fix gdbtui build errors when pipe() is not available (e.g. mingw targets)
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / gdb / doc / gdb.texinfo
... / ...
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1\input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2@c Copyright (C) 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998,
3@c 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
4@c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
5@c
6@c %**start of header
7@c makeinfo ignores cmds prev to setfilename, so its arg cannot make use
8@c of @set vars. However, you can override filename with makeinfo -o.
9@setfilename gdb.info
10@c
11@include gdb-cfg.texi
12@c
13@settitle Debugging with @value{GDBN}
14@setchapternewpage odd
15@c %**end of header
16
17@iftex
18@c @smallbook
19@c @cropmarks
20@end iftex
21
22@finalout
23@syncodeindex ky cp
24@syncodeindex tp cp
25
26@c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
27@c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
28@syncodeindex vr cp
29@syncodeindex fn cp
30
31@c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
32@c This is updated by GNU Press.
33@set EDITION Ninth
34
35@c !!set GDB edit command default editor
36@set EDITOR /bin/ex
37
38@c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
39
40@c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
41@c manuals to an info tree.
42@dircategory Software development
43@direntry
44* Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
45@end direntry
46
47@copying
48Copyright @copyright{} 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,
491998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
50Free Software Foundation, Inc.
51
52Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
53under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or
54any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
55Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
56Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
57and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
58
59(a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
60this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
61developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
62@end copying
63
64@ifnottex
65This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
66
67This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
68@value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
69@ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
70@value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
71@end ifset
72Version @value{GDBVN}.
73
74@insertcopying
75@end ifnottex
76
77@titlepage
78@title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
79@subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
80@sp 1
81@subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
82@ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
83@sp 1
84@subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
85@end ifset
86@author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
87@page
88@tex
89{\parskip=0pt
90\hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
91\hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
92\hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
93}
94@end tex
95
96@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
97Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
9851 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
99Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
100ISBN 1-882114-77-9 @*
101
102@insertcopying
103@page
104This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
105Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
106software in general. We will miss him.
107@end titlepage
108@page
109
110@ifnottex
111@node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
112
113@top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
114
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) 1988-2009 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
163* GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
164
165* Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
166* Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
167* Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
168* Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
169* Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
170* Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
171* Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
172* Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
173 @value{GDBN}
174* Operating System Information:: Getting additional information from
175 the operating system
176* Copying:: GNU General Public License says
177 how you can copy and share GDB
178* GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
179* Index:: Index
180@end menu
181
182@end ifnottex
183
184@contents
185
186@node Summary
187@unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
188
189The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
190going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
191program was doing at the moment it crashed.
192
193@value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
194these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
195
196@itemize @bullet
197@item
198Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
199
200@item
201Make your program stop on specified conditions.
202
203@item
204Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
205
206@item
207Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
208effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
209@end itemize
210
211You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
212For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
213For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
214
215@cindex Modula-2
216Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
217@ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
218
219@cindex Pascal
220Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
221nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
222entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
223syntax.
224
225@cindex Fortran
226@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
227it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
228underscore.
229
230@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
231using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
232
233@menu
234* Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
235* Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
236@end menu
237
238@node Free Software
239@unnumberedsec Free Software
240
241@value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
242General Public License
243(GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
244program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
245freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
246the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
247Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
248Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
249
250Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
251you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
252from anyone else.
253
254@unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
255
256The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
257the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
258include with the free software. Many of our most important
259programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
260texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
261when an important free software package does not come with a free
262manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
263gaps today.
264
265Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
266normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
267authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
268copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
269them from the free software world.
270
271That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
272from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
273manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
274only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
275contract to make it non-free.
276
277Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
278price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
279charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
280Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
281problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
282are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
283modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
284
285The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
286free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
287commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
288accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
289
290Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
291When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
292are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
293provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
294manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
295a changed version of the program is not really available to our
296community.
297
298Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
299acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
300author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
301authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
302to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
303may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
304with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
305are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
306of the manual.
307
308However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
309content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
310media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
311obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
312manual to replace it.
313
314Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
315lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
316free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
317the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
318realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
319the free software community.
320
321If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
322the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
323license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
324don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
325will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
326option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
327what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
328try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
329is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
330
331You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
332manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
333copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
334improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
335at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
336and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
337Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
338have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
339
340The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
341published by other publishers, at
342@url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
343
344@node Contributors
345@unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
346
347Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
348other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
349development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
350of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
351to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
352file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
353blow-by-blow account.
354
355Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
356
357@quotation
358@emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
359or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
360omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
361@end quotation
362
363So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
364particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
365releases:
366Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
367Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
368Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
369Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
370Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
371Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
372John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
373Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
374and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
375
376Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
377Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
378
379Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
380in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
381Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
382demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
383much general update work leading to release 3.0).
384
385@value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
386object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
387Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
388
389David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
390the original support for encapsulated COFF.
391
392Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
393
394Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
395Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
396support.
397Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
398Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
399Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
400David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
401Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
402Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
403Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
404Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
405Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
406Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
407Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
408Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
409Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
410Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
411Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
412Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
413
414Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
415
416Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
417libraries.
418
419Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
420about several machine instruction sets.
421
422Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
423remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
424contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
425and RDI targets, respectively.
426
427Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
428command-line editing and command history.
429
430Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
431Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
432
433Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
434He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
435symbols.
436
437Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
438H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
439
440NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
441
442Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
443processors.
444
445Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
446
447Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
448
449Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
450
451Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
452watchpoints.
453
454Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
455
456Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
457
458Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
459nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
460
461The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
462support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
463(narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
464compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
465Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
466Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
467provided HP-specific information in this manual.
468
469DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
470Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
471
472Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
473development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
474fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
475Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
476Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
477Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
478Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
479addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
480JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
481Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
482Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
483Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
484Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
485Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
486Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
487
488Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
489Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
490
491Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
492Hat.
493
494Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
495people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
496Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
497Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
498Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
499with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
500
501Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
502unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
503frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
504Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
505libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
506trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
507complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
508Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
509Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
510Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
511Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
512Weigand.
513
514Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
515Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
516who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
517Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
518
519@node Sample Session
520@chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
521
522You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
523However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
524debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
525
526@iftex
527In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
528to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
529@end iftex
530
531@c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
532@c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
533
534One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
535processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
536quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
537definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
538session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
539then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
540same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
541@code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
542procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
543
544@smallexample
545$ @b{cd gnu/m4}
546$ @b{./m4}
547@b{define(foo,0000)}
548
549@b{foo}
5500000
551@b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
552
553@b{bar}
5540000
555@b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
556
557@b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
558@b{baz}
559@b{Ctrl-d}
560m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
561@end smallexample
562
563@noindent
564Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
565
566@smallexample
567$ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
568@c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
569@c FIXME... format to come out better.
570@value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
571 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
572 the conditions.
573There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
574 for details.
575
576@value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
577(@value{GDBP})
578@end smallexample
579
580@noindent
581@value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
582rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
583We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
584that examples fit in this manual.
585
586@smallexample
587(@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
588@end smallexample
589
590@noindent
591We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
592Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
593@code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
594@code{break} command.
595
596@smallexample
597(@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
598Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
599@end smallexample
600
601@noindent
602Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
603control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
604subroutine, the program runs as usual:
605
606@smallexample
607(@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
608Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
609@b{define(foo,0000)}
610
611@b{foo}
6120000
613@end smallexample
614
615@noindent
616To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
617suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
618context where it stops.
619
620@smallexample
621@b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
622
623Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
624 at builtin.c:879
625879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
626@end smallexample
627
628@noindent
629Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
630the next line of the current function.
631
632@smallexample
633(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
634882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
635 : nil,
636@end smallexample
637
638@noindent
639@code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
640by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
641@code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
642subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
643
644@smallexample
645(@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
646set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
647 at input.c:530
648530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
649@end smallexample
650
651@noindent
652The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
653suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
654shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
655command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
656in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
657stack frame for each active subroutine.
658
659@smallexample
660(@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
661#0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
662 at input.c:530
663#1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
664 at builtin.c:882
665#2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
666#3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
667 at macro.c:71
668#4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
669#5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
670@end smallexample
671
672@noindent
673We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
674times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
675falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
676
677@smallexample
678(@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
6790x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
680(@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
6810x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
682def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
683(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
684536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
685 : xstrdup(rq);
686(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
687538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
688@end smallexample
689
690@noindent
691The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
692@code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
693and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
694(@code{print}) to see their values.
695
696@smallexample
697(@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
698$1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
699(@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
700$2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
701@end smallexample
702
703@noindent
704@code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
705To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
706surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
707
708@smallexample
709(@value{GDBP}) @b{l}
710533 xfree(rquote);
711534
712535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
713 : xstrdup (lq);
714536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
715 : xstrdup (rq);
716537
717538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
718539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
719540 @}
720541
721542 void
722@end smallexample
723
724@noindent
725Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
726@code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
727
728@smallexample
729(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
730539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
731(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
732540 @}
733(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
734$3 = 9
735(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
736$4 = 7
737@end smallexample
738
739@noindent
740That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
741@code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
742@code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
743the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
744any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
745assignments.
746
747@smallexample
748(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
749$5 = 7
750(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
751$6 = 9
752@end smallexample
753
754@noindent
755Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
756@code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
757executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
758example that caused trouble initially:
759
760@smallexample
761(@value{GDBP}) @b{c}
762Continuing.
763
764@b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
765
766baz
7670000
768@end smallexample
769
770@noindent
771Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
772problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
773lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
774
775@smallexample
776@b{Ctrl-d}
777Program exited normally.
778@end smallexample
779
780@noindent
781The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
782indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
783session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
784
785@smallexample
786(@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
787@end smallexample
788
789@node Invocation
790@chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
791
792This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
793The essentials are:
794@itemize @bullet
795@item
796type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
797@item
798type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
799@end itemize
800
801@menu
802* Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
803* Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
804* Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
805* Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
806@end menu
807
808@node Invoking GDB
809@section Invoking @value{GDBN}
810
811Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
812@value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
813
814You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
815to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
816
817The command-line options described here are designed
818to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
819options may effectively be unavailable.
820
821The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
822specifying an executable program:
823
824@smallexample
825@value{GDBP} @var{program}
826@end smallexample
827
828@noindent
829You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
830specified:
831
832@smallexample
833@value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
834@end smallexample
835
836You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
837to debug a running process:
838
839@smallexample
840@value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
841@end smallexample
842
843@noindent
844would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
845named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
846
847Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
848complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
849debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
850``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
851will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
852
853You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
854executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
855option processing.
856@smallexample
857@value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
858@end smallexample
859This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
860@code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
861
862You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
863@value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
864
865@smallexample
866@value{GDBP} -silent
867@end smallexample
868
869@noindent
870You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
871options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
872
873@noindent
874Type
875
876@smallexample
877@value{GDBP} -help
878@end smallexample
879
880@noindent
881to display all available options and briefly describe their use
882(@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
883
884All options and command line arguments you give are processed
885in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
886@samp{-x} option is used.
887
888
889@menu
890* File Options:: Choosing files
891* Mode Options:: Choosing modes
892* Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
893@end menu
894
895@node File Options
896@subsection Choosing Files
897
898When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
899specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
900the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
901@samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
902first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
903equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
904second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
905equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
906If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
907first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
908to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
909a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
910prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
911
912If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
913such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
914argument and ignore it.
915
916Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
917following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
918them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
919(If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
920than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
921
922@c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
923@c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
924@c it.
925
926@table @code
927@item -symbols @var{file}
928@itemx -s @var{file}
929@cindex @code{--symbols}
930@cindex @code{-s}
931Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
932
933@item -exec @var{file}
934@itemx -e @var{file}
935@cindex @code{--exec}
936@cindex @code{-e}
937Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
938and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
939
940@item -se @var{file}
941@cindex @code{--se}
942Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
943file.
944
945@item -core @var{file}
946@itemx -c @var{file}
947@cindex @code{--core}
948@cindex @code{-c}
949Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
950
951@item -pid @var{number}
952@itemx -p @var{number}
953@cindex @code{--pid}
954@cindex @code{-p}
955Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
956
957@item -command @var{file}
958@itemx -x @var{file}
959@cindex @code{--command}
960@cindex @code{-x}
961Execute @value{GDBN} commands from file @var{file}. @xref{Command
962Files,, Command files}.
963
964@item -eval-command @var{command}
965@itemx -ex @var{command}
966@cindex @code{--eval-command}
967@cindex @code{-ex}
968Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
969
970This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
971also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
972
973@smallexample
974@value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
975 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
976@end smallexample
977
978@item -directory @var{directory}
979@itemx -d @var{directory}
980@cindex @code{--directory}
981@cindex @code{-d}
982Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
983
984@item -r
985@itemx -readnow
986@cindex @code{--readnow}
987@cindex @code{-r}
988Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
989the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
990This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
991
992@end table
993
994@node Mode Options
995@subsection Choosing Modes
996
997You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
998batch mode or quiet mode.
999
1000@table @code
1001@item -nx
1002@itemx -n
1003@cindex @code{--nx}
1004@cindex @code{-n}
1005Do not execute commands found in any initialization files. Normally,
1006@value{GDBN} executes the commands in these files after all the command
1007options and arguments have been processed. @xref{Command Files,,Command
1008Files}.
1009
1010@item -quiet
1011@itemx -silent
1012@itemx -q
1013@cindex @code{--quiet}
1014@cindex @code{--silent}
1015@cindex @code{-q}
1016``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1017messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1018
1019@item -batch
1020@cindex @code{--batch}
1021Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1022command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1023initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1024nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1025in the command files.
1026
1027Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1028example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1029make this more useful, the message
1030
1031@smallexample
1032Program exited normally.
1033@end smallexample
1034
1035@noindent
1036(which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1037@value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1038mode.
1039
1040@item -batch-silent
1041@cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1042Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1043@value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1044unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1045for an interactive session.
1046
1047This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1048messages, for example.
1049
1050Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1051writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1052
1053@item -return-child-result
1054@cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1055The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1056process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1057
1058@itemize @bullet
1059@item
1060@value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1061internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1062without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1063@item
1064The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1065@item
1066The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1067the exit code will be -1.
1068@end itemize
1069
1070This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1071when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1072interface.
1073
1074@item -nowindows
1075@itemx -nw
1076@cindex @code{--nowindows}
1077@cindex @code{-nw}
1078``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1079(GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1080interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1081
1082@item -windows
1083@itemx -w
1084@cindex @code{--windows}
1085@cindex @code{-w}
1086If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1087used if possible.
1088
1089@item -cd @var{directory}
1090@cindex @code{--cd}
1091Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1092instead of the current directory.
1093
1094@item -fullname
1095@itemx -f
1096@cindex @code{--fullname}
1097@cindex @code{-f}
1098@sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1099subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1100number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1101displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1102recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1103the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1104and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1105@samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1106frame.
1107
1108@item -epoch
1109@cindex @code{--epoch}
1110The Epoch Emacs-@value{GDBN} interface sets this option when it runs
1111@value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to modify its print
1112routines so as to allow Epoch to display values of expressions in a
1113separate window.
1114
1115@item -annotate @var{level}
1116@cindex @code{--annotate}
1117This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1118effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1119(@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1120information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1121expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1122normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1123@sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1124that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1125
1126The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1127(@pxref{GDB/MI}).
1128
1129@item --args
1130@cindex @code{--args}
1131Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1132executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1133This option stops option processing.
1134
1135@item -baud @var{bps}
1136@itemx -b @var{bps}
1137@cindex @code{--baud}
1138@cindex @code{-b}
1139Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1140interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1141
1142@item -l @var{timeout}
1143@cindex @code{-l}
1144Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1145for remote debugging.
1146
1147@item -tty @var{device}
1148@itemx -t @var{device}
1149@cindex @code{--tty}
1150@cindex @code{-t}
1151Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1152@c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1153
1154@c resolve the situation of these eventually
1155@item -tui
1156@cindex @code{--tui}
1157Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1158Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1159source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1160(@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Alternatively, the
1161Text User Interface can be enabled by invoking the program
1162@samp{@value{GDBTUI}}. Do not use this option if you run @value{GDBN} from
1163Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1164
1165@c @item -xdb
1166@c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1167@c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1168@c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1169@c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1170@c systems.
1171
1172@item -interpreter @var{interp}
1173@cindex @code{--interpreter}
1174Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1175program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1176communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1177@xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1178
1179@samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1180@value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1181The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1182previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1183selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1184@sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1185
1186@item -write
1187@cindex @code{--write}
1188Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1189is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1190(@pxref{Patching}).
1191
1192@item -statistics
1193@cindex @code{--statistics}
1194This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1195memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1196
1197@item -version
1198@cindex @code{--version}
1199This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1200no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1201
1202@end table
1203
1204@node Startup
1205@subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1206@cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1207
1208Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1209
1210@enumerate
1211@item
1212Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1213(@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1214
1215@item
1216@cindex init file
1217Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1218used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1219 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1220that file.
