubheading Example
31502
31503@smallexample
31504(gdb)
31505111-exec-continue
31506111^running
31507
31508(gdb)
31509222-exec-interrupt
31510222^done
31511(gdb)
31512111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
31513frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
31514fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
31515(gdb)
31516
31517(gdb)
31518-exec-interrupt
31519^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
31520(gdb)
31521@end smallexample
31522
31523@subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
31524@findex -exec-jump
31525
31526@subsubheading Synopsis
31527
31528@smallexample
31529 -exec-jump @var{location}
31530@end smallexample
31531
31532Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
31533parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
31534different forms of @var{location}.
31535
31536@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31537
31538The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
31539
31540@subsubheading Example
31541
31542@smallexample
31543-exec-jump foo.c:10
31544*running,thread-id="all"
31545^running
31546@end smallexample
31547
31548
31549@subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
31550@findex -exec-next
31551
31552@subsubheading Synopsis
31553
31554@smallexample
31555 -exec-next [--reverse]
31556@end smallexample
31557
31558Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
31559of the next source line is reached.
31560
31561If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
31562of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
31563source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
31564function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
31565source line where the function was called.
31566
31567
31568@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31569
31570The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
31571
31572@subsubheading Example
31573
31574@smallexample
31575-exec-next
31576^running
31577(gdb)
31578*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
31579(gdb)
31580@end smallexample
31581
31582
31583@subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
31584@findex -exec-next-instruction
31585
31586@subsubheading Synopsis
31587
31588@smallexample
31589 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
31590@end smallexample
31591
31592Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
31593call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
31594instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
31595printed as well.
31596
31597If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
31598of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
31599previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
31600it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
31601(from the current stack frame) is reached.
31602
31603@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31604
31605The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
31606
31607@subsubheading Example
31608
31609@smallexample
31610(gdb)
31611-exec-next-instruction
31612^running
31613
31614(gdb)
31615*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
31616addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
31617(gdb)
31618@end smallexample
31619
31620
31621@subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
31622@findex -exec-return
31623
31624@subsubheading Synopsis
31625
31626@smallexample
31627 -exec-return
31628@end smallexample
31629
31630Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
31631Displays the new current frame.
31632
31633@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31634
31635The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
31636
31637@subsubheading Example
31638
31639@smallexample
31640(gdb)
31641200-break-insert callee4
31642200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
31643file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
31644(gdb)
31645000-exec-run
31646000^running
31647(gdb)
31648000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
31649frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
31650file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31651fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
31652(gdb)
31653205-break-delete
31654205^done
31655(gdb)
31656111-exec-return
31657111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
31658args=[@{name="strarg",
31659value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
31660file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31661fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
31662(gdb)
31663@end smallexample
31664
31665
31666@subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
31667@findex -exec-run
31668
31669@subsubheading Synopsis
31670
31671@smallexample
31672 -exec-run [ --all | --thread-group N ] [ --start ]
31673@end smallexample
31674
31675Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
31676executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
31677exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
31678the program has exited exceptionally.
31679
31680When neither the @samp{--all} nor the @samp{--thread-group} option
31681is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
31682@samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
31683group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
31684If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
31685
31686Using the @samp{--start} option instructs the debugger to stop
31687the execution at the start of the inferior's main subprogram,
31688following the same behavior as the @code{start} command
31689(@pxref{Starting}).
31690
31691@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31692
31693The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
31694
31695@subsubheading Examples
31696
31697@smallexample
31698(gdb)
31699-break-insert main
31700^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
31701(gdb)
31702-exec-run
31703^running
31704(gdb)
31705*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
31706frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
31707fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
31708(gdb)
31709@end smallexample
31710
31711@noindent
31712Program exited normally:
31713
31714@smallexample
31715(gdb)
31716-exec-run
31717^running
31718(gdb)
31719x = 55
31720*stopped,reason="exited-normally"
31721(gdb)
31722@end smallexample
31723
31724@noindent
31725Program exited exceptionally:
31726
31727@smallexample
31728(gdb)
31729-exec-run
31730^running
31731(gdb)
31732x = 55
31733*stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
31734(gdb)
31735@end smallexample
31736
31737Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
31738@code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
31739
31740@smallexample
31741(gdb)
31742*stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
31743signal-meaning="Interrupt"
31744@end smallexample
31745
31746
31747@c @subheading -exec-signal
31748
31749
31750@subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
31751@findex -exec-step
31752
31753@subsubheading Synopsis
31754
31755@smallexample
31756 -exec-step [--reverse]
31757@end smallexample
31758
31759Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
31760of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
31761function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
31762function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
31763execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
31764previously executed source line.
31765
31766@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31767
31768The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
31769
31770@subsubheading Example
31771
31772Stepping into a function:
31773
31774@smallexample
31775-exec-step
31776^running
31777(gdb)
31778*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
31779frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
31780@{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
31781fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
31782(gdb)
31783@end smallexample
31784
31785Regular stepping:
31786
31787@smallexample
31788-exec-step
31789^running
31790(gdb)
31791*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
31792(gdb)
31793@end smallexample
31794
31795
31796@subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
31797@findex -exec-step-instruction
31798
31799@subsubheading Synopsis
31800
31801@smallexample
31802 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
31803@end smallexample
31804
31805Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
31806@samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
31807inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
31808The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
31809whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
31810former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
31811as well.
31812
31813@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31814
31815The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
31816
31817@subsubheading Example
31818
31819@smallexample
31820(gdb)
31821-exec-step-instruction
31822^running
31823
31824(gdb)
31825*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
31826frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
31827fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
31828(gdb)
31829-exec-step-instruction
31830^running
31831
31832(gdb)
31833*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
31834frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
31835fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
31836(gdb)
31837@end smallexample
31838
31839
31840@subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
31841@findex -exec-until
31842
31843@subsubheading Synopsis
31844
31845@smallexample
31846 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
31847@end smallexample
31848
31849Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
31850argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
31851until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
31852reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
31853
31854@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31855
31856The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
31857
31858@subsubheading Example
31859
31860@smallexample
31861(gdb)
31862-exec-until recursive2.c:6
31863^running
31864(gdb)
31865x = 55
31866*stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
31867file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
31868(gdb)
31869@end smallexample
31870
31871@ignore
31872@subheading -file-clear
31873Is this going away????
31874@end ignore
31875
31876@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31877@node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
31878@section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
31879
31880@subheading The @code{-enable-frame-filters} Command
31881@findex -enable-frame-filters
31882
31883@smallexample
31884-enable-frame-filters
31885@end smallexample
31886
31887@value{GDBN} allows Python-based frame filters to affect the output of
31888the MI commands relating to stack traces. As there is no way to
31889implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
31890request that this functionality be enabled.
31891
31892Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
31893
31894Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
31895this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
31896
31897@subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
31898@findex -stack-info-frame
31899
31900@subsubheading Synopsis
31901
31902@smallexample
31903 -stack-info-frame
31904@end smallexample
31905
31906Get info on the selected frame.
31907
31908@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31909
31910The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
31911(without arguments).
31912
31913@subsubheading Example
31914
31915@smallexample
31916(gdb)
31917-stack-info-frame
31918^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
31919file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31920fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
31921(gdb)
31922@end smallexample
31923
31924@subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
31925@findex -stack-info-depth
31926
31927@subsubheading Synopsis
31928
31929@smallexample
31930 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
31931@end smallexample
31932
31933Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
31934is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
31935
31936@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31937
31938There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
31939
31940@subsubheading Example
31941
31942For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
31943
31944@smallexample
31945(gdb)
31946-stack-info-depth
31947^done,depth="12"
31948(gdb)
31949-stack-info-depth 4
31950^done,depth="4"
31951(gdb)
31952-stack-info-depth 12
31953^done,depth="12"
31954(gdb)
31955-stack-info-depth 11
31956^done,depth="11"
31957(gdb)
31958-stack-info-depth 13
31959^done,depth="12"
31960(gdb)
31961@end smallexample
31962
31963@anchor{-stack-list-arguments}
31964@subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
31965@findex -stack-list-arguments
31966
31967@subsubheading Synopsis
31968
31969@smallexample
31970 -stack-list-arguments [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
31971 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
31972@end smallexample
31973
31974Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
31975and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
31976@var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
31977call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
31978at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
31979larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
31980@var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
31981which case only existing frames will be returned.
31982
31983If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
31984the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
31985values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
31986type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
31987structures and unions. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is
31988supplied, then Python frame filters will not be executed.
31989
31990If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, arguments that
31991are not available are not listed. Partially available arguments
31992are still displayed, however.
31993
31994Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
31995deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
31996
31997@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31998
31999@value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
32000@samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
32001functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
32002
32003@subsubheading Example
32004
32005@smallexample
32006(gdb)
32007-stack-list-frames
32008^done,
32009stack=[
32010frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
32011file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
32012fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
32013frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
32014file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
32015fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
32016frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
32017file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
32018fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
32019frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
32020file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
32021fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
32022frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
32023file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
32024fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
32025(gdb)
32026-stack-list-arguments 0
32027^done,
32028stack-args=[
32029frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
32030frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
32031frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
32032frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
32033frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
32034(gdb)
32035-stack-list-arguments 1
32036^done,
32037stack-args=[
32038frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
32039frame=@{level="1",
32040 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
32041frame=@{level="2",args=[
32042@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
32043@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
32044@{frame=@{level="3",args=[
32045@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
32046@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
32047@{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
32048frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
32049(gdb)
32050-stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
32051^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
32052(gdb)
32053-stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
32054^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
32055args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
32056@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
32057(gdb)
32058@end smallexample
32059
32060@c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
32061
32062
32063@anchor{-stack-list-frames}
32064@subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
32065@findex -stack-list-frames
32066
32067@subsubheading Synopsis
32068
32069@smallexample
32070 -stack-list-frames [ --no-frame-filters @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
32071@end smallexample
32072
32073List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
32074following info:
32075
32076@table @samp
32077@item @var{level}
32078The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
32079@item @var{addr}
32080The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
32081@item @var{func}
32082Function name.
32083@item @var{file}
32084File name of the source file where the function lives.
32085@item @var{fullname}
32086The full file name of the source file where the function lives.
32087@item @var{line}
32088Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
32089@item @var{from}
32090The shared library where this function is defined. This is only given
32091if the frame's function is not known.
32092@end table
32093
32094If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
32095whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
32096levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
32097are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
32098an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
32099frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
32100actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be
32101returned. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is supplied, then
32102Python frame filters will not be executed.
32103
32104@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32105
32106The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
32107
32108@subsubheading Example
32109
32110Full stack backtrace:
32111
32112@smallexample
32113(gdb)
32114-stack-list-frames
32115^done,stack=
32116[frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
32117 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
32118frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
32119 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
32120frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
32121 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
32122frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
32123 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
32124frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
32125 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
32126frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
32127 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
32128frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
32129 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
32130frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
32131 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
32132frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
32133 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
32134frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
32135 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
32136frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
32137 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
32138frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
32139 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
32140(gdb)
32141@end smallexample
32142
32143Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
32144
32145@smallexample
32146(gdb)
32147-stack-list-frames 3 5
32148^done,stack=
32149[frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
32150 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
32151frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
32152 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
32153frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
32154 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
32155(gdb)
32156@end smallexample
32157
32158Show a single frame:
32159
32160@smallexample
32161(gdb)
32162-stack-list-frames 3 3
32163^done,stack=
32164[frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
32165 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
32166(gdb)
32167@end smallexample
32168
32169
32170@subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
32171@findex -stack-list-locals
32172@anchor{-stack-list-locals}
32173
32174@subsubheading Synopsis
32175
32176@smallexample
32177 -stack-list-locals [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
32178@end smallexample
32179
32180Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
32181@var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
32182the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
32183values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
32184type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
32185structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
32186display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
32187other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
32188more detail. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is supplied, then
32189Python frame filters will not be executed.
32190
32191If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, local variables
32192that are not available are not listed. Partially available local
32193variables are still displayed, however.
32194
32195This command is deprecated in favor of the
32196@samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
32197
32198@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32199
32200@samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
32201
32202@subsubheading Example
32203
32204@smallexample
32205(gdb)
32206-stack-list-locals 0
32207^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
32208(gdb)
32209-stack-list-locals --all-values
32210^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
32211 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
32212-stack-list-locals --simple-values
32213^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
32214 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
32215(gdb)
32216@end smallexample
32217
32218@anchor{-stack-list-variables}
32219@subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
32220@findex -stack-list-variables
32221
32222@subsubheading Synopsis
32223
32224@smallexample
32225 -stack-list-variables [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
32226@end smallexample
32227
32228Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
32229@var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
32230the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
32231values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
32232type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
32233structures and unions. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is
32234supplied, then Python frame filters will not be executed.
32235
32236If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, local variables
32237and arguments that are not available are not listed. Partially
32238available arguments and local variables are still displayed, however.
32239
32240@subsubheading Example
32241
32242@smallexample
32243(gdb)
32244-stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
32245^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
32246(gdb)
32247@end smallexample
32248
32249
32250@subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
32251@findex -stack-select-frame
32252
32253@subsubheading Synopsis
32254
32255@smallexample
32256 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
32257@end smallexample
32258
32259Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
32260the stack.
32261
32262This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
32263option to every command.
32264
32265@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32266
32267The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
32268@samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
32269
32270@subsubheading Example
32271
32272@smallexample
32273(gdb)
32274-stack-select-frame 2
32275^done
32276(gdb)
32277@end smallexample
32278
32279@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32280@node GDB/MI Variable Objects
32281@section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
32282
32283@ignore
32284
32285@subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
32286
32287For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
32288expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
32289used by @code{Insight}.
32290
32291The two main reasons for that are:
32292
32293@enumerate 1
32294@item
32295It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
32296
32297@item
32298It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
32299now).
32300@end enumerate
32301
32302The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
32303slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
32304describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
32305hints about their use.
32306
32307@emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
32308expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
32309least, the following operations:
32310
32311@itemize @bullet
32312@item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
32313@item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
32314@item @code{-stack-list-locals}
32315@item @code{-stack-select-frame}
32316@end itemize
32317
32318@end ignore
32319
32320@subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
32321
32322@cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
32323
32324Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
32325changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
32326work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
32327simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
32328is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
32329frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
32330expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
32331expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
32332variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
32333operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
32334object, or to change display format.
32335
32336Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
32337that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
32338a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
32339element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
32340children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
32341leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
32342objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
32343is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
32344child will be created.
32345
32346For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
32347string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
32348obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
32349that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
32350contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
32351
32352A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
32353the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
32354variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
32355operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
32356be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
32357objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
32358real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
32359variables that frontend has created.
32360
32361The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
32362might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
32363and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
32364relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
32365to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
32366visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
32367called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
32368implicitly updated.
32369
32370Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
32371fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
32372object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
32373variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
32374variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
32375expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
32376frame. Consider this example:
32377
32378@smallexample
32379void do_work(...)
32380@{
32381 struct work_state state;
32382
32383 if (...)
32384 do_work(...);
32385@}
32386@end smallexample
32387
32388If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
32389this function, and we enter the recursive call, the variable
32390object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
32391@code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
32392object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
32393
32394If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
32395refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
32396thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
32397variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
32398thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
32399and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
32400
32401The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
32402access this functionality:
32403
32404@multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
32405@item @strong{Operation}
32406@tab @strong{Description}
32407
32408@item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
32409@tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
32410@item @code{-var-create}
32411@tab create a variable object
32412@item @code{-var-delete}
32413@tab delete the variable object and/or its children
32414@item @code{-var-set-format}
32415@tab set the display format of this variable
32416@item @code{-var-show-format}
32417@tab show the display format of this variable
32418@item @code{-var-info-num-children}
32419@tab tells how many children this object has
32420@item @code{-var-list-children}
32421@tab return a list of the object's children
32422@item @code{-var-info-type}
32423@tab show the type of this variable object
32424@item @code{-var-info-expression}
32425@tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
32426@item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
32427@tab print full expression that this variable object represents
32428@item @code{-var-show-attributes}
32429@tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
32430@item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
32431@tab get the value of this variable
32432@item @code{-var-assign}
32433@tab set the value of this variable
32434@item @code{-var-update}
32435@tab update the variable and its children
32436@item @code{-var-set-frozen}
32437@tab set frozeness attribute
32438@item @code{-var-set-update-range}
32439@tab set range of children to display on update
32440@end multitable
32441
32442In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
32443how it can be used.
32444
32445@subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
32446
32447@subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
32448@findex -enable-pretty-printing
32449
32450@smallexample
32451-enable-pretty-printing
32452@end smallexample
32453
32454@value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
32455MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
32456implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
32457request that this functionality be enabled.
32458
32459Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
32460
32461Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
32462this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
32463
32464This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
32465may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
32466
32467@subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
32468@findex -var-create
32469
32470@subsubheading Synopsis
32471
32472@smallexample
32473 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
32474 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
32475@end smallexample
32476
32477This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
32478a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
32479register.
32480
32481The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
32482referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
32483system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
32484unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
32485The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
32486
32487The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
32488specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
32489frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
32490object must be created.
32491
32492@var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
32493begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
32494
32495@itemize @bullet
32496@item
32497@samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
32498
32499@item
32500@samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
32501
32502@item
32503@samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
32504@end itemize
32505
32506@cindex dynamic varobj
32507A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
32508case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
32509have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
32510@code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
32511will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
32512compatibility for existing clients.
32513
32514@subsubheading Result
32515
32516This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
32517are:
32518
32519@table @samp
32520@item name
32521The name of the varobj.
32522
32523@item numchild
32524The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
32525reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
32526@samp{has_more} attribute.
32527
32528@item value
32529The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
32530aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
32531will not be interesting.
32532
32533@item type
32534The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
32535would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI. If @samp{print object}
32536(@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
32537@emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
32538@emph{declared} one.
32539
32540@item thread-id
32541If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
32542thread's identifier.
32543
32544@item has_more
32545For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
32546children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
32547
32548@item dynamic
32549This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
32550varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
32551then this attribute will not be present.
32552
32553@item displayhint
32554A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
32555value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
32556@code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
32557@end table
32558
32559Typical output will look like this:
32560
32561@smallexample
32562 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
32563 has_more="@var{has_more}"
32564@end smallexample
32565
32566
32567@subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
32568@findex -var-delete
32569
32570@subsubheading Synopsis
32571
32572@smallexample
32573 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
32574@end smallexample
32575
32576Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
32577With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
32578
32579Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
32580
32581
32582@subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
32583@findex -var-set-format
32584
32585@subsubheading Synopsis
32586
32587@smallexample
32588 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
32589@end smallexample
32590
32591Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
32592@var{format-spec}.
32593
32594@anchor{-var-set-format}
32595The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
32596
32597@smallexample
32598 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
32599 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
32600@end smallexample
32601
32602The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
32603based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
32604for pointers, etc.).
32605
32606For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
32607variable itself, and the children are not affected.
32608
32609@subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
32610@findex -var-show-format
32611
32612@subsubheading Synopsis
32613
32614@smallexample
32615 -var-show-format @var{name}
32616@end smallexample
32617
32618Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
32619
32620@smallexample
32621 @var{format} @expansion{}
32622 @var{format-spec}
32623@end smallexample
32624
32625
32626@subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
32627@findex -var-info-num-children
32628
32629@subsubheading Synopsis
32630
32631@smallexample
32632 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
32633@end smallexample
32634
32635Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
32636
32637@smallexample
32638 numchild=@var{n}
32639@end smallexample
32640
32641Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
32642It will return the current number of children, but more children may
32643be available.
32644
32645
32646@subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
32647@findex -var-list-children
32648
32649@subsubheading Synopsis
32650
32651@smallexample
32652 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
32653@end smallexample
32654@anchor{-var-list-children}
32655
32656Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
32657create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
32658a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value of 0 or
32659@code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
32660@var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
32661values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
32662value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
32663and unions.
32664
32665@var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
32666to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
32667reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
32668at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
32669reported.
32670
32671If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
32672@code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
32673For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
32674intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
32675update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
32676front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
32677then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
32678different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
32679the visible items.
32680
32681For each child the following results are returned:
32682
32683@table @var
32684
32685@item name
32686Name of the variable object created for this child.
32687
32688@item exp
32689The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
32690For example this may be the name of a structure member.
32691
32692For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
32693expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
32694
32695For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
32696designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
32697@samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
32698type and value are not present.
32699
32700A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
32701pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
32702available at all with a dynamic varobj.
32703
32704@item numchild
32705Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
327060.
32707
32708@item type
32709The type of the child. If @samp{print object}
32710(@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
32711@emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
32712@emph{declared} one.
32713
32714@item value
32715If values were requested, this is the value.
32716
32717@item thread-id
32718If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
32719Otherwise this result is not present.
32720
32721@item frozen
32722If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
32723
32724@item displayhint
32725A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
32726value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
32727@code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
32728
32729@item dynamic
32730This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
32731varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
32732then this attribute will not be present.
32733
32734@end table
32735
32736The result may have its own attributes:
32737
32738@table @samp
32739@item displayhint
32740A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
32741value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
32742@code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
32743
32744@item has_more
32745This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
32746remaining after the end of the selected range.
32747@end table
32748
32749@subsubheading Example
32750
32751@smallexample
32752(gdb)
32753 -var-list-children n
32754 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
32755 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
32756(gdb)
32757 -var-list-children --all-values n
32758 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
32759 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
32760@end smallexample
32761
32762
32763@subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
32764@findex -var-info-type
32765
32766@subsubheading Synopsis
32767
32768@smallexample
32769 -var-info-type @var{name}
32770@end smallexample
32771
32772Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
32773returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
32774@value{GDBN} CLI:
32775
32776@smallexample
32777 type=@var{typename}
32778@end smallexample
32779
32780
32781@subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
32782@findex -var-info-expression
32783
32784@subsubheading Synopsis
32785
32786@smallexample
32787 -var-info-expression @var{name}
32788@end smallexample
32789
32790Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
32791variable object in user interface. The string is generally
32792not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
32793
32794For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
32795@code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
32796
32797@smallexample
32798(gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
32799^done,lang="C",exp="1"
32800@end smallexample
32801
32802@noindent
32803Here, the value of @code{lang} is the language name, which can be
32804found in @ref{Supported Languages}.
32805
32806Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
32807includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
32808is of limited use.
32809
32810@subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
32811@findex -var-info-path-expression
32812
32813@subsubheading Synopsis
32814
32815@smallexample
32816 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
32817@end smallexample
32818
32819Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
32820context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
32821Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
32822result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
32823the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
32824watchpoint from a variable object.
32825
32826This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
32827and will give an error when invoked on one.
32828
32829For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
32830@code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
32831@code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
32832@code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
32833@code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
32834@smallexample
32835(gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
32836^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
32837@end smallexample
32838
32839@subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
32840@findex -var-show-attributes
32841
32842@subsubheading Synopsis
32843
32844@smallexample
32845 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
32846@end smallexample
32847
32848List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
32849
32850@smallexample
32851 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
32852@end smallexample
32853
32854@noindent
32855where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
32856
32857@subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
32858@findex -var-evaluate-expression
32859
32860@subsubheading Synopsis
32861
32862@smallexample
32863 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
32864@end smallexample
32865
32866Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
32867object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
32868can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
32869this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
32870(@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
32871the current display format will be used. The current display format
32872can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
32873
32874@smallexample
32875 value=@var{value}
32876@end smallexample
32877
32878Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
32879before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
32880
32881@subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
32882@findex -var-assign
32883
32884@subsubheading Synopsis
32885
32886@smallexample
32887 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
32888@end smallexample
32889
32890Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
32891by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
32892value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
32893subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
32894
32895@subsubheading Example
32896
32897@smallexample
32898(gdb)
32899-var-assign var1 3
32900^done,value="3"
32901(gdb)
32902-var-update *
32903^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
32904(gdb)
32905@end smallexample
32906
32907@subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
32908@findex -var-update
32909
32910@subsubheading Synopsis
32911
32912@smallexample
32913 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
32914@end smallexample
32915
32916Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
32917@var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
32918list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
32919be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
32920@code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
32921@code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
32922object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
32923for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
32924@var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
32925names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
32926as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
32927recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
32928number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
32929
32930With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
32931currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
32932diagnostic.
32933
32934If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
32935only the selected range of children will be reported.
32936
32937@code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
32938@samp{changelist}.
32939
32940Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
32941
32942@table @samp
32943@item name
32944The name of the varobj.
32945
32946@item value
32947If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
32948present and will hold the value of the varobj.
32949
32950@item in_scope
32951@anchor{-var-update}
32952This field is a string which may take one of three values:
32953
32954@table @code
32955@item "true"
32956The variable object's current value is valid.
32957
32958@item "false"
32959The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
32960hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
32961scope.
32962
32963@item "invalid"
32964The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
32965This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
32966either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
32967command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
32968objects.
32969@end table
32970
32971In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
32972be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
32973
32974@item type_changed
32975This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
32976changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
32977be @samp{false}.
32978
32979When a varobj's type changes, its children are also likely to have
32980become incorrect. Therefore, the varobj's children are automatically
32981deleted when this attribute is @samp{true}. Also, the varobj's update
32982range, when set using the @code{-var-set-update-range} command, is
32983unset.
32984
32985@item new_type
32986If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
32987hold the new type.
32988
32989@item new_num_children
32990For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
32991type changed, this will be the new number of children.
32992
32993The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
32994valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
32995@value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
32996instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
32997children which may be available.
32998
32999The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
33000number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
33001detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
33002only happen at the end of the update range).
33003
33004@item displayhint
33005The display hint, if any.
33006
33007@item has_more
33008This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
33009available outside the varobj's update range.
33010
33011@item dynamic
33012This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
33013varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
33014then this attribute will not be present.
33015
33016@item new_children
33017If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
33018update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
33019be listed in this attribute.
33020@end table
33021
33022@subsubheading Example
33023
33024@smallexample
33025(gdb)
33026-var-assign var1 3
33027^done,value="3"
33028(gdb)
33029-var-update --all-values var1
33030^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
33031type_changed="false"@}]
33032(gdb)
33033@end smallexample
33034
33035@subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
33036@findex -var-set-frozen
33037@anchor{-var-set-frozen}
33038
33039@subsubheading Synopsis
33040
33041@smallexample
33042 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
33043@end smallexample
33044
33045Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
33046@var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
33047frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
33048frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
33049implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
33050a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
33051@code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
33052values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
33053implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
33054Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
33055@code{-var-update} does.
33056
33057@subsubheading Example
33058
33059@smallexample
33060(gdb)
33061-var-set-frozen V 1
33062^done
33063(gdb)
33064@end smallexample
33065
33066@subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
33067@findex -var-set-update-range
33068@anchor{-var-set-update-range}
33069
33070@subsubheading Synopsis
33071
33072@smallexample
33073 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
33074@end smallexample
33075
33076Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
33077@code{-var-update}.
33078
33079@var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
33080@var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
33081children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
33082(zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
33083
33084@subsubheading Example
33085
33086@smallexample
33087(gdb)
33088-var-set-update-range V 1 2
33089^done
33090@end smallexample
33091
33092@subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
33093@findex -var-set-visualizer
33094@anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
33095
33096@subsubheading Synopsis
33097
33098@smallexample
33099 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
33100@end smallexample
33101
33102Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
33103
33104@var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
33105@samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
33106
33107If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
33108This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
33109single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
33110the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
33111Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
33112When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
33113pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
33114
33115The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
33116select a visualizer by following the built-in process
33117(@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
33118a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
33119
33120This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
33121command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Support Commands})
33122can be used to check this.
33123
33124@subsubheading Example
33125
33126Resetting the visualizer:
33127
33128@smallexample
33129(gdb)
33130-var-set-visualizer V None
33131^done
33132@end smallexample
33133
33134Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
33135
33136@smallexample
33137(gdb)
33138-var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
33139^done
33140@end smallexample
33141
33142Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
33143can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
33144
33145@smallexample
33146(gdb)
33147-var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
33148^done
33149@end smallexample
33150
33151@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33152@node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
33153@section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
33154
33155@cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
33156@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
33157This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
33158examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
33159
33160@c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
33161@c @subheading -data-assign
33162@c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
33163@c @subsubheading GDB Command
33164@c set variable
33165@c @subsubheading Example
33166@c N.A.
33167
33168@subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
33169@findex -data-disassemble
33170
33171@subsubheading Synopsis
33172
33173@smallexample
33174 -data-disassemble
33175 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
33176 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
33177 -- @var{mode}
33178@end smallexample
33179
33180@noindent
33181Where:
33182
33183@table @samp
33184@item @var{start-addr}
33185is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
33186@item @var{end-addr}
33187is the end address
33188@item @var{filename}
33189is the name of the file to disassemble
33190@item @var{linenum}
33191is the line number to disassemble around
33192@item @var{lines}
33193is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
33194the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
33195specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
33196@var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
33197@var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
33198displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
33199@var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
33200are displayed.
33201@item @var{mode}
33202is either 0 (meaning only disassembly), 1 (meaning mixed source and
33203disassembly), 2 (meaning disassembly with raw opcodes), or 3 (meaning
33204mixed source and disassembly with raw opcodes).
33205@end table
33206
33207@subsubheading Result
33208
33209The result of the @code{-data-disassemble} command will be a list named
33210@samp{asm_insns}, the contents of this list depend on the @var{mode}
33211used with the @code{-data-disassemble} command.
33212
33213For modes 0 and 2 the @samp{asm_insns} list contains tuples with the
33214following fields:
33215
33216@table @code
33217@item address
33218The address at which this instruction was disassembled.
33219
33220@item func-name
33221The name of the function this instruction is within.
33222
33223@item offset
33224The decimal offset in bytes from the start of @samp{func-name}.
33225
33226@item inst
33227The text disassembly for this @samp{address}.
33228
33229@item opcodes
33230This field is only present for mode 2. This contains the raw opcode
33231bytes for the @samp{inst} field.
33232
33233@end table
33234
33235For modes 1 and 3 the @samp{asm_insns} list contains tuples named
33236@samp{src_and_asm_line}, each of which has the following fields:
33237
33238@table @code
33239@item line
33240The line number within @samp{file}.
33241
33242@item file
33243The file name from the compilation unit. This might be an absolute
33244file name or a relative file name depending on the compile command
33245used.
33246
33247@item fullname
33248Absolute file name of @samp{file}. It is converted to a canonical form
33249using the source file search path
33250(@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories})
33251and after resolving all the symbolic links.
33252
33253If the source file is not found this field will contain the path as
33254present in the debug information.
33255
33256@item line_asm_insn
33257This is a list of tuples containing the disassembly for @samp{line} in
33258@samp{file}. The fields of each tuple are the same as for
33259@code{-data-disassemble} in @var{mode} 0 and 2, so @samp{address},
33260@samp{func-name}, @samp{offset}, @samp{inst}, and optionally
33261@samp{opcodes}.
33262
33263@end table
33264
33265Note that whatever included in the @samp{inst} field, is not
33266manipulated directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to
33267adjust its format.
33268
33269@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33270
33271The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disassemble}.
33272
33273@subsubheading Example
33274
33275Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
33276
33277@smallexample
33278(gdb)
33279-data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
33280^done,
33281asm_insns=[
33282@{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
33283inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
33284@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
33285inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
33286@{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
33287inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
33288@{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
33289inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
33290@{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
33291inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
33292(gdb)
33293@end smallexample
33294
33295Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
33296@code{main}.
33297
33298@smallexample
33299-data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
33300^done,asm_insns=[
33301@{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
33302inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
33303@{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
33304inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
33305@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
33306inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
33307[@dots{}]
33308@{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
33309@{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
33310(gdb)
33311@end smallexample
33312
33313Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
33314
33315@smallexample
33316(gdb)
33317-data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
33318^done,asm_insns=[
33319@{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
33320inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
33321@{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
33322inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
33323@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
33324inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
33325(gdb)
33326@end smallexample
33327
33328Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
33329
33330@smallexample
33331(gdb)
33332-data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
33333^done,asm_insns=[
33334src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
33335file="../../../src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
33336fullname="/absolute/path/to/src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
33337line_asm_insn=[@{address="0x000107bc",
33338func-name="main",offset="0",inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
33339src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
33340file="../../../src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
33341fullname="/absolute/path/to/src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
33342line_asm_insn=[@{address="0x000107c0",
33343func-name="main",offset="4",inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
33344@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
33345inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
33346(gdb)
33347@end smallexample
33348
33349
33350@subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
33351@findex -data-evaluate-expression
33352
33353@subsubheading Synopsis
33354
33355@smallexample
33356 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
33357@end smallexample
33358
33359Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
33360inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
33361If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
33362
33363@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33364
33365The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
33366@samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
33367@samp{gdb_eval} command.
33368
33369@subsubheading Example
33370
33371In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
33372@dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
33373Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
33374output.