1221
1222@item
1223Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1224DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1225@code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1226that file.
1227
1228@item
1229Processes command line options and operands.
1230
1231@item
1232Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1233working directory. This is only done if the current directory is
1234different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1235init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1236to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1237@value{GDBN}.
1238
1239@item
1240Reads command files specified by the @samp{-x} option. @xref{Command
1241Files}, for more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1242
1243@item
1244Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1245@xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1246files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1247@end enumerate
1248
1249Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1250Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1251file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1252complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1253and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1254option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1255
1256To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1257can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1258
1259@cindex init file name
1260@cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1261@cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1262The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1263The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1264the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1265ports of @value{GDBN} use the standard name, but if they find a
1266@file{gdb.ini} file, they warn you about that and suggest to rename
1267the file to the standard name.
1268
1269
1270@node Quitting GDB
1271@section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1272@cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1273@cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1274
1275@table @code
1276@kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1277@kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1278@item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1279@itemx q
1280To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1281@code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1282do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1283otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1284error code.
1285@end table
1286
1287@cindex interrupt
1288An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1289terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1290returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1291character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1292until a time when it is safe.
1293
1294If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1295device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1296(@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1297
1298@node Shell Commands
1299@section Shell Commands
1300
1301If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1302debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1303just use the @code{shell} command.
1304
1305@table @code
1306@kindex shell
1307@cindex shell escape
1308@item shell @var{command string}
1309Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command string}.
1310If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1311shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1312(@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1313@end table
1314
1315The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1316You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1317@value{GDBN}:
1318
1319@table @code
1320@kindex make
1321@cindex calling make
1322@item make @var{make-args}
1323Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1324arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1325@end table
1326
1327@node Logging Output
1328@section Logging Output
1329@cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1330@cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1331
1332You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1333There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1334
1335@table @code
1336@kindex set logging
1337@item set logging on
1338Enable logging.
1339@item set logging off
1340Disable logging.
1341@cindex logging file name
1342@item set logging file @var{file}
1343Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1344@item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1345By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1346you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1347@item set logging redirect [on|off]
1348By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1349Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1350@kindex show logging
1351@item show logging
1352Show the current values of the logging settings.
1353@end table
1354
1355@node Commands
1356@chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1357
1358You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1359name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1360@value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1361key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1362show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1363
1364@menu
1365* Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1366* Completion:: Command completion
1367* Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1368@end menu
1369
1370@node Command Syntax
1371@section Command Syntax
1372
1373A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1374how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1375arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1376command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1377step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1378with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1379
1380@cindex abbreviation
1381@value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1382unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1383documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1384abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1385equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1386names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1387arguments to the @code{help} command.
1388
1389@cindex repeating commands
1390@kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1391A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1392repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1393will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1394repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1395repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1396@ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1397
1398The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1399@key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1400exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1401
1402@value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1403output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1404(@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1405@key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1406repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1407
1408@kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1409@cindex comment
1410Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1411nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1412Files,,Command Files}).
1413
1414@cindex repeating command sequences
1415@kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1416The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1417commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1418then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1419for editing.
1420
1421@node Completion
1422@section Command Completion
1423
1424@cindex completion
1425@cindex word completion
1426@value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1427only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1428are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1429commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1430
1431Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1432of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1433word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1434enter it). For example, if you type
1435
1436@c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1437@c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1438@c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1439@c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1440@smallexample
1441(@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1442@end smallexample
1443
1444@noindent
1445@value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1446the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1447
1448@smallexample
1449(@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1450@end smallexample
1451
1452@noindent
1453You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1454breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1455@samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1456were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1457might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1458to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1459
1460If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1461@key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1462characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1463@value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1464example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1465begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1466just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1467function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1468example:
1469
1470@smallexample
1471(@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1472@exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1473make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1474make_abs_section make_function_type
1475make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1476make_cleanup make_reference_type
1477make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1478(@value{GDBP}) b make_
1479@end smallexample
1480
1481@noindent
1482After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1483partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1484command.
1485
1486If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1487can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1488means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1489key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1490one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1491
1492@cindex quotes in commands
1493@cindex completion of quoted strings
1494Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1495parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1496its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1497situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1498@value{GDBN} commands.
1499
1500The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1501name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1502overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1503by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1504may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1505that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1506that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1507word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1508@code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1509@value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1510when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1511
1512@smallexample
1513(@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1514bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1515(@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1516@end smallexample
1517
1518In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1519quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1520completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1521place:
1522
1523@smallexample
1524(@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1525@exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1526(@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1527@end smallexample
1528
1529@noindent
1530In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1531you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1532completion on an overloaded symbol.
1533
1534For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1535Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1536overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1537see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1538
1539@cindex completion of structure field names
1540@cindex structure field name completion
1541@cindex completion of union field names
1542@cindex union field name completion
1543When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1544structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1545confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1546examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1547limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1548left-hand-side:
1549
1550@smallexample
1551(@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1552magic to_delete to_fputs to_put to_rewind
1553to_data to_flush to_isatty to_read to_write
1554@end smallexample
1555
1556@noindent
1557This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1558@code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1559follows:
1560
1561@smallexample
1562struct ui_file
1563@{
1564 int *magic;
1565 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1566 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1567 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1568 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1569 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1570 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1571 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1572 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1573 void *to_data;
1574@}
1575@end smallexample
1576
1577
1578@node Help
1579@section Getting Help
1580@cindex online documentation
1581@kindex help
1582
1583You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1584using the command @code{help}.
1585
1586@table @code
1587@kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1588@item help
1589@itemx h
1590You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1591display a short list of named classes of commands:
1592
1593@smallexample
1594(@value{GDBP}) help
1595List of classes of commands:
1596
1597aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1598breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1599data -- Examining data
1600files -- Specifying and examining files
1601internals -- Maintenance commands
1602obscure -- Obscure features
1603running -- Running the program
1604stack -- Examining the stack
1605status -- Status inquiries
1606support -- Support facilities
1607tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1608 stopping the program
1609user-defined -- User-defined commands
1610
1611Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1612commands in that class.
1613Type "help" followed by command name for full
1614documentation.
1615Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1616(@value{GDBP})
1617@end smallexample
1618@c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1619
1620@item help @var{class}
1621Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1622list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1623help display for the class @code{status}:
1624
1625@smallexample
1626(@value{GDBP}) help status
1627Status inquiries.
1628
1629List of commands:
1630
1631@c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1632@c to fit in smallbook page size.
1633info -- Generic command for showing things
1634 about the program being debugged
1635show -- Generic command for showing things
1636 about the debugger
1637
1638Type "help" followed by command name for full
1639documentation.
1640Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1641(@value{GDBP})
1642@end smallexample
1643
1644@item help @var{command}
1645With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1646short paragraph on how to use that command.
1647
1648@kindex apropos
1649@item apropos @var{args}
1650The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1651commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1652@var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1653
1654@smallexample
1655apropos reload
1656@end smallexample
1657
1658@noindent
1659results in:
1660
1661@smallexample
1662@c @group
1663set symbol-reloading -- Set dynamic symbol table reloading
1664 multiple times in one run
1665show symbol-reloading -- Show dynamic symbol table reloading
1666 multiple times in one run
1667@c @end group
1668@end smallexample
1669
1670@kindex complete
1671@item complete @var{args}
1672The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1673for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1674command you want completed. For example:
1675
1676@smallexample
1677complete i
1678@end smallexample
1679
1680@noindent results in:
1681
1682@smallexample
1683@group
1684if
1685ignore
1686info
1687inspect
1688@end group
1689@end smallexample
1690
1691@noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1692@end table
1693
1694In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1695and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1696of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1697manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1698under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Index point to
1699all the sub-commands. @xref{Index}.
1700
1701@c @group
1702@table @code
1703@kindex info
1704@kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1705@item info
1706This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1707program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1708with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1709registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1710You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1711@w{@code{help info}}.
1712
1713@kindex set
1714@item set
1715You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1716@code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1717@code{set prompt $}.
1718
1719@kindex show
1720@item show
1721In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1722@value{GDBN} itself.
1723You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1724related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1725system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1726which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1727
1728@kindex info set
1729To display all the settable parameters and their current
1730values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1731@code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1732@c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1733@c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1734@c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1735@end table
1736@c @end group
1737
1738Here are three miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1739exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1740
1741@table @code
1742@kindex show version
1743@cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1744@item show version
1745Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1746information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1747@value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1748version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1749commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1750system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1751variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1752The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1753@value{GDBN}.
1754
1755@kindex show copying
1756@kindex info copying
1757@cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1758@item show copying
1759@itemx info copying
1760Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1761
1762@kindex show warranty
1763@kindex info warranty
1764@item show warranty
1765@itemx info warranty
1766Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1767if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1768
1769@end table
1770
1771@node Running
1772@chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1773
1774When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1775debugging information when you compile it.
1776
1777You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1778of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1779your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1780kill a child process.
1781
1782@menu
1783* Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1784* Starting:: Starting your program
1785* Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1786* Environment:: Your program's environment
1787
1788* Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1789* Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1790* Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1791* Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1792
1793* Inferiors:: Debugging multiple inferiors
1794* Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1795* Processes:: Debugging programs with multiple processes
1796* Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1797@end menu
1798
1799@node Compilation
1800@section Compiling for Debugging
1801
1802In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1803debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1804is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1805variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1806and addresses in the executable code.
1807
1808To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1809the compiler.
1810
1811Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1812optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1813compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1814together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1815executables containing debugging information.
1816
1817@value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1818without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1819recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1820program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1821in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1822
1823Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1824@w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1825format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1826
1827@value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1828expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1829about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1830the @option{-g} flag alone, because this information is rather large.
1831Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
1832provides macro information if you specify the options
1833@option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-g3}; the former option requests
1834debugging information in the Dwarf 2 format, and the latter requests
1835``extra information''. In the future, we hope to find more compact
1836ways to represent macro information, so that it can be included with
1837@option{-g} alone.
1838
1839@need 2000
1840@node Starting
1841@section Starting your Program
1842@cindex starting
1843@cindex running
1844
1845@table @code
1846@kindex run
1847@kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1848@item run
1849@itemx r
1850Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1851You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1852argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1853@value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1854(@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1855
1856@end table
1857
1858If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1859supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1860that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1861@code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1862like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1863message like this one:
1864
1865@smallexample
1866The "remote" target does not support "run".
1867Try "help target" or "continue".
1868@end smallexample
1869
1870@noindent
1871then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1872first (@pxref{load}).
1873
1874The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
1875receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
1876information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
1877can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
1878your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
1879divided into four categories:
1880
1881@table @asis
1882@item The @emph{arguments.}
1883Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
1884@code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
1885is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
1886(such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
1887the arguments.
1888In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
1889@code{SHELL} environment variable.
1890@xref{Arguments, ,Your Program's Arguments}.
1891
1892@item The @emph{environment.}
1893Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
1894use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
1895environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
1896your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
1897
1898@item The @emph{working directory.}
1899Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
1900the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
1901@xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
1902
1903@item The @emph{standard input and output.}
1904Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
1905standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
1906in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
1907set a different device for your program.
1908@xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
1909
1910@cindex pipes
1911@emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
1912pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
1913program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
1914wrong program.
1915@end table
1916
1917When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
1918immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
1919of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
1920stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
1921or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
1922
1923If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
1924time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
1925table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
1926your current breakpoints.
1927
1928@table @code
1929@kindex start
1930@item start
1931@cindex run to main procedure
1932The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
1933With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
1934other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
1935main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
1936execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
1937procedure, depending on the language used.
1938
1939The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
1940breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
1941the @samp{run} command.
1942
1943@cindex elaboration phase
1944Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
1945executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
1946languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
1947constructors for static and global objects are executed before
1948@code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
1949before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
1950will remain to halt execution.
1951
1952Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
1953@samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
1954underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
1955reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
1956@samp{start} or @samp{run}.
1957
1958It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
1959these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
1960your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
1961elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
1962elaboration code before running your program.
1963
1964@kindex set exec-wrapper
1965@item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
1966@itemx show exec-wrapper
1967@itemx unset exec-wrapper
1968When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
1969launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
1970with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
1971@var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
1972arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
1973appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
1974your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
1975
1976You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
1977its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
1978this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
1979with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
1980
1981For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
1982the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
1983environment:
1984
1985@smallexample
1986(@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
1987(@value{GDBP}) run
1988@end smallexample
1989
1990This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
1991@sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
1992
1993@kindex set disable-randomization
1994@item set disable-randomization
1995@itemx set disable-randomization on
1996This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
1997randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
1998is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
1999reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2000
2001This feature is implemented only on @sc{gnu}/Linux. You can get the same
2002behavior using
2003
2004@smallexample
2005(@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2006@end smallexample
2007
2008@item set disable-randomization off
2009Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2010ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2011disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2012@value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2013as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2014disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2015
2016The virtual address space randomization is implemented only on @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2017It protects the programs against some kinds of security attacks. In these
2018cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2019code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2020a code at its expected addresses.
2021
2022Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2023makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2024having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2025library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2026misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2027random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2028startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2029a randomly chosen address.
2030
2031Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2032similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2033a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2034already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2035executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2036
2037Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2038(as long as the randomization is enabled).
2039
2040@item show disable-randomization
2041Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2042the virtual address space of the started program.
2043
2044@end table
2045
2046@node Arguments
2047@section Your Program's Arguments
2048
2049@cindex arguments (to your program)
2050The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2051@code{run} command.
2052They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2053performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2054@code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2055@value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2056the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2057
2058On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2059@value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2060calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2061the program, not by the shell.
2062
2063@code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2064@code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2065
2066@table @code
2067@kindex set args
2068@item set args
2069Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2070@code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2071with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2072using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2073it again without arguments.
2074
2075@kindex show args
2076@item show args
2077Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2078@end table
2079
2080@node Environment
2081@section Your Program's Environment
2082
2083@cindex environment (of your program)
2084The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2085their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2086your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2087path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2088the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2089debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2090environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2091
2092@table @code
2093@kindex path
2094@item path @var{directory}
2095Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2096(the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2097The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2098You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2099system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2100MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2101is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2102
2103You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2104working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2105use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2106@code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2107@var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2108@var{directory} to the search path.
2109@c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2110@c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2111
2112@kindex show paths
2113@item show paths
2114Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2115environment variable).
2116
2117@kindex show environment
2118@item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2119Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2120your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2121print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2122your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2123
2124@kindex set environment
2125@item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2126Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2127changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2128be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2129any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2130parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2131null value.
2132@c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2133@c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2134
2135For example, this command:
2136
2137@smallexample
2138set env USER = foo
2139@end smallexample
2140
2141@noindent
2142tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2143@samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2144are not actually required.)
2145
2146@kindex unset environment
2147@item unset environment @var{varname}
2148Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2149program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2150@code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2151rather than assigning it an empty value.
2152@end table
2153
2154@emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2155the shell indicated
2156by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
2157@code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
2158that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
2159@file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
2160your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
2161files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
2162@file{.profile}.
2163
2164@node Working Directory
2165@section Your Program's Working Directory
2166
2167@cindex working directory (of your program)
2168Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2169working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2170The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2171from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2172working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2173
2174The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2175that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2176Specify Files}.
2177
2178@table @code
2179@kindex cd
2180@cindex change working directory
2181@item cd @var{directory}
2182Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}.
2183
2184@kindex pwd
2185@item pwd
2186Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2187@end table
2188
2189It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2190the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2191during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2192configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2193proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2194current working directory of the debuggee.
2195
2196@node Input/Output
2197@section Your Program's Input and Output
2198
2199@cindex redirection
2200@cindex i/o
2201@cindex terminal
2202By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2203the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2204to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2205modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2206running your program.
2207
2208@table @code
2209@kindex info terminal
2210@item info terminal
2211Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2212program is using.
2213@end table
2214
2215You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2216redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2217
2218@smallexample
2219run > outfile
2220@end smallexample
2221
2222@noindent
2223starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2224
2225@kindex tty
2226@cindex controlling terminal
2227Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2228with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2229argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2230commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2231process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2232
2233@smallexample
2234tty /dev/ttyb
2235@end smallexample
2236
2237@noindent
2238directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2239default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2240that as their controlling terminal.
2241
2242An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2243effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2244terminal.
2245
2246When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2247command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2248for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2249for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2250
2251@cindex inferior tty
2252@cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2253You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2254display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2255program.
2256
2257@table @code
2258@item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2259@kindex set inferior-tty
2260Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2261
2262@item show inferior-tty
2263@kindex show inferior-tty
2264Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2265@end table
2266
2267@node Attach
2268@section Debugging an Already-running Process
2269@kindex attach
2270@cindex attach
2271
2272@table @code
2273@item attach @var{process-id}
2274This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2275outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2276targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2277find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2278or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2279
2280@code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2281executing the command.