33375
33376@smallexample
33377211-data-evaluate-expression A
33378211^done,value="1"
33379(gdb)
33380311-data-evaluate-expression &A
33381311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
33382(gdb)
33383411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
33384411^done,value="4"
33385(gdb)
33386511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
33387511^done,value="4"
33388(gdb)
33389@end smallexample
33390
33391
33392@subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
33393@findex -data-list-changed-registers
33394
33395@subsubheading Synopsis
33396
33397@smallexample
33398 -data-list-changed-registers
33399@end smallexample
33400
33401Display a list of the registers that have changed.
33402
33403@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33404
33405@value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
33406has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
33407
33408@subsubheading Example
33409
33410On a PPC MBX board:
33411
33412@smallexample
33413(gdb)
33414-exec-continue
33415^running
33416
33417(gdb)
33418*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
33419func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
33420line="5"@}
33421(gdb)
33422-data-list-changed-registers
33423^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
33424"10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
33425"24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
33426(gdb)
33427@end smallexample
33428
33429
33430@subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
33431@findex -data-list-register-names
33432
33433@subsubheading Synopsis
33434
33435@smallexample
33436 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
33437@end smallexample
33438
33439Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
33440are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
33441integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
33442names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
33443consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
33444include empty register names.
33445
33446@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33447
33448@value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
33449@samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
33450corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
33451
33452@subsubheading Example
33453
33454For the PPC MBX board:
33455@smallexample
33456(gdb)
33457-data-list-register-names
33458^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
33459"r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
33460"r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
33461"r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
33462"f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
33463"f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
33464"", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
33465(gdb)
33466-data-list-register-names 1 2 3
33467^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
33468(gdb)
33469@end smallexample
33470
33471@subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
33472@findex -data-list-register-values
33473
33474@subsubheading Synopsis
33475
33476@smallexample
33477 -data-list-register-values
33478 [ @code{--skip-unavailable} ] @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
33479@end smallexample
33480
33481Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
33482which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
33483list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
33484numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be
33485returned. The @code{--skip-unavailable} option indicates that only
33486the available registers are to be returned.
33487
33488Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
33489
33490@table @code
33491@item x
33492Hexadecimal
33493@item o
33494Octal
33495@item t
33496Binary
33497@item d
33498Decimal
33499@item r
33500Raw
33501@item N
33502Natural
33503@end table
33504
33505@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33506
33507The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
33508all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
33509
33510@subsubheading Example
33511
33512For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
33513don't appear in the actual output):
33514
33515@smallexample
33516(gdb)
33517-data-list-register-values r 64 65
33518^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
33519@{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
33520(gdb)
33521-data-list-register-values x
33522^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
33523@{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
33524@{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
33525@{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
33526@{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
33527@{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
33528@{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
33529@{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
33530@{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
33531@{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
33532@{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
33533@{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
33534@{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
33535@{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
33536@{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
33537@{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
33538@{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
33539@{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
33540@{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
33541@{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
33542@{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
33543@{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
33544@{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
33545@{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
33546@{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
33547@{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
33548@{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
33549@{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
33550@{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
33551@{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
33552@{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
33553@{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
33554@{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
33555@{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
33556@{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
33557@{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
33558(gdb)
33559@end smallexample
33560
33561
33562@subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
33563@findex -data-read-memory
33564
33565This command is deprecated, use @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} instead.
33566
33567@subsubheading Synopsis
33568
33569@smallexample
33570 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
33571 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
33572 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
33573@end smallexample
33574
33575@noindent
33576where:
33577
33578@table @samp
33579@item @var{address}
33580An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
33581read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
33582quoted using the C convention.
33583
33584@item @var{word-format}
33585The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
33586same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
33587,Output Formats}).
33588
33589@item @var{word-size}
33590The size of each memory word in bytes.
33591
33592@item @var{nr-rows}
33593The number of rows in the output table.
33594
33595@item @var{nr-cols}
33596The number of columns in the output table.
33597
33598@item @var{aschar}
33599If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
33600value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
33601member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
33602characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
33603
33604@item @var{byte-offset}
33605An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
33606@end table
33607
33608This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
33609@var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
33610@code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
33611(returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
33612of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
33613using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
33614in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
33615@samp{addr}.
33616
33617The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
33618@samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
33619@samp{prev-page}.
33620
33621@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33622
33623The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
33624@samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
33625
33626@subsubheading Example
33627
33628Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
33629@code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
33630word. Display each word in hex.
33631
33632@smallexample
33633(gdb)
336349-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
336359^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
33636next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
33637prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
33638@{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
33639@{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
33640@{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
33641(gdb)
33642@end smallexample
33643
33644Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
33645display as a single word formatted in decimal.
33646
33647@smallexample
33648(gdb)
336495-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
336505^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
33651next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
33652next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
33653@{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
33654(gdb)
33655@end smallexample
33656
33657Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
33658as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
33659used as the non-printable character.
33660
33661@smallexample
33662(gdb)
336634-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
336644^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
33665next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
33666next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
33667@{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
33668@{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
33669@{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
33670@{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
33671@{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
33672@{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
33673@{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
33674@{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
33675(gdb)
33676@end smallexample
33677
33678@subheading The @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} Command
33679@findex -data-read-memory-bytes
33680
33681@subsubheading Synopsis
33682
33683@smallexample
33684 -data-read-memory-bytes [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
33685 @var{address} @var{count}
33686@end smallexample
33687
33688@noindent
33689where:
33690
33691@table @samp
33692@item @var{address}
33693An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
33694read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
33695quoted using the C convention.
33696
33697@item @var{count}
33698The number of bytes to read. This should be an integer literal.
33699
33700@item @var{byte-offset}
33701The offsets in bytes relative to @var{address} at which to start
33702reading. This should be an integer literal. This option is provided
33703so that a frontend is not required to first evaluate address and then
33704perform address arithmetics itself.
33705
33706@end table
33707
33708This command attempts to read all accessible memory regions in the
33709specified range. First, all regions marked as unreadable in the memory
33710map (if one is defined) will be skipped. @xref{Memory Region
33711Attributes}. Second, @value{GDBN} will attempt to read the remaining
33712regions. For each one, if reading full region results in an errors,
33713@value{GDBN} will try to read a subset of the region.
33714
33715In general, every single byte in the region may be readable or not,
33716and the only way to read every readable byte is to try a read at
33717every address, which is not practical. Therefore, @value{GDBN} will
33718attempt to read all accessible bytes at either beginning or the end
33719of the region, using a binary division scheme. This heuristic works
33720well for reading accross a memory map boundary. Note that if a region
33721has a readable range that is neither at the beginning or the end,
33722@value{GDBN} will not read it.
33723
33724The result record (@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}) that is output of
33725the command includes a field named @samp{memory} whose content is a
33726list of tuples. Each tuple represent a successfully read memory block
33727and has the following fields:
33728
33729@table @code
33730@item begin
33731The start address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
33732
33733@item end
33734The end address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
33735
33736@item offset
33737The offset of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal, relative to
33738the start address passed to @code{-data-read-memory-bytes}.
33739
33740@item contents
33741The contents of the memory block, in hex.
33742
33743@end table
33744
33745
33746
33747@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33748
33749The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}.
33750
33751@subsubheading Example
33752
33753@smallexample
33754(gdb)
33755-data-read-memory-bytes &a 10
33756^done,memory=[@{begin="0xbffff154",offset="0x00000000",
33757 end="0xbffff15e",
33758 contents="01000000020000000300"@}]
33759(gdb)
33760@end smallexample
33761
33762
33763@subheading The @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} Command
33764@findex -data-write-memory-bytes
33765
33766@subsubheading Synopsis
33767
33768@smallexample
33769 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents}
33770 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents} @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
33771@end smallexample
33772
33773@noindent
33774where:
33775
33776@table @samp
33777@item @var{address}
33778An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
33779read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
33780quoted using the C convention.
33781
33782@item @var{contents}
33783The hex-encoded bytes to write.
33784
33785@item @var{count}
33786Optional argument indicating the number of bytes to be written. If @var{count}
33787is greater than @var{contents}' length, @value{GDBN} will repeatedly
33788write @var{contents} until it fills @var{count} bytes.
33789
33790@end table
33791
33792@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33793
33794There's no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
33795
33796@subsubheading Example
33797
33798@smallexample
33799(gdb)
33800-data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd"
33801^done
33802(gdb)
33803@end smallexample
33804
33805@smallexample
33806(gdb)
33807-data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd" 16e
33808^done
33809(gdb)
33810@end smallexample
33811
33812@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33813@node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
33814@section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
33815
33816The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
33817tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
33818
33819@subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
33820@findex -trace-find
33821
33822@subsubheading Synopsis
33823
33824@smallexample
33825 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
33826@end smallexample
33827
33828Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
33829@var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
33830modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
33831
33832@table @samp
33833
33834@item none
33835No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
33836
33837@item frame-number
33838An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
33839that index.
33840
33841@item tracepoint-number
33842An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
33843trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
33844
33845@item pc
33846An address is required as parameter. Finds
33847next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
33848address.
33849
33850@item pc-inside-range
33851Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
33852frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
33853specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
33854
33855@item pc-outside-range
33856Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
33857next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
33858the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
33859
33860@item line
33861Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
33862Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
33863the specified location.
33864
33865@end table
33866
33867If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
33868have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
33869
33870@table @samp
33871@item found
33872This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
33873on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
33874
33875@item traceframe
33876The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
33877the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
33878
33879@item tracepoint
33880The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
33881the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
33882
33883@item frame
33884The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
33885frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
33886@xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
33887
33888@end table
33889
33890@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33891
33892The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
33893
33894@subheading -trace-define-variable
33895@findex -trace-define-variable
33896
33897@subsubheading Synopsis
33898
33899@smallexample
33900 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
33901@end smallexample
33902
33903Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
33904@var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
33905trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
33906with the @samp{$} character.
33907
33908@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33909
33910The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
33911
33912@subheading The @code{-trace-frame-collected} Command
33913@findex -trace-frame-collected
33914
33915@subsubheading Synopsis
33916
33917@smallexample
33918 -trace-frame-collected
33919 [--var-print-values @var{var_pval}]
33920 [--comp-print-values @var{comp_pval}]
33921 [--registers-format @var{regformat}]
33922 [--memory-contents]
33923@end smallexample
33924
33925This command returns the set of collected objects, register names,
33926trace state variable names, memory ranges and computed expressions
33927that have been collected at a particular trace frame. The optional
33928parameters to the command affect the output format in different ways.
33929See the output description table below for more details.
33930
33931The reported names can be used in the normal manner to create
33932varobjs and inspect the objects themselves. The items returned by
33933this command are categorized so that it is clear which is a variable,
33934which is a register, which is a trace state variable, which is a
33935memory range and which is a computed expression.
33936
33937For instance, if the actions were
33938@smallexample
33939collect myVar, myArray[myIndex], myObj.field, myPtr->field, myCount + 2
33940collect *(int*)0xaf02bef0@@40
33941@end smallexample
33942
33943@noindent
33944the object collected in its entirety would be @code{myVar}. The
33945object @code{myArray} would be partially collected, because only the
33946element at index @code{myIndex} would be collected. The remaining
33947objects would be computed expressions.
33948
33949An example output would be:
33950
33951@smallexample
33952(gdb)
33953-trace-frame-collected
33954^done,
33955 explicit-variables=[@{name="myVar",value="1"@}],
33956 computed-expressions=[@{name="myArray[myIndex]",value="0"@},
33957 @{name="myObj.field",value="0"@},
33958 @{name="myPtr->field",value="1"@},
33959 @{name="myCount + 2",value="3"@},
33960 @{name="$tvar1 + 1",value="43970027"@}],
33961 registers=[@{number="0",value="0x7fe2c6e79ec8"@},
33962 @{number="1",value="0x0"@},
33963 @{number="2",value="0x4"@},
33964 ...
33965 @{number="125",value="0x0"@}],
33966 tvars=[@{name="$tvar1",current="43970026"@}],
33967 memory=[@{address="0x0000000000602264",length="4"@},
33968 @{address="0x0000000000615bc0",length="4"@}]
33969(gdb)
33970@end smallexample
33971
33972Where:
33973
33974@table @code
33975@item explicit-variables
33976The set of objects that have been collected in their entirety (as
33977opposed to collecting just a few elements of an array or a few struct
33978members). For each object, its name and value are printed.
33979The @code{--var-print-values} option affects how or whether the value
33980field is output. If @var{var_pval} is 0, then print only the names;
33981if it is 1, print also their values; and if it is 2, print the name,
33982type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for
33983arrays, structures and unions.
33984
33985@item computed-expressions
33986The set of computed expressions that have been collected at the
33987current trace frame. The @code{--comp-print-values} option affects
33988this set like the @code{--var-print-values} option affects the
33989@code{explicit-variables} set. See above.
33990
33991@item registers
33992The registers that have been collected at the current trace frame.
33993For each register collected, the name and current value are returned.
33994The value is formatted according to the @code{--registers-format}
33995option. See the @command{-data-list-register-values} command for a
33996list of the allowed formats. The default is @samp{x}.
33997
33998@item tvars
33999The trace state variables that have been collected at the current
34000trace frame. For each trace state variable collected, the name and
34001current value are returned.
34002
34003@item memory
34004The set of memory ranges that have been collected at the current trace
34005frame. Its content is a list of tuples. Each tuple represents a
34006collected memory range and has the following fields:
34007
34008@table @code
34009@item address
34010The start address of the memory range, as hexadecimal literal.
34011
34012@item length
34013The length of the memory range, as decimal literal.
34014
34015@item contents
34016The contents of the memory block, in hex. This field is only present
34017if the @code{--memory-contents} option is specified.
34018
34019@end table
34020
34021@end table
34022
34023@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34024
34025There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
34026
34027@subsubheading Example
34028
34029@subheading -trace-list-variables
34030@findex -trace-list-variables
34031
34032@subsubheading Synopsis
34033
34034@smallexample
34035 -trace-list-variables
34036@end smallexample
34037
34038Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
34039table has the following fields:
34040
34041@table @samp
34042@item name
34043The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
34044
34045@item initial
34046The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
34047field is always present.
34048
34049@item current
34050The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
34051signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
34052not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
34053presently running.
34054
34055@end table
34056
34057@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34058
34059The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
34060
34061@subsubheading Example
34062
34063@smallexample
34064(gdb)
34065-trace-list-variables
34066^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
34067hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
34068 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
34069 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
34070body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
34071 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
34072(gdb)
34073@end smallexample
34074
34075@subheading -trace-save
34076@findex -trace-save
34077
34078@subsubheading Synopsis
34079
34080@smallexample
34081 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
34082@end smallexample
34083
34084Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
34085@samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
34086in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
34087to perform the save.
34088
34089@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34090
34091The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
34092
34093
34094@subheading -trace-start
34095@findex -trace-start
34096
34097@subsubheading Synopsis
34098
34099@smallexample
34100 -trace-start
34101@end smallexample
34102
34103Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
34104have any fields.
34105
34106@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34107
34108The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
34109
34110@subheading -trace-status
34111@findex -trace-status
34112
34113@subsubheading Synopsis
34114
34115@smallexample
34116 -trace-status
34117@end smallexample
34118
34119Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
34120the following fields:
34121
34122@table @samp
34123
34124@item supported
34125May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
34126supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
34127@samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
34128of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
34129started. This field is always present.
34130
34131@item running
34132May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
34133tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
34134if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
34135
34136@item stop-reason
34137Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
34138may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
34139value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
34140the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
34141the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
34142tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
34143The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
34144tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
34145This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
34146
34147@item stopping-tracepoint
34148The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
34149present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
34150@samp{passcount}.
34151
34152@item frames
34153@itemx frames-created
34154The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
34155in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
34156during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
34157circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
34158
34159@item buffer-size
34160@itemx buffer-free
34161These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
34162remaining space. These fields are optional.
34163
34164@item circular
34165The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
34166trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
34167necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
34168and may fill up.
34169
34170@item disconnected
34171The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
34172tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
34173that the trace run will stop.
34174
34175@item trace-file
34176The filename of the trace file being examined. This field is
34177optional, and only present when examining a trace file.
34178
34179@end table
34180
34181@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34182
34183The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
34184
34185@subheading -trace-stop
34186@findex -trace-stop
34187
34188@subsubheading Synopsis
34189
34190@smallexample
34191 -trace-stop
34192@end smallexample
34193
34194Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
34195fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
34196@samp{running} fields are not output.
34197
34198@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34199
34200The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
34201
34202
34203@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34204@node GDB/MI Symbol Query
34205@section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
34206
34207
34208@ignore
34209@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
34210@findex -symbol-info-address
34211
34212@subsubheading Synopsis
34213
34214@smallexample
34215 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
34216@end smallexample
34217
34218Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
34219
34220@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34221
34222The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
34223
34224@subsubheading Example
34225N.A.
34226
34227
34228@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
34229@findex -symbol-info-file
34230
34231@subsubheading Synopsis
34232
34233@smallexample
34234 -symbol-info-file
34235@end smallexample
34236
34237Show the file for the symbol.
34238
34239@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34240
34241There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
34242@samp{gdb_find_file}.
34243
34244@subsubheading Example
34245N.A.
34246
34247
34248@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
34249@findex -symbol-info-function
34250
34251@subsubheading Synopsis
34252
34253@smallexample
34254 -symbol-info-function
34255@end smallexample
34256
34257Show which function the symbol lives in.
34258
34259@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34260
34261@samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
34262
34263@subsubheading Example
34264N.A.
34265
34266
34267@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
34268@findex -symbol-info-line
34269
34270@subsubheading Synopsis
34271
34272@smallexample
34273 -symbol-info-line
34274@end smallexample
34275
34276Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
34277
34278@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34279
34280The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
34281@code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
34282
34283@subsubheading Example
34284N.A.
34285
34286
34287@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
34288@findex -symbol-info-symbol
34289
34290@subsubheading Synopsis
34291
34292@smallexample
34293 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
34294@end smallexample
34295
34296Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
34297
34298@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34299
34300The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
34301
34302@subsubheading Example
34303N.A.
34304
34305
34306@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
34307@findex -symbol-list-functions
34308
34309@subsubheading Synopsis
34310
34311@smallexample
34312 -symbol-list-functions
34313@end smallexample
34314
34315List the functions in the executable.
34316
34317@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34318
34319@samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
34320@samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
34321
34322@subsubheading Example
34323N.A.
34324@end ignore
34325
34326
34327@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
34328@findex -symbol-list-lines
34329
34330@subsubheading Synopsis
34331
34332@smallexample
34333 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
34334@end smallexample
34335
34336Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
34337addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
34338ascending PC order.
34339
34340@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34341
34342There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
34343
34344@subsubheading Example
34345@smallexample
34346(gdb)
34347-symbol-list-lines basics.c
34348^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
34349(gdb)
34350@end smallexample
34351
34352
34353@ignore
34354@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
34355@findex -symbol-list-types
34356
34357@subsubheading Synopsis
34358
34359@smallexample
34360 -symbol-list-types
34361@end smallexample
34362
34363List all the type names.
34364
34365@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34366
34367The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
34368@samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
34369
34370@subsubheading Example
34371N.A.
34372
34373
34374@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
34375@findex -symbol-list-variables
34376
34377@subsubheading Synopsis
34378
34379@smallexample
34380 -symbol-list-variables
34381@end smallexample
34382
34383List all the global and static variable names.
34384
34385@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34386
34387@samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
34388
34389@subsubheading Example
34390N.A.
34391
34392
34393@subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
34394@findex -symbol-locate
34395
34396@subsubheading Synopsis
34397
34398@smallexample
34399 -symbol-locate
34400@end smallexample
34401
34402@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34403
34404@samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
34405
34406@subsubheading Example
34407N.A.
34408
34409
34410@subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
34411@findex -symbol-type
34412
34413@subsubheading Synopsis
34414
34415@smallexample
34416 -symbol-type @var{variable}
34417@end smallexample
34418
34419Show type of @var{variable}.
34420
34421@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34422
34423The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
34424@samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
34425
34426@subsubheading Example
34427N.A.
34428@end ignore
34429
34430
34431@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34432@node GDB/MI File Commands
34433@section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
34434
34435This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
34436and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
34437
34438@subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
34439@findex -file-exec-and-symbols
34440
34441@subsubheading Synopsis
34442
34443@smallexample
34444 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
34445@end smallexample
34446
34447Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
34448which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
34449command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
34450are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
34451error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
34452notification.
34453
34454@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34455
34456The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
34457
34458@subsubheading Example
34459
34460@smallexample
34461(gdb)
34462-file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
34463^done
34464(gdb)
34465@end smallexample
34466
34467
34468@subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
34469@findex -file-exec-file
34470
34471@subsubheading Synopsis
34472
34473@smallexample
34474 -file-exec-file @var{file}
34475@end smallexample
34476
34477Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
34478@samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
34479from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
34480about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
34481notification.
34482
34483@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34484
34485The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
34486
34487@subsubheading Example
34488
34489@smallexample
34490(gdb)
34491-file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
34492^done
34493(gdb)
34494@end smallexample
34495
34496
34497@ignore
34498@subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
34499@findex -file-list-exec-sections
34500
34501@subsubheading Synopsis
34502
34503@smallexample
34504 -file-list-exec-sections
34505@end smallexample
34506
34507List the sections of the current executable file.
34508
34509@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34510
34511The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
34512information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
34513@samp{gdb_load_info}.
34514
34515@subsubheading Example
34516N.A.
34517@end ignore
34518
34519
34520@subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
34521@findex -file-list-exec-source-file
34522
34523@subsubheading Synopsis
34524
34525@smallexample
34526 -file-list-exec-source-file
34527@end smallexample
34528
34529List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
34530to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
34531information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
34532whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
34533
34534@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34535
34536The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
34537
34538@subsubheading Example
34539
34540@smallexample
34541(gdb)
34542123-file-list-exec-source-file
34543123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
34544(gdb)
34545@end smallexample
34546
34547
34548@subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
34549@findex -file-list-exec-source-files
34550
34551@subsubheading Synopsis
34552
34553@smallexample
34554 -file-list-exec-source-files
34555@end smallexample
34556
34557List the source files for the current executable.
34558
34559It will always output both the filename and fullname (absolute file
34560name) of a source file.
34561
34562@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34563
34564The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
34565@code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
34566
34567@subsubheading Example
34568@smallexample
34569(gdb)
34570-file-list-exec-source-files
34571^done,files=[
34572@{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
34573@{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
34574@{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
34575(gdb)
34576@end smallexample
34577
34578@ignore
34579@subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
34580@findex -file-list-shared-libraries
34581
34582@subsubheading Synopsis
34583
34584@smallexample
34585 -file-list-shared-libraries
34586@end smallexample
34587
34588List the shared libraries in the program.
34589
34590@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34591
34592The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
34593
34594@subsubheading Example
34595N.A.
34596
34597
34598@subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
34599@findex -file-list-symbol-files
34600
34601@subsubheading Synopsis
34602
34603@smallexample
34604 -file-list-symbol-files
34605@end smallexample
34606
34607List symbol files.
34608
34609@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34610
34611The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
34612
34613@subsubheading Example
34614N.A.
34615@end ignore
34616
34617
34618@subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
34619@findex -file-symbol-file
34620
34621@subsubheading Synopsis
34622
34623@smallexample
34624 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
34625@end smallexample
34626
34627Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
34628used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
34629produced, except for a completion notification.
34630
34631@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34632
34633The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
34634
34635@subsubheading Example
34636
34637@smallexample
34638(gdb)
34639-file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
34640^done
34641(gdb)
34642@end smallexample
34643
34644@ignore
34645@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34646@node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
34647@section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
34648
34649The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
34650
34651@c @subheading -overlay-auto
34652
34653@c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
34654
34655@c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
34656
34657@c @subheading -overlay-map
34658
34659@c @subheading -overlay-off
34660
34661@c @subheading -overlay-on
34662
34663@c @subheading -overlay-unmap
34664
34665@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34666@node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
34667@section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
34668
34669Signal handling commands are not implemented.
34670
34671@c @subheading -signal-handle
34672
34673@c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
34674
34675@c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
34676@end ignore
34677
34678
34679@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34680@node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
34681@section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
34682
34683
34684@subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
34685@findex -target-attach
34686
34687@subsubheading Synopsis
34688
34689@smallexample
34690 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
34691@end smallexample
34692
34693Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
34694@value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
34695group, the id previously returned by
34696@samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
34697
34698@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34699
34700The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
34701
34702@subsubheading Example
34703@smallexample
34704(gdb)
34705-target-attach 34
34706=thread-created,id="1"
34707*stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
34708^done
34709(gdb)
34710@end smallexample
34711
34712@ignore
34713@subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
34714@findex -target-compare-sections
34715
34716@subsubheading Synopsis
34717
34718@smallexample
34719 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
34720@end smallexample
34721
34722Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
34723Without the argument, all sections are compared.
34724
34725@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34726
34727The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
34728
34729@subsubheading Example
34730N.A.
34731@end ignore
34732
34733
34734@subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
34735@findex -target-detach
34736
34737@subsubheading Synopsis
34738
34739@smallexample
34740 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
34741@end smallexample
34742
34743Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
34744If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
34745the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
34746
34747@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34748
34749The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
34750
34751@subsubheading Example
34752
34753@smallexample
34754(gdb)
34755-target-detach
34756^done
34757(gdb)
34758@end smallexample
34759
34760
34761@subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
34762@findex -target-disconnect
34763
34764@subsubheading Synopsis
34765
34766@smallexample
34767 -target-disconnect
34768@end smallexample
34769
34770Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
34771generally not resumed.
34772
34773@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34774
34775The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
34776
34777@subsubheading Example
34778
34779@smallexample
34780(gdb)
34781-target-disconnect
34782^done
34783(gdb)
34784@end smallexample
34785
34786
34787@subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
34788@findex -target-download
34789
34790@subsubheading Synopsis
34791
34792@smallexample
34793 -target-download
34794@end smallexample
34795
34796Loads the executable onto the remote target.
34797It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
34798
34799@table @samp
34800@item section
34801The name of the section.
34802@item section-sent
34803The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
34804@item section-size
34805The size of the section.
34806@item total-sent
34807The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
34808@item total-size
34809The size of the overall executable to download.
34810@end table
34811
34812@noindent
34813Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
34814@sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
34815
34816In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
34817downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
34818
34819@table @samp
34820@item section
34821The name of the section.
34822@item section-size
34823The size of the section.
34824@item total-size
34825The size of the overall executable to download.
34826@end table
34827
34828@noindent
34829At the end, a summary is printed.
34830
34831@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34832
34833The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
34834
34835@subsubheading Example
34836
34837Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
34838have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
34839
34840@smallexample
34841(gdb)
34842-target-download
34843+download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
34844+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
34845total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
34846+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
34847total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
34848+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
34849total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
34850+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
34851total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
34852+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
34853total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
34854+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
34855total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
34856+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
34857total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
34858+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
34859total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
34860+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
34861total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
34862+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
34863total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
34864+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
34865total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
34866+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
34867total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
34868+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
34869total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
34870+download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
34871+download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
34872+download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
34873+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
34874total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
34875+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
34876total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
34877+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
34878total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
34879+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
34880total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
34881+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
34882total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
34883+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
34884total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
34885^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
34886write-rate="429"
34887(gdb)
34888@end smallexample
34889
34890
34891@ignore
34892@subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
34893@findex -target-exec-status
34894
34895@subsubheading Synopsis
34896
34897@smallexample
34898 -target-exec-status
34899@end smallexample
34900
34901Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
34902not, for instance).
34903
34904@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34905
34906There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
34907
34908@subsubheading Example
34909N.A.
34910
34911
34912@subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
34913@findex -target-list-available-targets
34914
34915@subsubheading Synopsis
34916
34917@smallexample
34918 -target-list-available-targets
34919@end smallexample
34920
34921List the possible targets to connect to.
34922
34923@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34924
34925The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
34926
34927@subsubheading Example
34928N.A.
34929
34930
34931@subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
34932@findex -target-list-current-targets
34933
34934@subsubheading Synopsis
34935
34936@smallexample
34937 -target-list-current-targets
34938@end smallexample
34939
34940Describe the current target.
34941
34942@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34943
34944The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
34945other things).
34946
34947@subsubheading Example
34948N.A.
34949
34950
34951@subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
34952@findex -target-list-parameters
34953
34954@subsubheading Synopsis
34955
34956@smallexample
34957 -target-list-parameters
34958@end smallexample
34959
34960@c ????
34961@end ignore
34962
34963@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34964
34965No equivalent.
34966
34967@subsubheading Example
34968N.A.
34969
34970
34971@subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
34972@findex -target-select
34973
34974@subsubheading Synopsis
34975
34976@smallexample
34977 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
34978@end smallexample
34979
34980Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
34981
34982@table @samp
34983@item @var{type}
34984The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
34985@item @var{parameters}
34986Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
34987Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
34988@end table
34989
34990The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
34991which the target program is, in the following form:
34992
34993@smallexample
34994^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
34995 args=[@var{arg list}]
34996@end smallexample
34997
34998@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34999
35000The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
35001
35002@subsubheading Example
35003
35004@smallexample
35005(gdb)
35006-target-select remote /dev/ttya
35007^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
35008(gdb)
35009@end smallexample
35010
35011@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
35012@node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
35013@section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
35014
35015
35016@subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
35017@findex -target-file-put
35018
35019@subsubheading Synopsis
35020
35021@smallexample
35022 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
35023@end smallexample
35024
35025Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
35026@value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
35027
35028@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
35029
35030The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
35031
35032@subsubheading Example
35033
35034@smallexample
35035(gdb)
35036-target-file-put localfile remotefile
35037^done
35038(gdb)
35039@end smallexample
35040
35041
35042@subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
35043@findex -target-file-get
35044
35045@subsubheading Synopsis
35046
35047@smallexample
35048 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
35049@end smallexample
35050
35051Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
35052on the host system.
35053
35054@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
35055
35056The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
35057
35058@subsubheading Example
35059
35060@smallexample
35061(gdb)
35062-target-file-get remotefile localfile
35063^done
35064(gdb)
35065@end smallexample
35066
35067
35068@subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
35069@findex -target-file-delete
35070
35071@subsubheading Synopsis
35072
35073@smallexample
35074 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
35075@end smallexample
35076
35077Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
35078
35079@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
35080
35081The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
35082
35083@subsubheading Example
35084
35085@smallexample
35086(gdb)
35087-target-file-delete remotefile
35088^done
35089(gdb)
35090@end smallexample
35091
35092
35093@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
35094@node GDB/MI Ada Exceptions Commands
35095@section Ada Exceptions @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
35096
35097@subheading The @code{-info-ada-exceptions} Command
35098@findex -info-ada-exceptions
35099
35100@subsubheading Synopsis
35101
35102@smallexample
35103 -info-ada-exceptions [ @var{regexp}]
35104@end smallexample
35105
35106List all Ada exceptions defined within the program being debugged.
35107With a regular expression @var{regexp}, only those exceptions whose
35108names match @var{regexp} are listed.
35109
35110@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
35111
35112The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info exceptions}.
35113
35114@subsubheading Result
35115
35116The result is a table of Ada exceptions. The following columns are
35117defined for each exception:
35118
35119@table @samp
35120@item name
35121The name of the exception.
35122
35123@item address
35124The address of the exception.
35125
35126@end table
35127
35128@subsubheading Example
35129
35130@smallexample
35131-info-ada-exceptions aint
35132^done,ada-exceptions=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="2",
35133hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
35134@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="address",colhdr="Address"@}],
35135body=[@{name="constraint_error",address="0x0000000000613da0"@},
35136@{name="const.aint_global_e",address="0x0000000000613b00"@}]@}
35137@end smallexample
35138
35139@subheading Catching Ada Exceptions
35140
35141The commands describing how to ask @value{GDBN} to stop when a program
35142raises an exception are described at @ref{Ada Exception GDB/MI
35143Catchpoint Commands}.
35144
35145
35146@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
35147@node GDB/MI Support Commands
35148@section @sc{gdb/mi} Support Commands
35149
35150Since new commands and features get regularly added to @sc{gdb/mi},
35151some commands are available to help front-ends query the debugger
35152about support for these capabilities. Similarly, it is also possible
35153to query @value{GDBN} about target support of certain features.
35154
35155@subheading The @code{-info-gdb-mi-command} Command
35156@cindex @code{-info-gdb-mi-command}
35157@findex -info-gdb-mi-command
35158
35159@subsubheading Synopsis
35160
35161@smallexample
35162 -info-gdb-mi-command @var{cmd_name}
35163@end smallexample
35164
35165Query support for the @sc{gdb/mi} command named @var{cmd_name}.
35166
35167Note that the dash (@code{-}) starting all @sc{gdb/mi} commands
35168is technically not part of the command name (@pxref{GDB/MI Input
35169Syntax}), and thus should be omitted in @var{cmd_name}. However,
35170for ease of use, this command also accepts the form with the leading
35171dash.
35172
35173@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
35174
35175There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
35176
35177@subsubheading Result
35178
35179The result is a tuple. There is currently only one field:
35180
35181@table @samp
35182@item exists
35183This field is equal to @code{"true"} if the @sc{gdb/mi} command exists,
35184@code{"false"} otherwise.
35185
35186@end table
35187
35188@subsubheading Example
35189
35190Here is an example where the @sc{gdb/mi} command does not exist:
35191
35192@smallexample
35193-info-gdb-mi-command unsupported-command
35194^done,command=@{exists="false"@}
35195@end smallexample
35196
35197@noindent
35198And here is an example where the @sc{gdb/mi} command is known
35199to the debugger:
35200
35201@smallexample
35202-info-gdb-mi-command symbol-list-lines
35203^done,command=@{exists="true"@}
35204@end smallexample
35205
35206@subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
35207@findex -list-features
35208@cindex supported @sc{gdb/mi} features, list
35209
35210Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
35211this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
35212or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
35213important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
35214of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
35215startup.
35216
35217The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
35218available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
35219have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
35220is given below.
35221
35222Example output:
35223
35224@smallexample
35225(gdb) -list-features
35226^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
35227@end smallexample
35228
35229The current list of features is:
35230
35231@ftable @samp
35232@item frozen-varobjs
35233Indicates support for the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
35234as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
35235of @code{-varobj-create}.
35236@item pending-breakpoints
35237Indicates support for the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert}
35238command.
35239@item python
35240Indicates Python scripting support, Python-based
35241pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
35242@samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
35243@item thread-info
35244Indicates support for the @code{-thread-info} command.
35245@item data-read-memory-bytes
35246Indicates support for the @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} and the
35247@code{-data-write-memory-bytes} commands.
35248@item breakpoint-notifications
35249Indicates that changes to breakpoints and breakpoints created via the
35250CLI will be announced via async records.
35251@item ada-task-info
35252Indicates support for the @code{-ada-task-info} command.
35253@item language-option
35254Indicates that all @sc{gdb/mi} commands accept the @option{--language}
35255option (@pxref{Context management}).
35256@item info-gdb-mi-command
35257Indicates support for the @code{-info-gdb-mi-command} command.
35258@item undefined-command-error-code
35259Indicates support for the "undefined-command" error code in error result
35260records, produced when trying to execute an undefined @sc{gdb/mi} command
35261(@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}).
35262@item exec-run-start-option
35263Indicates that the @code{-exec-run} command supports the @option{--start}
35264option (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}).
35265@end ftable
35266
35267@subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
35268@findex -list-target-features
35269
35270Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
35271target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
35272unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
35273features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
35274a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
35275@code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
35276may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
35277Example output:
35278
35279@smallexample
35280(gdb) -list-target-features
35281^done,result=["async"]
35282@end smallexample
35283
35284The current list of features is:
35285
35286@table @samp
35287@item async
35288Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
35289execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
35290while the target is running.
35291
35292@item reverse
35293Indicates that the target is capable of reverse execution.
35294@xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
35295
35296@end table
35297
35298@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
35299@node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
35300@section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
35301
35302@c @subheading -gdb-complete
35303
35304@subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
35305@findex -gdb-exit
35306
35307@subsubheading Synopsis
35308
35309@smallexample
35310 -gdb-exit
35311@end smallexample
35312
35313Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
35314
35315@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
35316
35317Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
35318
35319@subsubheading Example
35320
35321@smallexample
35322(gdb)
35323-gdb-exit
35324^exit
35325@end smallexample
35326
35327
35328@ignore
35329@subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
35330@findex -exec-abort
35331
35332@subsubheading Synopsis
35333
35334@smallexample
35335 -exec-abort
35336@end smallexample
35337
35338Kill the inferior running program.
35339
35340@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
35341
35342The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
35343
35344@subsubheading Example
35345N.A.
35346@end ignore
35347
35348
35349@subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
35350@findex -gdb-set
35351
35352@subsubheading Synopsis
35353
35354@smallexample
35355 -gdb-set
35356@end smallexample
35357
35358Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
35359@c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
35360
35361@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
35362
35363The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
35364
35365@subsubheading Example
35366
35367@smallexample
35368(gdb)
35369-gdb-set $foo=3
35370^done
35371(gdb)
35372@end smallexample
35373
35374
35375@subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
35376@findex -gdb-show
35377
35378@subsubheading Synopsis
35379
35380@smallexample
35381 -gdb-show
35382@end smallexample
35383
35384Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
35385
35386@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
35387
35388The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
35389
35390@subsubheading Example
35391
35392@smallexample
35393(gdb)
35394-gdb-show annotate
35395^done,value="0"
35396(gdb)
35397@end smallexample
35398
35399@c @subheading -gdb-source
35400
35401
35402@subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
35403@findex -gdb-version
35404
35405@subsubheading Synopsis
35406
35407@smallexample
35408 -gdb-version
35409@end smallexample
35410
35411Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
35412
35413@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
35414
35415The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
35416default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
35417
35418@subsubheading Example
35419
35420@c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
35421@c box in TeX.
35422@smallexample
35423(gdb)
35424-gdb-version
35425~GNU gdb 5.2.1
35426~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
35427~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
35428~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
35429~ certain conditions.
35430~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
35431~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
35432~ details.
35433~This GDB was configured as
35434 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
35435^done
35436(gdb)
35437@end smallexample
35438
35439@subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
35440@findex -list-thread-groups
35441
35442@subheading Synopsis
35443
35444@smallexample
35445-list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
35446@end smallexample
35447
35448Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
35449group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
35450When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
35451thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
35452top-level thread groups.
35453
35454Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
35455With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
35456available on the target.
35457
35458The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
35459a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
35460as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
35461Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
35462each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
35463requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
35464are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
35465of the @samp{group} result is described below.
35466
35467To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
35468together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
35469and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
35470permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
35471will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
35472@samp{threads} field.
35473
35474In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
35475the following caveats:
35476
35477@itemize @bullet
35478@item
35479When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
35480be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
35481anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
35482
35483@item
35484When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
35485be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
35486be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
35487not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
35488The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
35489is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
35490
35491@end itemize
35492
35493The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
35494have the following fields:
35495
35496@table @code
35497@item id
35498Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
35499The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
35500convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
35501
35502@item type
35503The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
35504valid type.
35505
35506@item pid
35507The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
35508for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
35509
35510@item num_children
35511The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
35512absent for an available thread group.
35513
35514@item threads
35515This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
35516thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
35517specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
35518
35519@item cores
35520This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
35521thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
35522such information is not available.
35523
35524@item executable
35525The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
35526The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
35527and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
35528
35529@end table
35530
35531@subheading Example
35532
35533@smallexample
35534@value{GDBP}
35535-list-thread-groups
35536^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
35537-list-thread-groups 17
35538^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
35539 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
35540@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
35541 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
35542 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
35543-list-thread-groups --available
35544^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
35545-list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
35546 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
35547 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
35548 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
35549-list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
35550^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
35551 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
35552 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
35553@end smallexample
35554
35555@subheading The @code{-info-os} Command
35556@findex -info-os
35557
35558@subsubheading Synopsis
35559
35560@smallexample
35561-info-os [ @var{type} ]
35562@end smallexample
35563
35564If no argument is supplied, the command returns a table of available
35565operating-system-specific information types. If one of these types is
35566supplied as an argument @var{type}, then the command returns a table
35567of data of that type.
35568
35569The types of information available depend on the target operating
35570system.
35571
35572@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
35573
35574The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info os}.
35575
35576@subsubheading Example
35577
35578When run on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, the output will look something
35579like this:
35580
35581@smallexample
35582@value{GDBP}
35583-info-os
35584^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="9",nr_cols="3",
35585hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="Type"@},
35586 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="Description"@},
35587 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="Title"@}],
35588body=[item=@{col0="processes",col1="Listing of all processes",
35589 col2="Processes"@},
35590 item=@{col0="procgroups",col1="Listing of all process groups",
35591 col2="Process groups"@},
35592 item=@{col0="threads",col1="Listing of all threads",
35593 col2="Threads"@},
35594 item=@{col0="files",col1="Listing of all file descriptors",
35595 col2="File descriptors"@},
35596 item=@{col0="sockets",col1="Listing of all internet-domain sockets",
35597 col2="Sockets"@},
35598 item=@{col0="shm",col1="Listing of all shared-memory regions",
35599 col2="Shared-memory regions"@},
35600 item=@{col0="semaphores",col1="Listing of all semaphores",
35601 col2="Semaphores"@},
35602 item=@{col0="msg",col1="Listing of all message queues",
35603 col2="Message queues"@},
35604 item=@{col0="modules",col1="Listing of all loaded kernel modules",
35605 col2="Kernel modules"@}]@}
35606@value{GDBP}
35607-info-os processes
35608^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="190",nr_cols="4",
35609hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="pid"@},
35610 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="user"@},
35611 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="command"@},
35612 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col3",colhdr="cores"@}],
35613body=[item=@{col0="1",col1="root",col2="/sbin/init",col3="0"@},
35614 item=@{col0="2",col1="root",col2="[kthreadd]",col3="1"@},
35615 item=@{col0="3",col1="root",col2="[ksoftirqd/0]",col3="0"@},
35616 ...
35617 item=@{col0="26446",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="0"@},
35618 item=@{col0="28152",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="1"@}]@}
35619(gdb)
35620@end smallexample
35621
35622(Note that the MI output here includes a @code{"Title"} column that
35623does not appear in command-line @code{info os}; this column is useful
35624for MI clients that want to enumerate the types of data, such as in a
35625popup menu, but is needless clutter on the command line, and
35626@code{info os} omits it.)
35627
35628@subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
35629@findex -add-inferior
35630
35631@subheading Synopsis
35632
35633@smallexample
35634-add-inferior
35635@end smallexample
35636
35637Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
35638inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
35639be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
35640(@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
35641field, @samp{inferior}, whose value is the identifier of the
35642thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
35643
35644@subheading Example
35645
35646@smallexample
35647@value{GDBP}
35648-add-inferior
35649^done,inferior="i3"
35650@end smallexample
35651
35652@subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
35653@findex -interpreter-exec
35654
35655@subheading Synopsis
35656
35657@smallexample
35658-interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
35659@end smallexample
35660@anchor{-interpreter-exec}
35661
35662Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
35663
35664@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
35665
35666The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
35667
35668@subheading Example
35669
35670@smallexample
35671(gdb)
35672-interpreter-exec console "break main"
35673&"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
35674&"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
35675~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
35676^done
35677(gdb)
35678@end smallexample
35679
35680@subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
35681@findex -inferior-tty-set
35682
35683@subheading Synopsis
35684
35685@smallexample
35686-inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
35687@end smallexample
35688
35689Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
35690
35691@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
35692
35693The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
35694
35695@subheading Example
35696
35697@smallexample
35698(gdb)
35699-inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
35700^done
35701(gdb)
35702@end smallexample
35703
35704@subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
35705@findex -inferior-tty-show
35706
35707@subheading Synopsis
35708
35709@smallexample
35710-inferior-tty-show
35711@end smallexample
35712
35713Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
35714
35715@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
35716
35717The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
35718
35719@subheading Example
35720
35721@smallexample
35722(gdb)
35723-inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
35724^done
35725(gdb)
35726-inferior-tty-show
35727^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
35728(gdb)
35729@end smallexample
35730
35731@subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
35732@findex -enable-timings
35733
35734@subheading Synopsis
35735
35736@smallexample
35737-enable-timings [yes | no]
35738@end smallexample
35739
35740Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
35741command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
35742developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
35743equivalent to @samp{yes}.
35744
35745@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
35746
35747No equivalent.
35748
35749@subheading Example
35750
35751@smallexample
35752(gdb)
35753-enable-timings
35754^done
35755(gdb)
35756-break-insert main
35757^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
35758addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
35759fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",thread-groups=["i1"],
35760times="0"@},
35761time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
35762(gdb)
35763-enable-timings no
35764^done
35765(gdb)
35766-exec-run
35767^running
35768(gdb)
35769*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
35770frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
35771@{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
35772fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
35773(gdb)
35774@end smallexample
35775
35776@node Annotations
35777@chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
35778
35779This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
35780designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
35781similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
35782relatively high level.
35783
35784The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
35785(@pxref{GDB/MI}).
35786
35787@ignore
35788This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
35789@end ignore
35790
35791@menu
35792* Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
35793* Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
35794* Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
35795* Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
35796* Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
35797* Annotations for Running::
35798 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
35799* Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
35800@end menu
35801
35802@node Annotations Overview
35803@section What is an Annotation?
35804@cindex annotations
35805
35806Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
35807characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
35808information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
35809is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
35810information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
35811additional information, and a newline. The additional information
35812cannot contain newline characters.
35813
35814Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
35815characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
35816no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
35817@samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
35818annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
35819means those three characters as output.
35820
35821The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
35822@option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
35823how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
35824values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
35825is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
35826subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
35827for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
35828been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
35829Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
35830
35831@table @code
35832@kindex set annotate
35833@item set annotate @var{level}
35834The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
35835annotations to the specified @var{level}.
35836
35837@item show annotate
35838@kindex show annotate
35839Show the current annotation level.
35840@end table
35841
35842This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
35843
35844A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
35845
35846@smallexample
35847$ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
35848GNU gdb 6.0
35849Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
35850GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
35851and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
35852under certain conditions.
35853Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
35854There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
35855for details.
35856This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
35857
35858^Z^Zpre-prompt
35859(@value{GDBP})
35860^Z^Zprompt
35861@kbd{quit}
35862
35863^Z^Zpost-prompt
35864$
35865@end smallexample
35866
35867Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
35868@value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
35869denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
35870output from @value{GDBN}.
35871
35872@node Server Prefix
35873@section The Server Prefix
35874@cindex server prefix
35875
35876If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
35877the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
35878command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
35879means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
35880a transparent manner.
35881
35882The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
35883the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
35884value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
35885@code{print} command.
35886
35887Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
35888(@pxref{confirmation requests}).
35889
35890@node Prompting
35891@section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
35892
35893@cindex annotations for prompts
35894When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
35895to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
35896over, etc.
35897
35898Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
35899input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
35900denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
35901annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
35902annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
35903associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
35904features the following annotations:
35905
35906@smallexample
35907^Z^Zpre-prompt
35908^Z^Zprompt
35909^Z^Zpost-prompt
35910@end smallexample
35911
35912The input types are
35913
35914@table @code
35915@findex pre-prompt annotation
35916@findex prompt annotation
35917@findex post-prompt annotation
35918@item prompt
35919When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
35920
35921@findex pre-commands annotation
35922@findex commands annotation
35923@findex post-commands annotation
35924@item commands
35925When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
35926command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
35927
35928@findex pre-overload-choice annotation
35929@findex overload-choice annotation
35930@findex post-overload-choice annotation
35931@item overload-choice
35932When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
35933
35934@findex pre-query annotation
35935@findex query annotation
35936@findex post-query annotation
35937@item query
35938When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
35939
35940@findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
35941@findex prompt-for-continue annotation
35942@findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
35943@item prompt-for-continue
35944When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
35945expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
35946prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
35947presence of annotations.
35948@end table
35949
35950@node Errors
35951@section Errors
35952@cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
35953
35954@findex quit annotation
35955@smallexample
35956^Z^Zquit
35957@end smallexample
35958
35959This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
35960
35961@findex error annotation
35962@smallexample
35963^Z^Zerror
35964@end smallexample
35965
35966This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
35967
35968Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
35969in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
35970@code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
35971cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
35972cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
35973does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
35974to the top level.
35975
35976@findex error-begin annotation
35977A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
35978
35979@smallexample
35980^Z^Zerror-begin
35981@end smallexample
35982
35983Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
35984message.
35985
35986Warning messages are not yet annotated.
35987@c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
35988@c range_error(), and possibly other places.
35989
35990@node Invalidation
35991@section Invalidation Notices
35992
35993@cindex annotations for invalidation messages
35994The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
35995changed.
35996
35997@table @code
35998@findex frames-invalid annotation
35999@item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
36000
36001The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
36002have changed.
36003
36004@findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
36005@item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
36006
36007The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
36008deleted a breakpoint.
36009@end table
36010
36011@node Annotations for Running
36012@section Running the Program
36013@cindex annotations for running programs
36014
36015@findex starting annotation
36016@findex stopping annotation
36017When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
36018@code{step} or @code{continue},
36019
36020@smallexample
36021^Z^Zstarting
36022@end smallexample
36023
36024is output. When the program stops,
36025
36026@smallexample
36027^Z^Zstopped
36028@end smallexample
36029
36030is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
36031annotations describe how the program stopped.
36032
36033@table @code
36034@findex exited annotation
36035@item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
36036The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
36037successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
36038
36039@findex signalled annotation
36040@findex signal-name annotation
36041@findex signal-name-end annotation
36042@findex signal-string annotation
36043@findex signal-string-end annotation
36044@item ^Z^Zsignalled
36045The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
36046annotation continues:
36047
36048@smallexample
36049@var{intro-text}
36050^Z^Zsignal-name
36051@var{name}
36052^Z^Zsignal-name-end
36053@var{middle-text}
36054^Z^Zsignal-string
36055@var{string}
36056^Z^Zsignal-string-end
36057@var{end-text}
36058@end smallexample
36059
36060@noindent
36061where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
36062@code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
36063as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
36064@var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
36065user's benefit and have no particular format.
36066
36067@findex signal annotation
36068@item ^Z^Zsignal
36069The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
36070just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
36071terminated with it.
36072
36073@findex breakpoint annotation
36074@item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
36075The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
36076
36077@findex watchpoint annotation
36078@item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
36079The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
36080@end table
36081
36082@node Source Annotations
36083@section Displaying Source
36084@cindex annotations for source display
36085
36086@findex source annotation
36087The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
36088
36089@smallexample
36090^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
36091@end smallexample
36092
36093where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
36094file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
36095first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
36096within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
36097debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
36098@var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
36099line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
36100@var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
36101source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
36102followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
36103depend on the language).
36104
36105@node JIT Interface
36106@chapter JIT Compilation Interface
36107@cindex just-in-time compilation
36108@cindex JIT compilation interface
36109
36110This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
36111interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
36112executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
36113performance while maintaining platform independence.
36114
36115Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
36116portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
36117object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
36118and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
36119@value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
36120symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
36121
36122If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
36123it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
36124you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
36125of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
36126LLVM JIT.
36127
36128Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
36129JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
36130variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
36131attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
36132find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
36133out about additional code.
36134
36135@menu
36136* Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
36137* Registering Code:: Steps to register code
36138* Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
36139* Custom Debug Info:: Emit debug information in a custom format
36140@end menu
36141
36142@node Declarations
36143@section JIT Declarations
36144
36145These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
36146implement the interface:
36147
36148@smallexample
36149typedef enum
36150@{
36151 JIT_NOACTION = 0,
36152 JIT_REGISTER_FN,
36153 JIT_UNREGISTER_FN
36154@} jit_actions_t;
36155
36156struct jit_code_entry
36157@{
36158 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
36159 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
36160 const char *symfile_addr;
36161 uint64_t symfile_size;
36162@};
36163
36164struct jit_descriptor
36165@{
36166 uint32_t version;
36167 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
36168 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
36169 uint32_t action_flag;
36170 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
36171 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
36172@};
36173
36174/* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
36175void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
36176
36177/* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
36178 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
36179struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
36180@end smallexample
36181
36182If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
36183modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
36184a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
36185
36186@node Registering Code
36187@section Registering Code
36188
36189To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
36190
36191@itemize @bullet
36192@item
36193Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
36194information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
36195
36196@item
36197Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
36198file.
36199
36200@item
36201Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
36202
36203@item
36204Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
36205
36206@item
36207Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
36208@code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
36209@end itemize
36210
36211When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
36212@code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
36213new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
36214@value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
36215
36216@node Unregistering Code
36217@section Unregistering Code
36218
36219If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
36220
36221@itemize @bullet
36222@item
36223Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
36224
36225@item
36226Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
36227
36228@item
36229Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
36230@code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
36231@end itemize
36232
36233If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
36234and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
36235
36236@node Custom Debug Info
36237@section Custom Debug Info
36238@cindex custom JIT debug info
36239@cindex JIT debug info reader
36240
36241Generating debug information in platform-native file formats (like ELF
36242or COFF) may be an overkill for JIT compilers; especially if all the
36243debug info is used for is displaying a meaningful backtrace. The
36244issue can be resolved by having the JIT writers decide on a debug info
36245format and also provide a reader that parses the debug info generated
36246by the JIT compiler. This section gives a brief overview on writing
36247such a parser. More specific details can be found in the source file
36248@file{gdb/jit-reader.in}, which is also installed as a header at
36249@file{@var{includedir}/gdb/jit-reader.h} for easy inclusion.
36250
36251The reader is implemented as a shared object (so this functionality is
36252not available on platforms which don't allow loading shared objects at
36253runtime). Two @value{GDBN} commands, @code{jit-reader-load} and
36254@code{jit-reader-unload} are provided, to be used to load and unload
36255the readers from a preconfigured directory. Once loaded, the shared
36256object is used the parse the debug information emitted by the JIT
36257compiler.
36258
36259@menu
36260* Using JIT Debug Info Readers:: How to use supplied readers correctly
36261* Writing JIT Debug Info Readers:: Creating a debug-info reader
36262@end menu
36263
36264@node Using JIT Debug Info Readers
36265@subsection Using JIT Debug Info Readers
36266@kindex jit-reader-load
36267@kindex jit-reader-unload
36268
36269Readers can be loaded and unloaded using the @code{jit-reader-load}
36270and @code{jit-reader-unload} commands.
36271
36272@table @code
36273@item jit-reader-load @var{reader}
36274Load the JIT reader named @var{reader}. @var{reader} is a shared
36275object specified as either an absolute or a relative file name. In
36276the latter case, @value{GDBN} will try to load the reader from a
36277pre-configured directory, usually @file{@var{libdir}/gdb/} on a UNIX
36278system (here @var{libdir} is the system library directory, often
36279@file{/usr/local/lib}).
36280
36281Only one reader can be active at a time; trying to load a second
36282reader when one is already loaded will result in @value{GDBN}
36283reporting an error. A new JIT reader can be loaded by first unloading
36284the current one using @code{jit-reader-unload} and then invoking
36285@code{jit-reader-load}.
36286
36287@item jit-reader-unload
36288Unload the currently loaded JIT reader.
36289
36290@end table
36291
36292@node Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
36293@subsection Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
36294@cindex writing JIT debug info readers
36295
36296As mentioned, a reader is essentially a shared object conforming to a
36297certain ABI. This ABI is described in @file{jit-reader.h}.
36298
36299@file{jit-reader.h} defines the structures, macros and functions
36300required to write a reader. It is installed (along with
36301@value{GDBN}), in @file{@var{includedir}/gdb} where @var{includedir} is
36302the system include directory.
36303
36304Readers need to be released under a GPL compatible license. A reader
36305can be declared as released under such a license by placing the macro
36306@code{GDB_DECLARE_GPL_COMPATIBLE_READER} in a source file.
36307
36308The entry point for readers is the symbol @code{gdb_init_reader},
36309which is expected to be a function with the prototype
36310
36311@findex gdb_init_reader
36312@smallexample
36313extern struct gdb_reader_funcs *gdb_init_reader (void);
36314@end smallexample
36315
36316@cindex @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs}
36317
36318@code{struct gdb_reader_funcs} contains a set of pointers to callback
36319functions. These functions are executed to read the debug info
36320generated by the JIT compiler (@code{read}), to unwind stack frames
36321(@code{unwind}) and to create canonical frame IDs
36322(@code{get_Frame_id}). It also has a callback that is called when the
36323reader is being unloaded (@code{destroy}). The struct looks like this
36324
36325@smallexample
36326struct gdb_reader_funcs
36327@{
36328 /* Must be set to GDB_READER_INTERFACE_VERSION. */
36329 int reader_version;
36330
36331 /* For use by the reader. */
36332 void *priv_data;
36333
36334 gdb_read_debug_info *read;
36335 gdb_unwind_frame *unwind;
36336 gdb_get_frame_id *get_frame_id;
36337 gdb_destroy_reader *destroy;
36338@};
36339@end smallexample
36340
36341@cindex @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks}
36342@cindex @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}
36343
36344The callbacks are provided with another set of callbacks by
36345@value{GDBN} to do their job. For @code{read}, these callbacks are
36346passed in a @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} and for @code{unwind}
36347and @code{get_frame_id}, in a @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}.
36348@code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} has callbacks to create new object
36349files and new symbol tables inside those object files. @code{struct
36350gdb_unwind_callbacks} has callbacks to read registers off the current
36351frame and to write out the values of the registers in the previous
36352frame. Both have a callback (@code{target_read}) to read bytes off the
36353target's address space.
36354
36355@node In-Process Agent
36356@chapter In-Process Agent
36357@cindex debugging agent
36358The traditional debugging model is conceptually low-speed, but works fine,
36359because most bugs can be reproduced in debugging-mode execution. However,
36360as multi-core or many-core processors are becoming mainstream, and
36361multi-threaded programs become more and more popular, there should be more
36362and more bugs that only manifest themselves at normal-mode execution, for
36363example, thread races, because debugger's interference with the program's
36364timing may conceal the bugs. On the other hand, in some applications,
36365it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt the program's execution
36366long enough for the developer to learn anything helpful about its behavior.
36367If the program's correctness depends on its real-time behavior, delays
36368introduced by a debugger might cause the program to fail, even when the
36369code itself is correct. It is useful to be able to observe the program's
36370behavior without interrupting it.
36371
36372Therefore, traditional debugging model is too intrusive to reproduce
36373some bugs. In order to reduce the interference with the program, we can
36374reduce the number of operations performed by debugger. The
36375@dfn{In-Process Agent}, a shared library, is running within the same
36376process with inferior, and is able to perform some debugging operations
36377itself. As a result, debugger is only involved when necessary, and
36378performance of debugging can be improved accordingly. Note that
36379interference with program can be reduced but can't be removed completely,
36380because the in-process agent will still stop or slow down the program.
36381
36382The in-process agent can interpret and execute Agent Expressions
36383(@pxref{Agent Expressions}) during performing debugging operations. The
36384agent expressions can be used for different purposes, such as collecting
36385data in tracepoints, and condition evaluation in breakpoints.
36386
36387@anchor{Control Agent}
36388You can control whether the in-process agent is used as an aid for
36389debugging with the following commands:
36390
36391@table @code
36392@kindex set agent on
36393@item set agent on
36394Causes the in-process agent to perform some operations on behalf of the
36395debugger. Just which operations requested by the user will be done
36396by the in-process agent depends on the its capabilities. For example,
36397if you request to evaluate breakpoint conditions in the in-process agent,
36398and the in-process agent has such capability as well, then breakpoint
36399conditions will be evaluated in the in-process agent.
36400
36401@kindex set agent off
36402@item set agent off
36403Disables execution of debugging operations by the in-process agent. All
36404of the operations will be performed by @value{GDBN}.
36405
36406@kindex show agent
36407@item show agent
36408Display the current setting of execution of debugging operations by
36409the in-process agent.
36410@end table
36411
36412@menu
36413* In-Process Agent Protocol::
36414@end menu
36415
36416@node In-Process Agent Protocol
36417@section In-Process Agent Protocol
36418@cindex in-process agent protocol
36419
36420The in-process agent is able to communicate with both @value{GDBN} and
36421GDBserver (@pxref{In-Process Agent}). This section documents the protocol
36422used for communications between @value{GDBN} or GDBserver and the IPA.
36423In general, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver sends commands
36424(@pxref{IPA Protocol Commands}) and data to in-process agent, and then
36425in-process agent replies back with the return result of the command, or
36426some other information. The data sent to in-process agent is composed
36427of primitive data types, such as 4-byte or 8-byte type, and composite
36428types, which are called objects (@pxref{IPA Protocol Objects}).
36429
36430@menu
36431* IPA Protocol Objects::
36432* IPA Protocol Commands::
36433@end menu
36434
36435@node IPA Protocol Objects
36436@subsection IPA Protocol Objects
36437@cindex ipa protocol objects
36438
36439The commands sent to and results received from agent may contain some
36440complex data types called @dfn{objects}.
36441
36442The in-process agent is running on the same machine with @value{GDBN}
36443or GDBserver, so it doesn't have to handle as much differences between
36444two ends as remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}) tries to handle.
36445However, there are still some differences of two ends in two processes:
36446
36447@enumerate
36448@item
36449word size. On some 64-bit machines, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver can be
36450compiled as a 64-bit executable, while in-process agent is a 32-bit one.
36451@item
36452ABI. Some machines may have multiple types of ABI, @value{GDBN} or
36453GDBserver is compiled with one, and in-process agent is compiled with
36454the other one.
36455@end enumerate
36456
36457Here are the IPA Protocol Objects:
36458
36459@enumerate
36460@item
36461agent expression object. It represents an agent expression
36462(@pxref{Agent Expressions}).
36463@anchor{agent expression object}
36464@item
36465tracepoint action object. It represents a tracepoint action
36466(@pxref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}) to collect registers,
36467memory, static trace data and to evaluate expression.
36468@anchor{tracepoint action object}
36469@item
36470tracepoint object. It represents a tracepoint (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
36471@anchor{tracepoint object}
36472
36473@end enumerate
36474
36475The following table describes important attributes of each IPA protocol
36476object:
36477
36478@multitable @columnfractions .30 .20 .50
36479@headitem Name @tab Size @tab Description
36480@item @emph{agent expression object} @tab @tab
36481@item length @tab 4 @tab length of bytes code
36482@item byte code @tab @var{length} @tab contents of byte code
36483@item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting memory} @tab @tab
36484@item 'M' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
36485@item addr @tab 8 @tab if @var{basereg} is @samp{-1}, @var{addr} is the
36486address of the lowest byte to collect, otherwise @var{addr} is the offset
36487of @var{basereg} for memory collecting.
36488@item len @tab 8 @tab length of memory for collecting
36489@item basereg @tab 4 @tab the register number containing the starting
36490memory address for collecting.
36491@item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting registers} @tab @tab
36492@item 'R' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
36493@item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting static trace data} @tab @tab
36494@item 'L' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
36495@item @emph{tracepoint action for expression evaluation} @tab @tab
36496@item 'X' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
36497@item agent expression @tab length of @tab @ref{agent expression object}
36498@item @emph{tracepoint object} @tab @tab
36499@item number @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint
36500@item address @tab 8 @tab address of tracepoint inserted on
36501@item type @tab 4 @tab type of tracepoint
36502@item enabled @tab 1 @tab enable or disable of tracepoint
36503@item step_count @tab 8 @tab step
36504@item pass_count @tab 8 @tab pass
36505@item numactions @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint actions
36506@item hit count @tab 8 @tab hit count
36507@item trace frame usage @tab 8 @tab trace frame usage
36508@item compiled_cond @tab 8 @tab compiled condition
36509@item orig_size @tab 8 @tab orig size
36510@item condition @tab 4 if condition is NULL otherwise length of
36511@ref{agent expression object}
36512@tab zero if condition is NULL, otherwise is
36513@ref{agent expression object}
36514@item actions @tab variable
36515@tab numactions number of @ref{tracepoint action object}
36516@end multitable
36517
36518@node IPA Protocol Commands
36519@subsection IPA Protocol Commands
36520@cindex ipa protocol commands
36521
36522The spaces in each command are delimiters to ease reading this commands
36523specification. They don't exist in real commands.
36524
36525@table @samp
36526
36527@item FastTrace:@var{tracepoint_object} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}
36528Installs a new fast tracepoint described by @var{tracepoint_object}
36529(@pxref{tracepoint object}). @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}, 8-byte long, is the
36530head of @dfn{jumppad}, which is used to jump to data collection routine
36531in IPA finally.
36532
36533Replies:
36534@table @samp
36535@item OK @var{target_address} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} @var{fjump_size} @var{fjump}
36536@var{target_address} is address of tracepoint in the inferior.
36537@var{gdb_jump_pad_head} is updated head of jumppad. Both of
36538@var{target_address} and @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} are 8-byte long.
36539@var{fjump} contains a sequence of instructions jump to jumppad entry.
36540@var{fjump_size}, 4-byte long, is the size of @var{fjump}.
36541@item E @var{NN}
36542for an error
36543
36544@end table
36545
36546@item close
36547Closes the in-process agent. This command is sent when @value{GDBN} or GDBserver
36548is about to kill inferiors.
36549
36550@item qTfSTM
36551@xref{qTfSTM}.
36552@item qTsSTM
36553@xref{qTsSTM}.
36554@item qTSTMat
36555@xref{qTSTMat}.
36556@item probe_marker_at:@var{address}
36557Asks in-process agent to probe the marker at @var{address}.