2282@end table
2283
2284To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2285which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2286programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2287also have permission to send the process a signal.
2288
2289When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2290the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2291the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2292(@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2293the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2294Specify Files}.
2295
2296The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2297process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2298with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2299you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2300can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2301process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2302attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2303
2304@table @code
2305@kindex detach
2306@item detach
2307When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2308@code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2309the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2310that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2311are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2312@code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2313executing the command.
2314@end table
2315
2316If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2317that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2318By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2319things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2320@code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2321Messages}).
2322
2323@node Kill Process
2324@section Killing the Child Process
2325
2326@table @code
2327@kindex kill
2328@item kill
2329Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2330@end table
2331
2332This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2333running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2334is running.
2335
2336On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2337while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2338@code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2339outside the debugger.
2340
2341The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2342relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2343executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2344next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2345reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2346breakpoint settings).
2347
2348@node Inferiors
2349@section Debugging Multiple Inferiors
2350
2351Some @value{GDBN} targets are able to run multiple processes created
2352from a single executable. This can happen, for instance, with an
2353embedded system reporting back several processes via the remote
2354protocol.
2355
2356@cindex inferior
2357@value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2358object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2359a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2360have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2361may (in future) be retained after a process exits. Each run of an
2362executable creates a new inferior, as does each attachment to an
2363existing process. Inferiors have unique identifiers that are
2364different from process ids, and may optionally be named as well.
2365Usually each inferior will also have its own distinct address space,
2366although some embedded targets may have several inferiors running in
2367different parts of a single space.
2368
2369Each inferior may in turn have multiple threads running in it.
2370
2371To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @code{info inferiors}:
2372
2373@table @code
2374@kindex info inferiors
2375@item info inferiors
2376Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2377@end table
2378
2379To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2380
2381@table @code
2382@kindex inferior @var{inferior-id}
2383@item inferior @var{inferior-id}
2384Make inferior number @var{inferior-id} the current inferior. The
2385argument @var{inferior-id} is the internal inferior number assigned by
2386@value{GDBN}, as shown in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors}
2387display.
2388@end table
2389
2390To quit debugging one of the inferiors, you can either detach from it
2391by using the @w{@code{detach inferior}} command (allowing it to run
2392independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferior}} command:
2393
2394@table @code
2395@kindex detach inferior @var{inferior-id}
2396@item detach inferior @var{inferior-id}
2397Detach from the inferior identified by @value{GDBN} inferior number
2398@var{inferior-id}, and remove it from the inferior list.
2399
2400@kindex kill inferior @var{inferior-id}
2401@item kill inferior @var{inferior-id}
2402Kill the inferior identified by @value{GDBN} inferior number
2403@var{inferior-id}, and remove it from the inferior list.
2404@end table
2405
2406To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2407control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2408
2409@table @code
2410@kindex set print inferior-events
2411@cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2412@item set print inferior-events
2413@itemx set print inferior-events on
2414@itemx set print inferior-events off
2415The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2416disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2417inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2418detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2419
2420@kindex show print inferior-events
2421@item show print inferior-events
2422Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2423inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2424@end table
2425
2426@node Threads
2427@section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2428
2429@cindex threads of execution
2430@cindex multiple threads
2431@cindex switching threads
2432In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2433may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2434of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2435the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2436that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2437modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2438registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2439
2440@value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2441programs:
2442
2443@itemize @bullet
2444@item automatic notification of new threads
2445@item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2446@item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2447@item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2448a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2449@item thread-specific breakpoints
2450@item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2451messages on thread start and exit.
2452@item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2453the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2454isn't compatible with the program.
2455@end itemize
2456
2457@quotation
2458@emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2459@value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2460If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2461effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2462from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2463like this:
2464
2465@smallexample
2466(@value{GDBP}) info threads
2467(@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2468Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2469see the IDs of currently known threads.
2470@end smallexample
2471@c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2472@c doesn't support threads"?
2473@end quotation
2474
2475@cindex focus of debugging
2476@cindex current thread
2477The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2478threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2479control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2480This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2481program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2482
2483@cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2484@cindex thread identifier (system)
2485@c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2486@c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2487@c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2488Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2489the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2490form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2491whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2492@sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2493
2494@smallexample
2495[New Thread 46912507313328 (LWP 25582)]
2496@end smallexample
2497
2498@noindent
2499when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2500the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2501further qualifier.
2502
2503@c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2504@c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2505@c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2506@c program?
2507@c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2508@c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2509@c threads ab initio?
2510
2511@cindex thread number
2512@cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2513For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2514number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2515
2516@table @code
2517@kindex info threads
2518@item info threads
2519Display a summary of all threads currently in your
2520program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2521
2522@enumerate
2523@item
2524the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2525
2526@item
2527the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2528
2529@item
2530the current stack frame summary for that thread
2531@end enumerate
2532
2533@noindent
2534An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2535indicates the current thread.
2536
2537For example,
2538@end table
2539@c end table here to get a little more width for example
2540
2541@smallexample
2542(@value{GDBP}) info threads
2543 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2544 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2545* 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2546 at threadtest.c:68
2547@end smallexample
2548
2549On HP-UX systems:
2550
2551@cindex debugging multithreaded programs (on HP-UX)
2552@cindex thread identifier (GDB), on HP-UX
2553For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2554number---a small integer assigned in thread-creation order---with each
2555thread in your program.
2556
2557@cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message, on HP-UX
2558@cindex thread identifier (system), on HP-UX
2559@c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2560@c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2561@c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2562Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2563both @value{GDBN}'s thread number and the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2564form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2565whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2566HP-UX, you see
2567
2568@smallexample
2569[New thread 2 (system thread 26594)]
2570@end smallexample
2571
2572@noindent
2573when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread.
2574
2575@table @code
2576@kindex info threads (HP-UX)
2577@item info threads
2578Display a summary of all threads currently in your
2579program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2580
2581@enumerate
2582@item the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2583
2584@item the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2585
2586@item the current stack frame summary for that thread
2587@end enumerate
2588
2589@noindent
2590An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2591indicates the current thread.
2592
2593For example,
2594@end table
2595@c end table here to get a little more width for example
2596
2597@smallexample
2598(@value{GDBP}) info threads
2599 * 3 system thread 26607 worker (wptr=0x7b09c318 "@@") \@*
2600 at quicksort.c:137
2601 2 system thread 26606 0x7b0030d8 in __ksleep () \@*
2602 from /usr/lib/libc.2
2603 1 system thread 27905 0x7b003498 in _brk () \@*
2604 from /usr/lib/libc.2
2605@end smallexample
2606
2607On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2608Solaris-specific command:
2609
2610@table @code
2611@item maint info sol-threads
2612@kindex maint info sol-threads
2613@cindex thread info (Solaris)
2614Display info on Solaris user threads.
2615@end table
2616
2617@table @code
2618@kindex thread @var{threadno}
2619@item thread @var{threadno}
2620Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2621argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2622shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2623@value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2624you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2625
2626@smallexample
2627@c FIXME!! This example made up; find a @value{GDBN} w/threads and get real one
2628(@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2629[Switching to process 35 thread 23]
26300x34e5 in sigpause ()
2631@end smallexample
2632
2633@noindent
2634As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2635@samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2636threads.
2637
2638@kindex thread apply
2639@cindex apply command to several threads
2640@item thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{command}
2641The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2642@var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2643threads that you want affected with the command argument
2644@var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2645shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2646could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2647command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2648
2649@kindex set print thread-events
2650@cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2651@item set print thread-events
2652@itemx set print thread-events on
2653@itemx set print thread-events off
2654The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2655disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2656started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2657be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2658Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2659
2660@kindex show print thread-events
2661@item show print thread-events
2662Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2663have started and exited.
2664@end table
2665
2666@xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2667more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2668programs with multiple threads.
2669
2670@xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2671watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2672
2673@table @code
2674@kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2675@cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2676@item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2677If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2678directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2679If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2680an empty list.
2681
2682On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2683@code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2684inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2685to find @code{libthread_db}. If that fails, @value{GDBN} will continue
2686with default system shared library directories, and finally the directory
2687from which @code{libpthread} was loaded in the inferior process.
2688
2689For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
2690@value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
2691If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
2692mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
2693will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
2694If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
2695@value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
2696
2697Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
2698only on some platforms.
2699
2700@kindex show libthread-db-search-path
2701@item show libthread-db-search-path
2702Display current libthread_db search path.
2703@end table
2704
2705@node Processes
2706@section Debugging Programs with Multiple Processes
2707
2708@cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2709@cindex multiple processes
2710@cindex processes, multiple
2711On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2712programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2713function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2714parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2715set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2716will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2717will cause it to terminate.
2718
2719However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
2720which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
2721the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
2722only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
2723so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
2724on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
2725get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
2726@value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
2727the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
2728the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
2729
2730On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
2731create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
2732Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
2733only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
2734
2735By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
2736the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
2737
2738If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
2739use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
2740
2741@table @code
2742@kindex set follow-fork-mode
2743@item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
2744Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
2745@code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
2746process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
2747
2748@table @code
2749@item parent
2750The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
2751unimpeded. This is the default.
2752
2753@item child
2754The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
2755unimpeded.
2756
2757@end table
2758
2759@kindex show follow-fork-mode
2760@item show follow-fork-mode
2761Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
2762@end table
2763
2764@cindex debugging multiple processes
2765On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
2766command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
2767
2768@table @code
2769@kindex set detach-on-fork
2770@item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
2771Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
2772retain debugger control over them both.
2773
2774@table @code
2775@item on
2776The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
2777@code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
2778independently. This is the default.
2779
2780@item off
2781Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
2782One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
2783@code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
2784is held suspended.
2785
2786@end table
2787
2788@kindex show detach-on-fork
2789@item show detach-on-fork
2790Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
2791@end table
2792
2793If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
2794will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
2795You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
2796using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
2797to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors,
2798,Debugging Multiple Inferiors}).
2799
2800To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
2801from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferior}} command (allowing it
2802to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferior}}
2803command. @xref{Inferiors, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors}.
2804
2805If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
2806@code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
2807breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
2808@code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
2809the child process's @code{main}.
2810
2811On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
2812cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
2813
2814If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
2815call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent process,
2816use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name as its
2817argument.
2818
2819You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
2820a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
2821Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
2822
2823@node Checkpoint/Restart
2824@section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
2825
2826@cindex checkpoint
2827@cindex restart
2828@cindex bookmark
2829@cindex snapshot of a process
2830@cindex rewind program state
2831
2832On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
2833@sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
2834program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
2835later.
2836
2837Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
2838happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
2839includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
2840system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
2841moment when the checkpoint was saved.
2842
2843Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
2844getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
2845a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
2846the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
2847from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
2848start again from there.
2849
2850This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
2851steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
2852
2853To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
2854
2855@table @code
2856@kindex checkpoint
2857@item checkpoint
2858Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
2859The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
2860is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
2861
2862@kindex info checkpoints
2863@item info checkpoints
2864List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
2865session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
2866listed:
2867
2868@table @code
2869@item Checkpoint ID
2870@item Process ID
2871@item Code Address
2872@item Source line, or label
2873@end table
2874
2875@kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
2876@item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
2877Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
2878@var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
2879etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
2880was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
2881in time when the checkpoint was saved.
2882
2883Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
2884are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
2885only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
2886the debugger.
2887
2888@kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
2889@item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
2890Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
2891
2892@end table
2893
2894Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
2895of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
2896(OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
2897a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
2898so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
2899opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
2900previously read data can be read again.
2901
2902Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
2903external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
2904from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
2905but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
2906be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
2907been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
2908
2909However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
2910program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
2911again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
2912different execution path this time.
2913
2914@cindex checkpoints and process id
2915Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
2916different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
2917id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
2918and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
2919If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
2920potentially pose a problem.
2921
2922@subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
2923
2924On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
2925is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
2926difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
2927absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
2928absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
2929next.
2930
2931A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
2932Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
2933and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
2934process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
2935your symbols will all stay in the same place.
2936
2937@node Stopping
2938@chapter Stopping and Continuing
2939
2940The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
2941program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
2942trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
2943
2944Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
2945such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
2946@value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
2947change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
2948continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
2949ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
2950explicitly request this information at any time.
2951
2952@table @code
2953@kindex info program
2954@item info program
2955Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
2956running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
2957@end table
2958
2959@menu
2960* Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
2961* Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
2962* Signals:: Signals
2963* Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
2964@end menu
2965
2966@node Breakpoints
2967@section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
2968
2969@cindex breakpoints
2970A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
2971the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
2972control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
2973breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
2974Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
2975should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
2976program.
2977
2978On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
2979the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
2980you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
2981in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
2982(for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
2983call).
2984
2985@cindex watchpoints
2986@cindex data breakpoints
2987@cindex memory tracing
2988@cindex breakpoint on memory address
2989@cindex breakpoint on variable modification
2990A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
2991when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
2992of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
2993combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
2994@dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
2995watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
2996from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
2997enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
2998same commands.
2999
3000You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3001whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3002Automatic Display}.
3003
3004@cindex catchpoints
3005@cindex breakpoint on events
3006A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3007when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3008exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3009different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3010Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3011other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3012@code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3013
3014@cindex breakpoint numbers
3015@cindex numbers for breakpoints
3016@value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3017catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3018starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3019features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3020breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3021@dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3022enable it again.
3023
3024@cindex breakpoint ranges
3025@cindex ranges of breakpoints
3026Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3027operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3028@samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3029hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3030all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3031
3032@menu
3033* Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3034* Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3035* Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3036* Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3037* Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3038* Conditions:: Break conditions
3039* Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3040* Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3041* Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3042@end menu
3043
3044@node Set Breaks
3045@subsection Setting Breakpoints
3046
3047@c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3048@c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3049@c
3050@c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3051
3052@kindex break
3053@kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3054@vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3055@cindex latest breakpoint
3056Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3057@code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3058number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3059Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3060convenience variables.
3061
3062@table @code
3063@item break @var{location}
3064Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3065function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3066(@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3067specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3068before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3069
3070When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3071C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3072@xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3073that situation.
3074
3075It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3076only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3077or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3078
3079@item break
3080When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3081the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3082(@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3083innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3084returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3085@code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3086that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3087@code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3088the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3089inside loops.
3090
3091@value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3092least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3093would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3094breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3095existed when your program stopped.
3096
3097@item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3098Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3099@var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3100value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3101@samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3102above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3103,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3104
3105@kindex tbreak
3106@item tbreak @var{args}
3107Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3108same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3109way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3110program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3111
3112@kindex hbreak
3113@cindex hardware breakpoints
3114@item hbreak @var{args}
3115Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3116@code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3117breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3118have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3119debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3120changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3121provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3122will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3123address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3124breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3125example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3126@value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3127or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3128(@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3129@xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3130For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3131breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3132hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3133
3134@kindex thbreak
3135@item thbreak @var{args}
3136Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3137are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3138the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3139the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3140first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3141command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3142may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3143See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3144
3145@kindex rbreak
3146@cindex regular expression
3147@cindex breakpoints in functions matching a regexp
3148@cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3149@item rbreak @var{regex}
3150Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3151@var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3152matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3153breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3154the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3155them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3156
3157The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3158like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3159shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3160an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3161@code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3162match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3163
3164@cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3165When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3166breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3167classes.
3168
3169@cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3170The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3171@strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3172
3173@smallexample
3174(@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3175@end smallexample
3176
3177@kindex info breakpoints
3178@cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3179@item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3180@itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3181@itemx info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3182Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3183not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3184about the specified breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint). For
3185each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3186
3187@table @emph
3188@item Breakpoint Numbers
3189@item Type
3190Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3191@item Disposition
3192Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3193@item Enabled or Disabled
3194Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3195that are not enabled.
3196@item Address
3197Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3198pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3199contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3200library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3201See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3202have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3203@item What
3204Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3205line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3206the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3207the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3208@end table
3209
3210@noindent
3211If a breakpoint is conditional, @code{info break} shows the condition on
3212the line following the affected breakpoint; breakpoint commands, if any,
3213are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is allowed to have a condition
3214specified for it. The condition is not parsed for validity until a shared
3215library is loaded that allows the pending breakpoint to resolve to a
3216valid location.
3217
3218@noindent
3219@code{info break} with a breakpoint
3220number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3221convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3222the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3223listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3224
3225@noindent
3226@code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3227has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3228@code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3229hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3230was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3231will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3232@end table
3233
3234@value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3235your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3236the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3237(@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3238
3239@cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3240@cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3241It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3242in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3243
3244@itemize @bullet
3245@item
3246For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3247instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3248
3249@item
3250For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3251correspond to any number of instantiations.