36558
36559Replies:
36560@table @samp
36561@item E @var{NN}
36562for an error
36563@end table
36564@item unprobe_marker_at:@var{address}
36565Asks in-process agent to unprobe the marker at @var{address}.
36566@end table
36567
36568@node GDB Bugs
36569@chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
36570@cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
36571@cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
36572
36573Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
36574
36575Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
36576may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
36577the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
36578reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
36579
36580In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
36581information that enables us to fix the bug.
36582
36583@menu
36584* Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
36585* Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
36586@end menu
36587
36588@node Bug Criteria
36589@section Have You Found a Bug?
36590@cindex bug criteria
36591
36592If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
36593
36594@itemize @bullet
36595@cindex fatal signal
36596@cindex debugger crash
36597@cindex crash of debugger
36598@item
36599If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
36600@value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
36601
36602@cindex error on valid input
36603@item
36604If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
36605bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
36606somewhere in the connection to the target.)
36607
36608@cindex invalid input
36609@item
36610If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
36611that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
36612``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
36613for traditional practice''.
36614
36615@item
36616If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
36617for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
36618@end itemize
36619
36620@node Bug Reporting
36621@section How to Report Bugs
36622@cindex bug reports
36623@cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
36624
36625A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
36626If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
36627contact that organization first.
36628
36629You can find contact information for many support companies and
36630individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
36631distribution.
36632@c should add a web page ref...
36633
36634@ifset BUGURL
36635@ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
36636In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
36637@value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
36638@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
36639page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
36640be used.
36641
36642@strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
36643@samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
36644not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
36645@samp{bug-gdb}.
36646
36647The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
36648serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
36649the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
36650newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
36651problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
36652path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
36653we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
36654bug reports to the mailing list.
36655@end ifset
36656@ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
36657In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
36658@value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
36659@end ifclear
36660@end ifset
36661
36662The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
36663@strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
36664fact or leave it out, state it!
36665
36666Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
36667problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
36668assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
36669Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
36670stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
36671name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
36672of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
36673the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
36674easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
36675
36676Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
36677bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
36678you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
36679self-contained.
36680
36681Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
36682bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
36683@emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
36684bugs properly.
36685
36686To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
36687
36688@itemize @bullet
36689@item
36690The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
36691with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
36692version}.
36693
36694Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
36695the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
36696
36697@item
36698The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
36699version number.
36700
36701@item
36702The details of the @value{GDBN} build-time configuration.
36703@value{GDBN} shows these details if you invoke it with the
36704@option{--configuration} command-line option, or if you type
36705@code{show configuration} at @value{GDBN}'s prompt.
36706
36707@item
36708What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
36709``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
36710
36711@item
36712What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
36713debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
36714C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
36715to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
36716those compilers.
36717
36718@item
36719The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
36720observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
36721you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
36722Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
36723
36724If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
36725and then we might not encounter the bug.
36726
36727@item
36728A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
36729reproduce the bug.
36730
36731@item
36732A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
36733incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
36734
36735Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
36736will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
36737not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
36738a chance to make a mistake.
36739
36740Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
36741say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
36742copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
36743the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
36744crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
36745ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
36746us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
36747to draw any conclusion from our observations.
36748
36749@pindex script
36750@cindex recording a session script
36751To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
36752such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
36753Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
36754include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
36755
36756Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
36757inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
36758
36759@item
36760If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
36761diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
36762it by context, not by line number.
36763
36764The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
36765sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
36766
36767@end itemize
36768
36769Here are some things that are not necessary:
36770
36771@itemize @bullet
36772@item
36773A description of the envelope of the bug.
36774
36775Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
36776which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
36777changes will not affect it.
36778
36779This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
36780will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
36781with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
36782We recommend that you save your time for something else.
36783
36784Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
36785of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
36786output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
36787less time, and so on.
36788
36789However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
36790report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
36791
36792@item
36793A patch for the bug.
36794
36795A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
36796the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
36797a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
36798to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
36799
36800Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
36801construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
36802through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
36803to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
36804
36805And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
36806patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
36807help us to understand.
36808
36809@item
36810A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
36811
36812Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
36813things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
36814@end itemize
36815
36816@c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
36817@c and consists of the two following files:
36818@c rluser.texi
36819@c hsuser.texi
36820@c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
36821@c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
36822@ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
36823@include rluser.texi
36824@include hsuser.texi
36825@end ifclear
36826
36827@node In Memoriam
36828@appendix In Memoriam
36829
36830The @value{GDBN} project mourns the loss of the following long-time
36831contributors:
36832
36833@table @code
36834@item Fred Fish
36835Fred was a long-standing contributor to @value{GDBN} (1991-2006), and
36836to Free Software in general. Outside of @value{GDBN}, he was known in
36837the Amiga world for his series of Fish Disks, and the GeekGadget project.
36838
36839@item Michael Snyder
36840Michael was one of the Global Maintainers of the @value{GDBN} project,
36841with contributions recorded as early as 1996, until 2011. In addition
36842to his day to day participation, he was a large driving force behind
36843adding Reverse Debugging to @value{GDBN}.
36844@end table
36845
36846Beyond their technical contributions to the project, they were also
36847enjoyable members of the Free Software Community. We will miss them.
36848
36849@node Formatting Documentation
36850@appendix Formatting Documentation
36851
36852@cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
36853@cindex reference card
36854The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
36855for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
36856subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
36857@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
36858release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
36859you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
36860
36861The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
36862can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
36863
36864@smallexample
36865make refcard.dvi
36866@end smallexample
36867
36868The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
36869mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
36870that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
36871high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
36872your @sc{dvi} output program.
36873
36874@cindex documentation
36875
36876All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
36877distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
36878a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
36879on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
36880formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
36881and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
36882
36883@value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
36884version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
36885file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
36886subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
36887necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
36888but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
36889Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
36890@sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
36891
36892If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
36893Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
36894@code{makeinfo}.
36895
36896If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
36897@value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
36898version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
36899
36900@smallexample
36901cd gdb
36902make gdb.info
36903@end smallexample
36904
36905If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
36906a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
36907Texinfo definitions file.
36908
36909@TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
36910produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
36911document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
36912has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
36913command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
36914(for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
36915require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
36916
36917@TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
36918@file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
36919written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
36920typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
36921and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
36922directory.
36923
36924If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
36925typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
36926subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
36927@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
36928
36929@smallexample
36930make gdb.dvi
36931@end smallexample
36932
36933Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
36934
36935@node Installing GDB
36936@appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
36937@cindex installation
36938
36939@menu
36940* Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
36941* Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
36942* Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
36943* Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
36944* Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
36945* System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
36946@end menu
36947
36948@node Requirements
36949@section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
36950@cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
36951
36952Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
36953Other packages will be used only if they are found.
36954
36955@heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
36956@table @asis
36957@item ISO C90 compiler
36958@value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
36959working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
36960
36961@end table
36962
36963@heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
36964@table @asis
36965@item Expat
36966@anchor{Expat}
36967@value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
36968included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
36969can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
36970The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
36971standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
36972use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
36973
36974Expat is used for:
36975
36976@itemize @bullet
36977@item
36978Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
36979@item
36980Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
36981@item
36982Remote shared library lists (@xref{Library List Format},
36983or alternatively @pxref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets})
36984@item
36985MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
36986@item
36987Traceframe info (@pxref{Traceframe Info Format})
36988@item
36989Branch trace (@pxref{Branch Trace Format})
36990@end itemize
36991
36992@item zlib
36993@cindex compressed debug sections
36994@value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
36995compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
36996of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
36997is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
36998information in such binaries.
36999
37000The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
37001distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
37002@url{http://zlib.net}.
37003
37004@item iconv
37005@value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
37006Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
37007on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
37008other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
37009
37010If @value{GDBN} is using the @code{iconv} program which is installed
37011in a non-standard place, you will need to tell @value{GDBN} where to find it.
37012This is done with @option{--with-iconv-bin} which specifies the
37013directory that contains the @code{iconv} program.
37014
37015On systems without @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
37016have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
37017@option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
37018
37019@value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
37020arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
37021in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
37022if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
37023implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
37024by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
37025Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
37026Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
37027@end table
37028
37029@node Running Configure
37030@section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
37031@cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
37032@value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
37033of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
37034build the @code{gdb} program.
37035@iftex
37036@c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
37037@footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
37038look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
37039installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
37040@end iftex
37041
37042The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
37043@value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
37044appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
37045
37046For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
37047@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
37048
37049@table @code
37050@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
37051script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
37052
37053@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
37054the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
37055
37056@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
37057source for the Binary File Descriptor library
37058
37059@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
37060@sc{gnu} include files
37061
37062@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
37063source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
37064
37065@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
37066source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
37067
37068@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
37069source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
37070
37071@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
37072source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
37073
37074@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
37075source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
37076@end table
37077
37078The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
37079from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
37080this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
37081
37082First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
37083if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
37084identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
37085argument.
37086
37087For example:
37088
37089@smallexample
37090cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
37091./configure @var{host}
37092make
37093@end smallexample
37094
37095@noindent
37096where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
37097@samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
37098(You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
37099correct value by examining your system.)
37100
37101Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
37102@file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
37103libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
37104binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
37105
37106@need 750
37107@file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
37108system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
37109shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
37110
37111@smallexample
37112sh configure @var{host}
37113@end smallexample
37114
37115If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
37116directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
37117@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
37118@file{configure}
37119creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
37120you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
37121
37122You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
37123source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
37124@file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
37125that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
37126if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
37127of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
37128configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
37129directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
37130about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
37131
37132You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
37133However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
37134the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
37135that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
37136let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
37137
37138@node Separate Objdir
37139@section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
37140
37141If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
37142you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
37143host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
37144allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
37145rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
37146handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
37147@code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
37148program specified there.
37149
37150To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
37151with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
37152(You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
37153itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
37154would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
37155the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
37156
37157For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
37158separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
37159
37160@smallexample
37161@group
37162cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
37163mkdir ../gdb-sun4
37164cd ../gdb-sun4
37165../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
37166make
37167@end group
37168@end smallexample
37169
37170When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
37171directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
37172(and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
37173the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
37174directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
37175@file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
37176
37177Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
37178instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
37179like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
37180one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
37181build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
37182
37183One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
37184directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
37185@value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
37186programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
37187You specify a cross-debugging target by
37188giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
37189
37190When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
37191it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
37192called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
37193
37194The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
37195directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
37196directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
37197directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
37198will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
37199
37200When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
37201directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
37202if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
37203with each other.
37204
37205@node Config Names
37206@section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
37207
37208The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
37209script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
37210aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
37211of information in the following pattern:
37212
37213@smallexample
37214@var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
37215@end smallexample
37216
37217For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
37218or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
37219option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
37220
37221The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
37222any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
37223aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
37224@code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
37225script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
37226abbreviations---for example:
37227
37228@smallexample
37229% sh config.sub i386-linux
37230i386-pc-linux-gnu
37231% sh config.sub alpha-linux
37232alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
37233% sh config.sub hp9k700
37234hppa1.1-hp-hpux
37235% sh config.sub sun4
37236sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
37237% sh config.sub sun3
37238m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
37239% sh config.sub i986v
37240Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
37241@end smallexample
37242
37243@noindent
37244@code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
37245directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
37246
37247@node Configure Options
37248@section @file{configure} Options
37249
37250Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
37251are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
37252several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
37253Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
37254
37255@smallexample
37256configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
37257 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
37258 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
37259 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
37260 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
37261 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
37262 @var{host}
37263@end smallexample
37264
37265@noindent
37266You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
37267@samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
37268@samp{--}.
37269
37270@table @code
37271@item --help
37272Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
37273
37274@item --prefix=@var{dir}
37275Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
37276@file{@var{dir}}.
37277
37278@item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
37279Configure the source to install programs under directory
37280@file{@var{dir}}.
37281
37282@c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
37283@need 2000
37284@item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
37285@strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
37286@code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
37287Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
37288@value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
37289build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
37290directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
37291the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
37292directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
37293the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
37294@var{dirname}.
37295
37296@item --norecursion
37297Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
37298propagate configuration to subdirectories.
37299
37300@item --target=@var{target}
37301Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
37302@var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
37303programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
37304
37305There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
37306
37307@item @var{host} @dots{}
37308Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
37309
37310There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
37311@end table
37312
37313There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
37314needed for special purposes only.
37315
37316@node System-wide configuration
37317@section System-wide configuration and settings
37318@cindex system-wide init file
37319
37320@value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
37321this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
37322@value{GDBN} does during startup}).
37323
37324Here is the corresponding configure option:
37325
37326@table @code
37327@item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
37328Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
37329@var{file}.
37330@end table
37331
37332If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
37333it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
37334
37335@itemize @bullet
37336@item
37337If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
37338it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
37339are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
37340if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
37341init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
37342@file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
37343
37344@item
37345By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
37346it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
37347@option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
37348then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
37349wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
37350@end itemize
37351
37352If the configured location of the system-wide init file (as given by the
37353@option{--with-system-gdbinit} option at configure time) is in the
37354data-directory (as specified by @option{--with-gdb-datadir} at configure
37355time) or in one of its subdirectories, then @value{GDBN} will look for the
37356system-wide init file in the directory specified by the
37357@option{--data-directory} command-line option.
37358Note that the system-wide init file is only read once, during @value{GDBN}
37359initialization. If the data-directory is changed after @value{GDBN} has
37360started with the @code{set data-directory} command, the file will not be
37361reread.
37362
37363@menu
37364* System-wide Configuration Scripts:: Installed System-wide Configuration Scripts
37365@end menu
37366
37367@node System-wide Configuration Scripts
37368@subsection Installed System-wide Configuration Scripts
37369@cindex system-wide configuration scripts
37370
37371The @file{system-gdbinit} directory, located inside the data-directory
37372(as specified by @option{--with-gdb-datadir} at configure time) contains
37373a number of scripts which can be used as system-wide init files. To
37374automatically source those scripts at startup, @value{GDBN} should be
37375configured with @option{--with-system-gdbinit}. Otherwise, any user
37376should be able to source them by hand as needed.
37377
37378The following scripts are currently available:
37379@itemize @bullet
37380
37381@item @file{elinos.py}
37382@pindex elinos.py
37383@cindex ELinOS system-wide configuration script
37384This script is useful when debugging a program on an ELinOS target.
37385It takes advantage of the environment variables defined in a standard
37386ELinOS environment in order to determine the location of the system
37387shared libraries, and then sets the @samp{solib-absolute-prefix}
37388and @samp{solib-search-path} variables appropriately.
37389
37390@item @file{wrs-linux.py}
37391@pindex wrs-linux.py
37392@cindex Wind River Linux system-wide configuration script
37393This script is useful when debugging a program on a target running
37394Wind River Linux. It expects the @env{ENV_PREFIX} to be set to
37395the host-side sysroot used by the target system.
37396
37397@end itemize
37398
37399@node Maintenance Commands
37400@appendix Maintenance Commands
37401@cindex maintenance commands
37402@cindex internal commands
37403
37404In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
37405includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
37406that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
37407provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
37408messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
37409
37410@table @code
37411@kindex maint agent
37412@kindex maint agent-eval
37413@item maint agent @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
37414@itemx maint agent-eval @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
37415Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
37416This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
37417(@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
37418expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
37419@samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
37420to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
37421globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
37422of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
37423the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
37424addition and return the sum.
37425If @code{-at} is given, generate remote agent bytecode for @var{location}.
37426If not, generate remote agent bytecode for current frame PC address.
37427
37428@kindex maint agent-printf
37429@item maint agent-printf @var{format},@var{expr},...
37430Translate the given format string and list of argument expressions
37431into remote agent bytecodes and display them as a disassembled list.
37432This command is useful for debugging the agent version of dynamic
37433printf (@pxref{Dynamic Printf}).
37434
37435@kindex maint info breakpoints
37436@item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
37437Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
37438breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
37439internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
37440breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
37441is shown:
37442
37443@table @code
37444@item breakpoint
37445Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
37446
37447@item watchpoint
37448Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
37449
37450@item longjmp
37451Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
37452@code{longjmp} calls.
37453
37454@item longjmp resume
37455Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
37456
37457@item until
37458Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
37459
37460@item finish
37461Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
37462
37463@item shlib events
37464Shared library events.
37465
37466@end table
37467
37468@kindex maint info bfds
37469@item maint info bfds
37470This prints information about each @code{bfd} object that is known to
37471@value{GDBN}. @xref{Top, , BFD, bfd, The Binary File Descriptor Library}.
37472
37473@kindex set displaced-stepping
37474@kindex show displaced-stepping
37475@cindex displaced stepping support
37476@cindex out-of-line single-stepping
37477@item set displaced-stepping
37478@itemx show displaced-stepping
37479Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
37480if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
37481over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
37482an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
37483breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
37484
37485@table @code
37486@item set displaced-stepping on
37487If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
37488displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
37489
37490@item set displaced-stepping off
37491@value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
37492even if such is supported by the target architecture.
37493
37494@cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
37495@item set displaced-stepping auto
37496This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
37497only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
37498architecture supports displaced stepping.
37499@end table
37500
37501@kindex maint check-psymtabs
37502@item maint check-psymtabs
37503Check the consistency of currently expanded psymtabs versus symtabs.
37504Use this to check, for example, whether a symbol is in one but not the other.
37505
37506@kindex maint check-symtabs
37507@item maint check-symtabs
37508Check the consistency of currently expanded symtabs.
37509
37510@kindex maint expand-symtabs
37511@item maint expand-symtabs [@var{regexp}]
37512Expand symbol tables.
37513If @var{regexp} is specified, only expand symbol tables for file
37514names matching @var{regexp}.
37515
37516@kindex maint cplus first_component
37517@item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
37518Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
37519
37520@kindex maint cplus namespace
37521@item maint cplus namespace
37522Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
37523
37524@kindex maint demangle
37525@item maint demangle @var{name}
37526Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
37527
37528@kindex maint deprecate
37529@kindex maint undeprecate
37530@cindex deprecated commands
37531@item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
37532@itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
37533Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
37534cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
37535argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
37536favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
37537the replacement as part of the warning.
37538
37539@kindex maint dump-me
37540@item maint dump-me
37541@cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
37542Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
37543This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
37544with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
37545
37546@kindex maint internal-error
37547@kindex maint internal-warning
37548@item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
37549@itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
37550Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
37551or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
37552or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
37553internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
37554either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
37555@value{GDBN} session.
37556
37557These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
37558used as the text of the error or warning message.
37559
37560Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
37561
37562@smallexample
37563(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
37564@dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
37565A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
37566debugging may prove unreliable.
37567Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
37568Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
37569(@value{GDBP})
37570@end smallexample
37571
37572@cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
37573@cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
37574
37575@kindex maint set internal-error
37576@kindex maint show internal-error
37577@kindex maint set internal-warning
37578@kindex maint show internal-warning
37579@item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
37580@itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
37581@itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
37582@itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
37583When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
37584gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
37585core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
37586override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
37587described in the table below.
37588
37589@table @samp
37590@item quit
37591You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
37592quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
37593
37594@item corefile
37595You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
37596create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
37597@end table
37598
37599@kindex maint packet
37600@item maint packet @var{text}
37601If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
37602then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
37603displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
37604@samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
37605checksum.
37606
37607@kindex maint print architecture
37608@item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37609Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
37610@var{file} names the file where the output goes.
37611
37612@kindex maint print c-tdesc
37613@item maint print c-tdesc
37614Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
37615a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
37616when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
37617
37618@kindex maint print dummy-frames
37619@item maint print dummy-frames
37620Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
37621
37622@smallexample
37623(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
37624@dots{}
37625(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
37626Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
3762758 return (a + b);
37628The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
37629@dots{}
37630(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
376310x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
37632 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
37633 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
37634(@value{GDBP})
37635@end smallexample
37636
37637Takes an optional file parameter.
37638
37639@kindex maint print registers
37640@kindex maint print raw-registers
37641@kindex maint print cooked-registers
37642@kindex maint print register-groups
37643@kindex maint print remote-registers
37644@item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37645@itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37646@itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37647@itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37648@itemx maint print remote-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37649Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
37650
37651The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
37652the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print
37653cooked-registers} includes the (cooked) value of all registers,
37654including registers which aren't available on the target nor visible
37655to user; the command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the
37656groups that each register is a member of; and the command @code{maint
37657print remote-registers} includes the remote target's register numbers
37658and offsets in the `G' packets.
37659
37660These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
37661write the information.
37662
37663@kindex maint print reggroups
37664@item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37665Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
37666optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
37667information.
37668
37669The register groups info looks like this:
37670
37671@smallexample
37672(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
37673 Group Type
37674 general user
37675 float user
37676 all user
37677 vector user
37678 system user
37679 save internal
37680 restore internal
37681@end smallexample
37682
37683@kindex flushregs
37684@item flushregs
37685This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
37686
37687@kindex maint print objfiles
37688@cindex info for known object files
37689@item maint print objfiles @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
37690Print a dump of all known object files.
37691If @var{regexp} is specified, only print object files whose names
37692match @var{regexp}. For each object file, this command prints its name,
37693address in memory, and all of its psymtabs and symtabs.
37694
37695@kindex maint print section-scripts
37696@cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
37697@item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
37698Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
37699If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
37700matching @var{regexp}.
37701For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
37702and the full path if known.
37703@xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}.
37704
37705@kindex maint print statistics
37706@cindex bcache statistics
37707@item maint print statistics
37708This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
37709about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
37710statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
37711of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
37712defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
37713the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
37714used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
37715sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
37716average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
37717savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
37718lengths.
37719
37720@kindex maint print target-stack
37721@cindex target stack description
37722@item maint print target-stack
37723A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
37724kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
37725so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
37726In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
37727until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
37728address.
37729
37730This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
37731the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
37732
37733@kindex maint print type
37734@cindex type chain of a data type
37735@item maint print type @var{expr}
37736Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
37737can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
37738that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
37739a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
37740data structures, including its flags and contained types.
37741
37742@kindex maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
37743@kindex maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
37744@item maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
37745@item maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
37746Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
37747information.
37748
37749The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
37750describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
37751@code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
37752expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
37753too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
37754always see the disassembly form.
37755
37756Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
37757
37758@smallexample
37759(gdb) info addr argc
37760Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
37761 1: DW_OP_fbreg 0
37762@end smallexample
37763
37764For more information on these expressions, see
37765@uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
37766
37767@kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
37768@kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
37769@item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
37770@itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
37771Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
37772
37773@cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
37774In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
37775produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
37776reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
37777This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
37778cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
37779compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
37780memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
37781slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
37782
37783@kindex maint set profile
37784@kindex maint show profile
37785@cindex profiling GDB
37786@item maint set profile
37787@itemx maint show profile
37788Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
37789
37790Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
37791command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
37792collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
37793exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
37794if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
37795(often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
37796data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
37797
37798Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
37799compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
37800
37801@kindex maint set show-debug-regs
37802@kindex maint show show-debug-regs
37803@cindex hardware debug registers
37804@item maint set show-debug-regs
37805@itemx maint show show-debug-regs
37806Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
37807registers. Use @code{on} to enable, @code{off} to disable. If
37808enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
37809removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
37810triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
37811
37812@kindex maint set show-all-tib
37813@kindex maint show show-all-tib
37814@item maint set show-all-tib
37815@itemx maint show show-all-tib
37816Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
37817at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
37818command.
37819
37820@kindex maint set per-command
37821@kindex maint show per-command
37822@item maint set per-command
37823@itemx maint show per-command
37824@cindex resources used by commands
37825
37826@value{GDBN} can display the resources used by each command.
37827This is useful in debugging performance problems.
37828
37829@table @code
37830@item maint set per-command space [on|off]
37831@itemx maint show per-command space
37832Enable or disable the printing of the memory used by GDB for each command.
37833If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
37834took, following the command's own output.
37835This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
37836@option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
37837
37838@item maint set per-command time [on|off]
37839@itemx maint show per-command time
37840Enable or disable the printing of the execution time of @value{GDBN}
37841for each command.
37842If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
37843took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
37844Both CPU time and wallclock time are printed.
37845Printing both is useful when trying to determine whether the cost is
37846CPU or, e.g., disk/network latency.
37847Note that the CPU time printed is for @value{GDBN} only, it does not include
37848the execution time of the inferior because there's no mechanism currently
37849to compute how much time was spent by @value{GDBN} and how much time was
37850spent by the program been debugged.
37851This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
37852@option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
37853
37854@item maint set per-command symtab [on|off]
37855@itemx maint show per-command symtab
37856Enable or disable the printing of basic symbol table statistics
37857for each command.
37858If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display the following information:
37859
37860@enumerate a
37861@item
37862number of symbol tables
37863@item
37864number of primary symbol tables
37865@item
37866number of blocks in the blockvector
37867@end enumerate
37868@end table
37869
37870@kindex maint space
37871@cindex memory used by commands
37872@item maint space @var{value}
37873An alias for @code{maint set per-command space}.
37874A non-zero value enables it, zero disables it.
37875
37876@kindex maint time
37877@cindex time of command execution
37878@item maint time @var{value}
37879An alias for @code{maint set per-command time}.
37880A non-zero value enables it, zero disables it.
37881
37882@kindex maint translate-address
37883@item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
37884Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
37885@var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
37886@value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
37887the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
37888the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
37889command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
37890
37891If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
37892is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
37893executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
37894
37895@end table
37896
37897The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
37898@value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
37899
37900@table @code
37901@item set watchdog @var{nsec}
37902@kindex set watchdog
37903@cindex watchdog timer
37904@cindex timeout for commands
37905Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
37906target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
37907reports and error and the command is aborted.
37908
37909@item show watchdog
37910Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
37911@end table
37912
37913@node Remote Protocol
37914@appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
37915
37916@menu
37917* Overview::
37918* Packets::
37919* Stop Reply Packets::
37920* General Query Packets::
37921* Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
37922* Tracepoint Packets::
37923* Host I/O Packets::
37924* Interrupts::
37925* Notification Packets::
37926* Remote Non-Stop::
37927* Packet Acknowledgment::
37928* Examples::
37929* File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
37930* Library List Format::
37931* Library List Format for SVR4 Targets::
37932* Memory Map Format::
37933* Thread List Format::
37934* Traceframe Info Format::
37935* Branch Trace Format::
37936@end menu
37937
37938@node Overview
37939@section Overview
37940
37941There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
37942protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
37943machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
37944recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
37945
37946In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
37947transmitted and received data, respectively.
37948
37949@cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
37950@cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
37951@cindex remote serial protocol
37952All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
37953and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
37954@var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
37955@samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
37956@samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
37957
37958@smallexample
37959@code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
37960@end smallexample
37961@noindent
37962
37963@cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
37964@noindent
37965The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
37966characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
37967eight bit unsigned checksum).
37968
37969Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
37970specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
37971
37972@smallexample
37973@code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
37974@end smallexample
37975
37976@cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
37977@noindent
37978That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
37979has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
37980since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
37981
37982When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
37983response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
37984the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
37985retransmission):
37986
37987@smallexample
37988-> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
37989<- @code{+}
37990@end smallexample
37991@noindent
37992
37993The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
37994once a connection is established.
37995@xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
37996
37997The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
37998debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
37999the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
38000when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
38001threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
38002behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
38003execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
38004
38005@var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
38006exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
38007exceptions).
38008
38009@cindex remote protocol, field separator
38010Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
38011@samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
38012@sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
38013
38014Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
38015@samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
38016would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
38017
38018@cindex remote protocol, binary data
38019@anchor{Binary Data}
38020Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
38021digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
38022protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
38023Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
38024connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
38025binary data.
38026
38027The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
38028as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
38029character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
38030For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
38031bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
38032@code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
38033@samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
38034must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
38035is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
38036(described next).
38037
38038Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
38039Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
38040instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
38041repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
38042binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
38043@code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
38044produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
38045code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
38046encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
38047@samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
38048after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
380493}} more times.
38050
38051The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
38052greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
38053seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
38054five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
38055@samp{0*"00}.
38056
38057The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
38058error number. That number is not well defined.
38059
38060@cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
38061For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
38062(@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
38063protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
38064on that response.
38065
38066At a minimum, a stub is required to support the @samp{g} and @samp{G}
38067commands for register access, and the @samp{m} and @samp{M} commands
38068for memory access. Stubs that only control single-threaded targets
38069can implement run control with the @samp{c} (continue), and @samp{s}
38070(step) commands. Stubs that support multi-threading targets should
38071support the @samp{vCont} command. All other commands are optional.
38072
38073@node Packets
38074@section Packets
38075
38076The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
38077@var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
38078@xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
38079I/O extension of the remote protocol.
38080
38081Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
38082syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
38083include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
38084part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
38085separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
38086@var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
38087bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
38088@var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
38089@samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
38090@var{baz}.
38091
38092@cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
38093@anchor{thread-id syntax}
38094Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
38095a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
38096interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
38097can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
38098pick any thread.
38099
38100In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
38101which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
38102process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
38103The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
38104format described above: a positive number with target-specific
38105interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
38106to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
38107indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
38108@samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
38109error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
38110@samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
38111for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
38112ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
38113
38114The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
38115@value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
38116feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
38117more information.
38118
38119Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
38120letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
38121
38122Here are the packet descriptions.
38123
38124@table @samp
38125
38126@item !
38127@cindex @samp{!} packet
38128@anchor{extended mode}
38129Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
38130persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
38131debugged.
38132
38133Reply:
38134@table @samp
38135@item OK
38136The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
38137@end table
38138
38139@item ?
38140@cindex @samp{?} packet
38141Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
38142step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
38143target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
38144
38145Reply:
38146@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
38147
38148@item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
38149@cindex @samp{A} packet
38150Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
38151specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
38152@var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
38153
38154Reply:
38155@table @samp
38156@item OK
38157The arguments were set.
38158@item E @var{NN}
38159An error occurred.
38160@end table
38161
38162@item b @var{baud}
38163@cindex @samp{b} packet
38164(Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
38165Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
38166
38167JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
38168received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
38169problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
38170
38171Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
38172it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
38173some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
38174switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
38175of view, nothing actually happened.}
38176
38177@item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
38178@cindex @samp{B} packet
38179Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
38180breakpoint at @var{addr}.
38181
38182Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
38183(@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
38184
38185@cindex @samp{bc} packet
38186@anchor{bc}
38187@item bc
38188Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
38189@xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
38190
38191Reply:
38192@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
38193
38194@cindex @samp{bs} packet
38195@anchor{bs}
38196@item bs
38197Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
38198@xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
38199
38200Reply:
38201@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
38202
38203@item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
38204@cindex @samp{c} packet
38205Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
38206resume at current address.
38207
38208This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
38209packet}.
38210
38211Reply:
38212@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
38213
38214@item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
38215@cindex @samp{C} packet
38216Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
38217@samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
38218
38219This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
38220packet}.
38221
38222Reply:
38223@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
38224
38225@item d
38226@cindex @samp{d} packet
38227Toggle debug flag.
38228
38229Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
38230(@pxref{General Query Packets}).
38231
38232@item D
38233@itemx D;@var{pid}
38234@cindex @samp{D} packet
38235The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
38236remote system. It is sent to the remote target
38237before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
38238
38239The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
38240protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
38241detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
38242big-endian hex string.
38243
38244Reply:
38245@table @samp
38246@item OK
38247for success
38248@item E @var{NN}
38249for an error
38250@end table
38251
38252@item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
38253@cindex @samp{F} packet
38254A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
38255This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
38256Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
38257
38258@item g
38259@anchor{read registers packet}
38260@cindex @samp{g} packet
38261Read general registers.
38262
38263Reply:
38264@table @samp
38265@item @var{XX@dots{}}
38266Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
38267with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
38268each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
38269determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
38270@code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
38271specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
38272
38273When reading registers from a trace frame (@pxref{Analyze Collected
38274Data,,Using the Collected Data}), the stub may also return a string of
38275literal @samp{x}'s in place of the register data digits, to indicate
38276that the corresponding register has not been collected, thus its value
38277is unavailable. For example, for an architecture with 4 registers of
382784 bytes each, the following reply indicates to @value{GDBN} that
38279registers 0 and 2 have not been collected, while registers 1 and 3
38280have been collected, and both have zero value:
38281
38282@smallexample
38283-> @code{g}
38284<- @code{xxxxxxxx00000000xxxxxxxx00000000}
38285@end smallexample
38286
38287@item E @var{NN}
38288for an error.
38289@end table
38290
38291@item G @var{XX@dots{}}
38292@cindex @samp{G} packet
38293Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
38294description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
38295
38296Reply:
38297@table @samp
38298@item OK
38299for success
38300@item E @var{NN}
38301for an error
38302@end table
38303
38304@item H @var{op} @var{thread-id}
38305@cindex @samp{H} packet
38306Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
38307@samp{G}, et.al.). @var{op} depends on the operation to be performed:
38308it should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations (note that this
38309is deprecated, supporting the @samp{vCont} command is a better
38310option), @samp{g} for other operations. The thread designator
38311@var{thread-id} has the format and interpretation described in
38312@ref{thread-id syntax}.
38313
38314Reply:
38315@table @samp
38316@item OK
38317for success
38318@item E @var{NN}
38319for an error
38320@end table
38321
38322@c FIXME: JTC:
38323@c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
38324@c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
38325@c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
38326@c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
38327@c described. For example:
38328@c
38329@c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
38330@c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
38331@c otherwise returns current registers.
38332@c
38333@c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
38334@c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
38335@c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
38336
38337@item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
38338@anchor{cycle step packet}
38339@cindex @samp{i} packet
38340Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
38341present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
38342step starting at that address.
38343
38344@item I
38345@cindex @samp{I} packet
38346Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
38347step packet}.
38348
38349@item k
38350@cindex @samp{k} packet
38351Kill request.
38352
38353FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
38354thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
38355thread?)}.
38356
38357@item m @var{addr},@var{length}
38358@cindex @samp{m} packet
38359Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
38360Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
38361
38362The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
38363data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
38364and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
38365use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
38366suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
38367@cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
38368@cindex size of remote memory accesses
38369@cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
38370
38371Reply:
38372@table @samp
38373@item @var{XX@dots{}}
38374Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
38375number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
38376server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
38377@item E @var{NN}
38378@var{NN} is errno
38379@end table
38380
38381@item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
38382@cindex @samp{M} packet
38383Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
38384@var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
38385hexadecimal number.
38386
38387Reply:
38388@table @samp
38389@item OK
38390for success
38391@item E @var{NN}
38392for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
38393written).
38394@end table
38395
38396@item p @var{n}
38397@cindex @samp{p} packet
38398Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
38399@xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
38400register value is encoded.
38401
38402Reply:
38403@table @samp
38404@item @var{XX@dots{}}
38405the register's value
38406@item E @var{NN}
38407for an error
38408@item @w{}
38409Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
38410@end table
38411
38412@item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
38413@anchor{write register packet}
38414@cindex @samp{P} packet
38415Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
38416number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
38417digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
38418
38419Reply:
38420@table @samp
38421@item OK
38422for success
38423@item E @var{NN}
38424for an error
38425@end table
38426
38427@item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
38428@itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
38429@cindex @samp{q} packet
38430@cindex @samp{Q} packet
38431General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
38432described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
38433
38434@item r
38435@cindex @samp{r} packet
38436Reset the entire system.
38437
38438Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
38439
38440@item R @var{XX}
38441@cindex @samp{R} packet
38442Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
38443This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
38444
38445The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
38446
38447@item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
38448@cindex @samp{s} packet
38449Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
38450@var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
38451
38452This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
38453packet}.
38454
38455Reply:
38456@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
38457
38458@item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
38459@anchor{step with signal packet}
38460@cindex @samp{S} packet
38461Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
38462requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
38463
38464This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
38465packet}.
38466
38467Reply:
38468@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
38469
38470@item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
38471@cindex @samp{t} packet
38472Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
38473@var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
38474@var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
38475
38476@item T @var{thread-id}
38477@cindex @samp{T} packet
38478Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
38479
38480Reply:
38481@table @samp
38482@item OK
38483thread is still alive
38484@item E @var{NN}
38485thread is dead
38486@end table
38487
38488@item v
38489Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
38490up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
38491
38492@item vAttach;@var{pid}
38493@cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
38494Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
38495The process ID is a
38496hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
38497threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
38498attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
38499
38500@c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
38501@c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
38502@c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
38503@c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
38504@c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
38505@c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
38506@c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
38507@c stopping or restarting threads.
38508
38509This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
38510
38511Reply:
38512@table @samp
38513@item E @var{nn}
38514for an error
38515@item @r{Any stop packet}
38516for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
38517@item OK
38518for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
38519@end table
38520
38521@item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
38522@cindex @samp{vCont} packet
38523@anchor{vCont packet}
38524Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
38525If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
38526threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
38527specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
38528in their current state in non-stop mode.
38529Specifying multiple
38530default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
38531Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
38532
38533Currently supported actions are:
38534
38535@table @samp
38536@item c
38537Continue.
38538@item C @var{sig}
38539Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
38540@item s
38541Step.
38542@item S @var{sig}
38543Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
38544@item t
38545Stop.
38546@item r @var{start},@var{end}
38547Step once, and then keep stepping as long as the thread stops at
38548addresses between @var{start} (inclusive) and @var{end} (exclusive).
38549The remote stub reports a stop reply when either the thread goes out
38550of the range or is stopped due to an unrelated reason, such as hitting
38551a breakpoint. @xref{range stepping}.
38552
38553If the range is empty (@var{start} == @var{end}), then the action
38554becomes equivalent to the @samp{s} action. In other words,
38555single-step once, and report the stop (even if the stepped instruction
38556jumps to @var{start}).
38557
38558(A stop reply may be sent at any point even if the PC is still within
38559the stepping range; for example, it is valid to implement this packet
38560in a degenerate way as a single instruction step operation.)
38561
38562@end table
38563
38564The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
38565@samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
38566not supported in @samp{vCont}.
38567
38568The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
38569(@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
38570A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
38571When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
38572the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
38573signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
38574as an implementation detail.
38575
38576The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
38577multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
38578this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
38579in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
38580@var{thread-id}.
38581
38582Reply:
38583@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
38584
38585@item vCont?
38586@cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
38587Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
38588
38589Reply:
38590@table @samp
38591@item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
38592The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
38593command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
38594@item @w{}
38595The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
38596@end table
38597
38598@item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
38599@cindex @samp{vFile} packet
38600Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
38601see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
38602
38603@item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
38604@cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
38605Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
38606@var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
38607its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
38608flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
38609Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
38610together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
38611stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
38612packet is received.
38613
38614Reply:
38615@table @samp
38616@item OK
38617for success
38618@item E @var{NN}
38619for an error
38620@end table
38621
38622@item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
38623@cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
38624Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
38625is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
38626packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
38627@samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
38628not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
38629(although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
38630have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
38631@samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
38632neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
38633target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
38634
38635
38636Reply:
38637@table @samp
38638@item OK
38639for success
38640@item E.memtype
38641for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
38642@item E @var{NN}
38643for an error
38644@end table
38645
38646@item vFlashDone
38647@cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
38648Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
38649The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
38650@samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
38651@samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
38652regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
38653request is completed.
38654
38655@item vKill;@var{pid}
38656@cindex @samp{vKill} packet
38657Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
38658hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
38659preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
38660supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
38661
38662Reply:
38663@table @samp
38664@item E @var{nn}
38665for an error
38666@item OK
38667for success
38668@end table
38669
38670@item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
38671@cindex @samp{vRun} packet
38672Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
38673command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
38674@var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
38675(e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
38676state.
38677
38678@c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
38679
38680This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
38681
38682Reply:
38683@table @samp
38684@item E @var{nn}
38685for an error
38686@item @r{Any stop packet}
38687for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
38688@end table
38689
38690@item vStopped
38691@cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
38692@xref{Notification Packets}.
38693
38694@item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
38695@anchor{X packet}
38696@cindex @samp{X} packet
38697Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
38698@var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
38699@samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
38700
38701Reply:
38702@table @samp
38703@item OK
38704for success
38705@item E @var{NN}
38706for an error
38707@end table
38708
38709@item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
38710@itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
38711@anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
38712@cindex @samp{z} packet
38713@cindex @samp{Z} packets
38714Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
38715watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
38716
38717Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
38718separately.
38719
38720@emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
38721for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
38722remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
38723@samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
38724avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
38725be implemented in an idempotent way.}
38726
38727@item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38728@itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}@r{[};cmds:@var{persist},@var{cmd_list}@dots{}@r{]}
38729@cindex @samp{z0} packet
38730@cindex @samp{Z0} packet
38731Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
38732@var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
38733
38734A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
38735@var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
38736@var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
38737the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
38738and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
38739architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
38740@var{cond_list} is an optional list of conditional expressions in bytecode
38741form that should be evaluated on the target's side. These are the
38742conditions that should be taken into consideration when deciding if
38743the breakpoint trigger should be reported back to @var{GDBN}.
38744
38745The @var{cond_list} parameter is comprised of a series of expressions,
38746concatenated without separators. Each expression has the following form:
38747
38748@table @samp
38749
38750@item X @var{len},@var{expr}
38751@var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
38752actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
38753
38754@end table
38755
38756The optional @var{cmd_list} parameter introduces commands that may be
38757run on the target, rather than being reported back to @value{GDBN}.
38758The parameter starts with a numeric flag @var{persist}; if the flag is
38759nonzero, then the breakpoint may remain active and the commands
38760continue to be run even when @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target.
38761Following this flag is a series of expressions concatenated with no
38762separators. Each expression has the following form:
38763
38764@table @samp
38765
38766@item X @var{len},@var{expr}
38767@var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
38768actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
38769
38770@end table
38771
38772see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
38773
38774@emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
38775code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
38776overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
38777target, is not defined.}
38778
38779Reply:
38780@table @samp
38781@item OK
38782success
38783@item @w{}
38784not supported
38785@item E @var{NN}
38786for an error
38787@end table
38788
38789@item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38790@itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}
38791@cindex @samp{z1} packet
38792@cindex @samp{Z1} packet
38793Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
38794address @var{addr}.
38795
38796A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
38797dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. @var{kind}
38798and @var{cond_list} have the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
38799
38800@emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
38801movement.}
38802
38803Reply:
38804@table @samp
38805@item OK
38806success
38807@item @w{}
38808not supported
38809@item E @var{NN}
38810for an error
38811@end table
38812
38813@item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38814@itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38815@cindex @samp{z2} packet
38816@cindex @samp{Z2} packet
38817Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
38818@var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
38819
38820Reply:
38821@table @samp
38822@item OK
38823success
38824@item @w{}
38825not supported
38826@item E @var{NN}
38827for an error
38828@end table
38829
38830@item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38831@itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38832@cindex @samp{z3} packet
38833@cindex @samp{Z3} packet
38834Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
38835@var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
38836
38837Reply:
38838@table @samp
38839@item OK
38840success
38841@item @w{}
38842not supported
38843@item E @var{NN}
38844for an error
38845@end table
38846
38847@item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38848@itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38849@cindex @samp{z4} packet
38850@cindex @samp{Z4} packet
38851Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
38852@var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
38853
38854Reply:
38855@table @samp
38856@item OK
38857success
38858@item @w{}
38859not supported
38860@item E @var{NN}
38861for an error
38862@end table
38863
38864@end table
38865
38866@node Stop Reply Packets
38867@section Stop Reply Packets
38868@cindex stop reply packets
38869
38870The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
38871@samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
38872receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
38873and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
38874when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
38875number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
38876@value{GDBN} source code.
38877
38878As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
38879reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
38880syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
38881components.
38882
38883@table @samp
38884
38885@item S @var{AA}
38886The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
38887number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
38888@var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
38889
38890@item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
38891@cindex @samp{T} packet reply
38892The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
38893number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
38894@samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
38895and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
38896round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
38897this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
38898
38899@itemize @bullet
38900@item
38901If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
38902corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
38903series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
38904two-digit hex number.
38905
38906@item
38907If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
38908the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
38909
38910@item
38911If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
38912the core on which the stop event was detected.
38913
38914@item
38915If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
38916specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
38917reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
38918signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
38919
38920@item
38921Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
38922and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
38923future.
38924@end itemize
38925
38926The currently defined stop reasons are:
38927
38928@table @samp
38929@item watch
38930@itemx rwatch
38931@itemx awatch
38932The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
38933hex.
38934
38935@cindex shared library events, remote reply
38936@item library
38937The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
38938@value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
38939list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
38940
38941@cindex replay log events, remote reply
38942@item replaylog
38943The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
38944logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
38945beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
38946will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
38947for more information.
38948@end table
38949
38950@item W @var{AA}
38951@itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
38952The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
38953applicable to certain targets.
38954
38955The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
38956process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
38957multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
38958The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
38959
38960@item X @var{AA}
38961@itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
38962The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
38963
38964The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
38965terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
38966support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
38967extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
38968
38969@item O @var{XX}@dots{}
38970@samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
38971written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
38972while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
38973for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
38974
38975@item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
38976@var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
38977be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
38978correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
38979@xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
38980system calls.
38981
38982@samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
38983this very system call.
38984
38985The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
38986call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
38987with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
38988reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
38989or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
38990Protocol Extension}, for more details.
38991
38992@end table
38993
38994@node General Query Packets
38995@section General Query Packets
38996@cindex remote query requests
38997
38998Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
38999packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
39000query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
39001sending information to and from the stub.
39002
39003The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
39004indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
39005@value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
39006definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
39007conventions:
39008
39009@itemize @bullet
39010@item
39011The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
39012@item
39013Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
39014letter.
39015@item
39016The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
39017lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
39018the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
39019foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
39020@end itemize
39021
39022The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
39023parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
39024separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
39025full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
39026in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
39027with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
39028packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
39029for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
39030are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
39031existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
39032packet.}.
39033
39034Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
39035has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
39036explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
39037templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
39038@value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
39039
39040Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
39041
39042@table @samp
39043
39044@item QAgent:1
39045@itemx QAgent:0
39046Turn on or off the agent as a helper to perform some debugging operations
39047delegated from @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Control Agent}).
39048
39049@item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
39050@cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
39051Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
39052target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
39053pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
39054@samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
39055@samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
39056indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
39057indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
39058own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
39059insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
39060
39061@item qC
39062@cindex current thread, remote request
39063@cindex @samp{qC} packet
39064Return the current thread ID.
39065
39066Reply:
39067@table @samp
39068@item QC @var{thread-id}
39069Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
39070@ref{thread-id syntax}.
39071@item @r{(anything else)}
39072Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
39073@end table
39074
39075@item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
39076@cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
39077@cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
39078Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
39079IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
39080significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
39081@code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
39082
39083@emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
39084files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
39085Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
39086separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
39087significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
39088detect trailing zeros.
39089
39090Reply:
39091@table @samp
39092@item E @var{NN}
39093An error (such as memory fault)
39094@item C @var{crc32}
39095The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
39096@end table
39097
39098@item QDisableRandomization:@var{value}
39099@cindex disable address space randomization, remote request
39100@cindex @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet
39101Some target operating systems will randomize the virtual address space
39102of the inferior process as a security feature, but provide a feature
39103to disable such randomization, e.g.@: to allow for a more deterministic
39104debugging experience. On such systems, this packet with a @var{value}
39105of 1 directs the target to disable address space randomization for
39106processes subsequently started via @samp{vRun} packets, while a packet
39107with a @var{value} of 0 tells the target to enable address space
39108randomization.
39109
39110This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
39111
39112Reply:
39113@table @samp
39114@item OK
39115The request succeeded.
39116
39117@item E @var{nn}
39118An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
39119
39120@item @w{}
39121An empty reply indicates that @samp{QDisableRandomization} is not supported
39122by the stub.
39123@end table
39124
39125This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39126by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39127This should only be done on targets that actually support disabling
39128address space randomization.
39129
39130@item qfThreadInfo
39131@itemx qsThreadInfo
39132@cindex list active threads, remote request
39133@cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
39134@cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
39135Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
39136may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
39137works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
39138obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
39139be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
39140sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
39141
39142NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
39143
39144Reply:
39145@table @samp
39146@item m @var{thread-id}
39147A single thread ID
39148@item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
39149a comma-separated list of thread IDs
39150@item l
39151(lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
39152@end table
39153
39154In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
39155more thread IDs, separated by commas.
39156@value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
39157ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
39158with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for @dfn{last}).
39159Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
39160fields.
39161
39162@item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
39163@cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
39164@cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
39165Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
39166by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
39167
39168@var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
39169thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
39170
39171@var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
39172thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
39173information associated with the variable.)
39174
39175@var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
39176load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
39177a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
39178object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
39179Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
39180differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
39181
39182Reply:
39183@table @samp
39184@item @var{XX}@dots{}
39185Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
39186local storage requested.
39187
39188@item E @var{nn}
39189An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
39190
39191@item @w{}
39192An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
39193@end table
39194
39195@item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
39196@cindex get thread information block address
39197@cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
39198Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
39199
39200@var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
39201
39202Reply:
39203@table @samp
39204@item @var{XX}@dots{}
39205Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
39206thread information block.
39207
39208@item E @var{nn}
39209An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
39210address could not be retrieved.
39211
39212@item @w{}
39213An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
39214@end table
39215
39216@item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
39217Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
39218digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
39219subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
39220number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
39221(eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
39222returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
39223
39224Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
39225
39226Reply:
39227@table @samp
39228@item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
39229Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
39230returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
39231and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
39232digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
39233is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
39234digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
39235@end table
39236
39237@item qOffsets
39238@cindex section offsets, remote request
39239@cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
39240Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
39241image.
39242
39243Reply:
39244@table @samp
39245@item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
39246Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
39247Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
39248If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
39249@samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
39250segments by the supplied offsets.
39251
39252@emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
39253@value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
39254to the @code{Bss} section.}
39255
39256@item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
39257Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
39258contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
39259@samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
39260conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
39261@var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
39262does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
39263as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
39264kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
39265@end table
39266
39267@item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
39268@cindex thread information, remote request
39269@cindex @samp{qP} packet
39270Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
39271encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
39272(@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
39273
39274Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
39275(see below).
39276
39277Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
39278
39279@item QNonStop:1
39280@itemx QNonStop:0
39281@cindex non-stop mode, remote request
39282@cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
39283@anchor{QNonStop}
39284Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
39285@xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
39286
39287Reply:
39288@table @samp
39289@item OK
39290The request succeeded.
39291
39292@item E @var{nn}
39293An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
39294
39295@item @w{}
39296An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
39297the stub.
39298@end table
39299
39300This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39301by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39302Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
39303@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
39304
39305@item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
39306@cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
39307@cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
39308@anchor{QPassSignals}
39309Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
39310Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
39311(@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
39312strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
39313the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
39314reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
39315combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
39316new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
39317@var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
39318
39319Reply:
39320@table @samp
39321@item OK
39322The request succeeded.
39323
39324@item E @var{nn}
39325An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
39326
39327@item @w{}
39328An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
39329the stub.
39330@end table
39331
39332Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
39333command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
39334This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39335by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39336
39337@item QProgramSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
39338@cindex signals the inferior may see, remote request
39339@cindex @samp{QProgramSignals} packet
39340@anchor{QProgramSignals}
39341Each listed @var{signal} may be delivered to the inferior process.
39342Others should be silently discarded.
39343
39344In some cases, the remote stub may need to decide whether to deliver a
39345signal to the program or not without @value{GDBN} involvement. One
39346example of that is while detaching --- the program's threads may have
39347stopped for signals that haven't yet had a chance of being reported to
39348@value{GDBN}, and so the remote stub can use the signal list specified
39349by this packet to know whether to deliver or ignore those pending
39350signals.
39351
39352This does not influence whether to deliver a signal as requested by a
39353resumption packet (@pxref{vCont packet}).
39354
39355Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
39356(@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
39357strictly greater than the previous item. Multiple
39358@samp{QProgramSignals} packets do not combine; any earlier
39359@samp{QProgramSignals} list is completely replaced by the new list.
39360
39361Reply:
39362@table @samp
39363@item OK
39364The request succeeded.
39365
39366@item E @var{nn}
39367An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
39368
39369@item @w{}
39370An empty reply indicates that @samp{QProgramSignals} is not supported
39371by the stub.
39372@end table
39373
39374Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote program-signals}
39375command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote program-signals}).
39376This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39377by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39378
39379@item qRcmd,@var{command}
39380@cindex execute remote command, remote request
39381@cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
39382@var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
39383execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
39384string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
39385with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
39386packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
39387stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
39388
39389Reply:
39390@table @samp
39391@item OK
39392A command response with no output.
39393@item @var{OUTPUT}
39394A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
39395@item E @var{NN}
39396Indicate a badly formed request.
39397@item @w{}
39398An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
39399@end table
39400
39401(Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
39402command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
39403conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
39404packets.)
39405
39406@item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
39407@cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
39408@ifnotinfo
39409@cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
39410@end ifnotinfo
39411@cindex @samp{qSearch memory} packet
39412@anchor{qSearch memory}
39413Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
39414@var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
39415@var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
39416
39417Reply:
39418@table @samp
39419@item 0
39420The pattern was not found.
39421@item 1,address
39422The pattern was found at @var{address}.
39423@item E @var{NN}
39424A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
39425@item @w{}
39426An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
39427@end table
39428
39429@item QStartNoAckMode
39430@cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
39431@anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
39432Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
39433protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
39434
39435Reply:
39436@table @samp
39437@item OK
39438The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
39439@value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
39440but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
39441@samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
39442@item @w{}
39443An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
39444@end table
39445
39446@item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
39447@cindex supported packets, remote query
39448@cindex features of the remote protocol
39449@cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
39450@anchor{qSupported}
39451Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
39452query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
39453@value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
39454features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
39455at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
39456packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
39457high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
39458be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
39459stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
39460automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
39461reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
39462unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
39463helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
39464versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
39465
39466Reply:
39467@table @samp
39468@item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
39469The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
39470depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
39471possible forms).
39472@item @w{}
39473An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
39474or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
39475@end table
39476
39477The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
39478@samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
39479are:
39480
39481@table @samp
39482@item @var{name}=@var{value}
39483The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
39484with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
39485on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
39486@item @var{name}+
39487The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
39488need an associated value.
39489@item @var{name}-
39490The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
39491@item @var{name}?
39492The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
39493@value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
39494needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
39495but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
39496@end table
39497
39498Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
39499supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
39500request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
39501state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
39502a different version of @value{GDBN}.
39503
39504The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
39505are defined:
39506
39507@table @samp
39508@item multiprocess
39509This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
39510extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
39511extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
39512including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
39513@xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
39514
39515@item xmlRegisters
39516This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
39517description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
39518specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
39519description.
39520
39521@item qRelocInsn
39522This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
39523@samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
39524instruction reply packet}).
39525@end table
39526
39527Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
39528@var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
39529packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
39530versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
39531for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
39532advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
39533improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
39534an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
39535of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
39536describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
39537all the features it supports.
39538
39539Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
39540responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
39541
39542Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
39543should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
39544require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
39545form response.
39546
39547Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
39548@samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
39549in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
39550stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
39551
39552Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
39553mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
39554architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
39555about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
39556stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
39557
39558These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
39559
39560@multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
39561@c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
39562@c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
39563@item Feature Name
39564@tab Value Required
39565@tab Default
39566@tab Probe Allowed
39567
39568@item @samp{PacketSize}
39569@tab Yes
39570@tab @samp{-}
39571@tab No
39572
39573@item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
39574@tab No
39575@tab @samp{-}
39576@tab Yes
39577
39578@item @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
39579@tab No
39580@tab @samp{-}
39581@tab Yes
39582
39583@item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
39584@tab No
39585@tab @samp{-}
39586@tab Yes
39587
39588@item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
39589@tab No
39590@tab @samp{-}
39591@tab Yes
39592
39593@item @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read}
39594@tab No
39595@tab @samp{-}
39596@tab Yes
39597
39598@item @samp{augmented-libraries-svr4-read}
39599@tab No
39600@tab @samp{-}
39601@tab No
39602
39603@item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
39604@tab No
39605@tab @samp{-}
39606@tab Yes
39607
39608@item @samp{qXfer:sdata:read}
39609@tab No
39610@tab @samp{-}
39611@tab Yes
39612
39613@item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
39614@tab No
39615@tab @samp{-}
39616@tab Yes
39617
39618@item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
39619@tab No
39620@tab @samp{-}
39621@tab Yes
39622
39623@item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
39624@tab No
39625@tab @samp{-}
39626@tab Yes
39627
39628@item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
39629@tab No
39630@tab @samp{-}
39631@tab Yes
39632
39633@item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
39634@tab No
39635@tab @samp{-}
39636@tab Yes
39637
39638@item @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
39639@tab No
39640@tab @samp{-}
39641@tab Yes
39642
39643@item @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
39644@tab No
39645@tab @samp{-}
39646@tab Yes
39647
39648@item @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
39649@tab No
39650@tab @samp{-}
39651@tab Yes
39652
39653@item @samp{Qbtrace:off}
39654@tab Yes
39655@tab @samp{-}
39656@tab Yes
39657
39658@item @samp{Qbtrace:bts}
39659@tab Yes
39660@tab @samp{-}
39661@tab Yes
39662
39663@item @samp{QNonStop}
39664@tab No
39665@tab @samp{-}
39666@tab Yes
39667
39668@item @samp{QPassSignals}
39669@tab No
39670@tab @samp{-}
39671@tab Yes
39672
39673@item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
39674@tab No
39675@tab @samp{-}
39676@tab Yes
39677
39678@item @samp{multiprocess}
39679@tab No
39680@tab @samp{-}
39681@tab No
39682
39683@item @samp{ConditionalBreakpoints}
39684@tab No
39685@tab @samp{-}
39686@tab No
39687
39688@item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
39689@tab No
39690@tab @samp{-}
39691@tab No
39692
39693@item @samp{ReverseContinue}
39694@tab No
39695@tab @samp{-}
39696@tab No
39697
39698@item @samp{ReverseStep}
39699@tab No
39700@tab @samp{-}
39701@tab No
39702
39703@item @samp{TracepointSource}
39704@tab No
39705@tab @samp{-}
39706@tab No
39707
39708@item @samp{QAgent}
39709@tab No
39710@tab @samp{-}
39711@tab No
39712
39713@item @samp{QAllow}
39714@tab No
39715@tab @samp{-}
39716@tab No
39717
39718@item @samp{QDisableRandomization}
39719@tab No
39720@tab @samp{-}
39721@tab No
39722
39723@item @samp{EnableDisableTracepoints}
39724@tab No
39725@tab @samp{-}
39726@tab No
39727
39728@item @samp{QTBuffer:size}
39729@tab No
39730@tab @samp{-}
39731@tab No
39732
39733@item @samp{tracenz}
39734@tab No
39735@tab @samp{-}
39736@tab No
39737
39738@item @samp{BreakpointCommands}
39739@tab No
39740@tab @samp{-}
39741@tab No
39742
39743@end multitable
39744
39745These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
39746
39747@table @samp
39748@cindex packet size, remote protocol
39749@item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
39750The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
39751length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
39752transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
39753data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
39754There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
39755stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
39756byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
39757@value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
39758
39759@item qXfer:auxv:read
39760The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
39761(@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
39762
39763@item qXfer:btrace:read
39764The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
39765packet (@pxref{qXfer btrace read}).
39766
39767@item qXfer:features:read
39768The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
39769(@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
39770
39771@item qXfer:libraries:read
39772The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
39773(@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
39774
39775@item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read
39776The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
39777(@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
39778
39779@item augmented-libraries-svr4-read
39780The remote stub understands the augmented form of the
39781@samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
39782(@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
39783
39784@item qXfer:memory-map:read
39785The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
39786(@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
39787
39788@item qXfer:sdata:read
39789The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:sdata:read} packet
39790(@pxref{qXfer sdata read}).
39791
39792@item qXfer:spu:read
39793The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
39794(@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
39795
39796@item qXfer:spu:write
39797The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
39798(@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
39799
39800@item qXfer:siginfo:read
39801The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
39802(@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
39803
39804@item qXfer:siginfo:write
39805The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
39806(@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
39807
39808@item qXfer:threads:read
39809The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
39810(@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
39811
39812@item qXfer:traceframe-info:read
39813The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
39814packet (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}).
39815
39816@item qXfer:uib:read
39817The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
39818packet (@pxref{qXfer unwind info block}).
39819
39820@item qXfer:fdpic:read
39821The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
39822packet (@pxref{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}).
39823
39824@item QNonStop
39825The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
39826(@pxref{QNonStop}).
39827
39828@item QPassSignals
39829The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
39830(@pxref{QPassSignals}).
39831
39832@item QStartNoAckMode
39833The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
39834prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
39835
39836@item multiprocess
39837@anchor{multiprocess extensions}
39838@cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
39839The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
39840protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
39841thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
39842add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
39843replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
39844syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
39845debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
39846multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
39847indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
39848
39849@item qXfer:osdata:read
39850The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
39851((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
39852
39853@item ConditionalBreakpoints
39854The target accepts and implements evaluation of conditional expressions
39855defined for breakpoints. The target will only report breakpoint triggers
39856when such conditions are true (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
39857
39858@item ConditionalTracepoints
39859The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
39860for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
39861
39862@item ReverseContinue
39863The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
39864(@pxref{bc}).
39865
39866@item ReverseStep
39867The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
39868(@pxref{bs}).
39869
39870@item TracepointSource
39871The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
39872the source form of tracepoint definitions.
39873
39874@item QAgent
39875The remote stub understands the @samp{QAgent} packet.
39876
39877@item QAllow
39878The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
39879
39880@item QDisableRandomization
39881The remote stub understands the @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet.
39882
39883@item StaticTracepoint
39884@cindex static tracepoints, in remote protocol
39885The remote stub supports static tracepoints.
39886
39887@item InstallInTrace
39888@anchor{install tracepoint in tracing}
39889The remote stub supports installing tracepoint in tracing.
39890
39891@item EnableDisableTracepoints
39892The remote stub supports the @samp{QTEnable} (@pxref{QTEnable}) and
39893@samp{QTDisable} (@pxref{QTDisable}) packets that allow tracepoints
39894to be enabled and disabled while a trace experiment is running.
39895
39896@item QTBuffer:size
39897The remote stub supports the @samp{QTBuffer:size} (@pxref{QTBuffer-size})
39898packet that allows to change the size of the trace buffer.
39899
39900@item tracenz
39901@cindex string tracing, in remote protocol
39902The remote stub supports the @samp{tracenz} bytecode for collecting strings.
39903See @ref{Bytecode Descriptions} for details about the bytecode.
39904
39905@item BreakpointCommands
39906@cindex breakpoint commands, in remote protocol
39907The remote stub supports running a breakpoint's command list itself,
39908rather than reporting the hit to @value{GDBN}.
39909
39910@item Qbtrace:off
39911The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:off} packet.
39912
39913@item Qbtrace:bts
39914The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:bts} packet.
39915
39916@end table
39917
39918@item qSymbol::
39919@cindex symbol lookup, remote request
39920@cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
39921Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
39922requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
39923
39924Reply:
39925@table @samp
39926@item OK
39927The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
39928@item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
39929The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
39930@value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
39931@samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
39932below.
39933@end table
39934
39935@item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
39936Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
39937
39938@var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
39939target has previously requested.
39940
39941@var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
39942@value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
39943will be empty.
39944
39945Reply:
39946@table @samp
39947@item OK
39948The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
39949@item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
39950The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
39951encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
39952(if available), until the target ceases to request them.
39953@end table
39954
39955@item qTBuffer
39956@itemx QTBuffer
39957@itemx QTDisconnected
39958@itemx QTDP
39959@itemx QTDPsrc
39960@itemx QTDV
39961@itemx qTfP
39962@itemx qTfV
39963@itemx QTFrame
39964@itemx qTMinFTPILen
39965
39966@xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
39967
39968@item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
39969@cindex thread attributes info, remote request
39970@cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
39971Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
39972the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
39973see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
39974string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
39975for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
39976displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
39977examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
39978@samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
39979
39980Reply:
39981@table @samp
39982@item @var{XX}@dots{}
39983Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
39984comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
39985the thread's attributes.
39986@end table
39987
39988(Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
39989the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
39990conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
39991packets.)
39992
39993@item QTNotes
39994@itemx qTP
39995@itemx QTSave
39996@itemx qTsP
39997@itemx qTsV
39998@itemx QTStart
39999@itemx QTStop
40000@itemx QTEnable
40001@itemx QTDisable
40002@itemx QTinit
40003@itemx QTro
40004@itemx qTStatus
40005@itemx qTV
40006@itemx qTfSTM
40007@itemx qTsSTM
40008@itemx qTSTMat
40009@xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
40010
40011@item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
40012@cindex read special object, remote request
40013@cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
40014@anchor{qXfer read}
40015Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
40016identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
40017starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
40018encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
40019additional details about what data to access.
40020
40021Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
40022@samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
40023formats, listed below.
40024
40025@table @samp
40026@item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
40027@anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
40028Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
40029auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
40030
40031This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
40032by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
40033
40034@item qXfer:btrace:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
40035@anchor{qXfer btrace read}
40036
40037Return a description of the current branch trace.
40038@xref{Branch Trace Format}. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer}
40039packet may have one of the following values:
40040
40041@table @code
40042@item all
40043Returns all available branch trace.
40044
40045@item new
40046Returns all available branch trace if the branch trace changed since
40047the last read request.
40048
40049@item delta
40050Returns the new branch trace since the last read request. Adds a new
40051block to the end of the trace that begins at zero and ends at the source
40052location of the first branch in the trace buffer. This extra block is
40053used to stitch traces together.
40054
40055If the trace buffer overflowed, returns an error indicating the overflow.