3252
3253@item
3254For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3255several places where that function is inlined.
3256@end itemize
3257
3258In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3259the relevant locations@footnote{
3260As of this writing, multiple-location breakpoints work only if there's
3261line number information for all the locations. This means that they
3262will generally not work in system libraries, unless you have debug
3263info with line numbers for them.}.
3264
3265A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3266table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3267each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3268address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3269addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3270locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3271@var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3272
3273For example:
3274
3275@smallexample
3276Num Type Disp Enb Address What
32771 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3278 stop only if i==1
3279 breakpoint already hit 1 time
32801.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
32811.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3282@end smallexample
3283
3284Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3285@var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3286@code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3287delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3288entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3289the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3290the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3291the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3292that belong to that breakpoint.
3293
3294@cindex pending breakpoints
3295It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3296Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3297and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3298this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3299any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3300set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3301debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3302symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3303breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3304a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3305is not yet resolved.
3306
3307After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3308@value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3309shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3310pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3311ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3312that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3313
3314This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3315example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3316a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3317a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3318
3319Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3320differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3321enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3322
3323@value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3324happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3325address specification to an address:
3326
3327@kindex set breakpoint pending
3328@kindex show breakpoint pending
3329@table @code
3330@item set breakpoint pending auto
3331This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3332location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3333
3334@item set breakpoint pending on
3335This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3336result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3337
3338@item set breakpoint pending off
3339This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3340unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3341not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3342
3343@item show breakpoint pending
3344Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3345@end table
3346
3347The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3348variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3349as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3350
3351@cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3352For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3353software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3354breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3355breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3356breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3357breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3358breakpoints.
3359
3360You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3361
3362@kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3363@kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3364@table @code
3365@item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3366This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3367will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3368breakpoint must be used.
3369
3370@item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3371This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3372type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3373trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3374@end table
3375
3376@value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3377at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3378executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3379code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3380the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3381behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3382target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3383targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3384This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3385
3386@kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3387@kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3388@table @code
3389@item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3390All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3391the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3392removed from the target when it stops.
3393
3394@item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3395Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3396the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3397breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3398removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3399
3400@cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3401@item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3402This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3403in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3404@code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3405controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3406@code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3407@end table
3408
3409@cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3410@cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3411@value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3412special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3413programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3414starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3415You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3416@samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3417
3418
3419@node Set Watchpoints
3420@subsection Setting Watchpoints
3421
3422@cindex setting watchpoints
3423You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3424expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3425this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3426The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3427as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3428
3429@itemize @bullet
3430@item
3431A reference to the value of a single variable.
3432
3433@item
3434An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3435@samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3436address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3437
3438@item
3439An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3440expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3441language (@pxref{Languages}).
3442@end itemize
3443
3444You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3445not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3446@samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3447@value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3448the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3449valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3450pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3451@code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3452the expression changes.
3453
3454@cindex software watchpoints
3455@cindex hardware watchpoints
3456Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3457hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3458program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3459times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3460catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3461culprit.)
3462
3463On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3464x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3465watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3466
3467@table @code
3468@kindex watch
3469@item watch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3470Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3471expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3472changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3473to watch the value of a single variable:
3474
3475@smallexample
3476(@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3477@end smallexample
3478
3479If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3480clause, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3481@var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3482change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3483that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3484with Hardware Watchpoints.
3485
3486@kindex rwatch
3487@item rwatch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3488Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3489by the program.
3490
3491@kindex awatch
3492@item awatch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3493Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3494or written into by the program.
3495
3496@kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3497@item info watchpoints
3498This command prints a list of watchpoints, breakpoints, and catchpoints;
3499it is the same as @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3500@end table
3501
3502@value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3503watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3504value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3505cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3506executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3507@emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3508
3509@cindex use only software watchpoints
3510You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3511@kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3512zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3513the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3514watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3515@code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3516mechanism of watching expression values.)
3517
3518@table @code
3519@item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3520@kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3521Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3522
3523@item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3524@kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3525Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
3526@end table
3527
3528For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3529watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3530hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3531
3532When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
3533
3534@smallexample
3535Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
3536@end smallexample
3537
3538@noindent
3539if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
3540
3541Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
3542hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
3543value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
3544every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
3545that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
3546hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
3547will print a message like this:
3548
3549@smallexample
3550Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
3551@end smallexample
3552
3553Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
3554data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
3555watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
3556can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
3557cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
3558double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
3559wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
3560into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
3561
3562If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
3563to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
3564Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
3565time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
3566able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
3567warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
3568
3569@smallexample
3570Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
3571@end smallexample
3572
3573@noindent
3574If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
3575
3576Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
3577exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
3578That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
3579expression with separately allocated resources.
3580
3581If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
3582any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
3583kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
3584
3585@value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
3586(automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
3587they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
3588which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
3589being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
3590and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
3591rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
3592way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
3593@code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
3594
3595@cindex watchpoints and threads
3596@cindex threads and watchpoints
3597In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
3598watched expression from every thread.
3599
3600@quotation
3601@emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
3602have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
3603watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
3604single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
3605change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
3606confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
3607software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
3608when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
3609watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
3610@end quotation
3611
3612@xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
3613
3614@node Set Catchpoints
3615@subsection Setting Catchpoints
3616@cindex catchpoints, setting
3617@cindex exception handlers
3618@cindex event handling
3619
3620You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
3621kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
3622shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
3623
3624@table @code
3625@kindex catch
3626@item catch @var{event}
3627Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
3628@table @code
3629@item throw
3630@cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
3631The throwing of a C@t{++} exception.
3632
3633@item catch
3634The catching of a C@t{++} exception.
3635
3636@item exception
3637@cindex Ada exception catching
3638@cindex catch Ada exceptions
3639An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
3640at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
3641the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
3642Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
3643
3644When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
3645name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
3646fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
3647@value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
3648rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
3649called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
3650the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
3651Pck.Constraint_Error}.
3652
3653@item exception unhandled
3654An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
3655
3656@item assert
3657A failed Ada assertion.
3658
3659@item exec
3660@cindex break on fork/exec
3661A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
3662and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
3663
3664@item fork
3665A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
3666and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
3667
3668@item vfork
3669A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
3670and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
3671
3672@end table
3673
3674@item tcatch @var{event}
3675Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
3676automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
3677
3678@end table
3679
3680Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
3681
3682There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling
3683(@code{catch throw} and @code{catch catch}) in @value{GDBN}:
3684
3685@itemize @bullet
3686@item
3687If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
3688control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
3689raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
3690returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
3691simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
3692that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
3693you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
3694disabled within interactive calls.
3695
3696@item
3697You cannot raise an exception interactively.
3698
3699@item
3700You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
3701@end itemize
3702
3703@cindex raise exceptions
3704Sometimes @code{catch} is not the best way to debug exception handling:
3705if you need to know exactly where an exception is raised, it is better to
3706stop @emph{before} the exception handler is called, since that way you
3707can see the stack before any unwinding takes place. If you set a
3708breakpoint in an exception handler instead, it may not be easy to find
3709out where the exception was raised.
3710
3711To stop just before an exception handler is called, you need some
3712knowledge of the implementation. In the case of @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, exceptions are
3713raised by calling a library function named @code{__raise_exception}
3714which has the following ANSI C interface:
3715
3716@smallexample
3717 /* @var{addr} is where the exception identifier is stored.
3718 @var{id} is the exception identifier. */
3719 void __raise_exception (void **addr, void *id);
3720@end smallexample
3721
3722@noindent
3723To make the debugger catch all exceptions before any stack
3724unwinding takes place, set a breakpoint on @code{__raise_exception}
3725(@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Exceptions}).
3726
3727With a conditional breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions})
3728that depends on the value of @var{id}, you can stop your program when
3729a specific exception is raised. You can use multiple conditional
3730breakpoints to stop your program when any of a number of exceptions are
3731raised.
3732
3733
3734@node Delete Breaks
3735@subsection Deleting Breakpoints
3736
3737@cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
3738@cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
3739It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3740catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
3741to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
3742breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
3743
3744With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
3745where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
3746delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
3747their breakpoint numbers.
3748
3749It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
3750automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
3751when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
3752
3753@table @code
3754@kindex clear
3755@item clear
3756Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
3757selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
3758the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
3759breakpoint where your program just stopped.
3760
3761@item clear @var{location}
3762Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
3763@xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
3764most useful ones are listed below:
3765
3766@table @code
3767@item clear @var{function}
3768@itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
3769Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
3770
3771@item clear @var{linenum}
3772@itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
3773Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
3774@var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
3775@end table
3776
3777@cindex delete breakpoints
3778@kindex delete
3779@kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
3780@item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
3781Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
3782ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
3783breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
3784confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
3785@end table
3786
3787@node Disabling
3788@subsection Disabling Breakpoints
3789
3790@cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
3791Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
3792prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
3793it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
3794that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
3795
3796You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
3797the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying one
3798or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} or
3799@code{info watch} to print a list of breakpoints, watchpoints, and
3800catchpoints if you do not know which numbers to use.
3801
3802Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
3803affects all of its locations.
3804
3805A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of four different
3806states of enablement:
3807
3808@itemize @bullet
3809@item
3810Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
3811with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
3812@item
3813Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
3814@item
3815Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
3816disabled.
3817@item
3818Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
3819immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
3820set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
3821@end itemize
3822
3823You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
3824watchpoints, and catchpoints:
3825
3826@table @code
3827@kindex disable
3828@kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
3829@item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
3830Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
3831listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
3832options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
3833case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
3834@code{disable} as @code{dis}.
3835
3836@kindex enable
3837@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
3838Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
3839become effective once again in stopping your program.
3840
3841@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
3842Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
3843of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
3844
3845@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
3846Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
3847deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
3848Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
3849@end table
3850
3851@c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
3852@c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
3853Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
3854,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
3855subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
3856the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
3857breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
3858breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
3859Stepping}.)
3860
3861@node Conditions
3862@subsection Break Conditions
3863@cindex conditional breakpoints
3864@cindex breakpoint conditions
3865
3866@c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
3867@c in particular for a watchpoint?
3868The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
3869specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
3870breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
3871programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
3872a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
3873and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
3874
3875This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
3876situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
3877when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
3878by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
3879@samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
3880
3881Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
3882since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
3883it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
3884and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
3885one.
3886
3887Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
3888your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
3889that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
3890format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
3891unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
3892that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
3893program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
3894breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
3895conditions for the
3896purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
3897(@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
3898
3899Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
3900@samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
3901Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
3902with the @code{condition} command.
3903
3904You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
3905The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
3906@code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
3907catchpoint.
3908
3909@table @code
3910@kindex condition
3911@item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
3912Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
3913watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
3914breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
3915@var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
3916@code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
3917syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
3918referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
3919symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
3920prints an error message:
3921
3922@smallexample
3923No symbol "foo" in current context.
3924@end smallexample
3925
3926@noindent
3927@value{GDBN} does
3928not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
3929command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
3930@code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
3931
3932@item condition @var{bnum}
3933Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
3934an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
3935@end table
3936
3937@cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
3938A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
3939breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
3940useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
3941count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
3942is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
3943therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
3944ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
3945the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
3946value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
3947your program reaches it.
3948
3949@table @code
3950@kindex ignore
3951@item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
3952Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
3953The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
3954execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
3955takes no action.
3956
3957To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
3958a count of zero.
3959
3960When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
3961breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
3962@code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
3963Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
3964
3965If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
3966condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
3967@value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
3968
3969You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
3970as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
3971is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
3972Variables}.
3973@end table
3974
3975Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
3976
3977
3978@node Break Commands
3979@subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
3980
3981@cindex breakpoint commands
3982You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
3983commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
3984example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
3985enable other breakpoints.
3986
3987@table @code
3988@kindex commands
3989@kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
3990@item commands @r{[}@var{bnum}@r{]}
3991@itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
3992@itemx end
3993Specify a list of commands for breakpoint number @var{bnum}. The commands
3994themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
3995@code{end} to terminate the commands.
3996
3997To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
3998follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
3999
4000With no @var{bnum} argument, @code{commands} refers to the last
4001breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most
4002recently encountered).
4003@end table
4004
4005Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4006disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4007
4008You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4009use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4010that resumes execution.
4011
4012Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4013execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4014(even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4015another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4016ambiguities about which list to execute.
4017
4018@kindex silent
4019If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4020usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4021be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4022then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4023see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4024meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4025
4026The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4027print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4028breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4029
4030For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4031value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4032
4033@smallexample
4034break foo if x>0
4035commands
4036silent
4037printf "x is %d\n",x
4038cont
4039end
4040@end smallexample
4041
4042One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4043you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4044of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4045erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4046to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4047so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4048command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4049
4050@smallexample
4051break 403
4052commands
4053silent
4054set x = y + 4
4055cont
4056end
4057@end smallexample
4058
4059@c @ifclear BARETARGET
4060@node Error in Breakpoints
4061@subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4062
4063If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4064watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4065
4066@c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4067@c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4068@smallexample
4069Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4070You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4071@end smallexample
4072
4073@noindent
4074This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4075only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4076watchpoints it needs to insert.
4077
4078When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4079hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4080
4081@node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4082@subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4083@cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4084
4085Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4086which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4087@value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4088with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4089
4090One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4091a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4092bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4093constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4094bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4095honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4096first in the bundle.
4097
4098It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4099instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4100a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4101another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4102breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4103printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4104is hit.
4105
4106A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4107that's been subject to address adjustment:
4108
4109@smallexample
4110warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4111@end smallexample
4112
4113Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4114internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4115verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4116desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4117other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4118E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4119instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4120cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4121
4122@value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4123adjusted breakpoints:
4124
4125@smallexample
4126warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4127to 0x00010410.
4128@end smallexample
4129
4130When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4131action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4132frequently than expected.
4133
4134@node Continuing and Stepping
4135@section Continuing and Stepping
4136
4137@cindex stepping
4138@cindex continuing
4139@cindex resuming execution
4140@dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
4141completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
4142one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
4143line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
4144particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
4145your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
4146it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
4147@samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
4148
4149@table @code
4150@kindex continue
4151@kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
4152@kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
4153@item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4154@itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4155@itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4156Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
4157any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
4158@var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
4159ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
4160@code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
4161
4162The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
4163stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
4164@code{continue} is ignored.
4165
4166The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
4167debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
4168purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
4169@code{continue}.
4170@end table
4171
4172To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
4173(@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
4174calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
4175Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
4176
4177A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
4178(@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
4179beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
4180is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
4181and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
4182interesting, until you see the problem happen.
4183
4184@table @code
4185@kindex step
4186@kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
4187@item step
4188Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
4189line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
4190abbreviated @code{s}.
4191
4192@quotation
4193@c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
4194@c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
4195@c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
4196@c distinction here.
4197@emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
4198within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
4199execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
4200debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
4201is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
4202without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
4203below.
4204@end quotation
4205
4206The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
4207line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4208@code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
4209to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
4210the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
4211called within the line.
4212
4213Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
4214number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
4215@code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
4216on MIPS machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
4217was any debugging information about the routine.
4218
4219@item step @var{count}
4220Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
4221breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
4222@var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
4223
4224@kindex next
4225@kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
4226@item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4227Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
4228This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
4229the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
4230control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
4231that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
4232is abbreviated @code{n}.
4233
4234An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
4235
4236
4237@c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
4238@c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
4239@c
4240@c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
4241@c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
4242@c function are executed without stopping.
4243
4244The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
4245source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4246@code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
4247
4248@kindex set step-mode
4249@item set step-mode
4250@cindex functions without line info, and stepping
4251@cindex stepping into functions with no line info
4252@itemx set step-mode on
4253The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
4254stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
4255information rather than stepping over it.
4256
4257This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
4258machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
4259want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
4260
4261@item set step-mode off
4262Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
4263debug information. This is the default.
4264
4265@item show step-mode
4266Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
4267source line debug information.
4268
4269@kindex finish
4270@kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
4271@item finish
4272Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
4273returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
4274abbreviated as @code{fin}.
4275
4276Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
4277,Returning from a Function}).
4278
4279@kindex until
4280@kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
4281@cindex run until specified location
4282@item until
4283@itemx u
4284Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
4285current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
4286stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
4287command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
4288automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
4289than the address of the jump.
4290
4291This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
4292though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
4293exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
4294simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
4295through the next iteration.
4296
4297@code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
4298stack frame.
4299
4300@code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
4301of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
4302example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
4303(@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
4304@code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
4305
4306@smallexample
4307(@value{GDBP}) f
4308#0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
4309206 expand_input();
4310(@value{GDBP}) until
4311195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
4312@end smallexample
4313
4314This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
4315generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
4316start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
4317written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
4318to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
4319expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
4320statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
4321
4322@code{until} with no argument works by means of single
4323instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
4324argument.