40056@end table
40057
40058This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it
40059by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
40060
40061@item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
40062@anchor{qXfer target description read}
40063Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
40064annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
40065always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
40066
40067This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
40068by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
40069
40070@item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
40071@anchor{qXfer library list read}
40072Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
40073The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
40074(@pxref{qXfer read}).
40075
40076Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
40077not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
40078the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
40079
40080This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
40081by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
40082
40083@item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
40084@anchor{qXfer svr4 library list read}
40085Access the target's list of loaded libraries when the target is an SVR4
40086platform. @xref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets}. The annex part
40087of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty unless the remote
40088stub indicated it supports the augmented form of this packet
40089by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
40090(@pxref{qXfer read}, @ref{qSupported}).
40091
40092This packet is optional for better performance on SVR4 targets.
40093@value{GDBN} uses memory read packets to read the SVR4 library list otherwise.
40094
40095This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
40096by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
40097
40098If the remote stub indicates it supports the augmented form of this
40099packet then the annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet may
40100contain a semicolon-separated list of @samp{@var{name}=@var{value}}
40101arguments. The currently supported arguments are:
40102
40103@table @code
40104@item start=@var{address}
40105A hexadecimal number specifying the address of the @samp{struct
40106link_map} to start reading the library list from. If unset or zero
40107then the first @samp{struct link_map} in the library list will be
40108chosen as the starting point.
40109
40110@item prev=@var{address}
40111A hexadecimal number specifying the address of the @samp{struct
40112link_map} immediately preceding the @samp{struct link_map}
40113specified by the @samp{start} argument. If unset or zero then
40114the remote stub will expect that no @samp{struct link_map}
40115exists prior to the starting point.
40116
40117@end table
40118
40119Arguments that are not understood by the remote stub will be silently
40120ignored.
40121
40122@item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
40123@anchor{qXfer memory map read}
40124Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
40125annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
40126(@pxref{qXfer read}).
40127
40128This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
40129by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
40130
40131@item qXfer:sdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
40132@anchor{qXfer sdata read}
40133
40134Read contents of the extra collected static tracepoint marker
40135information. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must
40136be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}). @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint
40137Action Lists}.
40138
40139This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
40140by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
40141(@pxref{qSupported}).
40142
40143@item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
40144@anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
40145Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
40146system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
40147empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
40148
40149This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
40150by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
40151(@pxref{qSupported}).
40152
40153@item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
40154@anchor{qXfer spu read}
40155Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
40156annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
40157@file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
40158in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
40159in that context to be accessed.
40160
40161This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
40162by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
40163(@pxref{qSupported}).
40164
40165@item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
40166@anchor{qXfer threads read}
40167Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
40168annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
40169(@pxref{qXfer read}).
40170
40171This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
40172by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
40173
40174@item qXfer:traceframe-info:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
40175@anchor{qXfer traceframe info read}
40176
40177Return a description of the current traceframe's contents.
40178@xref{Traceframe Info Format}. The annex part of the generic
40179@samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
40180
40181This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
40182by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
40183
40184@item qXfer:uib:read:@var{pc}:@var{offset},@var{length}
40185@anchor{qXfer unwind info block}
40186
40187Return the unwind information block for @var{pc}. This packet is used
40188on OpenVMS/ia64 to ask the kernel unwind information.
40189
40190This packet is not probed by default.
40191
40192@item qXfer:fdpic:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
40193@anchor{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}
40194Read contents of @code{loadmap}s on the target system. The
40195annex, either @samp{exec} or @samp{interp}, specifies which @code{loadmap},
40196executable @code{loadmap} or interpreter @code{loadmap} to read.
40197
40198This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
40199by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
40200
40201@item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
40202@anchor{qXfer osdata read}
40203Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
40204@xref{Operating System Information}.
40205
40206@end table
40207
40208Reply:
40209@table @samp
40210@item m @var{data}
40211Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
40212target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
40213it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
40214block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
40215@var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
40216request.
40217
40218@item l @var{data}
40219Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
40220There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
40221than the @var{length} in the request.
40222
40223@item l
40224The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
40225There is no more data to be read.
40226
40227@item E00
40228The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
40229
40230@item E @var{nn}
40231The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
40232@var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
40233
40234@item @w{}
40235An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
40236the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
40237@end table
40238
40239@item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
40240@cindex write data into object, remote request
40241@anchor{qXfer write}
40242Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
40243identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
40244into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
40245(@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
40246is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
40247to access.
40248
40249Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
40250@samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
40251formats, listed below.
40252
40253@table @samp
40254@item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
40255@anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
40256Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
40257The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
40258empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
40259
40260This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
40261by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
40262(@pxref{qSupported}).
40263
40264@item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
40265@anchor{qXfer spu write}
40266Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
40267annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
40268@file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
40269in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
40270in that context to be accessed.
40271
40272This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
40273by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
40274@end table
40275
40276Reply:
40277@table @samp
40278@item @var{nn}
40279@var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
40280This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
40281
40282@item E00
40283The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
40284
40285@item E @var{nn}
40286The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
40287@var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
40288
40289@item @w{}
40290An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
40291recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
40292@end table
40293
40294@item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
40295Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
40296not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
40297@var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
40298must respond with an empty packet.
40299
40300@item qAttached:@var{pid}
40301@cindex query attached, remote request
40302@cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
40303Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
40304existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
40305protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
40306@var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
40307process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
40308the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
40309
40310This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
40311should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
40312the @code{quit} command.
40313
40314Reply:
40315@table @samp
40316@item 1
40317The remote server attached to an existing process.
40318@item 0
40319The remote server created a new process.
40320@item E @var{NN}
40321A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
40322@end table
40323
40324@item Qbtrace:bts
40325Enable branch tracing for the current thread using bts tracing.
40326
40327Reply:
40328@table @samp
40329@item OK
40330Branch tracing has been enabled.
40331@item E.errtext
40332A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
40333@end table
40334
40335@item Qbtrace:off
40336Disable branch tracing for the current thread.
40337
40338Reply:
40339@table @samp
40340@item OK
40341Branch tracing has been disabled.
40342@item E.errtext
40343A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
40344@end table
40345
40346@end table
40347
40348@node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
40349@section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
40350
40351This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
40352target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
40353details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
40354
40355@menu
40356* ARM-Specific Protocol Details::
40357* MIPS-Specific Protocol Details::
40358@end menu
40359
40360@node ARM-Specific Protocol Details
40361@subsection @acronym{ARM}-specific Protocol Details
40362
40363@menu
40364* ARM Breakpoint Kinds::
40365@end menu
40366
40367@node ARM Breakpoint Kinds
40368@subsubsection @acronym{ARM} Breakpoint Kinds
40369@cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{ARM}
40370
40371These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
40372
40373@table @r
40374
40375@item 2
4037616-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
40377
40378@item 3
4037932-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
40380
40381@item 4
4038232-bit @acronym{ARM} mode breakpoint.
40383
40384@end table
40385
40386@node MIPS-Specific Protocol Details
40387@subsection @acronym{MIPS}-specific Protocol Details
40388
40389@menu
40390* MIPS Register packet Format::
40391* MIPS Breakpoint Kinds::
40392@end menu
40393
40394@node MIPS Register packet Format
40395@subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Register Packet Format
40396@cindex register packet format, @acronym{MIPS}
40397
40398The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
40399In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
40400sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
40401to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
40402byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
40403most-significant -- least-significant.
40404
40405@table @r
40406
40407@item MIPS32
40408All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
4040932 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
40410registers; fsr; fir; fp.
40411
40412@item MIPS64
40413All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
40414thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
40415as @code{MIPS32}.
40416
40417@end table
40418
40419@node MIPS Breakpoint Kinds
40420@subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Breakpoint Kinds
40421@cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{MIPS}
40422
40423These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
40424
40425@table @r
40426
40427@item 2
4042816-bit @acronym{MIPS16} mode breakpoint.
40429
40430@item 3
4043116-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
40432
40433@item 4
4043432-bit standard @acronym{MIPS} mode breakpoint.
40435
40436@item 5
4043732-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
40438
40439@end table
40440
40441@node Tracepoint Packets
40442@section Tracepoint Packets
40443@cindex tracepoint packets
40444@cindex packets, tracepoint
40445
40446Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
40447tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
40448
40449@table @samp
40450
40451@item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
40452@cindex @samp{QTDP} packet
40453Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
40454is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
40455the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
40456count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
40457then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
40458the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
40459for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
40460tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
40461by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
40462encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
40463further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
40464actions.
40465
40466Replies:
40467@table @samp
40468@item OK
40469The packet was understood and carried out.
40470@item qRelocInsn
40471@xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
40472@item @w{}
40473The packet was not recognized.
40474@end table
40475
40476@item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
40477Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
40478@var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
40479this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
40480another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
40481trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
40482specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
40483
40484In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
40485can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
40486is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
40487actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
40488taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
40489@samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
40490tracepoint actions.
40491
40492The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
40493actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
40494following forms:
40495
40496@table @samp
40497
40498@item R @var{mask}
40499Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
40500a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
40501@var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
40502zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
40503not fit in a 32-bit word.
40504
40505@item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
40506Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
40507number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
40508@samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
40509address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
40510@var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
40511values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
40512
40513@item X @var{len},@var{expr}
40514Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
40515it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
40516@ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
40517two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
40518in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
40519packet).
40520
40521@end table
40522
40523Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
40524packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
40525length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
40526action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
40527actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
40528must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
40529``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
40530separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
40531
40532Replies:
40533@table @samp
40534@item OK
40535The packet was understood and carried out.
40536@item qRelocInsn
40537@xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
40538@item @w{}
40539The packet was not recognized.
40540@end table
40541
40542@item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
40543@cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
40544Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
40545This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
40546originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. @var{type}
40547is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
40548tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
40549@var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
40550
40551@var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
40552string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
40553This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
40554fit in a single packet.
40555@c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
40556@c tracepoint descriptions section.
40557
40558The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
40559@samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
40560@value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
40561list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
40562
40563The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
40564report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
40565query packets.
40566
40567Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
40568if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
40569Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
40570much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
40571tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
40572the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
40573could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
40574be found.
40575
40576@item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}
40577@cindex define trace state variable, remote request
40578@cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
40579Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
40580value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
40581and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
40582the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
40583target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
40584mentioned in expressions.
40585
40586@item QTFrame:@var{n}
40587@cindex @samp{QTFrame} packet
40588Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
40589register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
40590request packets from @value{GDBN}.
40591
40592A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
40593requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
40594without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
40595one of the following forms:
40596
40597@table @samp
40598@item F @var{f}
40599The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
40600@var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
40601was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
40602
40603@item T @var{t}
40604The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
40605@var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
40606
40607@end table
40608
40609@item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
40610Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
40611currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
40612@var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
40613
40614@item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
40615Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
40616currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
40617is a hexadecimal number.
40618
40619@item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
40620Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
40621currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
40622and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
40623numbers.
40624
40625@item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
40626Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
40627frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
40628
40629@item qTMinFTPILen
40630@cindex @samp{qTMinFTPILen} packet
40631This packet requests the minimum length of instruction at which a fast
40632tracepoint (@pxref{Set Tracepoints}) may be placed. For instance, on
40633the 32-bit x86 architecture, it is possible to use a 4-byte jump, but
40634it depends on the target system being able to create trampolines in
40635the first 64K of memory, which might or might not be possible for that
40636system. So the reply to this packet will be 4 if it is able to
40637arrange for that.
40638
40639Replies:
40640
40641@table @samp
40642@item 0
40643The minimum instruction length is currently unknown.
40644@item @var{length}
40645The minimum instruction length is @var{length}, where @var{length} is greater
40646or equal to 1. @var{length} is a hexadecimal number. A reply of 1 means
40647that a fast tracepoint may be placed on any instruction regardless of size.
40648@item E
40649An error has occurred.
40650@item @w{}
40651An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the stub.
40652@end table
40653
40654@item QTStart
40655@cindex @samp{QTStart} packet
40656Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
40657tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
40658@samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
40659instruction reply packet}).
40660
40661@item QTStop
40662@cindex @samp{QTStop} packet
40663End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
40664
40665@item QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
40666@anchor{QTEnable}
40667@cindex @samp{QTEnable} packet
40668Enable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
40669experiment. If the tracepoint was previously disabled, then collection
40670of data from it will resume.
40671
40672@item QTDisable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
40673@anchor{QTDisable}
40674@cindex @samp{QTDisable} packet
40675Disable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
40676experiment. No more data will be collected from the tracepoint unless
40677@samp{QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}} is subsequently issued.
40678
40679@item QTinit
40680@cindex @samp{QTinit} packet
40681Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
40682
40683@item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
40684@cindex @samp{QTro} packet
40685Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
40686will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
40687if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
40688
40689@value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
40690containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
40691still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
40692there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
40693
40694@item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
40695@cindex @samp{QTDisconnected} packet
40696Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
40697disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
40698continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
40699@value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
40700
40701@item qTStatus
40702@cindex @samp{qTStatus} packet
40703Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
40704
40705The reply has the form:
40706
40707@table @samp
40708
40709@item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
40710@var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
40711running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
40712optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
40713
40714@end table
40715
40716If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
40717explanations as one of the optional fields:
40718
40719@table @samp
40720
40721@item tnotrun:0
40722No trace has been run yet.
40723
40724@item tstop[:@var{text}]:0
40725The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command. The optional
40726@var{text} field is a user-supplied string supplied as part of the
40727stop command (for instance, an explanation of why the trace was
40728stopped manually). It is hex-encoded.
40729
40730@item tfull:0
40731The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
40732
40733@item tdisconnected:0
40734The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
40735
40736@item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
40737The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
40738
40739@item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
40740The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
40741string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
40742(for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression).
40743@var{text} is hex encoded.
40744
40745@item tunknown:0
40746The trace stopped for some other reason.
40747
40748@end table
40749
40750Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
40751Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
40752the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
40753numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
40754trace.
40755
40756@table @samp
40757
40758@item tframes:@var{n}
40759The number of trace frames in the buffer.
40760
40761@item tcreated:@var{n}
40762The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
40763be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
40764
40765@item tsize:@var{n}
40766The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
40767
40768@item tfree:@var{n}
40769The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
40770
40771@item circular:@var{n}
40772The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
40773trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
40774necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
40775and may fill up.
40776
40777@item disconn:@var{n}
40778The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
40779tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
40780that the trace run will stop.
40781
40782@end table
40783
40784@item qTP:@var{tp}:@var{addr}
40785@cindex tracepoint status, remote request
40786@cindex @samp{qTP} packet
40787Ask the stub for the current state of tracepoint number @var{tp} at
40788address @var{addr}.
40789
40790Replies:
40791@table @samp
40792@item V@var{hits}:@var{usage}
40793The tracepoint has been hit @var{hits} times so far during the trace
40794run, and accounts for @var{usage} in the trace buffer. Note that
40795@code{while-stepping} steps are not counted as separate hits, but the
40796steps' space consumption is added into the usage number.
40797
40798@end table
40799
40800@item qTV:@var{var}
40801@cindex trace state variable value, remote request
40802@cindex @samp{qTV} packet
40803Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
40804
40805Replies:
40806@table @samp
40807@item V@var{value}
40808The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
40809value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
40810saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
40811user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
40812different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
40813program is running.
40814
40815@item U
40816The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
40817if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
40818was not collected.
40819@end table
40820
40821@item qTfP
40822@cindex @samp{qTfP} packet
40823@itemx qTsP
40824@cindex @samp{qTsP} packet
40825These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
40826the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
40827of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
40828to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
40829that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
40830
40831@item qTfV
40832@cindex @samp{qTfV} packet
40833@itemx qTsV
40834@cindex @samp{qTsV} packet
40835These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
40836target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
40837and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
40838these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
40839trace state variables.
40840
40841@item qTfSTM
40842@itemx qTsSTM
40843@anchor{qTfSTM}
40844@anchor{qTsSTM}
40845@cindex @samp{qTfSTM} packet
40846@cindex @samp{qTsSTM} packet
40847These packets request data about static tracepoint markers that exist
40848in the target program. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfSTM} to get the
40849first piece of data, and multiple @code{qTsSTM} to get additional
40850pieces. Replies to these packets take the following form:
40851
40852Reply:
40853@table @samp
40854@item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}
40855A single marker
40856@item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra},@var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}@dots{}
40857a comma-separated list of markers
40858@item l
40859(lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
40860@item E @var{nn}
40861An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
40862@item @w{}
40863An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the
40864stub.
40865@end table
40866
40867@var{address} is encoded in hex.
40868@var{id} and @var{extra} are strings encoded in hex.
40869
40870In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
40871more markers, separated by commas. @value{GDBN} will respond to each
40872reply with a request for more markers (using the @samp{qs} form of the
40873query), until the target responds with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for
40874@dfn{last}).
40875
40876@item qTSTMat:@var{address}
40877@anchor{qTSTMat}
40878@cindex @samp{qTSTMat} packet
40879This packets requests data about static tracepoint markers in the
40880target program at @var{address}. Replies to this packet follow the
40881syntax of the @samp{qTfSTM} and @code{qTsSTM} packets that list static
40882tracepoint markers.
40883
40884@item QTSave:@var{filename}
40885@cindex @samp{QTSave} packet
40886This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
40887@var{filename} in the target's filesystem. @var{filename} is encoded
40888as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
40889absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
40890
40891@item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
40892@cindex @samp{qTBuffer} packet
40893Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
40894starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
40895a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
40896The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
40897in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
40898A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
40899available.
40900
40901@item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
40902This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
40903@var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
40904
40905@item QTBuffer:size:@var{size}
40906@anchor{QTBuffer-size}
40907@cindex @samp{QTBuffer size} packet
40908This packet directs the target to make the trace buffer be of size
40909@var{size} if possible. A value of @code{-1} tells the target to
40910use whatever size it prefers.
40911
40912@item QTNotes:@r{[}@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@r{[};@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@dots{}
40913@cindex @samp{QTNotes} packet
40914This packet adds optional textual notes to the trace run. Allowable
40915types include @code{user}, @code{notes}, and @code{tstop}, the
40916@var{text} fields are arbitrary strings, hex-encoded.
40917
40918@end table
40919
40920@subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
40921When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
40922relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
40923different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
40924enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
40925return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
40926PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
40927of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
40928it had executed in the original location.
40929
40930In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
40931respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
40932packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
40933this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
40934documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
40935descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
40936format of the request is:
40937
40938@table @samp
40939@item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
40940
40941This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
40942to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
40943instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
40944@var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
40945memory starting at @var{to}.
40946@end table
40947
40948Replies:
40949@table @samp
40950@item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
40951Informs the stub the relocation is complete. @var{adjusted_size} is
40952the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
40953@item E @var{NN}
40954A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
40955relocating the instruction.
40956@end table
40957
40958@node Host I/O Packets
40959@section Host I/O Packets
40960@cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
40961@cindex file transfer, remote protocol
40962
40963The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
40964operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
40965used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
40966filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
40967layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
40968Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
40969protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
40970Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
40971target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
40972Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
40973
40974The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
40975its arguments. They have this format:
40976
40977@table @samp
40978
40979@item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
40980@var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
40981should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
40982for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
40983the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
40984numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
40985used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
40986hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
40987buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
40988
40989@end table
40990
40991The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
40992
40993@table @samp
40994
40995@item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
40996@var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
40997non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
40998@var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
40999value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
41000operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
41001binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
41002normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
41003documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
41004@var{attachment}.
41005
41006@item @w{}
41007An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
41008
41009@end table
41010
41011These are the supported Host I/O operations:
41012
41013@table @samp
41014@item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
41015Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
41016return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
41017@var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
41018(@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
41019of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
41020@xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
41021
41022@item vFile:close: @var{fd}
41023Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
41024-1 if an error occurs.
41025
41026@item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
41027Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
41028@var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
41029relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
41030common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
41031condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
41032returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
41033@var{count} was zero.
41034
41035The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
41036If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
41037attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
41038number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
41039some characters were escaped.
41040
41041@item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
41042Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
41043to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
41044file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
41045separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
41046packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
41047which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
41048error occurred.
41049
41050@item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
41051Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
41052or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
41053
41054@item vFile:readlink: @var{filename}
41055Read value of symbolic link @var{filename} on the target. Return
41056the number of bytes read, or -1 if an error occurs.
41057
41058The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
41059If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
41060attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
41061number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
41062some characters were escaped.
41063
41064@end table
41065
41066@node Interrupts
41067@section Interrupts
41068@cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
41069
41070When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
41071attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or
41072a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g},
41073control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
41074
41075The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
41076mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
41077currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
41078interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
41079@code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
41080
41081@samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
41082transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
41083@code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
41084the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
41085transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
41086and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
41087(@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
41088@code{0x03} as part of its packet.
41089
41090@code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
41091When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
41092it stops execution and connects to gdb.
41093
41094Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
41095precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
41096implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
41097threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
41098currently-executing threads and processes.
41099If the stub is successful at interrupting the
41100running program, it should send one of the stop
41101reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
41102of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
41103for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
41104Interrupts received while the
41105program is stopped are discarded.
41106
41107@node Notification Packets
41108@section Notification Packets
41109@cindex notification packets
41110@cindex packets, notification
41111
41112The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
41113packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
41114may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
41115present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
41116without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
41117are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
41118is not a problem.
41119
41120A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
41121@var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
41122and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
41123as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
41124never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
41125receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
41126to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
41127
41128Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
41129colon characters, followed by a colon character.
41130
41131Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
41132notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
41133timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
41134not they understand it.
41135
41136Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
41137protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
41138future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
41139new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
41140recipients.
41141
41142(Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
41143the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
41144transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
41145are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
41146assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
41147
41148Each notification is comprised of three parts:
41149@table @samp
41150@item @var{name}:@var{event}
41151The notification packet is sent by the side that initiates the
41152exchange (currently, only the stub does that), with @var{event}
41153carrying the specific information about the notification.
41154@var{name} is the name of the notification.
41155@item @var{ack}
41156The acknowledge sent by the other side, usually @value{GDBN}, to
41157acknowledge the exchange and request the event.
41158@end table
41159
41160The purpose of an asynchronous notification mechanism is to report to
41161@value{GDBN} that something interesting happened in the remote stub.
41162
41163The remote stub may send notification @var{name}:@var{event}
41164at any time, but @value{GDBN} acknowledges the notification when
41165appropriate. The notification event is pending before @value{GDBN}
41166acknowledges. Only one notification at a time may be pending; if
41167additional events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
41168previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
41169synchronous transmission in response to @var{ack} packets from
41170@value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
41171the stub is permitted to resend a notification if it believes
41172@value{GDBN} may not have received it.
41173
41174Specifically, notifications may appear when @value{GDBN} is not
41175otherwise reading input from the stub, or when @value{GDBN} is
41176expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
41177@samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
41178Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
41179the stub so there is no ambiguity.
41180
41181After receiving a notification, @value{GDBN} shall acknowledge it by
41182sending a @var{ack} packet as a regular, synchronous request to the
41183stub. Such acknowledgment is not required to happen immediately, as
41184@value{GDBN} is permitted to send other, unrelated packets to the
41185stub first, which the stub should process normally.
41186
41187Upon receiving a @var{ack} packet, if the stub has other queued
41188events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
41189normal @var{event}. @value{GDBN} shall then send another @var{ack}
41190packet to solicit further responses; again, it is permitted to send
41191other, unrelated packets as well which the stub should process
41192normally.
41193
41194If the stub receives a @var{ack} packet and there are no additional
41195@var{event} to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK} response.
41196At this point, @value{GDBN} has finished processing a notification
41197and the stub has completed sending any queued events. @value{GDBN}
41198won't accept any new notifications until the final @samp{OK} is
41199received . If further notification events occur, the stub shall send
41200a new notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the notification, and
41201the process shall be repeated.
41202
41203The process of asynchronous notification can be illustrated by the
41204following example:
41205@smallexample
41206<- @code{%%Stop:T0505:98e7ffbf;04:4ce6ffbf;08:b1b6e54c;thread:p7526.7526;core:0;}
41207@code{...}
41208-> @code{vStopped}
41209<- @code{T0505:68f37db7;04:40f37db7;08:63850408;thread:p7526.7528;core:0;}
41210-> @code{vStopped}
41211<- @code{T0505:68e3fdb6;04:40e3fdb6;08:63850408;thread:p7526.7529;core:0;}
41212-> @code{vStopped}
41213<- @code{OK}
41214@end smallexample
41215
41216The following notifications are defined:
41217@multitable @columnfractions 0.12 0.12 0.38 0.38
41218
41219@item Notification
41220@tab Ack
41221@tab Event
41222@tab Description
41223
41224@item Stop
41225@tab vStopped
41226@tab @var{reply}. The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
41227described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
41228for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
41229@value{GDBN}.
41230@tab Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
41231
41232@end multitable
41233
41234@node Remote Non-Stop
41235@section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
41236
41237@value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
41238multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
41239supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
41240@samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
41241
41242@value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
41243establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
41244does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
41245must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
41246all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
41247probe the target state after a mode change.
41248
41249In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
41250would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
41251asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
41252inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
41253in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
41254mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
41255when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
41256of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
41257affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
41258to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
41259threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
41260
41261In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
41262follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
41263sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
41264sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
41265it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
41266stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
41267subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
41268using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
41269asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
41270If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
41271or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
41272@samp{OK}.
41273
41274@node Packet Acknowledgment
41275@section Packet Acknowledgment
41276
41277@cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
41278@cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
41279By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
41280the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
41281the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
41282This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
41283unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
41284
41285In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
41286TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
41287It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
41288overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
41289@samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
41290
41291When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
41292expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
41293and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
41294@ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
41295
41296If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
41297no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
41298by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
41299@pxref{qSupported}.
41300If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
41301disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
41302(@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
41303@value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
41304Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
41305@value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
41306response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
41307
41308Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
41309between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
41310it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
41311connection.
41312Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
41313new connection is established,
41314there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
41315for the current connection, once disabled.
41316
41317@node Examples
41318@section Examples
41319
41320Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
41321does not get any direct output:
41322
41323@smallexample
41324-> @code{R00}
41325<- @code{+}
41326@emph{target restarts}
41327-> @code{?}
41328<- @code{+}
41329<- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
41330-> @code{+}
41331@end smallexample
41332
41333Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
41334
41335@smallexample
41336-> @code{G1445@dots{}}
41337<- @code{+}
41338-> @code{s}
41339<- @code{+}
41340@emph{time passes}
41341<- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
41342-> @code{+}
41343-> @code{g}
41344<- @code{+}
41345<- @code{1455@dots{}}
41346-> @code{+}
41347@end smallexample
41348
41349@node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
41350@section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
41351@cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
41352
41353@menu
41354* File-I/O Overview::
41355* Protocol Basics::
41356* The F Request Packet::
41357* The F Reply Packet::
41358* The Ctrl-C Message::
41359* Console I/O::
41360* List of Supported Calls::
41361* Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
41362* Constants::
41363* File-I/O Examples::
41364@end menu
41365
41366@node File-I/O Overview
41367@subsection File-I/O Overview
41368@cindex file-i/o overview
41369
41370The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
41371target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
41372system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
41373remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
41374actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
41375This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
41376
41377The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
41378It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
41379@value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
41380translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
41381protocol representations when data is transmitted.
41382
41383The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
41384@value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
41385or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
41386the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
41387memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
41388the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
41389(@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
41390
41391The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
41392the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
41393after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
41394previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
41395request from @value{GDBN} is required.
41396
41397@smallexample
41398(@value{GDBP}) continue
41399 <- target requests 'system call X'
41400 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
41401 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
41402 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
41403 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
41404@end smallexample
41405
41406The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
41407the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
41408named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
41409system are not supported by this protocol.
41410
41411File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
41412
41413@node Protocol Basics
41414@subsection Protocol Basics
41415@cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
41416
41417The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
41418as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
41419@value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
41420the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
41421of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
41422This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
41423to call the appropriate host system call:
41424
41425@itemize @bullet
41426@item
41427A unique identifier for the requested system call.
41428
41429@item
41430All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
41431in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
41432pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
41433Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
41434
41435@end itemize
41436
41437At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
41438
41439@itemize @bullet
41440@item
41441If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
41442system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
41443standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
41444expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
41445packet.
41446
41447@item
41448@value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
41449representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
41450
41451@item
41452@value{GDBN} calls the system call.
41453
41454@item
41455It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
41456
41457@item
41458If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
41459by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
41460target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
41461by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
41462packet.
41463
41464@end itemize
41465
41466Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
41467necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
41468
41469@itemize @bullet
41470@item
41471Return value.
41472
41473@item
41474@code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
41475
41476@item
41477``Ctrl-C'' flag.
41478
41479@end itemize
41480
41481After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
41482the latest continue or step action.
41483
41484@node The F Request Packet
41485@subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
41486@cindex file-i/o request packet
41487@cindex @code{F} request packet
41488
41489The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
41490
41491@table @samp
41492@item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
41493
41494@var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
41495This is just the name of the function.
41496
41497@var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
41498Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
41499of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
41500datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
41501of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
41502comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
41503string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
41504
41505@end table
41506
41507
41508
41509@node The F Reply Packet
41510@subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
41511@cindex file-i/o reply packet
41512@cindex @code{F} reply packet
41513
41514The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
41515
41516@table @samp
41517
41518@item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
41519
41520@var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
41521
41522@var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
41523representation.
41524This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
41525
41526@var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
41527case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
41528The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
41529
41530@smallexample
41531F0,0,C
41532@end smallexample
41533
41534@noindent
41535or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
41536
41537@smallexample
41538F-1,4,C
41539@end smallexample
41540
41541@noindent
41542assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
41543
41544@end table
41545
41546
41547@node The Ctrl-C Message
41548@subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
41549@cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
41550
41551If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
41552reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
41553the target should behave as if it had
41554gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
41555interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
41556(as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
41557packet.
41558
41559It's important for the target to know in which
41560state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
41561
41562@itemize @bullet
41563@item
41564The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
41565
41566@item
41567The system call on the host has been finished.
41568
41569@end itemize
41570
41571These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
41572returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
41573call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
41574on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
41575system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
41576as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
41577
41578@value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
41579yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
41580@code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
41581before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
41582@value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
41583The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
41584or the full action has been completed.
41585
41586@node Console I/O
41587@subsection Console I/O
41588@cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
41589
41590By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
41591descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
41592on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
41593(@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
41594by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
415950 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
41596conditions is met:
41597
41598@itemize @bullet
41599@item
41600The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
41601@code{read}
41602system call is treated as finished.
41603
41604@item
41605The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
41606newline.
41607
41608@item
41609The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
41610character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
41611
41612@end itemize
41613
41614If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
41615the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
41616either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
41617is stopped at the user's request.
41618
41619
41620@node List of Supported Calls
41621@subsection List of Supported Calls
41622@cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
41623
41624@menu
41625* open::
41626* close::
41627* read::
41628* write::
41629* lseek::
41630* rename::
41631* unlink::
41632* stat/fstat::
41633* gettimeofday::
41634* isatty::
41635* system::
41636@end menu
41637
41638@node open
41639@unnumberedsubsubsec open
41640@cindex open, file-i/o system call
41641
41642@table @asis
41643@item Synopsis:
41644@smallexample
41645int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
41646int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
41647@end smallexample
41648
41649@item Request:
41650@samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
41651
41652@noindent
41653@var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
41654
41655@table @code
41656@item O_CREAT
41657If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
41658rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
41659are concerned.
41660
41661@item O_EXCL
41662When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
41663an error and open() fails.
41664
41665@item O_TRUNC
41666If the file already exists and the open mode allows
41667writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
41668truncated to zero length.
41669
41670@item O_APPEND
41671The file is opened in append mode.
41672
41673@item O_RDONLY
41674The file is opened for reading only.
41675
41676@item O_WRONLY
41677The file is opened for writing only.
41678
41679@item O_RDWR
41680The file is opened for reading and writing.
41681@end table
41682
41683@noindent
41684Other bits are silently ignored.
41685
41686
41687@noindent
41688@var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
41689
41690@table @code
41691@item S_IRUSR
41692User has read permission.
41693
41694@item S_IWUSR
41695User has write permission.
41696
41697@item S_IRGRP
41698Group has read permission.
41699
41700@item S_IWGRP
41701Group has write permission.
41702
41703@item S_IROTH
41704Others have read permission.
41705
41706@item S_IWOTH
41707Others have write permission.
41708@end table
41709
41710@noindent
41711Other bits are silently ignored.
41712
41713
41714@item Return value:
41715@code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
41716occurred.
41717
41718@item Errors:
41719
41720@table @code
41721@item EEXIST
41722@var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
41723
41724@item EISDIR
41725@var{pathname} refers to a directory.
41726
41727@item EACCES
41728The requested access is not allowed.
41729
41730@item ENAMETOOLONG
41731@var{pathname} was too long.
41732
41733@item ENOENT
41734A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
41735
41736@item ENODEV
41737@var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
41738
41739@item EROFS
41740@var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
41741write access was requested.