4325
4326@item until @var{location}
4327@itemx u @var{location}
4328Continue running your program until either the specified location is
4329reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
4330the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
4331This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
4332hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
4333location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
4334implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
4335invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
4336line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
4337line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
4338invocations have returned.
4339
4340@smallexample
434194 int factorial (int value)
434295 @{
434396 if (value > 1) @{
434497 value *= factorial (value - 1);
434598 @}
434699 return (value);
4347100 @}
4348@end smallexample
4349
4350
4351@kindex advance @var{location}
4352@itemx advance @var{location}
4353Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
4354required, which should be of one of the forms described in
4355@ref{Specify Location}.
4356Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
4357frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
4358not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
4359have to be in the same frame as the current one.
4360
4361
4362@kindex stepi
4363@kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
4364@item stepi
4365@itemx stepi @var{arg}
4366@itemx si
4367Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
4368
4369It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
4370instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
4371instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
4372Display,, Automatic Display}.
4373
4374An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
4375
4376@need 750
4377@kindex nexti
4378@kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
4379@item nexti
4380@itemx nexti @var{arg}
4381@itemx ni
4382Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
4383proceed until the function returns.
4384
4385An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
4386@end table
4387
4388@node Signals
4389@section Signals
4390@cindex signals
4391
4392A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
4393operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
4394kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
4395signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
4396@code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
4397memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
4398the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
4399requested an alarm).
4400
4401@cindex fatal signals
4402Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
4403functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
4404errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
4405program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
4406@code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
4407fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
4408
4409@value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
4410program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
4411signal.
4412
4413@cindex handling signals
4414Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
4415@code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
4416(so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
4417but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
4418You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
4419
4420@table @code
4421@kindex info signals
4422@kindex info handle
4423@item info signals
4424@itemx info handle
4425Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
4426handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
4427the defined types of signals.
4428
4429@item info signals @var{sig}
4430Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
4431
4432@code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
4433
4434@kindex handle
4435@item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
4436Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
4437can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
4438@samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
4439@samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
4440known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
4441say what change to make.
4442@end table
4443
4444@c @group
4445The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
4446Their full names are:
4447
4448@table @code
4449@item nostop
4450@value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
4451still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
4452
4453@item stop
4454@value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
4455the @code{print} keyword as well.
4456
4457@item print
4458@value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
4459
4460@item noprint
4461@value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
4462implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
4463
4464@item pass
4465@itemx noignore
4466@value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
4467can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
4468and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
4469
4470@item nopass
4471@itemx ignore
4472@value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
4473@code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
4474@end table
4475@c @end group
4476
4477When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
4478program until you
4479continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
4480effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
4481after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
4482command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
4483program sees that signal when you continue.
4484
4485The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
4486non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
4487@code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
4488erroneous signals.
4489
4490You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
4491seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
4492or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
4493due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
4494values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
4495execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
4496a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
4497you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
4498Program a Signal}.
4499
4500@cindex extra signal information
4501@anchor{extra signal information}
4502
4503On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
4504associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
4505delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
4506by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
4507that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
4508receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
4509target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
4510$_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
4511standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
4512system header.
4513
4514Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
4515referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
4516
4517@smallexample
4518@group
4519(@value{GDBP}) continue
4520Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
45210x0000000000400766 in main ()
452269 *(int *)p = 0;
4523(@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
4524type = struct @{
4525 int si_signo;
4526 int si_errno;
4527 int si_code;
4528 union @{
4529 int _pad[28];
4530 struct @{...@} _kill;
4531 struct @{...@} _timer;
4532 struct @{...@} _rt;
4533 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
4534 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
4535 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
4536 @} _sifields;
4537@}
4538(@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
4539type = struct @{
4540 void *si_addr;
4541@}
4542(@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
4543$1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
4544@end group
4545@end smallexample
4546
4547Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
4548
4549@node Thread Stops
4550@section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
4551
4552@cindex stopped threads
4553@cindex threads, stopped
4554
4555@cindex continuing threads
4556@cindex threads, continuing
4557
4558@value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
4559(@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
4560are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
4561debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
4562when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
4563or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
4564@value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
4565@dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
4566you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
4567
4568@menu
4569* All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
4570* Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
4571* Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
4572* Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
4573* Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
4574@end menu
4575
4576@node All-Stop Mode
4577@subsection All-Stop Mode
4578
4579@cindex all-stop mode
4580
4581In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
4582@emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
4583allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
4584switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
4585underfoot.
4586
4587Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
4588executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
4589like @code{step} or @code{next}.
4590
4591In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
4592Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
4593system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
4594execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
4595single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
4596statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
4597stops.
4598
4599You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
4600continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
4601thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
4602first thread completes whatever you requested.
4603
4604@cindex automatic thread selection
4605@cindex switching threads automatically
4606@cindex threads, automatic switching
4607Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
4608signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
4609signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
4610message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
4611thread.
4612
4613On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
4614locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
4615
4616@table @code
4617@item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
4618@cindex scheduler locking mode
4619@cindex lock scheduler
4620Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
4621locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
4622current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
4623mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
4624from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
4625the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
4626Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
4627when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
4628function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
4629like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
4630thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
4631the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
4632
4633@item show scheduler-locking
4634Display the current scheduler locking mode.
4635@end table
4636
4637@cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
4638By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
4639@code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
4640threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
4641is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
4642@code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
4643inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
4644forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
4645it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
4646situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
4647of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
4648to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
4649you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
4650inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
4651
4652@table @code
4653@kindex set schedule-multiple
4654@item set schedule-multiple
4655Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
4656when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
4657all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
4658of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
4659@code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
4660or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
4661
4662@item show schedule-multiple
4663Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
4664multiple processes.
4665@end table
4666
4667@node Non-Stop Mode
4668@subsection Non-Stop Mode
4669
4670@cindex non-stop mode
4671
4672@c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
4673@c with more details.
4674
4675For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
4676mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
4677the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
4678minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
4679where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
4680respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
4681
4682In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
4683@emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
4684threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
4685execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
4686only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
4687in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
4688ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
4689one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
4690one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
4691independently and simultaneously.
4692
4693To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
4694or attach to your program:
4695
4696@smallexample
4697# Enable the async interface.
4698set target-async 1
4699
4700# If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
4701set pagination off
4702
4703# Finally, turn it on!
4704set non-stop on
4705@end smallexample
4706
4707You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
4708
4709@table @code
4710@kindex set non-stop
4711@item set non-stop on
4712Enable selection of non-stop mode.
4713@item set non-stop off
4714Disable selection of non-stop mode.
4715@kindex show non-stop
4716@item show non-stop
4717Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
4718@end table
4719
4720Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
4721not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
4722In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
4723@value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
4724not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
4725since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
4726non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
4727default.
4728
4729In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
4730by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
4731To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
4732
4733You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
4734(@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
4735while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
4736The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
4737always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
4738
4739Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
4740running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
4741In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
4742but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
4743To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
4744
4745Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
4746
4747In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
4748that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
4749thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
4750command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
4751changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
4752previously current thread.
4753
4754@node Background Execution
4755@subsection Background Execution
4756
4757@cindex foreground execution
4758@cindex background execution
4759@cindex asynchronous execution
4760@cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
4761
4762@value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
4763foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
4764(asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
4765the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
4766another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
4767a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
4768
4769You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
4770background execution commands. You can use these commands to
4771manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
4772
4773@table @code
4774@kindex set target-async
4775@item set target-async on
4776Enable asynchronous mode.
4777@item set target-async off
4778Disable asynchronous mode.
4779@kindex show target-async
4780@item show target-async
4781Show the current target-async setting.
4782@end table
4783
4784If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
4785message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
4786
4787To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
4788the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
4789just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
4790are:
4791
4792@table @code
4793@kindex run&
4794@item run
4795@xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
4796
4797@item attach
4798@kindex attach&
4799@xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
4800
4801@item step
4802@kindex step&
4803@xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
4804
4805@item stepi
4806@kindex stepi&
4807@xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
4808
4809@item next
4810@kindex next&
4811@xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
4812
4813@item nexti
4814@kindex nexti&
4815@xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
4816
4817@item continue
4818@kindex continue&
4819@xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
4820
4821@item finish
4822@kindex finish&
4823@xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
4824
4825@item until
4826@kindex until&
4827@xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
4828
4829@end table
4830
4831Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
4832mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
4833However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
4834the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
4835previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
4836mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
4837
4838You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
4839using the @code{interrupt} command.
4840
4841@table @code
4842@kindex interrupt
4843@item interrupt
4844@itemx interrupt -a
4845
4846Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
4847@code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
4848only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
4849use @code{interrupt -a}.
4850@end table
4851
4852@node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
4853@subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
4854
4855When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
4856Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
4857breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
4858
4859@table @code
4860@cindex breakpoints and threads
4861@cindex thread breakpoints
4862@kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
4863@item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
4864@itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
4865@var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
4866writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
4867specify some source line.
4868
4869Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
4870to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
4871particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
4872numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
4873column of the @samp{info threads} display.
4874
4875If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
4876breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
4877program.
4878
4879You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
4880well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before the
4881breakpoint condition, like this:
4882
4883@smallexample
4884(@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
4885@end smallexample
4886
4887@end table
4888
4889@node Interrupted System Calls
4890@subsection Interrupted System Calls
4891
4892@cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
4893@cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
4894@cindex premature return from system calls
4895There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
4896multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
4897breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
4898system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
4899consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
4900that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
4901stop execution.
4902
4903To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
4904each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
4905style anyways.
4906
4907For example, do not write code like this:
4908
4909@smallexample
4910 sleep (10);
4911@end smallexample
4912
4913The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
4914at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
4915
4916Instead, write this:
4917
4918@smallexample
4919 int unslept = 10;
4920 while (unslept > 0)
4921 unslept = sleep (unslept);
4922@end smallexample
4923
4924A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
4925conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
4926multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
4927@value{GDBN}.
4928
4929Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
4930monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
4931When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
4932prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
4933
4934
4935@node Reverse Execution
4936@chapter Running programs backward
4937@cindex reverse execution
4938@cindex running programs backward
4939
4940When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
4941you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
4942If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
4943``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
4944
4945A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
4946to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
4947program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
4948revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
4949deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
4950all target environments can support reverse execution.
4951
4952When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
4953have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
4954order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
4955thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
4956the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
4957instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
4958a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
4959should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
4960prior values@footnote{
4961Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
4962memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
4963targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
4964
4965The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
4966requires only that the target do something reasonable when
4967@value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
4968results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
4969@value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
4970assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
4971consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
4972}.
4973
4974If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
4975reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
4976
4977@table @code
4978@kindex reverse-continue
4979@kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
4980@item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4981@itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4982Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
4983in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
4984exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
4985asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
4986
4987@kindex reverse-step
4988@kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
4989@item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4990Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
4991different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
4992
4993Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
4994at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
4995executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
4996debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
4997the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
4998statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
4999
5000Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
5001called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
5002
5003@kindex reverse-stepi
5004@kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
5005@item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5006Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
5007to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
5008counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
5009if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
5010back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
5011
5012@kindex reverse-next
5013@kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
5014@item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5015Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
5016the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
5017calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
5018the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
5019to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
5020just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
5021line of a function back to its return to its caller
5022@footnote{Unles the code is too heavily optimized.}.
5023
5024@kindex reverse-nexti
5025@kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
5026@item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5027Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
5028in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
5029That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
5030another instruction, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
5031in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
5032frame) is reached.
5033
5034@kindex reverse-finish
5035@item reverse-finish
5036Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
5037current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
5038where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
5039function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
5040
5041@kindex set exec-direction
5042@item set exec-direction
5043Set the direction of target execution.
5044@itemx set exec-direction reverse
5045@cindex execute forward or backward in time
5046@value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
5047exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
5048@code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
5049command cannot be used in reverse mode.
5050@item set exec-direction forward
5051@value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
5052This is the default.
5053@end table
5054
5055
5056@node Process Record and Replay
5057@chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
5058@cindex process record and replay
5059@cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
5060
5061On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
5062and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
5063replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
5064
5065@cindex replay mode
5066When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
5067for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
5068mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
5069instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
5070code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
5071really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
5072program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
5073changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
5074execution log.
5075
5076@cindex record mode
5077If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
5078@value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
5079inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
5080for future replay.
5081
5082The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
5083(@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
5084inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
5085this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
5086log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
5087support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
5088
5089When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
5090replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
5091previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
5092platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
5093
5094For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
5095@value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
5096
5097@table @code
5098@kindex target record
5099@kindex record
5100@kindex rec
5101@item target record
5102This command starts the process record and replay target. The process
5103record and replay target can only debug a process that is already
5104running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with the
5105@kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording with
5106the @kbd{target record} command.
5107
5108Both @code{record} and @code{rec} are aliases of @code{target record}.
5109
5110@cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
5111Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
5112will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
5113is started. That's because the process record and replay target
5114doesn't support displaced stepping.
5115
5116@cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
5117@cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
5118If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
5119the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), the
5120process record and replay target cannot be started because it doesn't
5121support these two modes.
5122
5123@kindex record stop
5124@kindex rec s
5125@item record stop
5126Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
5127replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
5128inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
5129
5130When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
5131the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
5132next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
5133you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
5134will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
5135
5136On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
5137while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
5138but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
5139at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
5140usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
5141
5142When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
5143process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
5144
5145@kindex set record insn-number-max
5146@item set record insn-number-max @var{limit}
5147Set the limit of instructions to be recorded. Default value is 200000.
5148
5149If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
5150deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
5151instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
5152instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
5153instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
5154(Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
5155lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
5156the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
5157
5158If @var{limit} is zero, @value{GDBN} will never delete recorded
5159instructions from the execution log. The number of recorded
5160instructions is unlimited in this case.
5161
5162@kindex show record insn-number-max
5163@item show record insn-number-max
5164Show the limit of instructions to be recorded.
5165
5166@kindex set record stop-at-limit
5167@item set record stop-at-limit
5168Control the behavior when the number of recorded instructions reaches
5169the limit. If ON (the default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit
5170is reached for the first time and ask you whether you want to stop the
5171inferior or continue running it and recording the execution log. If
5172you decide to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will
5173cause the oldest one to be deleted.
5174
5175If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
5176oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
5177
5178@kindex show record stop-at-limit
5179@item show record stop-at-limit
5180Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
5181
5182@kindex info record insn-number
5183@item info record insn-number
5184Show the current number of recorded instructions.
5185
5186@kindex record delete
5187@kindex rec del
5188@item record delete
5189When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
5190subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
5191from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
5192recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
5193@end table
5194
5195
5196@node Stack
5197@chapter Examining the Stack
5198
5199When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
5200stopped and how it got there.
5201
5202@cindex call stack
5203Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
5204is generated.
5205That information includes the location of the call in your program,
5206the arguments of the call,
5207and the local variables of the function being called.
5208The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
5209The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
5210stack}.
5211
5212When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
5213stack allow you to see all of this information.
5214
5215@cindex selected frame
5216One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
5217@value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
5218particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
5219your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
5220special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
5221interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
5222
5223When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
5224currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
5225@code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
5226
5227@menu
5228* Frames:: Stack frames
5229* Backtrace:: Backtraces
5230* Selection:: Selecting a frame
5231* Frame Info:: Information on a frame
5232
5233@end menu
5234
5235@node Frames
5236@section Stack Frames
5237
5238@cindex frame, definition
5239@cindex stack frame
5240The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
5241frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
5242with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
5243to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
5244which the function is executing.
5245
5246@cindex initial frame
5247@cindex outermost frame
5248@cindex innermost frame
5249When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
5250function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
5251@dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
5252made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
5253is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
5254the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
5255actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
5256recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
5257
5258@cindex frame pointer
5259Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
5260stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
5261kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
5262address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
5263in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
5264(@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
5265
5266@cindex frame number
5267@value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
5268zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
5269and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
5270they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
5271frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
5272
5273@c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
5274@c underflow problems.
5275@cindex frameless execution
5276Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
5277without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
5278@smallexample
5279@samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
5280@end smallexample
5281generates functions without a frame.)
5282This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
5283the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
5284with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
5285has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
5286it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
5287correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
5288no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
5289
5290@table @code
5291@kindex frame@r{, command}
5292@cindex current stack frame
5293@item frame @var{args}
5294The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
5295and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
5296address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
5297@code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
5298
5299@kindex select-frame
5300@cindex selecting frame silently
5301@item select-frame
5302The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
5303to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
5304@code{frame}.
5305@end table
5306
5307@node Backtrace
5308@section Backtraces
5309
5310@cindex traceback
5311@cindex call stack traces
5312A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
5313line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
5314frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
5315stack.
5316
5317@table @code
5318@kindex backtrace
5319@kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
5320@item backtrace
5321@itemx bt
5322Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
5323frames in the stack.
5324
5325You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
5326character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
5327
5328@item backtrace @var{n}
5329@itemx bt @var{n}
5330Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
5331
5332@item backtrace -@var{n}
5333@itemx bt -@var{n}
5334Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
5335
5336@item backtrace full
5337@itemx bt full
5338@itemx bt full @var{n}
5339@itemx bt full -@var{n}
5340Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
5341number of frames to print, as described above.
5342@end table
5343
5344@kindex where
5345@kindex info stack
5346The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
5347are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
5348
5349@cindex multiple threads, backtrace
5350In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
5351backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
5352several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
5353(@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
5354apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
5355the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
5356multi-threaded program.
5357
5358Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
5359The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
5360print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
5361line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
5362counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
5363line number.
5364
5365Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
5366@samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
5367
5368@smallexample
5369@group
5370#0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
5371 at builtin.c:993
5372#1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
5373#2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
5374 at macro.c:71
5375(More stack frames follow...)
5376@end group
5377@end smallexample
5378
5379@noindent
5380The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
5381value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
5382code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
5383
5384@noindent
5385The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
5386@code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
5387only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
5388@kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
5389on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
5390
5391@cindex value optimized out, in backtrace
5392@cindex function call arguments, optimized out
5393If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
5394optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
5395never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
5396passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
5397in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
5398arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
5399such a backtrace might look like:
5400
5401@smallexample
5402@group
5403#0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
5404 at builtin.c:993
5405#1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<value optimized out>) at macro.c:242
5406#2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<value optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
5407 at macro.c:71
5408(More stack frames follow...)
5409@end group
5410@end smallexample
5411
5412@noindent
5413The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
5414shown as @samp{<value optimized out>}.
5415
5416If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
5417either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
5418you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
5419
5420@cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
5421@cindex program entry point
5422@cindex startup code, and backtrace
5423Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
5424libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
5425@code{main}@footnote{
5426Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
5427environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
5428entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
5429When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
5430it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
5431system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
5432
5433If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
5434in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
5435
5436@table @code
5437@item set backtrace past-main
5438@itemx set backtrace past-main on
5439@kindex set backtrace
5440Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
5441
5442@item set backtrace past-main off
5443Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
5444default.
5445
5446@item show backtrace past-main
5447@kindex show backtrace
5448Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
5449
5450@item set backtrace past-entry
5451@itemx set backtrace past-entry on
5452Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
5453This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
5454and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
5455
5456@item set backtrace past-entry off
5457Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
5458application. This is the default.
5459
5460@item show backtrace past-entry
5461Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
5462
5463@item set backtrace limit @var{n}
5464@itemx set backtrace limit 0
5465@cindex backtrace limit
5466Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of zero means
5467unlimited.
5468
5469@item show backtrace limit
5470Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
5471@end table
5472
5473@node Selection
5474@section Selecting a Frame
5475
5476Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
5477whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
5478selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
5479of the stack frame just selected.
5480
5481@table @code
5482@kindex frame@r{, selecting}
5483@kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
5484@item frame @var{n}
5485@itemx f @var{n}
5486Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
5487(currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
5488innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
5489@code{main}.
5490
5491@item frame @var{addr}
5492@itemx f @var{addr}
5493Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
5494chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
5495impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
5496addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
5497switches between them.
5498
5499On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
5500select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
5501
5502On the MIPS and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
5503pointer and a program counter.
5504
5505On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
5506pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
5507
5508@kindex up
5509@item up @var{n}
5510Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
5511advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
5512that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
5513
5514@kindex down
5515@kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
5516@item down @var{n}
5517Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
5518advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
5519that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
5520abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
5521@end table
5522
5523All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
5524frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
5525arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
5526frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
5527
5528@need 1000
5529For example:
5530
5531@smallexample
5532@group
5533(@value{GDBP}) up
5534#1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
5535 at env.c:10
553610 read_input_file (argv[i]);
5537@end group
5538@end smallexample
5539
5540After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
5541prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
5542You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
5543editing program by typing @code{edit}.
5544@xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
5545for details.
5546
5547@table @code
5548@kindex down-silently
5549@kindex up-silently
5550@item up-silently @var{n}
5551@itemx down-silently @var{n}
5552These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
5553respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
5554causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
5555in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
5556distracting.
5557@end table
5558
5559@node Frame Info
5560@section Information About a Frame
5561
5562There are several other commands to print information about the selected
5563stack frame.
5564
5565@table @code
5566@item frame
5567@itemx f
5568When used without any argument, this command does not change which
5569frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
5570selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
5571argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
5572@xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
5573
5574@kindex info frame
5575@kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
5576@item info frame
5577@itemx info f
5578This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
5579including:
5580
5581@itemize @bullet
5582@item
5583the address of the frame
5584@item
5585the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
5586@item
5587the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
5588@item
5589the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
5590@item
5591the address of the frame's arguments
5592@item
5593the address of the frame's local variables
5594@item
5595the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
5596@item
5597which registers were saved in the frame
5598@end itemize
5599
5600@noindent The verbose description is useful when
5601something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
5602the usual conventions.
5603
5604@item info frame @var{addr}
5605@itemx info f @var{addr}
5606Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
5607selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
5608command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
5609architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
5610@xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
5611
5612@kindex info args
5613@item info args
5614Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
5615
5616@item info locals
5617@kindex info locals
5618Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
5619line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
5620accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
5621
5622@kindex info catch
5623@cindex catch exceptions, list active handlers
5624@cindex exception handlers, how to list
5625@item info catch
5626Print a list of all the exception handlers that are active in the
5627current stack frame at the current point of execution. To see other
5628exception handlers, visit the associated frame (using the @code{up},
5629@code{down}, or @code{frame} commands); then type @code{info catch}.
5630@xref{Set Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
5631
5632@end table
5633
5634
5635@node Source
5636@chapter Examining Source Files
5637
5638@value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
5639information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
5640used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
5641the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
5642(@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
5643execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
5644source files by explicit command.
5645
5646If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
5647prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
5648@value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
5649
5650@menu
5651* List:: Printing source lines
5652* Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
5653* Edit:: Editing source files
5654* Search:: Searching source files
5655* Source Path:: Specifying source directories
5656* Machine Code:: Source and machine code
5657@end menu
5658
5659@node List
5660@section Printing Source Lines
5661
5662@kindex list
5663@kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
5664To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
5665(abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
5666There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
5667print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
5668
5669Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
5670
5671@table @code
5672@item list @var{linenum}
5673Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
5674current source file.
5675
5676@item list @var{function}
5677Print lines centered around the beginning of function
5678@var{function}.
5679
5680@item list
5681Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
5682@code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
5683printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
5684as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
5685Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
5686
5687@item list -
5688Print lines just before the lines last printed.
5689@end table
5690
5691@cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
5692By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
5693the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
5694
5695@table @code
5696@kindex set listsize
5697@item set listsize @var{count}
5698Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
5699the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
5700
5701@kindex show listsize
5702@item show listsize
5703Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
5704@end table
5705
5706Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
5707so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
5708than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
5709argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
5710each repetition moves up in the source file.
5711
5712In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
5713@dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
5714of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
5715to specify some source line.
5716
5717Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
5718
5719@table @code
5720@item list @var{linespec}
5721Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
5722
5723@item list @var{first},@var{last}
5724Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
5725linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
5726source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
5727the same source file as the first linespec.
5728
5729@item list ,@var{last}
5730Print lines ending with @var{last}.
5731
5732@item list @var{first},
5733Print lines starting with @var{first}.
5734
5735@item list +
5736Print lines just after the lines last printed.
5737
5738@item list -
5739Print lines just before the lines last printed.
5740
5741@item list
5742As described in the preceding table.
5743@end table
5744
5745@node Specify Location
5746@section Specifying a Location
5747@cindex specifying location
5748@cindex linespec
5749
5750Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
5751of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
5752debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
5753for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
5754
5755Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
5756@value{GDBN} understands:
5757
5758@table @code
5759@item @var{linenum}
5760Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
5761
5762@item -@var{offset}
5763@itemx +@var{offset}
5764Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
5765line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
5766printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
5767execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
5768(@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
5769used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
5770this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
5771linespec.
5772
5773@item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
5774Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
5775
5776@item @var{function}
5777Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
5778For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
5779
5780@item @var{filename}:@var{function}
5781Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
5782in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
5783function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
5784functions in different source files.
5785
5786@item *@var{address}
5787Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
5788commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
5789line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
5790breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
5791parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
5792source files.
5793
5794Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
5795language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
5796address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
5797semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
5798that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
5799of @var{address}:
5800
5801@table @code
5802@item @var{expression}
5803Any expression valid in the current working language.
5804
5805@item @var{funcaddr}
5806An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
5807C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
5808simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
5809of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
5810@code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
5811(although the Pascal form also works).
5812
5813This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
5814before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
5815
5816@item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
5817Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
5818file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
5819specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
5820functions with identical names in different source files.
5821@end table
5822
5823@end table
5824
5825
5826@node Edit
5827@section Editing Source Files
5828@cindex editing source files
5829
5830@kindex edit
5831@kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
5832To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
5833The editing program of your choice
5834is invoked with the current line set to
5835the active line in the program.
5836Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
5837want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
5838
5839@table @code
5840@item edit @var{location}
5841Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
5842that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
5843specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
5844of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
5845command most commonly used:
5846
5847@table @code
5848@item edit @var{number}
5849Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
5850
5851@item edit @var{function}
5852Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
5853@end table
5854
5855@end table
5856
5857@subsection Choosing your Editor
5858You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
5859@footnote{
5860The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
5861following command-line syntax:
5862@smallexample
5863ex +@var{number} file
5864@end smallexample
5865The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
5866the file where to start editing.}.
5867By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
5868by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
5869@value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
5870@code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
5871@smallexample
5872EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi
5873export EDITOR
5874gdb @dots{}
5875@end smallexample
5876or in the @code{csh} shell,
5877@smallexample
5878setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
5879gdb @dots{}
5880@end smallexample
5881
5882@node Search
5883@section Searching Source Files
5884@cindex searching source files
5885
5886There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
5887regular expression.
5888
5889@table @code
5890@kindex search
5891@kindex forward-search
5892@item forward-search @var{regexp}
5893@itemx search @var{regexp}
5894The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
5895starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
5896@var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
5897synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
5898@code{fo}.
5899
5900@kindex reverse-search
5901@item reverse-search @var{regexp}
5902The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
5903with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
5904for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
5905this command as @code{rev}.
5906@end table
5907
5908@node Source Path
5909@section Specifying Source Directories
5910
5911@cindex source path
5912@cindex directories for source files
5913Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
5914files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
5915the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
5916session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
5917this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
5918it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
5919in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
5920
5921For example, suppose an executable references the file
5922@file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
5923@file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
5924fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
5925fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
5926message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
5927source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
5928Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
5929the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
5930@file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
5931@file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
5932
5933Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
5934names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
5935instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
5936is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
5937@file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
5938that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
5939
5940Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
5941source files.
5942
5943Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
5944any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
5945each line is in the file.
5946
5947@kindex directory
5948@kindex dir
5949When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
5950and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
5951To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
5952
5953The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
5954script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
5955
5956In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
5957that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
5958rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
5959debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
5960directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
5961two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
5962the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
5963In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
5964@var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
5965of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
5966source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
5967name to look up the sources.
5968
5969Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
5970moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
5971@value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
5972@file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
5973@file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
5974of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
5975substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
5976(@pxref{set substitute-path}).
5977
5978To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
5979@var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
5980For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
5981@file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
5982not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
5983is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
5984not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
5985
5986In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
5987command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
5988the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
5989subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
5990subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
5991preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
5992allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
5993command.
5994
5995@code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
5996The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
5997longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
5998the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
5999for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
6000located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
6001method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
6002
6003@cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
6004@cindex default source path substitution
6005You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
6006configuring @value{GDBN} with the
6007@samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
6008should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
6009prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
6010directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
6011automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
6012location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
6013with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
6014together.
6015
6016@table @code
6017@item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
6018@item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
6019Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
6020directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
6021(@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
6022part of absolute file names) or
6023whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
6024path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
6025
6026@kindex cdir
6027@kindex cwd
6028@vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
6029@vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
6030@cindex compilation directory
6031@cindex current directory
6032@cindex working directory
6033@cindex directory, current
6034@cindex directory, compilation
6035You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
6036directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
6037working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
6038tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
6039session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
6040directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
6041
6042@item directory
6043Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
6044
6045@c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
6046@c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
6047
6048@item show directories
6049@kindex show directories
6050Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
6051
6052@anchor{set substitute-path}
6053@item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
6054@kindex set substitute-path
6055Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
6056current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
6057@var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
6058
6059For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
6060@file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
6061
6062@smallexample
6063(@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
6064@end smallexample
6065
6066@noindent
6067will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
6068@samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
6069@file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
6070
6071In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
6072the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
6073defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
6074the substitution.
6075
6076For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
6077
6078@smallexample
6079(@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
6080(@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
6081@end smallexample
6082
6083@noindent
6084@value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
6085@file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
6086use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
6087@file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
6088
6089
6090@item unset substitute-path [path]
6091@kindex unset substitute-path
6092If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
6093for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
6094A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
6095
6096If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
6097
6098@item show substitute-path [path]
6099@kindex show substitute-path
6100If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
6101which would rewrite that path, if any.
6102
6103If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
6104rules.
6105
6106@end table
6107
6108If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
6109interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
6110versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
6111
6112@enumerate
6113@item
6114Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
6115
6116@item
6117Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
6118directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
6119directories in one command.
6120@end enumerate
6121
6122@node Machine Code
6123@section Source and Machine Code
6124@cindex source line and its code address
6125
6126You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
6127addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
6128a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
6129@code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
6130source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
6131mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
6132line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
6133well as hex.
6134
6135@table @code
6136@kindex info line
6137@item info line @var{linespec}
6138Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
6139source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
6140the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
6141@end table
6142
6143For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
6144the object code for the first line of function
6145@code{m4_changequote}:
6146
6147@c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
6148@c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
6149@smallexample
6150(@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
6151Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
6152@end smallexample
6153
6154@noindent
6155@cindex code address and its source line
6156We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
6157@var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
6158@smallexample
6159(@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
6160Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
6161@end smallexample
6162
6163@cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
6164@cindex @code{x} command, default address
6165@kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
6166After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
6167is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
6168sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
6169,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
6170convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
6171Variables}).
6172
6173@table @code
6174@kindex disassemble
6175@cindex assembly instructions
6176@cindex instructions, assembly
6177@cindex machine instructions
6178@cindex listing machine instructions
6179@item disassemble
6180@itemx disassemble /m
6181@itemx disassemble /r
6182This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
6183instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
6184the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
6185in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
6186The default memory range is the function surrounding the
6187program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
6188command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
6189surrounding this value. Two arguments specify a range of addresses
6190(first inclusive, second exclusive) to dump.
6191@end table
6192
6193The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
6194HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
6195
6196@smallexample
6197(@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4 0x32e4
6198Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
61990x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
62000x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
62010x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
62020x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
62030x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
62040x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
62050x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
62060x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6207End of assembler dump.
6208@end smallexample
6209
6210Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86:
6211
6212@smallexample
6213(@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
6214Dump of assembler code for function main:
62155 @{
62160x08048330 <main+0>: push %ebp
62170x08048331 <main+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
62180x08048333 <main+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
62190x08048336 <main+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
62200x08048339 <main+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
6221
62226 printf ("Hello.\n");
62230x0804833c <main+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
62240x08048343 <main+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
6225
62267 return 0;
62278 @}
62280x08048348 <main+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
62290x0804834d <main+29>: leave
62300x0804834e <main+30>: ret
6231
6232End of assembler dump.
6233@end smallexample
6234
6235Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
6236mnemonics or other syntax.
6237
6238For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
6239instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
6240libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
6241location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
6242might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
6243
6244@table @code
6245@kindex set disassembly-flavor
6246@cindex Intel disassembly flavor
6247@cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
6248@item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
6249Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
6250program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
6251
6252Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
6253can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
6254The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
6255assemblers for x86-based targets.
6256
6257@kindex show disassembly-flavor
6258@item show disassembly-flavor
6259Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
6260@end table
6261
6262@table @code
6263@kindex set disassemble-next-line
6264@kindex show disassemble-next-line
6265@item set disassemble-next-line
6266@itemx show disassemble-next-line
6267Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
6268line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
6269display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
6270program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
6271displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
6272possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
6273(e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
6274info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
6275next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
6276AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
6277if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
6278@value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
6279with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
6280OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
6281instruction.