41742
41743@item EFAULT
41744@var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
41745
41746@item ENOSPC
41747No space on device to create the file.
41748
41749@item EMFILE
41750The process already has the maximum number of files open.
41751
41752@item ENFILE
41753The limit on the total number of files open on the system
41754has been reached.
41755
41756@item EINTR
41757The call was interrupted by the user.
41758@end table
41759
41760@end table
41761
41762@node close
41763@unnumberedsubsubsec close
41764@cindex close, file-i/o system call
41765
41766@table @asis
41767@item Synopsis:
41768@smallexample
41769int close(int fd);
41770@end smallexample
41771
41772@item Request:
41773@samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
41774
41775@item Return value:
41776@code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
41777
41778@item Errors:
41779
41780@table @code
41781@item EBADF
41782@var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
41783
41784@item EINTR
41785The call was interrupted by the user.
41786@end table
41787
41788@end table
41789
41790@node read
41791@unnumberedsubsubsec read
41792@cindex read, file-i/o system call
41793
41794@table @asis
41795@item Synopsis:
41796@smallexample
41797int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
41798@end smallexample
41799
41800@item Request:
41801@samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
41802
41803@item Return value:
41804On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
41805Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
41806returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
41807
41808@item Errors:
41809
41810@table @code
41811@item EBADF
41812@var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
41813reading.
41814
41815@item EFAULT
41816@var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41817
41818@item EINTR
41819The call was interrupted by the user.
41820@end table
41821
41822@end table
41823
41824@node write
41825@unnumberedsubsubsec write
41826@cindex write, file-i/o system call
41827
41828@table @asis
41829@item Synopsis:
41830@smallexample
41831int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
41832@end smallexample
41833
41834@item Request:
41835@samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
41836
41837@item Return value:
41838On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
41839Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
41840is returned.
41841
41842@item Errors:
41843
41844@table @code
41845@item EBADF
41846@var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
41847writing.
41848
41849@item EFAULT
41850@var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41851
41852@item EFBIG
41853An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
41854host-specific maximum file size allowed.
41855
41856@item ENOSPC
41857No space on device to write the data.
41858
41859@item EINTR
41860The call was interrupted by the user.
41861@end table
41862
41863@end table
41864
41865@node lseek
41866@unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
41867@cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
41868
41869@table @asis
41870@item Synopsis:
41871@smallexample
41872long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
41873@end smallexample
41874
41875@item Request:
41876@samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
41877
41878@var{flag} is one of:
41879
41880@table @code
41881@item SEEK_SET
41882The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
41883
41884@item SEEK_CUR
41885The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
41886bytes.
41887
41888@item SEEK_END
41889The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
41890bytes.
41891@end table
41892
41893@item Return value:
41894On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
41895the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
41896value of -1 is returned.
41897
41898@item Errors:
41899
41900@table @code
41901@item EBADF
41902@var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
41903
41904@item ESPIPE
41905@var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
41906
41907@item EINVAL
41908@var{flag} is not a proper value.
41909
41910@item EINTR
41911The call was interrupted by the user.
41912@end table
41913
41914@end table
41915
41916@node rename
41917@unnumberedsubsubsec rename
41918@cindex rename, file-i/o system call
41919
41920@table @asis
41921@item Synopsis:
41922@smallexample
41923int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
41924@end smallexample
41925
41926@item Request:
41927@samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
41928
41929@item Return value:
41930On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
41931
41932@item Errors:
41933
41934@table @code
41935@item EISDIR
41936@var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
41937directory.
41938
41939@item EEXIST
41940@var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
41941
41942@item EBUSY
41943@var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
41944process.
41945
41946@item EINVAL
41947An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
41948of itself.
41949
41950@item ENOTDIR
41951A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
41952path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
41953and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
41954
41955@item EFAULT
41956@var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
41957
41958@item EACCES
41959No access to the file or the path of the file.
41960
41961@item ENAMETOOLONG
41962
41963@var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
41964
41965@item ENOENT
41966A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
41967
41968@item EROFS
41969The file is on a read-only filesystem.
41970
41971@item ENOSPC
41972The device containing the file has no room for the new
41973directory entry.
41974
41975@item EINTR
41976The call was interrupted by the user.
41977@end table
41978
41979@end table
41980
41981@node unlink
41982@unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
41983@cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
41984
41985@table @asis
41986@item Synopsis:
41987@smallexample
41988int unlink(const char *pathname);
41989@end smallexample
41990
41991@item Request:
41992@samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
41993
41994@item Return value:
41995On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
41996
41997@item Errors:
41998
41999@table @code
42000@item EACCES
42001No access to the file or the path of the file.
42002
42003@item EPERM
42004The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
42005
42006@item EBUSY
42007The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
42008being used by another process.
42009
42010@item EFAULT
42011@var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
42012
42013@item ENAMETOOLONG
42014@var{pathname} was too long.
42015
42016@item ENOENT
42017A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
42018
42019@item ENOTDIR
42020A component of the path is not a directory.
42021
42022@item EROFS
42023The file is on a read-only filesystem.
42024
42025@item EINTR
42026The call was interrupted by the user.
42027@end table
42028
42029@end table
42030
42031@node stat/fstat
42032@unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
42033@cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
42034@cindex stat, file-i/o system call
42035
42036@table @asis
42037@item Synopsis:
42038@smallexample
42039int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
42040int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
42041@end smallexample
42042
42043@item Request:
42044@samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
42045@samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
42046
42047@item Return value:
42048On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
42049
42050@item Errors:
42051
42052@table @code
42053@item EBADF
42054@var{fd} is not a valid open file.
42055
42056@item ENOENT
42057A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
42058path is an empty string.
42059
42060@item ENOTDIR
42061A component of the path is not a directory.
42062
42063@item EFAULT
42064@var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
42065
42066@item EACCES
42067No access to the file or the path of the file.
42068
42069@item ENAMETOOLONG
42070@var{pathname} was too long.
42071
42072@item EINTR
42073The call was interrupted by the user.
42074@end table
42075
42076@end table
42077
42078@node gettimeofday
42079@unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
42080@cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
42081
42082@table @asis
42083@item Synopsis:
42084@smallexample
42085int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
42086@end smallexample
42087
42088@item Request:
42089@samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
42090
42091@item Return value:
42092On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
42093
42094@item Errors:
42095
42096@table @code
42097@item EINVAL
42098@var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
42099
42100@item EFAULT
42101@var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
42102@end table
42103
42104@end table
42105
42106@node isatty
42107@unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
42108@cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
42109
42110@table @asis
42111@item Synopsis:
42112@smallexample
42113int isatty(int fd);
42114@end smallexample
42115
42116@item Request:
42117@samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
42118
42119@item Return value:
42120Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
42121
42122@item Errors:
42123
42124@table @code
42125@item EINTR
42126The call was interrupted by the user.
42127@end table
42128
42129@end table
42130
42131Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
421321 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
42133to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
42134would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
42135needed.
42136
42137
42138@node system
42139@unnumberedsubsubsec system
42140@cindex system, file-i/o system call
42141
42142@table @asis
42143@item Synopsis:
42144@smallexample
42145int system(const char *command);
42146@end smallexample
42147
42148@item Request:
42149@samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
42150
42151@item Return value:
42152If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
42153available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
42154For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
42155return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
42156command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
42157return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
42158@file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
42159
42160@item Errors:
42161
42162@table @code
42163@item EINTR
42164The call was interrupted by the user.
42165@end table
42166
42167@end table
42168
42169@value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
42170to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
42171the host is simplified before it's returned
42172to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
42173is discarded, and the return value consists
42174entirely of the exit status of the called command.
42175
42176Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
42177by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
42178@code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
42179
42180@table @code
42181@item set remote system-call-allowed
42182@kindex set remote system-call-allowed
42183Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
42184protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
42185
42186@item show remote system-call-allowed
42187@kindex show remote system-call-allowed
42188Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
42189protocol.
42190@end table
42191
42192@node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
42193@subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
42194@cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
42195
42196@menu
42197* Integral Datatypes::
42198* Pointer Values::
42199* Memory Transfer::
42200* struct stat::
42201* struct timeval::
42202@end menu
42203
42204@node Integral Datatypes
42205@unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
42206@cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
42207
42208The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
42209@code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
42210@code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
42211
42212@code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
42213implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
42214
42215@code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
42216
42217@xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
42218in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
42219
42220@code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
42221
42222All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
42223structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
42224byte order.
42225
42226@node Pointer Values
42227@unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
42228@cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
42229
42230Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
42231is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
42232transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
42233are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
42234
42235@smallexample
42236@code{1aaf/12}
42237@end smallexample
42238
42239@noindent
42240which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
42241The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
42242the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
42243at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
42244
42245@smallexample
42246@code{123456/d}
42247@end smallexample
42248
42249@node Memory Transfer
42250@unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
42251@cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
42252
42253Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
42254example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
42255with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
42256this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
42257packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
42258it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
42259data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
42260
42261
42262@node struct stat
42263@unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
42264@cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
42265
42266The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
42267is defined as follows:
42268
42269@smallexample
42270struct stat @{
42271 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
42272 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
42273 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
42274 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
42275 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
42276 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
42277 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
42278 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
42279 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
42280 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
42281 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
42282 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
42283 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
42284@};
42285@end smallexample
42286
42287The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
42288appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
42289structure is of size 64 bytes.
42290
42291The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
42292range of values.
42293
42294@table @code
42295
42296@item st_dev
42297A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
42298
42299@item st_ino
42300No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
42301
42302@item st_mode
42303Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
42304bits have currently no meaning for the target.
42305
42306@item st_uid
42307@itemx st_gid
42308@itemx st_rdev
42309No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
42310
42311@item st_atime
42312@itemx st_mtime
42313@itemx st_ctime
42314These values have a host and file system dependent
42315accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
42316support exact timing values.
42317@end table
42318
42319The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
42320responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
42321continuing.
42322
42323Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
42324representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
42325get truncated on the target.
42326
42327@node struct timeval
42328@unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
42329@cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
42330
42331The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
42332is defined as follows:
42333
42334@smallexample
42335struct timeval @{
42336 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
42337 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
42338@};
42339@end smallexample
42340
42341The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
42342appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
42343structure is of size 8 bytes.
42344
42345@node Constants
42346@subsection Constants
42347@cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
42348
42349The following values are used for the constants inside of the
42350protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
42351values before and after the call as needed.
42352
42353@menu
42354* Open Flags::
42355* mode_t Values::
42356* Errno Values::
42357* Lseek Flags::
42358* Limits::
42359@end menu
42360
42361@node Open Flags
42362@unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
42363@cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
42364
42365All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
42366
42367@smallexample
42368 O_RDONLY 0x0
42369 O_WRONLY 0x1
42370 O_RDWR 0x2
42371 O_APPEND 0x8
42372 O_CREAT 0x200
42373 O_TRUNC 0x400
42374 O_EXCL 0x800
42375@end smallexample
42376
42377@node mode_t Values
42378@unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
42379@cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
42380
42381All values are given in octal representation.
42382
42383@smallexample
42384 S_IFREG 0100000
42385 S_IFDIR 040000
42386 S_IRUSR 0400
42387 S_IWUSR 0200
42388 S_IXUSR 0100
42389 S_IRGRP 040
42390 S_IWGRP 020
42391 S_IXGRP 010
42392 S_IROTH 04
42393 S_IWOTH 02
42394 S_IXOTH 01
42395@end smallexample
42396
42397@node Errno Values
42398@unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
42399@cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
42400
42401All values are given in decimal representation.
42402
42403@smallexample
42404 EPERM 1
42405 ENOENT 2
42406 EINTR 4
42407 EBADF 9
42408 EACCES 13
42409 EFAULT 14
42410 EBUSY 16
42411 EEXIST 17
42412 ENODEV 19
42413 ENOTDIR 20
42414 EISDIR 21
42415 EINVAL 22
42416 ENFILE 23
42417 EMFILE 24
42418 EFBIG 27
42419 ENOSPC 28
42420 ESPIPE 29
42421 EROFS 30
42422 ENAMETOOLONG 91
42423 EUNKNOWN 9999
42424@end smallexample
42425
42426 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
42427 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
42428
42429@node Lseek Flags
42430@unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
42431@cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
42432
42433@smallexample
42434 SEEK_SET 0
42435 SEEK_CUR 1
42436 SEEK_END 2
42437@end smallexample
42438
42439@node Limits
42440@unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
42441@cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
42442
42443All values are given in decimal representation.
42444
42445@smallexample
42446 INT_MIN -2147483648
42447 INT_MAX 2147483647
42448 UINT_MAX 4294967295
42449 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
42450 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
42451 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
42452@end smallexample
42453
42454@node File-I/O Examples
42455@subsection File-I/O Examples
42456@cindex file-i/o examples
42457
42458Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
42459address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
42460
42461@smallexample
42462<- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
42463@emph{request memory read from target}
42464-> @code{m1234,6}
42465<- XXXXXX
42466@emph{return "6 bytes written"}
42467-> @code{F6}
42468@end smallexample
42469
42470Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
42471address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
42472
42473@smallexample
42474<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
42475@emph{request memory write to target}
42476-> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
42477@emph{return "6 bytes read"}
42478-> @code{F6}
42479@end smallexample
42480
42481Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
42482file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
42483
42484@smallexample
42485<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
42486-> @code{F-1,9}
42487@end smallexample
42488
42489Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
42490host is called:
42491
42492@smallexample
42493<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
42494-> @code{F-1,4,C}
42495<- @code{T02}
42496@end smallexample
42497
42498Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
42499host is called:
42500
42501@smallexample
42502<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
42503-> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
42504<- @code{T02}
42505@end smallexample
42506
42507@node Library List Format
42508@section Library List Format
42509@cindex library list format, remote protocol
42510
42511On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
42512same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
42513@value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
42514operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
42515platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
42516@value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
42517through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
42518packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
42519queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
42520are loaded.
42521
42522The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
42523lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
42524associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
42525which report where the library was loaded in memory.
42526
42527For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
42528library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
42529dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
42530should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
42531section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
42532depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
42533
42534@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
42535library lists. @xref{Expat}.
42536
42537A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
42538offset, looks like this:
42539
42540@smallexample
42541<library-list>
42542 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
42543 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
42544 </library>
42545</library-list>
42546@end smallexample
42547
42548Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
42549allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
42550
42551@smallexample
42552<library-list>
42553 <library name="sharedlib.o">
42554 <section address="0x10000000"/>
42555 <section address="0x20000000"/>
42556 <section address="0x30000000"/>
42557 </library>
42558</library-list>
42559@end smallexample
42560
42561The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
42562
42563@smallexample
42564<!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
42565<!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
42566<!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
42567<!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
42568<!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
42569<!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
42570<!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
42571<!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
42572<!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
42573@end smallexample
42574
42575In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
42576single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
42577section for each library.
42578
42579@node Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
42580@section Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
42581@cindex library list format, remote protocol
42582
42583On SVR4 platforms @value{GDBN} can use the symbol table of a dynamic loader
42584(e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) and normal memory operations to maintain a list of
42585shared libraries. Still a special library list provided by this packet is
42586more efficient for the @value{GDBN} remote protocol.
42587
42588The @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet returns an XML document which lists
42589loaded libraries and their SVR4 linker parameters. For each library on SVR4
42590target, the following parameters are reported:
42591
42592@itemize @minus
42593@item
42594@code{name}, the absolute file name from the @code{l_name} field of
42595@code{struct link_map}.
42596@item
42597@code{lm} with address of @code{struct link_map} used for TLS
42598(Thread Local Storage) access.
42599@item
42600@code{l_addr}, the displacement as read from the field @code{l_addr} of
42601@code{struct link_map}. For prelinked libraries this is not an absolute
42602memory address. It is a displacement of absolute memory address against
42603address the file was prelinked to during the library load.
42604@item
42605@code{l_ld}, which is memory address of the @code{PT_DYNAMIC} segment
42606@end itemize
42607
42608Additionally the single @code{main-lm} attribute specifies address of
42609@code{struct link_map} used for the main executable. This parameter is used
42610for TLS access and its presence is optional.
42611
42612@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
42613SVR4 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
42614
42615A simple memory map, with two loaded libraries (which do not use prelink),
42616looks like this:
42617
42618@smallexample
42619<library-list-svr4 version="1.0" main-lm="0xe4f8f8">
42620 <library name="/lib/ld-linux.so.2" lm="0xe4f51c" l_addr="0xe2d000"
42621 l_ld="0xe4eefc"/>
42622 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6" lm="0xe4fbe8" l_addr="0x154000"
42623 l_ld="0x152350"/>
42624</library-list-svr>
42625@end smallexample
42626
42627The format of an SVR4 library list is described by this DTD:
42628
42629@smallexample
42630<!-- library-list-svr4: Root element with versioning -->
42631<!ELEMENT library-list-svr4 (library)*>
42632<!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
42633<!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 main-lm CDATA #IMPLIED>
42634<!ELEMENT library EMPTY>
42635<!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
42636<!ATTLIST library lm CDATA #REQUIRED>
42637<!ATTLIST library l_addr CDATA #REQUIRED>
42638<!ATTLIST library l_ld CDATA #REQUIRED>
42639@end smallexample
42640
42641@node Memory Map Format
42642@section Memory Map Format
42643@cindex memory map format
42644
42645To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
42646memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
42647memory map.
42648
42649The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
42650(@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
42651lists memory regions.
42652
42653@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
42654memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
42655
42656The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
42657
42658@smallexample
42659<?xml version="1.0"?>
42660<!DOCTYPE memory-map
42661 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
42662 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
42663<memory-map>
42664 region...
42665</memory-map>
42666@end smallexample
42667
42668Each region can be either:
42669
42670@itemize
42671
42672@item
42673A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
42674bytes from there:
42675
42676@smallexample
42677<memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
42678@end smallexample
42679
42680
42681@item
42682A region of read-only memory:
42683
42684@smallexample
42685<memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
42686@end smallexample
42687
42688
42689@item
42690A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
42691bytes in length:
42692
42693@smallexample
42694<memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
42695 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
42696</memory>
42697@end smallexample
42698
42699@end itemize
42700
42701Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
42702by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
42703packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
42704
42705The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
42706
42707@smallexample
42708<!-- ................................................... -->
42709<!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
42710<!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
42711<!-- .................................... .............. -->
42712<!-- memory-map.dtd -->
42713<!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
42714<!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
42715<!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
42716<!ELEMENT memory (property)>
42717<!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
42718 and its type, or device. -->
42719<!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
42720 start CDATA #REQUIRED
42721 length CDATA #REQUIRED
42722 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
42723<!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
42724<!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
42725<!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
42726@end smallexample
42727
42728@node Thread List Format
42729@section Thread List Format
42730@cindex thread list format
42731
42732To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
42733@value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
42734(@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
42735the following structure:
42736
42737@smallexample
42738<?xml version="1.0"?>
42739<threads>
42740 <thread id="id" core="0">
42741 ... description ...
42742 </thread>
42743</threads>
42744@end smallexample
42745
42746Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
42747identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
42748@samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
42749the thread was last executing on. The content of the of @samp{thread}
42750element is interpreted as human-readable auxilliary information.
42751
42752@node Traceframe Info Format
42753@section Traceframe Info Format
42754@cindex traceframe info format
42755
42756To be able to know which objects in the inferior can be examined when
42757inspecting a tracepoint hit, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of
42758memory ranges, registers and trace state variables that have been
42759collected in a traceframe.
42760
42761This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
42762(@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}) packet and is an XML document.
42763
42764@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
42765traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
42766
42767The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
42768
42769@smallexample
42770<?xml version="1.0"?>
42771<!DOCTYPE traceframe-info
42772 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
42773 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-traceframe-info.dtd">
42774<traceframe-info>
42775 block...
42776</traceframe-info>
42777@end smallexample
42778
42779Each traceframe block can be either:
42780
42781@itemize
42782
42783@item
42784A region of collected memory starting at @var{addr} and extending for
42785@var{length} bytes from there:
42786
42787@smallexample
42788<memory start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
42789@end smallexample
42790
42791@item
42792A block indicating trace state variable numbered @var{number} has been
42793collected:
42794
42795@smallexample
42796<tvar id="@var{number}"/>
42797@end smallexample
42798
42799@end itemize
42800
42801The formal DTD for the traceframe info format is given below:
42802
42803@smallexample
42804<!ELEMENT traceframe-info (memory | tvar)* >
42805<!ATTLIST traceframe-info version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
42806
42807<!ELEMENT memory EMPTY>
42808<!ATTLIST memory start CDATA #REQUIRED
42809 length CDATA #REQUIRED>
42810<!ELEMENT tvar>
42811<!ATTLIST tvar id CDATA #REQUIRED>
42812@end smallexample
42813
42814@node Branch Trace Format
42815@section Branch Trace Format
42816@cindex branch trace format
42817
42818In order to display the branch trace of an inferior thread,
42819@value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of branches. This list is
42820represented as list of sequential code blocks that are connected via
42821branches. The code in each block has been executed sequentially.
42822
42823This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
42824(@pxref{qXfer btrace read}) packet and is an XML document.
42825
42826@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
42827traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
42828
42829The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
42830
42831@smallexample
42832<?xml version="1.0"?>
42833<!DOCTYPE btrace
42834 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Branch Trace V1.0//EN"
42835 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-btrace.dtd">
42836<btrace>
42837 block...
42838</btrace>
42839@end smallexample
42840
42841@itemize
42842
42843@item
42844A block of sequentially executed instructions starting at @var{begin}
42845and ending at @var{end}:
42846
42847@smallexample
42848<block begin="@var{begin}" end="@var{end}"/>
42849@end smallexample
42850
42851@end itemize
42852
42853The formal DTD for the branch trace format is given below:
42854
42855@smallexample
42856<!ELEMENT btrace (block)* >
42857<!ATTLIST btrace version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
42858
42859<!ELEMENT block EMPTY>
42860<!ATTLIST block begin CDATA #REQUIRED
42861 end CDATA #REQUIRED>
42862@end smallexample
42863
42864@include agentexpr.texi
42865
42866@node Target Descriptions
42867@appendix Target Descriptions
42868@cindex target descriptions
42869
42870One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
42871is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
42872architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
42873a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or @acronym{MIPS}, for example ---
42874and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
42875architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
42876vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
42877
42878@itemize @bullet
42879@item
42880With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
42881the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
42882@item
42883Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
42884audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
42885variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
42886@item
42887When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
42888at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
42889@command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
42890@end itemize
42891
42892To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
42893target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
42894actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
42895processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
42896descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
42897
42898@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
42899target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
42900
42901@menu
42902* Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
42903* Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
42904* Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
42905 descriptions.
42906* Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
42907@end menu
42908
42909@node Retrieving Descriptions
42910@section Retrieving Descriptions
42911
42912Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
42913specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
42914description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
42915protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
42916qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
42917@samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
42918XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
42919Format}.
42920
42921Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
42922If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
42923specify a file are:
42924
42925@table @code
42926@cindex set tdesc filename
42927@item set tdesc filename @var{path}
42928Read the target description from @var{path}.
42929
42930@cindex unset tdesc filename
42931@item unset tdesc filename
42932Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
42933will use the description supplied by the current target.
42934
42935@cindex show tdesc filename
42936@item show tdesc filename
42937Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
42938@end table
42939
42940
42941@node Target Description Format
42942@section Target Description Format
42943@cindex target descriptions, XML format
42944
42945A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
42946document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
42947the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
42948means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
42949check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
42950However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
42951their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
42952
42953Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
42954and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
42955sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
42956@value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
42957target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
42958
42959Here is a simple target description:
42960
42961@smallexample
42962<target version="1.0">
42963 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
42964</target>
42965@end smallexample
42966
42967@noindent
42968This minimal description only says that the target uses
42969the x86-64 architecture.
42970
42971A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
42972optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
42973are explained further below.
42974
42975@smallexample
42976<?xml version="1.0"?>
42977<!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
42978<target version="1.0">
42979 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
42980 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
42981 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
42982 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
42983</target>
42984@end smallexample
42985
42986@noindent
42987The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
42988breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
42989declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
42990(@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
42991useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
42992@samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
42993including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
42994revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
42995the version mismatch.
42996
42997@subsection Inclusion
42998@cindex target descriptions, inclusion
42999@cindex XInclude
43000@ifnotinfo
43001@cindex <xi:include>
43002@end ifnotinfo
43003
43004It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
43005several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
43006share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
43007divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
43008the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
43009
43010@smallexample
43011<xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
43012@end smallexample
43013
43014@noindent
43015When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
43016the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
43017the contents of that document. If the current description was read
43018using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
43019@var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
43020current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
43021@var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
43022original description.
43023
43024@subsection Architecture
43025@cindex <architecture>
43026
43027An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
43028
43029@smallexample
43030 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
43031@end smallexample
43032
43033@var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
43034@code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
43035
43036@subsection OS ABI
43037@cindex @code{<osabi>}
43038
43039This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
43040Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
43041
43042An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
43043
43044@smallexample
43045 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
43046@end smallexample
43047
43048@var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
43049@w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
43050
43051@subsection Compatible Architecture
43052@cindex @code{<compatible>}
43053
43054This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
43055Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
43056
43057A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
43058
43059@smallexample
43060 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
43061@end smallexample
43062
43063@var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
43064@code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
43065
43066A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
43067is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
43068given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
43069Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
43070or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
43071in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
43072capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
43073
43074@smallexample
43075 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
43076 <compatible>spu</compatible>
43077@end smallexample
43078
43079@subsection Features
43080@cindex <feature>
43081
43082Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
43083system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
43084registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
43085has this form:
43086
43087@smallexample
43088<feature name="@var{name}">
43089 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
43090 @var{reg}@dots{}
43091</feature>
43092@end smallexample
43093
43094@noindent
43095Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
43096of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
43097knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
43098should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
43099
43100@subsection Types
43101
43102Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
43103interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
43104but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
43105Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
43106Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
43107
43108Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
43109a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
43110Types must be defined before they are used.
43111
43112@cindex <vector>
43113Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
43114of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
43115specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
43116@var{count}:
43117
43118@smallexample
43119<vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
43120@end smallexample
43121
43122@cindex <union>
43123If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
43124with a union type containing the useful representations. The
43125@samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
43126each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
43127
43128@smallexample
43129<union id="@var{id}">
43130 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
43131 @dots{}
43132</union>
43133@end smallexample
43134
43135@cindex <struct>
43136If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
43137it with a structure type. There are two forms of the @samp{<struct>}
43138element; a @samp{<struct>} element must either contain only bitfields
43139or contain no bitfields. If the structure contains only bitfields,
43140its total size in bytes must be specified, each bitfield must have an
43141explicit start and end, and bitfields are automatically assigned an
43142integer type. The field's @var{start} should be less than or
43143equal to its @var{end}, and zero represents the least significant bit.
43144
43145@smallexample
43146<struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
43147 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
43148 @dots{}
43149</struct>
43150@end smallexample
43151
43152If the structure contains no bitfields, then each field has an
43153explicit type, and no implicit padding is added.
43154
43155@smallexample
43156<struct id="@var{id}">
43157 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
43158 @dots{}
43159</struct>
43160@end smallexample
43161
43162@cindex <flags>
43163If a register's value is a series of single-bit flags, define it with
43164a flags type. The @samp{<flags>} element has an explicit @var{size}
43165and contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements. Each field has a
43166@var{name}, a @var{start}, and an @var{end}. Only single-bit flags
43167are supported.
43168
43169@smallexample
43170<flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
43171 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
43172 @dots{}
43173</flags>
43174@end smallexample
43175
43176@subsection Registers
43177@cindex <reg>
43178
43179Each register is represented as an element with this form:
43180
43181@smallexample
43182<reg name="@var{name}"
43183 bitsize="@var{size}"
43184 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
43185 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
43186 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
43187 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
43188@end smallexample
43189
43190@noindent
43191The components are as follows:
43192
43193@table @var
43194
43195@item name
43196The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
43197
43198@item bitsize
43199The register's size, in bits.
43200
43201@item regnum
43202The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
43203than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
43204a preceding feature); the first register in the target description
43205defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
43206the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
43207packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
43208in order of increasing register number.
43209
43210@item save-restore
43211Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
43212calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
43213@code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
43214some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
43215ABI.
43216
43217@item type
43218The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
43219defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
43220and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
43221for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
43222architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
43223@var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
43224
43225@item group
43226The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
43227be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
43228@var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
43229in @code{info registers}.
43230
43231@end table
43232
43233@node Predefined Target Types
43234@section Predefined Target Types
43235@cindex target descriptions, predefined types
43236
43237Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
43238from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
43239standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
43240types. The currently supported types are:
43241
43242@table @code
43243
43244@item int8
43245@itemx int16
43246@itemx int32
43247@itemx int64
43248@itemx int128
43249Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
43250
43251@item uint8
43252@itemx uint16
43253@itemx uint32
43254@itemx uint64
43255@itemx uint128
43256Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
43257
43258@item code_ptr
43259@itemx data_ptr
43260Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
43261any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
43262pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
43263address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
43264may be marked as data pointers.
43265
43266@item ieee_single
43267Single precision IEEE floating point.
43268
43269@item ieee_double
43270Double precision IEEE floating point.
43271
43272@item arm_fpa_ext
43273The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
43274
43275@item i387_ext
43276The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
43277
43278@item i386_eflags
4327932bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
43280
43281@item i386_mxcsr
4328232bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
43283
43284@end table
43285
43286@node Standard Target Features
43287@section Standard Target Features
43288@cindex target descriptions, standard features
43289
43290A target description must contain either no registers or all the
43291target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
43292@value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
43293the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
43294default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
43295described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
43296can recognize them.
43297
43298This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
43299which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
43300with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
43301if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
43302feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
43303description. You can add additional registers to any of the
43304standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
43305they were added to an unrecognized feature.
43306
43307This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
43308Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
43309@value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
43310
43311Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
43312company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
43313architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
43314containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
43315
43316The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
43317of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
43318registers using the capitalization used in the description.
43319
43320@menu
43321* AArch64 Features::
43322* ARM Features::
43323* i386 Features::
43324* MIPS Features::
43325* M68K Features::
43326* Nios II Features::
43327* PowerPC Features::
43328* S/390 and System z Features::
43329* TIC6x Features::
43330@end menu
43331
43332
43333@node AArch64 Features
43334@subsection AArch64 Features
43335@cindex target descriptions, AArch64 features
43336
43337The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.aarch64.core} feature is required for AArch64
43338targets. It should contain registers @samp{x0} through @samp{x30},
43339@samp{sp}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
43340
43341The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.aarch64.fpu} feature is optional. If present,
43342it should contain registers @samp{v0} through @samp{v31}, @samp{fpsr},
43343and @samp{fpcr}.
43344
43345@node ARM Features
43346@subsection ARM Features
43347@cindex target descriptions, ARM features
43348
43349The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for non-M-profile
43350ARM targets.
43351It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
43352@samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
43353
43354For M-profile targets (e.g. Cortex-M3), the @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}
43355feature is replaced by @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.m-profile}. It should contain
43356registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp}, @samp{lr}, @samp{pc},
43357and @samp{xpsr}.
43358
43359The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
43360should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
43361
43362The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
43363it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
43364@samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
43365@samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
43366
43367The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
43368should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
43369they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
43370@value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
43371halves of the double-precision registers.
43372
43373The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
43374need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
43375VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
43376quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
43377If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
43378be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
43379
43380@node i386 Features
43381@subsection i386 Features
43382@cindex target descriptions, i386 features
43383
43384The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
43385targets. It should describe the following registers:
43386
43387@itemize @minus
43388@item
43389@samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
43390@item
43391@samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
43392@item
43393@samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
43394@samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
43395@item
43396@samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
43397@item
43398@samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
43399@samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
43400@end itemize
43401
43402The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
43403
43404The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
43405describe registers:
43406
43407@itemize @minus
43408@item
43409@samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
43410@item
43411@samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
43412@item
43413@samp{mxcsr}
43414@end itemize
43415
43416The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
43417@samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
43418describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
43419
43420@itemize @minus
43421@item
43422@samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
43423@item
43424@samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
43425@end itemize
43426
43427The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.mpx} is an optional feature representing Intel(R)
43428Memory Protection Extension (MPX). It should describe the following registers:
43429
43430@itemize @minus
43431@item
43432@samp{bnd0raw} through @samp{bnd3raw} for i386 and amd64.
43433@item
43434@samp{bndcfgu} and @samp{bndstatus} for i386 and amd64.
43435@end itemize
43436
43437The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
43438describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
43439
43440@node MIPS Features
43441@subsection @acronym{MIPS} Features
43442@cindex target descriptions, @acronym{MIPS} features
43443
43444The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for @acronym{MIPS} targets.
43445It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
43446@samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
43447on the target.