6282@end table
6283
6284
6285@node Data
6286@chapter Examining Data
6287
6288@cindex printing data
6289@cindex examining data
6290@kindex print
6291@kindex inspect
6292@c "inspect" is not quite a synonym if you are using Epoch, which we do not
6293@c document because it is nonstandard... Under Epoch it displays in a
6294@c different window or something like that.
6295The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
6296command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
6297evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
6298program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
6299Different Languages}).
6300
6301@table @code
6302@item print @var{expr}
6303@itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
6304@var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
6305value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
6306you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
6307@var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
6308Formats}.
6309
6310@item print
6311@itemx print /@var{f}
6312@cindex reprint the last value
6313If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
6314@dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
6315conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
6316@end table
6317
6318A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
6319It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
6320specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
6321
6322If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
6323fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
6324command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
6325Table}.
6326
6327@menu
6328* Expressions:: Expressions
6329* Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
6330* Variables:: Program variables
6331* Arrays:: Artificial arrays
6332* Output Formats:: Output formats
6333* Memory:: Examining memory
6334* Auto Display:: Automatic display
6335* Print Settings:: Print settings
6336* Value History:: Value history
6337* Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
6338* Registers:: Registers
6339* Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
6340* Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
6341* OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
6342* Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
6343* Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
6344* Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
6345* Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
6346 character set than GDB does
6347* Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
6348* Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
6349@end menu
6350
6351@node Expressions
6352@section Expressions
6353
6354@cindex expressions
6355@code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
6356compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
6357by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
6358@value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
6359casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
6360you compiled your program to include this information; see
6361@ref{Compilation}.
6362
6363@cindex arrays in expressions
6364@value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
6365the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
6366you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
6367of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
6368to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
6369is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
6370
6371Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
6372this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
6373Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
6374languages.
6375
6376In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
6377expressions regardless of your programming language.
6378
6379@cindex casts, in expressions
6380Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
6381useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
6382at that address in memory.
6383@c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
6384
6385@value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
6386to programming languages:
6387
6388@table @code
6389@item @@
6390@samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
6391@xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
6392
6393@item ::
6394@samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
6395function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
6396
6397@cindex @{@var{type}@}
6398@cindex type casting memory
6399@cindex memory, viewing as typed object
6400@cindex casts, to view memory
6401@item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
6402Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
6403memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
6404pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
6405a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
6406normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
6407@end table
6408
6409@node Ambiguous Expressions
6410@section Ambiguous Expressions
6411@cindex ambiguous expressions
6412
6413Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
6414some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
6415a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
6416different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
6417involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
6418templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
6419the same function name being defined in different contexts.
6420
6421In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
6422the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
6423can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
6424@kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
6425qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
6426as well.
6427
6428When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
6429has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
6430possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
6431The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
6432aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
6433used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
6434menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
6435choices.
6436
6437For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
6438breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
6439We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
6440
6441@c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
6442@smallexample
6443@group
6444(@value{GDBP}) b String::after
6445[0] cancel
6446[1] all
6447[2] file:String.cc; line number:867
6448[3] file:String.cc; line number:860
6449[4] file:String.cc; line number:875
6450[5] file:String.cc; line number:853
6451[6] file:String.cc; line number:846
6452[7] file:String.cc; line number:735
6453> 2 4 6
6454Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
6455Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
6456Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
6457Multiple breakpoints were set.
6458Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
6459 breakpoints.
6460(@value{GDBP})
6461@end group
6462@end smallexample
6463
6464@table @code
6465@kindex set multiple-symbols
6466@item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
6467@cindex multiple-symbols menu
6468
6469This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
6470is ambiguous.
6471
6472By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
6473the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
6474automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
6475a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
6476inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
6477then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
6478For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
6479in the use of the menu.
6480
6481When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
6482when an ambiguity is detected.
6483
6484Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
6485an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
6486
6487@kindex show multiple-symbols
6488@item show multiple-symbols
6489Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
6490@end table
6491
6492@node Variables
6493@section Program Variables
6494
6495The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
6496in your program.
6497
6498Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
6499(@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
6500
6501@itemize @bullet
6502@item
6503global (or file-static)
6504@end itemize
6505
6506@noindent or
6507
6508@itemize @bullet
6509@item
6510visible according to the scope rules of the
6511programming language from the point of execution in that frame
6512@end itemize
6513
6514@noindent This means that in the function
6515
6516@smallexample
6517foo (a)
6518 int a;
6519@{
6520 bar (a);
6521 @{
6522 int b = test ();
6523 bar (b);
6524 @}
6525@}
6526@end smallexample
6527
6528@noindent
6529you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
6530executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
6531examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
6532the block where @code{b} is declared.
6533
6534@cindex variable name conflict
6535There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
6536scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
6537in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
6538function with the same name (in different source files). If that
6539happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
6540you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file,
6541using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
6542
6543@cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
6544@ifnotinfo
6545@c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
6546@cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
6547@end ifnotinfo
6548@smallexample
6549@var{file}::@var{variable}
6550@var{function}::@var{variable}
6551@end smallexample
6552
6553@noindent
6554Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
6555static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
6556make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
6557to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
6558
6559@smallexample
6560(@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
6561@end smallexample
6562
6563@cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
6564This use of @samp{::} is very rarely in conflict with the very similar
6565use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
6566scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
6567@c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
6568@c conflict?? --mew
6569
6570@cindex wrong values
6571@cindex variable values, wrong
6572@cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
6573@cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
6574@quotation
6575@emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
6576wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
6577scope, and just before exit.
6578@end quotation
6579You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
6580This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
6581set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
6582stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
6583values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
6584also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
6585after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
6586variable definitions may be gone.
6587
6588This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
6589To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
6590when compiling.
6591
6592@cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
6593Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
6594unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
6595opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
6596offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
6597might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
6598happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
6599
6600@smallexample
6601No symbol "foo" in current context.
6602@end smallexample
6603
6604To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
6605different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
6606formats. For example, @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler,
6607usually supports the @option{-gstabs+} option. @option{-gstabs+}
6608produces debug info in a format that is superior to formats such as
6609COFF. You may be able to use DWARF 2 (@option{-gdwarf-2}), which is also
6610an effective form for debug info. @xref{Debugging Options,,Options
6611for Debugging Your Program or GCC, gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu}
6612Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
6613@xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug info formats
6614that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
6615
6616If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
6617@value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
6618by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
6619type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
6620
6621Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
6622signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
6623printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
6624@code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
6625defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
6626For program code
6627
6628@smallexample
6629char var0[] = "A";
6630signed char var1[] = "A";
6631@end smallexample
6632
6633You get during debugging
6634@smallexample
6635(gdb) print var0
6636$1 = "A"
6637(gdb) print var1
6638$2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
6639@end smallexample
6640
6641@node Arrays
6642@section Artificial Arrays
6643
6644@cindex artificial array
6645@cindex arrays
6646@kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
6647It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
6648same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
6649dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
6650program.
6651
6652You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
6653@dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
6654operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
6655and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
6656of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
6657the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
6658argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
6659following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
6660example. If a program says
6661
6662@smallexample
6663int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
6664@end smallexample
6665
6666@noindent
6667you can print the contents of @code{array} with
6668
6669@smallexample
6670p *array@@len
6671@end smallexample
6672
6673The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
6674with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
6675subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
6676Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
6677(@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
6678
6679Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
6680This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
6681The value need not be in memory:
6682@smallexample
6683(@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
6684$1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
6685@end smallexample
6686
6687As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
6688@samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
6689the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
6690@smallexample
6691(@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
6692$2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
6693@end smallexample
6694
6695Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
6696moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
6697actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
6698of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
6699to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
6700Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
6701interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
6702instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
6703structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
6704in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
6705
6706@smallexample
6707set $i = 0
6708p dtab[$i++]->fv
6709@key{RET}
6710@key{RET}
6711@dots{}
6712@end smallexample
6713
6714@node Output Formats
6715@section Output Formats
6716
6717@cindex formatted output
6718@cindex output formats
6719By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
6720this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
6721in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
6722at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
6723these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
6724
6725The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
6726already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
6727@code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
6728letters supported are:
6729
6730@table @code
6731@item x
6732Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
6733hexadecimal.
6734
6735@item d
6736Print as integer in signed decimal.
6737
6738@item u
6739Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
6740
6741@item o
6742Print as integer in octal.
6743
6744@item t
6745Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
6746@footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
6747used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
6748see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
6749
6750@item a
6751@cindex unknown address, locating
6752@cindex locate address
6753Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
6754the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
6755where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
6756
6757@smallexample
6758(@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
6759$3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
6760@end smallexample
6761
6762@noindent
6763The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
6764@xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
6765
6766@item c
6767Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
6768prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
6769character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
6770for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
6771
6772Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
6773@w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
6774constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
6775data.
6776
6777@item f
6778Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
6779using typical floating point syntax.
6780
6781@item s
6782@cindex printing strings
6783@cindex printing byte arrays
6784Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
6785data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
6786are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
6787natural types.
6788
6789Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
6790@code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
6791strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
6792array.
6793
6794@item r
6795@cindex raw printing
6796Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
6797use a type-specific pretty-printer. The @samp{r} format bypasses any
6798pretty-printer which might exist for the value's type.
6799@end table
6800
6801For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
6802
6803@smallexample
6804p/x $pc
6805@end smallexample
6806
6807@noindent
6808Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
6809names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
6810
6811To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
6812you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
6813expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
6814
6815@node Memory
6816@section Examining Memory
6817
6818You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
6819any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
6820
6821@cindex examining memory
6822@table @code
6823@kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
6824@item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
6825@itemx x @var{addr}
6826@itemx x
6827Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
6828@end table
6829
6830@var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
6831much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
6832expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
6833If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
6834Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
6835
6836@table @r
6837@item @var{n}, the repeat count
6838The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
6839how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
6840@c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
6841@c 4.1.2.
6842
6843@item @var{f}, the display format
6844The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
6845(@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
6846@samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
6847The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
6848each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
6849
6850@item @var{u}, the unit size
6851The unit size is any of
6852
6853@table @code
6854@item b
6855Bytes.
6856@item h
6857Halfwords (two bytes).
6858@item w
6859Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
6860@item g
6861Giant words (eight bytes).
6862@end table
6863
6864Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
6865default unit the next time you use @code{x}. (For the @samp{s} and
6866@samp{i} formats, the unit size is ignored and is normally not written.)
6867
6868@item @var{addr}, starting display address
6869@var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
6870memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
6871it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
6872@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
6873@var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
6874other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
6875the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
6876starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
6877a value from memory).
6878@end table
6879
6880For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
6881(@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
6882starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
6883words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
6884@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
6885
6886Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
6887letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
6888unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
6889specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
6890(However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
6891
6892Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
6893and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
6894@samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
6895including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
6896the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
6897slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
6898follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
6899@code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
6900instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
6901
6902All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
6903easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
6904you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
6905instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
6906with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
6907the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
6908for successive uses of @code{x}.
6909
6910@cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
6911The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
6912in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
6913would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
6914subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
6915@code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
6916examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
6917@code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
6918the convenience variable @code{$__}.
6919
6920If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
6921are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
6922address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
6923
6924@cindex remote memory comparison
6925@cindex verify remote memory image
6926When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
6927(@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
6928remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
6929the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
6930situations.
6931
6932@table @code
6933@kindex compare-sections
6934@item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
6935Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
6936executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
6937the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
6938arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
6939availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
6940remote request.
6941@end table
6942
6943@node Auto Display
6944@section Automatic Display
6945@cindex automatic display
6946@cindex display of expressions
6947
6948If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
6949(to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
6950display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
6951Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
6952to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
6953The automatic display looks like this:
6954
6955@smallexample
69562: foo = 38
69573: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
6958@end smallexample
6959
6960@noindent
6961This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
6962displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
6963specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
6964whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
6965specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
6966or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
6967
6968@table @code
6969@kindex display
6970@item display @var{expr}
6971Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
6972each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
6973
6974@code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
6975
6976@item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
6977For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
6978count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
6979arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
6980@xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
6981
6982@item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
6983For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
6984number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
6985be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
6986doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
6987@end table
6988
6989For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
6990instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
6991is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
6992
6993@table @code
6994@kindex delete display
6995@kindex undisplay
6996@item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
6997@itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
6998Remove item numbers @var{dnums} from the list of expressions to display.
6999
7000@code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
7001(Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
7002
7003@kindex disable display
7004@item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7005Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
7006item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
7007enabled again later.
7008
7009@kindex enable display
7010@item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7011Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
7012again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
7013
7014@item display
7015Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
7016done when your program stops.
7017
7018@kindex info display
7019@item info display
7020Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
7021automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
7022values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
7023It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
7024because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
7025@end table
7026
7027@cindex display disabled out of scope
7028If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
7029sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
7030expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
7031variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
7032@code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
7033@code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
7034continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
7035there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
7036automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
7037is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
7038
7039@node Print Settings
7040@section Print Settings
7041
7042@cindex format options
7043@cindex print settings
7044@value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
7045and symbols are printed.
7046
7047@noindent
7048These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
7049
7050@table @code
7051@kindex set print
7052@item set print address
7053@itemx set print address on
7054@cindex print/don't print memory addresses
7055@value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
7056traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
7057even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
7058is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
7059@code{set print address on}:
7060
7061@smallexample
7062@group
7063(@value{GDBP}) f
7064#0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
7065 at input.c:530
7066530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7067@end group
7068@end smallexample
7069
7070@item set print address off
7071Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
7072this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
7073
7074@smallexample
7075@group
7076(@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
7077(@value{GDBP}) f
7078#0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
7079530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7080@end group
7081@end smallexample
7082
7083You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
7084dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
7085@code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
7086all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
7087
7088@kindex show print
7089@item show print address
7090Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
7091@end table
7092
7093When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
7094closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
7095identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
7096source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
7097@code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
7098you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
7099it prints a symbolic address:
7100
7101@table @code
7102@item set print symbol-filename on
7103@cindex source file and line of a symbol
7104@cindex symbol, source file and line
7105Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
7106symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7107
7108@item set print symbol-filename off
7109Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
7110default.
7111
7112@item show print symbol-filename
7113Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
7114line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7115@end table
7116
7117Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
7118numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
7119number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
7120
7121Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
7122printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
7123
7124@table @code
7125@item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
7126@cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
7127Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
7128offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
7129@var{max-offset}. The default is 0, which tells @value{GDBN}
7130to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes it.
7131
7132@item show print max-symbolic-offset
7133Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
7134symbolic address.
7135@end table
7136
7137@cindex wild pointer, interpreting
7138@cindex pointer, finding referent
7139If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
7140@samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
7141and source file location of the variable where it points, using
7142@samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
7143For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
7144at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
7145
7146@smallexample
7147(@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
7148(@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
7149$4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
7150@end smallexample
7151
7152@quotation
7153@emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
7154does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
7155the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
7156@end quotation
7157
7158Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
7159
7160@table @code
7161@item set print array
7162@itemx set print array on
7163@cindex pretty print arrays
7164Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
7165but uses more space. The default is off.
7166
7167@item set print array off
7168Return to compressed format for arrays.
7169
7170@item show print array
7171Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
7172arrays.
7173
7174@cindex print array indexes
7175@item set print array-indexes
7176@itemx set print array-indexes on
7177Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
7178convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
7179index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
7180
7181@item set print array-indexes off
7182Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
7183
7184@item show print array-indexes
7185Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
7186arrays.
7187
7188@item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
7189@cindex number of array elements to print
7190@cindex limit on number of printed array elements
7191Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
7192If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
7193printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
7194This limit also applies to the display of strings.
7195When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
7196Setting @var{number-of-elements} to zero means that the printing is unlimited.
7197
7198@item show print elements
7199Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
7200If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
7201
7202@item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
7203@kindex set print frame-arguments
7204@cindex printing frame argument values
7205@cindex print all frame argument values
7206@cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
7207@cindex do not print frame argument values
7208This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
7209when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
7210values are:
7211
7212@table @code
7213@item all
7214The values of all arguments are printed.
7215
7216@item scalars
7217Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
7218complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
7219by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
7220only scalar arguments are shown:
7221
7222@smallexample
7223#1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
7224 at frame-args.c:23
7225@end smallexample
7226
7227@item none
7228None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
7229is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
7230
7231@smallexample
7232#1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
7233 at frame-args.c:23
7234@end smallexample
7235@end table
7236
7237By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
7238to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
7239of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
7240of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
7241information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
7242Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
7243the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
7244especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
7245to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
7246thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
7247
7248@item show print frame-arguments
7249Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
7250
7251@item set print repeats
7252@cindex repeated array elements
7253Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
7254elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
7255array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
7256@code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
7257identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
7258themselves. Setting the threshold to zero will cause all elements to
7259be individually printed. The default threshold is 10.