43448
43449The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
43450contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
43451registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
43452
43453The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
43454it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
43455contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
43456@samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
43457
43458The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.dsp} feature is optional. It should
43459contain registers @samp{hi1} through @samp{hi3}, @samp{lo1} through
43460@samp{lo3}, and @samp{dspctl}. The @samp{dspctl} register should
43461be 32-bit and the rest may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
43462
43463The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
43464contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
43465Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
43466
43467@node M68K Features
43468@subsection M68K Features
43469@cindex target descriptions, M68K features
43470
43471@table @code
43472@item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
43473@itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
43474@itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
43475One of those features must be always present.
43476The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
43477used. The feature that is present should contain registers
43478@samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
43479@samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
43480
43481@item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
43482This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
43483@samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
43484@samp{fpiaddr}.
43485@end table
43486
43487@node Nios II Features
43488@subsection Nios II Features
43489@cindex target descriptions, Nios II features
43490
43491The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.nios2.cpu} feature is required for Nios II
43492targets. It should contain the 32 core registers (@samp{zero},
43493@samp{at}, @samp{r2} through @samp{r23}, @samp{et} through @samp{ra}),
43494@samp{pc}, and the 16 control registers (@samp{status} through
43495@samp{mpuacc}).
43496
43497@node PowerPC Features
43498@subsection PowerPC Features
43499@cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
43500
43501The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
43502targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
43503@samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
43504@samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
43505
43506The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
43507contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
43508
43509The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
43510contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
43511and @samp{vrsave}.
43512
43513The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
43514contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
43515will combine these registers with the floating point registers
43516(@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
43517through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
43518through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
43519
43520The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
43521contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
43522@samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
43523@samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
43524@samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
43525these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
43526user.
43527
43528@node S/390 and System z Features
43529@subsection S/390 and System z Features
43530@cindex target descriptions, S/390 features
43531@cindex target descriptions, System z features
43532
43533The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.core} feature is required for S/390 and
43534System z targets. It should contain the PSW and the 16 general
43535registers. In particular, System z targets should provide the 64-bit
43536registers @samp{pswm}, @samp{pswa}, and @samp{r0} through @samp{r15}.
43537S/390 targets should provide the 32-bit versions of these registers.
43538A System z target that runs in 31-bit addressing mode should provide
4353932-bit versions of @samp{pswm} and @samp{pswa}, as well as the general
43540register's upper halves @samp{r0h} through @samp{r15h}, and their
43541lower halves @samp{r0l} through @samp{r15l}.
43542
43543The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.fpr} feature is required. It should
43544contain the 64-bit registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f15}, and
43545@samp{fpc}.
43546
43547The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.acr} feature is required. It should
43548contain the 32-bit registers @samp{acr0} through @samp{acr15}.
43549
43550The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.linux} feature is optional. It should
43551contain the register @samp{orig_r2}, which is 64-bit wide on System z
43552targets and 32-bit otherwise. In addition, the feature may contain
43553the @samp{last_break} register, whose width depends on the addressing
43554mode, as well as the @samp{system_call} register, which is always
4355532-bit wide.
43556
43557The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.tdb} feature is optional. It should
43558contain the 64-bit registers @samp{tdb0}, @samp{tac}, @samp{tct},
43559@samp{atia}, and @samp{tr0} through @samp{tr15}.
43560
43561@node TIC6x Features
43562@subsection TMS320C6x Features
43563@cindex target descriptions, TIC6x features
43564@cindex target descriptions, TMS320C6x features
43565The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.core} feature is required for TMS320C6x
43566targets. It should contain registers @samp{A0} through @samp{A15},
43567registers @samp{B0} through @samp{B15}, @samp{CSR} and @samp{PC}.
43568
43569The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.gp} feature is optional. It should
43570contain registers @samp{A16} through @samp{A31} and @samp{B16}
43571through @samp{B31}.
43572
43573The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.c6xp} feature is optional. It should
43574contain registers @samp{TSR}, @samp{ILC} and @samp{RILC}.
43575
43576@node Operating System Information
43577@appendix Operating System Information
43578@cindex operating system information
43579
43580@menu
43581* Process list::
43582@end menu
43583
43584Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
43585the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
43586processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
43587mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
43588target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
43589on a different aspect of target.
43590
43591Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
43592remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
43593read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
43594the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
43595
43596@node Process list
43597@appendixsection Process list
43598@cindex operating system information, process list
43599
43600When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
43601@samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
43602an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
43603@file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
43604
43605An example document is:
43606
43607@smallexample
43608<?xml version="1.0"?>
43609<!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
43610<osdata type="processes">
43611 <item>
43612 <column name="pid">1</column>
43613 <column name="user">root</column>
43614 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
43615 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
43616 </item>
43617</osdata>
43618@end smallexample
43619
43620Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
43621of that column should identify the process on the target. The
43622@samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
43623displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
43624should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
43625is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
43626which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
43627
43628@node Trace File Format
43629@appendix Trace File Format
43630@cindex trace file format
43631
43632The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
43633section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
43634
43635The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
43636@code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
43637while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
43638in the future.
43639
43640The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
43641separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
43642variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
43643as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
43644ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
43645of this section.
43646
43647@c FIXME add some specific types of data
43648
43649The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
43650Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
43651four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
43652the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
43653character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
43654state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
43655hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
43656endianness.
43657
43658@c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
43659
43660@table @code
43661@item R @var{bytes}
43662Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
43663@code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
43664actual bytes, in target order and @value{GDBN} register order, not a
43665hexadecimal encoding.
43666
43667@item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
43668Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
43669address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
43670@var{length} bytes.
43671
43672@item V @var{number} @var{value}
43673Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
43674@var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
43675
43676@end table
43677
43678Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
43679of blocks.
43680
43681@node Index Section Format
43682@appendix @code{.gdb_index} section format
43683@cindex .gdb_index section format
43684@cindex index section format
43685
43686This section documents the index section that is created by @code{save
43687gdb-index} (@pxref{Index Files}). The index section is
43688DWARF-specific; some knowledge of DWARF is assumed in this
43689description.
43690
43691The mapped index file format is designed to be directly
43692@code{mmap}able on any architecture. In most cases, a datum is
43693represented using a little-endian 32-bit integer value, called an
43694@code{offset_type}. Big endian machines must byte-swap the values
43695before using them. Exceptions to this rule are noted. The data is
43696laid out such that alignment is always respected.
43697
43698A mapped index consists of several areas, laid out in order.
43699
43700@enumerate
43701@item
43702The file header. This is a sequence of values, of @code{offset_type}
43703unless otherwise noted:
43704
43705@enumerate
43706@item
43707The version number, currently 8. Versions 1, 2 and 3 are obsolete.
43708Version 4 uses a different hashing function from versions 5 and 6.
43709Version 6 includes symbols for inlined functions, whereas versions 4
43710and 5 do not. Version 7 adds attributes to the CU indices in the
43711symbol table. Version 8 specifies that symbols from DWARF type units
43712(@samp{DW_TAG_type_unit}) refer to the type unit's symbol table and not the
43713compilation unit (@samp{DW_TAG_comp_unit}) using the type.
43714
43715@value{GDBN} will only read version 4, 5, or 6 indices
43716by specifying @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
43717GDB has a workaround for potentially broken version 7 indices so it is
43718currently not flagged as deprecated.
43719
43720@item
43721The offset, from the start of the file, of the CU list.
43722
43723@item
43724The offset, from the start of the file, of the types CU list. Note
43725that this area can be empty, in which case this offset will be equal
43726to the next offset.
43727
43728@item
43729The offset, from the start of the file, of the address area.
43730
43731@item
43732The offset, from the start of the file, of the symbol table.
43733
43734@item
43735The offset, from the start of the file, of the constant pool.
43736@end enumerate
43737
43738@item
43739The CU list. This is a sequence of pairs of 64-bit little-endian
43740values, sorted by the CU offset. The first element in each pair is
43741the offset of a CU in the @code{.debug_info} section. The second
43742element in each pair is the length of that CU. References to a CU
43743elsewhere in the map are done using a CU index, which is just the
437440-based index into this table. Note that if there are type CUs, then
43745conceptually CUs and type CUs form a single list for the purposes of
43746CU indices.
43747
43748@item
43749The types CU list. This is a sequence of triplets of 64-bit
43750little-endian values. In a triplet, the first value is the CU offset,
43751the second value is the type offset in the CU, and the third value is
43752the type signature. The types CU list is not sorted.
43753
43754@item
43755The address area. The address area consists of a sequence of address
43756entries. Each address entry has three elements:
43757
43758@enumerate
43759@item
43760The low address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value.
43761
43762@item
43763The high address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value. Like
43764@code{DW_AT_high_pc}, the value is one byte beyond the end.
43765
43766@item
43767The CU index. This is an @code{offset_type} value.
43768@end enumerate
43769
43770@item
43771The symbol table. This is an open-addressed hash table. The size of
43772the hash table is always a power of 2.
43773
43774Each slot in the hash table consists of a pair of @code{offset_type}
43775values. The first value is the offset of the symbol's name in the
43776constant pool. The second value is the offset of the CU vector in the
43777constant pool.
43778
43779If both values are 0, then this slot in the hash table is empty. This
43780is ok because while 0 is a valid constant pool index, it cannot be a
43781valid index for both a string and a CU vector.
43782
43783The hash value for a table entry is computed by applying an
43784iterative hash function to the symbol's name. Starting with an
43785initial value of @code{r = 0}, each (unsigned) character @samp{c} in
43786the string is incorporated into the hash using the formula depending on the
43787index version:
43788
43789@table @asis
43790@item Version 4
43791The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + c - 113}.
43792
43793@item Versions 5 to 7
43794The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + tolower (c) - 113}.
43795@end table
43796
43797The terminating @samp{\0} is not incorporated into the hash.
43798
43799The step size used in the hash table is computed via
43800@code{((hash * 17) & (size - 1)) | 1}, where @samp{hash} is the hash
43801value, and @samp{size} is the size of the hash table. The step size
43802is used to find the next candidate slot when handling a hash
43803collision.
43804
43805The names of C@t{++} symbols in the hash table are canonicalized. We
43806don't currently have a simple description of the canonicalization
43807algorithm; if you intend to create new index sections, you must read
43808the code.
43809
43810@item
43811The constant pool. This is simply a bunch of bytes. It is organized
43812so that alignment is correct: CU vectors are stored first, followed by
43813strings.
43814
43815A CU vector in the constant pool is a sequence of @code{offset_type}
43816values. The first value is the number of CU indices in the vector.
43817Each subsequent value is the index and symbol attributes of a CU in
43818the CU list. This element in the hash table is used to indicate which
43819CUs define the symbol and how the symbol is used.
43820See below for the format of each CU index+attributes entry.
43821
43822A string in the constant pool is zero-terminated.
43823@end enumerate
43824
43825Attributes were added to CU index values in @code{.gdb_index} version 7.
43826If a symbol has multiple uses within a CU then there is one
43827CU index+attributes value for each use.
43828
43829The format of each CU index+attributes entry is as follows
43830(bit 0 = LSB):
43831
43832@table @asis
43833
43834@item Bits 0-23
43835This is the index of the CU in the CU list.
43836@item Bits 24-27
43837These bits are reserved for future purposes and must be zero.
43838@item Bits 28-30
43839The kind of the symbol in the CU.
43840
43841@table @asis
43842@item 0
43843This value is reserved and should not be used.
43844By reserving zero the full @code{offset_type} value is backwards compatible
43845with previous versions of the index.
43846@item 1
43847The symbol is a type.
43848@item 2
43849The symbol is a variable or an enum value.
43850@item 3
43851The symbol is a function.
43852@item 4
43853Any other kind of symbol.
43854@item 5,6,7
43855These values are reserved.
43856@end table
43857
43858@item Bit 31
43859This bit is zero if the value is global and one if it is static.
43860
43861The determination of whether a symbol is global or static is complicated.
43862The authorative reference is the file @file{dwarf2read.c} in
43863@value{GDBN} sources.
43864
43865@end table
43866
43867This pseudo-code describes the computation of a symbol's kind and
43868global/static attributes in the index.
43869
43870@smallexample
43871is_external = get_attribute (die, DW_AT_external);
43872language = get_attribute (cu_die, DW_AT_language);
43873switch (die->tag)
43874 @{
43875 case DW_TAG_typedef:
43876 case DW_TAG_base_type:
43877 case DW_TAG_subrange_type:
43878 kind = TYPE;
43879 is_static = 1;
43880 break;
43881 case DW_TAG_enumerator:
43882 kind = VARIABLE;
43883 is_static = (language != CPLUS && language != JAVA);
43884 break;
43885 case DW_TAG_subprogram:
43886 kind = FUNCTION;
43887 is_static = ! (is_external || language == ADA);
43888 break;
43889 case DW_TAG_constant:
43890 kind = VARIABLE;
43891 is_static = ! is_external;
43892 break;
43893 case DW_TAG_variable:
43894 kind = VARIABLE;
43895 is_static = ! is_external;
43896 break;
43897 case DW_TAG_namespace:
43898 kind = TYPE;
43899 is_static = 0;
43900 break;
43901 case DW_TAG_class_type:
43902 case DW_TAG_interface_type:
43903 case DW_TAG_structure_type:
43904 case DW_TAG_union_type:
43905 case DW_TAG_enumeration_type:
43906 kind = TYPE;
43907 is_static = (language != CPLUS && language != JAVA);
43908 break;
43909 default:
43910 assert (0);
43911 @}
43912@end smallexample
43913
43914@node Man Pages
43915@appendix Manual pages
43916@cindex Man pages
43917
43918@menu
43919* gdb man:: The GNU Debugger man page
43920* gdbserver man:: Remote Server for the GNU Debugger man page
43921* gcore man:: Generate a core file of a running program
43922* gdbinit man:: gdbinit scripts
43923@end menu
43924
43925@node gdb man
43926@heading gdb man
43927
43928@c man title gdb The GNU Debugger
43929
43930@c man begin SYNOPSIS gdb
43931gdb [@option{-help}] [@option{-nh}] [@option{-nx}] [@option{-q}]
43932[@option{-batch}] [@option{-cd=}@var{dir}] [@option{-f}]
43933[@option{-b}@w{ }@var{bps}]
43934 [@option{-tty=}@var{dev}] [@option{-s} @var{symfile}]
43935[@option{-e}@w{ }@var{prog}] [@option{-se}@w{ }@var{prog}]
43936[@option{-c}@w{ }@var{core}] [@option{-p}@w{ }@var{procID}]
43937 [@option{-x}@w{ }@var{cmds}] [@option{-d}@w{ }@var{dir}]
43938[@var{prog}|@var{prog} @var{procID}|@var{prog} @var{core}]
43939@c man end
43940
43941@c man begin DESCRIPTION gdb
43942The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
43943going on ``inside'' another program while it executes -- or what another
43944program was doing at the moment it crashed.
43945
43946@value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
43947these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
43948
43949@itemize @bullet
43950@item
43951Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
43952
43953@item
43954Make your program stop on specified conditions.
43955
43956@item
43957Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
43958
43959@item
43960Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
43961effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
43962@end itemize
43963
43964You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C, C@t{++}, Fortran and
43965Modula-2.
43966
43967@value{GDBN} is invoked with the shell command @code{gdb}. Once started, it reads
43968commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit with the @value{GDBN}
43969command @code{quit}. You can get online help from @value{GDBN} itself
43970by using the command @code{help}.
43971
43972You can run @code{gdb} with no arguments or options; but the most
43973usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument or two, specifying an
43974executable program as the argument:
43975
43976@smallexample
43977gdb program
43978@end smallexample
43979
43980You can also start with both an executable program and a core file specified:
43981
43982@smallexample
43983gdb program core
43984@end smallexample
43985
43986You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
43987to debug a running process:
43988
43989@smallexample
43990gdb program 1234
43991gdb -p 1234
43992@end smallexample
43993
43994@noindent
43995would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
43996named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
43997With option @option{-p} you can omit the @var{program} filename.
43998
43999Here are some of the most frequently needed @value{GDBN} commands:
44000
44001@c pod2man highlights the right hand side of the @item lines.
44002@table @env
44003@item break [@var{file}:]@var{functiop}
44004Set a breakpoint at @var{function} (in @var{file}).
44005
44006@item run [@var{arglist}]
44007Start your program (with @var{arglist}, if specified).
44008
44009@item bt
44010Backtrace: display the program stack.
44011
44012@item print @var{expr}
44013Display the value of an expression.
44014
44015@item c
44016Continue running your program (after stopping, e.g. at a breakpoint).
44017
44018@item next
44019Execute next program line (after stopping); step @emph{over} any
44020function calls in the line.
44021
44022@item edit [@var{file}:]@var{function}
44023look at the program line where it is presently stopped.
44024
44025@item list [@var{file}:]@var{function}
44026type the text of the program in the vicinity of where it is presently stopped.
44027
44028@item step
44029Execute next program line (after stopping); step @emph{into} any
44030function calls in the line.
44031
44032@item help [@var{name}]
44033Show information about @value{GDBN} command @var{name}, or general information
44034about using @value{GDBN}.
44035
44036@item quit
44037Exit from @value{GDBN}.
44038@end table
44039
44040@ifset man
44041For full details on @value{GDBN},
44042see @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
44043by Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch. The same text is available online
44044as the @code{gdb} entry in the @code{info} program.
44045@end ifset
44046@c man end
44047
44048@c man begin OPTIONS gdb
44049Any arguments other than options specify an executable
44050file and core file (or process ID); that is, the first argument
44051encountered with no
44052associated option flag is equivalent to a @option{-se} option, and the second,
44053if any, is equivalent to a @option{-c} option if it's the name of a file.
44054Many options have
44055both long and short forms; both are shown here. The long forms are also
44056recognized if you truncate them, so long as enough of the option is
44057present to be unambiguous. (If you prefer, you can flag option
44058arguments with @option{+} rather than @option{-}, though we illustrate the
44059more usual convention.)
44060
44061All the options and command line arguments you give are processed
44062in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the @option{-x}
44063option is used.
44064
44065@table @env
44066@item -help
44067@itemx -h
44068List all options, with brief explanations.
44069
44070@item -symbols=@var{file}
44071@itemx -s @var{file}
44072Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
44073
44074@item -write
44075Enable writing into executable and core files.
44076
44077@item -exec=@var{file}
44078@itemx -e @var{file}
44079Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when
44080appropriate, and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core
44081dump.
44082
44083@item -se=@var{file}
44084Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
44085file.
44086
44087@item -core=@var{file}
44088@itemx -c @var{file}
44089Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
44090
44091@item -command=@var{file}
44092@itemx -x @var{file}
44093Execute @value{GDBN} commands from file @var{file}.
44094
44095@item -ex @var{command}
44096Execute given @value{GDBN} @var{command}.
44097
44098@item -directory=@var{directory}
44099@itemx -d @var{directory}
44100Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source files.
44101
44102@item -nh
44103Do not execute commands from @file{~/.gdbinit}.
44104
44105@item -nx
44106@itemx -n
44107Do not execute commands from any @file{.gdbinit} initialization files.
44108
44109@item -quiet
44110@itemx -q
44111``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
44112messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
44113
44114@item -batch
44115Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the command
44116files specified with @option{-x} (and @file{.gdbinit}, if not inhibited).
44117Exit with nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN}
44118commands in the command files.
44119
44120Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for example to
44121download and run a program on another computer; in order to make this
44122more useful, the message
44123
44124@smallexample
44125Program exited normally.
44126@end smallexample
44127
44128@noindent
44129(which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under @value{GDBN} control
44130terminates) is not issued when running in batch mode.
44131
44132@item -cd=@var{directory}
44133Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
44134instead of the current directory.
44135
44136@item -fullname
44137@itemx -f
44138Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells
44139@value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line number in a standard,
44140recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is displayed (which
44141includes each time the program stops). This recognizable format looks
44142like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by the file name, line number
44143and character position separated by colons, and a newline. The
44144Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two @samp{\032}
44145characters as a signal to display the source code for the frame.
44146
44147@item -b @var{bps}
44148Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
44149interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
44150
44151@item -tty=@var{device}
44152Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
44153@end table
44154@c man end
44155
44156@c man begin SEEALSO gdb
44157@ifset man
44158The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
44159If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
44160documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
44161
44162@smallexample
44163info gdb
44164@end smallexample
44165
44166@noindent
44167should give you access to the complete manual.
44168
44169@cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
44170Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
44171@end ifset
44172@c man end
44173
44174@node gdbserver man
44175@heading gdbserver man
44176
44177@c man title gdbserver Remote Server for the GNU Debugger
44178@format
44179@c man begin SYNOPSIS gdbserver
44180gdbserver @var{comm} @var{prog} [@var{args}@dots{}]
44181
44182gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
44183
44184gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
44185@c man end
44186@end format
44187
44188@c man begin DESCRIPTION gdbserver
44189@command{gdbserver} is a program that allows you to run @value{GDBN} on a different machine
44190than the one which is running the program being debugged.
44191
44192@ifclear man
44193@subheading Usage (server (target) side)
44194@end ifclear
44195@ifset man
44196Usage (server (target) side):
44197@end ifset
44198
44199First, you need to have a copy of the program you want to debug put onto
44200the target system. The program can be stripped to save space if needed, as
44201@command{gdbserver} doesn't care about symbols. All symbol handling is taken care of by
44202the @value{GDBN} running on the host system.
44203
44204To use the server, you log on to the target system, and run the @command{gdbserver}
44205program. You must tell it (a) how to communicate with @value{GDBN}, (b) the name of
44206your program, and (c) its arguments. The general syntax is:
44207
44208@smallexample
44209target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [@var{args} ...]
44210@end smallexample
44211
44212For example, using a serial port, you might say:
44213
44214@smallexample
44215@ifset man
44216@c @file would wrap it as F</dev/com1>.
44217target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
44218@end ifset
44219@ifclear man
44220target> gdbserver @file{/dev/com1} emacs foo.txt
44221@end ifclear
44222@end smallexample
44223
44224This tells @command{gdbserver} to debug emacs with an argument of foo.txt, and
44225to communicate with @value{GDBN} via @file{/dev/com1}. @command{gdbserver} now
44226waits patiently for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate with it.
44227
44228To use a TCP connection, you could say:
44229
44230@smallexample
44231target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
44232@end smallexample
44233
44234This says pretty much the same thing as the last example, except that we are
44235going to communicate with the @code{host} @value{GDBN} via TCP. The @code{host:2345} argument means
44236that we are expecting to see a TCP connection from @code{host} to local TCP port
442372345. (Currently, the @code{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number you
44238want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any existing TCP
44239ports on the target system. This same port number must be used in the host
44240@value{GDBN}s @code{target remote} command, which will be described shortly. Note that if
44241you chose a port number that conflicts with another service, @command{gdbserver} will
44242print an error message and exit.
44243
44244@command{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
44245This is accomplished via the @option{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
44246
44247@smallexample
44248target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
44249@end smallexample
44250
44251@var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
44252necessary to point @command{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
44253
44254To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
44255or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
44256In such case you should connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} to start
44257the program you want to debug.
44258
44259@smallexample
44260target> gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
44261@end smallexample
44262
44263@ifclear man
44264@subheading Usage (host side)
44265@end ifclear
44266@ifset man
44267Usage (host side):
44268@end ifset
44269
44270You need an unstripped copy of the target program on your host system, since
44271@value{GDBN} needs to examine it's symbol tables and such. Start up @value{GDBN} as you normally
44272would, with the target program as the first argument. (You may need to use the
44273@option{--baud} option if the serial line is running at anything except 9600 baud.)
44274That is @code{gdb TARGET-PROG}, or @code{gdb --baud BAUD TARGET-PROG}. After that, the only
44275new command you need to know about is @code{target remote}
44276(or @code{target extended-remote}). Its argument is either
44277a device name (usually a serial device, like @file{/dev/ttyb}), or a @code{HOST:PORT}
44278descriptor. For example:
44279
44280@smallexample
44281@ifset man
44282@c @file would wrap it as F</dev/ttyb>.
44283(gdb) target remote /dev/ttyb
44284@end ifset
44285@ifclear man
44286(gdb) target remote @file{/dev/ttyb}
44287@end ifclear
44288@end smallexample
44289
44290@noindent
44291communicates with the server via serial line @file{/dev/ttyb}, and:
44292
44293@smallexample
44294(gdb) target remote the-target:2345
44295@end smallexample
44296
44297@noindent
44298communicates via a TCP connection to port 2345 on host `the-target', where
44299you previously started up @command{gdbserver} with the same port number. Note that for
44300TCP connections, you must start up @command{gdbserver} prior to using the `target remote'
44301command, otherwise you may get an error that looks something like
44302`Connection refused'.
44303
44304@command{gdbserver} can also debug multiple inferiors at once,
44305described in
44306@ifset man
44307the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Inferiors and Programs}
44308-- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'Inferiors and Programs'}.
44309@end ifset
44310@ifclear man
44311@ref{Inferiors and Programs}.
44312@end ifclear
44313In such case use the @code{extended-remote} @value{GDBN} command variant:
44314
44315@smallexample
44316(gdb) target extended-remote the-target:2345
44317@end smallexample
44318
44319The @command{gdbserver} option @option{--multi} may or may not be used in such
44320case.
44321@c man end
44322
44323@c man begin OPTIONS gdbserver
44324There are three different modes for invoking @command{gdbserver}:
44325
44326@itemize @bullet
44327
44328@item
44329Debug a specific program specified by its program name:
44330
44331@smallexample
44332gdbserver @var{comm} @var{prog} [@var{args}@dots{}]
44333@end smallexample
44334
44335The @var{comm} parameter specifies how should the server communicate
44336with @value{GDBN}; it is either a device name (to use a serial line),
44337a TCP port number (@code{:1234}), or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
44338stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}. Specify the name of the program to
44339debug in @var{prog}. Any remaining arguments will be passed to the
44340program verbatim. When the program exits, @value{GDBN} will close the
44341connection, and @code{gdbserver} will exit.
44342
44343@item
44344Debug a specific program by specifying the process ID of a running
44345program:
44346
44347@smallexample
44348gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
44349@end smallexample
44350
44351The @var{comm} parameter is as described above. Supply the process ID
44352of a running program in @var{pid}; @value{GDBN} will do everything
44353else. Like with the previous mode, when the process @var{pid} exits,
44354@value{GDBN} will close the connection, and @code{gdbserver} will exit.
44355
44356@item
44357Multi-process mode -- debug more than one program/process:
44358
44359@smallexample
44360gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
44361@end smallexample
44362
44363In this mode, @value{GDBN} can instruct @command{gdbserver} which
44364command(s) to run. Unlike the other 2 modes, @value{GDBN} will not
44365close the connection when a process being debugged exits, so you can
44366debug several processes in the same session.
44367@end itemize
44368
44369In each of the modes you may specify these options:
44370
44371@table @env
44372
44373@item --help
44374List all options, with brief explanations.
44375
44376@item --version
44377This option causes @command{gdbserver} to print its version number and exit.
44378
44379@item --attach
44380@command{gdbserver} will attach to a running program. The syntax is:
44381
44382@smallexample
44383target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
44384@end smallexample
44385
44386@var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
44387necessary to point @command{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
44388
44389@item --multi
44390To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
44391or process ID to attach, use this command line option.
44392Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
44393the program you want to debug. The syntax is:
44394
44395@smallexample
44396target> gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
44397@end smallexample
44398
44399@item --debug
44400Instruct @code{gdbserver} to display extra status information about the debugging
44401process.
44402This option is intended for @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to
44403the developers.
44404
44405@item --remote-debug
44406Instruct @code{gdbserver} to display remote protocol debug output.
44407This option is intended for @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to
44408the developers.
44409
44410@item --debug-format=option1@r{[},option2,...@r{]}
44411Instruct @code{gdbserver} to include extra information in each line
44412of debugging output.
44413@xref{Other Command-Line Arguments for gdbserver}.
44414
44415@item --wrapper
44416Specify a wrapper to launch programs
44417for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
44418wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
44419@kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
44420
44421@item --once
44422By default, @command{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
44423additional connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
44424with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
44425connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session.
44426
44427@c --disable-packet is not documented for users.
44428
44429@c --disable-randomization and --no-disable-randomization are superseded by
44430@c QDisableRandomization.
44431
44432@end table
44433@c man end
44434
44435@c man begin SEEALSO gdbserver
44436@ifset man
44437The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
44438If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
44439documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
44440
44441@smallexample
44442info gdb
44443@end smallexample
44444
44445should give you access to the complete manual.
44446
44447@cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
44448Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
44449@end ifset
44450@c man end
44451
44452@node gcore man
44453@heading gcore
44454
44455@c man title gcore Generate a core file of a running program
44456
44457@format
44458@c man begin SYNOPSIS gcore
44459gcore [-o @var{filename}] @var{pid}
44460@c man end
44461@end format
44462
44463@c man begin DESCRIPTION gcore
44464Generate a core dump of a running program with process ID @var{pid}.
44465Produced file is equivalent to a kernel produced core file as if the process
44466crashed (and if @kbd{ulimit -c} were used to set up an appropriate core dump
44467limit). Unlike after a crash, after @command{gcore} the program remains
44468running without any change.
44469@c man end
44470
44471@c man begin OPTIONS gcore
44472@table @env
44473@item -o @var{filename}
44474The optional argument
44475@var{filename} specifies the file name where to put the core dump.
44476If not specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}},
44477where @var{pid} is the running program process ID.
44478@end table
44479@c man end
44480
44481@c man begin SEEALSO gcore
44482@ifset man
44483The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
44484If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
44485documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
44486
44487@smallexample
44488info gdb
44489@end smallexample
44490
44491@noindent
44492should give you access to the complete manual.
44493
44494@cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
44495Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
44496@end ifset
44497@c man end
44498
44499@node gdbinit man
44500@heading gdbinit
44501
44502@c man title gdbinit GDB initialization scripts
44503
44504@format
44505@c man begin SYNOPSIS gdbinit
44506@ifset SYSTEM_GDBINIT
44507@value{SYSTEM_GDBINIT}
44508@end ifset
44509
44510~/.gdbinit
44511
44512./.gdbinit
44513@c man end
44514@end format
44515
44516@c man begin DESCRIPTION gdbinit
44517These files contain @value{GDBN} commands to automatically execute during
44518@value{GDBN} startup. The lines of contents are canned sequences of commands,
44519described in
44520@ifset man
44521the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Sequences}
44522-- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n Sequences}.
44523@end ifset
44524@ifclear man
44525@ref{Sequences}.
44526@end ifclear
44527
44528Please read more in
44529@ifset man
44530the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Startup}
44531-- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n Startup}.
44532@end ifset
44533@ifclear man
44534@ref{Startup}.
44535@end ifclear
44536
44537@table @env
44538@ifset SYSTEM_GDBINIT
44539@item @value{SYSTEM_GDBINIT}
44540@end ifset
44541@ifclear SYSTEM_GDBINIT
44542@item (not enabled with @code{--with-system-gdbinit} during compilation)
44543@end ifclear
44544System-wide initialization file. It is executed unless user specified
44545@value{GDBN} option @code{-nx} or @code{-n}.
44546See more in
44547@ifset man
44548the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{System-wide configuration}
44549-- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'System-wide configuration'}.
44550@end ifset
44551@ifclear man
44552@ref{System-wide configuration}.
44553@end ifclear
44554
44555@item ~/.gdbinit
44556User initialization file. It is executed unless user specified
44557@value{GDBN} options @code{-nx}, @code{-n} or @code{-nh}.
44558
44559@item ./.gdbinit
44560Initialization file for current directory. It may need to be enabled with
44561@value{GDBN} security command @code{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
44562See more in
44563@ifset man
44564the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Init File in the Current Directory}
44565-- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'Init File in the Current Directory'}.
44566@end ifset
44567@ifclear man
44568@ref{Init File in the Current Directory}.
44569@end ifclear
44570@end table
44571@c man end
44572
44573@c man begin SEEALSO gdbinit
44574@ifset man
44575gdb(1), @code{info -f gdb -n Startup}
44576
44577The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
44578If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
44579documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
44580
44581@smallexample
44582info gdb
44583@end smallexample
44584
44585should give you access to the complete manual.
44586
44587@cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
44588Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
44589@end ifset
44590@c man end
44591
44592@include gpl.texi
44593
44594@node GNU Free Documentation License
44595@appendix GNU Free Documentation License
44596@include fdl.texi
44597
44598@node Concept Index
44599@unnumbered Concept Index
44600
44601@printindex cp
44602
44603@node Command and Variable Index
44604@unnumbered Command, Variable, and Function Index
44605
44606@printindex fn
44607
44608@tex
44609% I think something like @@colophon should be in texinfo. In the
44610% meantime:
44611\long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
44612\centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
44613\centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
44614\centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
44615\centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
44616\centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
44617\centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
44618\centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
44619\centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
44620\page\colophon
44621% Blame: doc@@cygnus.com, 1991.
44622@end tex
44623
44624@bye
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