7260
7261@item show print repeats
7262Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
7263elements.
7264
7265@item set print null-stop
7266@cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
7267Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
7268@sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
7269contain only short strings.
7270The default is off.
7271
7272@item show print null-stop
7273Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
7274@sc{null} character.
7275
7276@item set print pretty on
7277@cindex print structures in indented form
7278@cindex indentation in structure display
7279Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
7280per line, like this:
7281
7282@smallexample
7283@group
7284$1 = @{
7285 next = 0x0,
7286 flags = @{
7287 sweet = 1,
7288 sour = 1
7289 @},
7290 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
7291@}
7292@end group
7293@end smallexample
7294
7295@item set print pretty off
7296Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
7297
7298@smallexample
7299@group
7300$1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
7301meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
7302@end group
7303@end smallexample
7304
7305@noindent
7306This is the default format.
7307
7308@item show print pretty
7309Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
7310
7311@item set print sevenbit-strings on
7312@cindex eight-bit characters in strings
7313@cindex octal escapes in strings
7314Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
7315@value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
7316character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
7317best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
7318high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
7319
7320@item set print sevenbit-strings off
7321Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
7322international character sets, and is the default.
7323
7324@item show print sevenbit-strings
7325Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
7326
7327@item set print union on
7328@cindex unions in structures, printing
7329Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
7330and other unions. This is the default setting.
7331
7332@item set print union off
7333Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
7334structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
7335instead.
7336
7337@item show print union
7338Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
7339structures and other unions.
7340
7341For example, given the declarations
7342
7343@smallexample
7344typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
7345typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
7346typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
7347 Bug_forms;
7348
7349struct thing @{
7350 Species it;
7351 union @{
7352 Tree_forms tree;
7353 Bug_forms bug;
7354 @} form;
7355@};
7356
7357struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
7358@end smallexample
7359
7360@noindent
7361with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
7362
7363@smallexample
7364$1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
7365@end smallexample
7366
7367@noindent
7368and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
7369
7370@smallexample
7371$1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
7372@end smallexample
7373
7374@noindent
7375@code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
7376and in Pascal.
7377@end table
7378
7379@need 1000
7380@noindent
7381These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
7382
7383@table @code
7384@cindex demangling C@t{++} names
7385@item set print demangle
7386@itemx set print demangle on
7387Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
7388(``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
7389linkage. The default is on.
7390
7391@item show print demangle
7392Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
7393
7394@item set print asm-demangle
7395@itemx set print asm-demangle on
7396Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
7397in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
7398The default is off.
7399
7400@item show print asm-demangle
7401Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
7402or demangled form.
7403
7404@cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
7405@cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
7406@kindex set demangle-style
7407@item set demangle-style @var{style}
7408Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
7409represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
7410
7411@table @code
7412@item auto
7413Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
7414
7415@item gnu
7416Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
7417This is the default.
7418
7419@item hp
7420Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
7421
7422@item lucid
7423Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
7424
7425@item arm
7426Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
7427@strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
7428debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
7429require further enhancement to permit that.
7430
7431@end table
7432If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
7433
7434@item show demangle-style
7435Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
7436
7437@item set print object
7438@itemx set print object on
7439@cindex derived type of an object, printing
7440@cindex display derived types
7441When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
7442(derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
7443the virtual function table.
7444
7445@item set print object off
7446Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
7447virtual function table. This is the default setting.
7448
7449@item show print object
7450Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
7451
7452@item set print static-members
7453@itemx set print static-members on
7454@cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
7455Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
7456
7457@item set print static-members off
7458Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
7459
7460@item show print static-members
7461Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
7462
7463@item set print pascal_static-members
7464@itemx set print pascal_static-members on
7465@cindex static members of Pascal objects
7466@cindex Pascal objects, static members display
7467Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
7468
7469@item set print pascal_static-members off
7470Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
7471
7472@item show print pascal_static-members
7473Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
7474
7475@c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
7476@item set print vtbl
7477@itemx set print vtbl on
7478@cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
7479@cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
7480@cindex VTBL display
7481Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
7482(The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
7483ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
7484
7485@item set print vtbl off
7486Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
7487
7488@item show print vtbl
7489Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
7490@end table
7491
7492@node Value History
7493@section Value History
7494
7495@cindex value history
7496@cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
7497Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
7498@dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
7499Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
7500(for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
7501When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
7502since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
7503symbol table.
7504
7505@cindex @code{$}
7506@cindex @code{$$}
7507@cindex history number
7508The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
7509refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
7510@code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
7511printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
7512history number.
7513
7514To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
7515history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
7516remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
7517the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
7518@code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
7519is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
7520@code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
7521
7522For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
7523want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
7524
7525@smallexample
7526p *$
7527@end smallexample
7528
7529If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
7530to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
7531
7532@smallexample
7533p *$.next
7534@end smallexample
7535
7536@noindent
7537You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
7538command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
7539
7540Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
7541@code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
7542
7543@smallexample
7544print x
7545set x=5
7546@end smallexample
7547
7548@noindent
7549then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
7550remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
7551
7552@table @code
7553@kindex show values
7554@item show values
7555Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
7556This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
7557values} does not change the history.
7558
7559@item show values @var{n}
7560Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
7561
7562@item show values +
7563Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
7564values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
7565@end table
7566
7567Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
7568same effect as @samp{show values +}.
7569
7570@node Convenience Vars
7571@section Convenience Variables
7572
7573@cindex convenience variables
7574@cindex user-defined variables
7575@value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
7576@value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
7577exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
7578setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
7579of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
7580
7581Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
7582@samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
7583the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
7584(Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
7585by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
7586
7587You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
7588expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
7589For example:
7590
7591@smallexample
7592set $foo = *object_ptr
7593@end smallexample
7594
7595@noindent
7596would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
7597@code{object_ptr}.
7598
7599Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
7600value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
7601value with another assignment at any time.
7602
7603Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
7604variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
7605that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
7606variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
7607
7608@table @code
7609@kindex show convenience
7610@cindex show all user variables
7611@item show convenience
7612Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values.
7613Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
7614
7615@kindex init-if-undefined
7616@cindex convenience variables, initializing
7617@item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
7618Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
7619for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
7620to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
7621convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
7622override default values used in a command script.
7623
7624If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
7625any side-effects do not occur.
7626@end table
7627
7628One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
7629incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
7630a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
7631
7632@smallexample
7633set $i = 0
7634print bar[$i++]->contents
7635@end smallexample
7636
7637@noindent
7638Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
7639
7640Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
7641values likely to be useful.
7642
7643@table @code
7644@vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
7645@item $_
7646The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
7647the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
7648commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
7649set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
7650and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
7651except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
7652to the type of @code{$__}.
7653
7654@vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
7655@item $__
7656The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
7657to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
7658to match the format in which the data was printed.
7659
7660@item $_exitcode
7661@vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
7662The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
7663the program being debugged terminates.
7664
7665@item $_siginfo
7666@vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
7667The variable @code{$_siginfo} is bound to extra signal information
7668inspection (@pxref{extra signal information}).
7669@end table
7670
7671On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
7672begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
7673name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
7674
7675@cindex convenience functions
7676@value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
7677have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
7678function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
7679however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
7680@value{GDBN}.
7681
7682@table @code
7683@item help function
7684@kindex help function
7685@cindex show all convenience functions
7686Print a list of all convenience functions.
7687@end table
7688
7689@node Registers
7690@section Registers
7691
7692@cindex registers
7693You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
7694with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
7695for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
7696your machine.
7697
7698@table @code
7699@kindex info registers
7700@item info registers
7701Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
7702and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
7703
7704@kindex info all-registers
7705@cindex floating point registers
7706@item info all-registers
7707Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
7708and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
7709
7710@item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
7711Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
7712As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
7713the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
7714the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
7715@end table
7716
7717@cindex stack pointer register
7718@cindex program counter register
7719@cindex process status register
7720@cindex frame pointer register
7721@cindex standard registers
7722@value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
7723expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
7724architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
7725@code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
7726the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
7727pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
7728register that contains the processor status. For example,
7729you could print the program counter in hex with
7730
7731@smallexample
7732p/x $pc
7733@end smallexample
7734
7735@noindent
7736or print the instruction to be executed next with
7737
7738@smallexample
7739x/i $pc
7740@end smallexample
7741
7742@noindent
7743or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
7744one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
7745memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
7746stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
7747stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
7748regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
7749see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
7750
7751@smallexample
7752set $sp += 4
7753@end smallexample
7754
7755Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
7756your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
7757so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
7758shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
7759registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
7760can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
7761is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
7762
7763@value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
7764integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
7765special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
7766registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
7767to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
7768(although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
7769@samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
7770
7771Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
7772means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
7773the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
7774sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
7775coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
7776programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
7777cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
7778that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
7779prints the data in both formats.
7780
7781@cindex SSE registers (x86)
7782@cindex MMX registers (x86)
7783Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
7784in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
7785have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
7786together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
7787registers in @code{struct} notation:
7788
7789@smallexample
7790(@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
7791$1 = @{
7792 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
7793 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
7794 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
7795 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
7796 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
7797 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
7798 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
7799@}
7800@end smallexample
7801
7802@noindent
7803To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
7804view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
7805value to a @code{struct} member:
7806
7807@smallexample
7808 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
7809@end smallexample
7810
7811Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
7812(@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
7813value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
7814were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
7815true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
7816frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
7817
7818However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
7819code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
7820@value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
7821frame makes no difference.
7822
7823@node Floating Point Hardware
7824@section Floating Point Hardware
7825@cindex floating point
7826
7827Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
7828you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
7829
7830@table @code
7831@kindex info float
7832@item info float
7833Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
7834point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
7835floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
7836the ARM and x86 machines.
7837@end table
7838
7839@node Vector Unit
7840@section Vector Unit
7841@cindex vector unit
7842
7843Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
7844more information about the status of the vector unit.
7845
7846@table @code
7847@kindex info vector
7848@item info vector
7849Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
7850layout vary depending on the hardware.
7851@end table
7852
7853@node OS Information
7854@section Operating System Auxiliary Information
7855@cindex OS information
7856
7857@value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
7858you debug your program.
7859
7860@cindex @code{ptrace} system call
7861@cindex @code{struct user} contents
7862When @value{GDBN} runs on a @dfn{Posix system} (such as GNU or Unix
7863machines), it interfaces with the inferior via the @code{ptrace}
7864system call. The operating system creates a special sata structure,
7865called @code{struct user}, for this interface. You can use the
7866command @code{info udot} to display the contents of this data
7867structure.
7868
7869@table @code
7870@item info udot
7871@kindex info udot
7872Display the contents of the @code{struct user} maintained by the OS
7873kernel for the program being debugged. @value{GDBN} displays the
7874contents of @code{struct user} as a list of hex numbers, similar to
7875the @code{examine} command.
7876@end table
7877
7878@cindex auxiliary vector
7879@cindex vector, auxiliary
7880Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
7881startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
7882specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
7883binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
7884hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
7885identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
7886Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
7887@value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
7888targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
7889support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
7890@ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
7891
7892@table @code
7893@kindex info auxv
7894@item info auxv
7895Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
7896live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
7897numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
7898tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
7899pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
7900most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
7901an unrecognized tag.
7902@end table
7903
7904On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating-system-specific information
7905and display it to user, without interpretation. For remote targets,
7906this functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
7907@samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
7908
7909@table @code
7910@kindex info os processes
7911@item info os processes
7912Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
7913@value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, and
7914the command corresponding to the process.
7915@end table
7916
7917@node Memory Region Attributes
7918@section Memory Region Attributes
7919@cindex memory region attributes
7920
7921@dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
7922required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
7923attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
7924accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
7925target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
7926fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
7927user can override the fetched regions.
7928
7929Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
7930memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
7931accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
7932been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
7933all memory.
7934
7935When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
7936to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
7937
7938@table @code
7939@kindex mem
7940@item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
7941Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
7942attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
7943monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
7944case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
7945(0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
7946
7947@item mem auto
7948Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
7949regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
7950
7951@kindex delete mem
7952@item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
7953Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
7954monitored by @value{GDBN}.
7955
7956@kindex disable mem
7957@item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
7958Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
7959A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
7960It may be enabled again later.
7961
7962@kindex enable mem
7963@item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
7964Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
7965
7966@kindex info mem
7967@item info mem
7968Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
7969for each region:
7970
7971@table @emph
7972@item Memory Region Number
7973@item Enabled or Disabled.
7974Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
7975Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
7976
7977@item Lo Address
7978The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
7979
7980@item Hi Address
7981The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
7982
7983@item Attributes
7984The list of attributes set for this memory region.
7985@end table
7986@end table
7987
7988
7989@subsection Attributes
7990
7991@subsubsection Memory Access Mode
7992The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
7993write accesses to a memory region.
7994
7995While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
7996memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
7997etc.@: from accessing memory.
7998
7999@table @code
8000@item ro
8001Memory is read only.
8002@item wo
8003Memory is write only.
8004@item rw
8005Memory is read/write. This is the default.
8006@end table
8007
8008@subsubsection Memory Access Size
8009The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
8010accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
8011require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
8012specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
8013
8014@table @code
8015@item 8
8016Use 8 bit memory accesses.
8017@item 16
8018Use 16 bit memory accesses.
8019@item 32
8020Use 32 bit memory accesses.
8021@item 64
8022Use 64 bit memory accesses.
8023@end table
8024
8025@c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
8026@c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
8027@c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
8028@c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
8029@c
8030@c @table @code
8031@c @item hwbreak
8032@c Always use hardware breakpoints
8033@c @item swbreak (default)
8034@c @end table
8035
8036@subsubsection Data Cache
8037The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
8038memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
8039protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
8040does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
8041registers.
8042
8043@table @code
8044@item cache
8045Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
8046@item nocache
8047Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
8048@end table
8049
8050@subsection Memory Access Checking
8051@value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
8052not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
8053regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
8054better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
8055
8056@table @code
8057@kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
8058@item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
8059If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
8060explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
8061to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
8062memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
8063treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
8064The default value is @code{on}.
8065@kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
8066@item show mem inaccessible-by-default
8067Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
8068@end table
8069
8070
8071@c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
8072@c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
8073@c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
8074@c
8075@c @table @code
8076@c @item verify
8077@c @item noverify (default)
8078@c @end table
8079
8080@node Dump/Restore Files
8081@section Copy Between Memory and a File
8082@cindex dump/restore files
8083@cindex append data to a file
8084@cindex dump data to a file
8085@cindex restore data from a file
8086
8087You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
8088@code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
8089@code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
8090@code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
8091memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
8092Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
8093files.
8094
8095@table @code
8096
8097@kindex dump
8098@item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
8099@itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
8100Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
8101or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
8102
8103The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
8104@table @code
8105@item binary
8106Raw binary form.
8107@item ihex
8108Intel hex format.
8109@item srec
8110Motorola S-record format.
8111@item tekhex
8112Tektronix Hex format.
8113@end table
8114
8115@value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
8116@sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
8117@var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
8118form.
8119
8120@kindex append
8121@item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
8122@itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
8123Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
8124or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
8125(@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
8126
8127@kindex restore
8128@item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
8129Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
8130@code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
8131file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
8132must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
8133
8134If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
8135contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
8136they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
8137a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
8138from that location.
8139
8140If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
8141file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
8142These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
8143the @var{bias} argument is applied.
8144
8145@end table
8146
8147@node Core File Generation
8148@section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
8149@cindex dump core from inferior
8150
8151A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
8152image of a running process and its process status (register values
8153etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
8154crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
8155automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
8156the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
8157the post-mortem debugging mode.
8158
8159Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
8160are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
8161@value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
8162
8163@table @code
8164@kindex gcore
8165@kindex generate-core-file
8166@item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
8167@itemx gcore [@var{file}]
8168Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
8169@var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
8170specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
8171@var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
8172
8173Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
8174this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, Unixware, and S390).
8175@end table
8176
8177@node Character Sets
8178@section Character Sets
8179@cindex character sets
8180@cindex charset
8181@cindex translating between character sets
8182@cindex host character set
8183@cindex target character set
8184
8185If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
8186represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
8187@value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
8188you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
8189character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
8190@dfn{target character set}.
8191
8192For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
8193uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
8194remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
8195running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
8196then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
8197@sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
8198target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
8199@sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
8200character and string literals in expressions.
8201
8202@value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
8203the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
8204target-charset} command, described below.
8205
8206Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
8207support:
8208
8209@table @code
8210@item set target-charset @var{charset}
8211@kindex set target-charset
8212Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
8213list of supported target character sets, type
8214@kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
8215
8216@item set host-charset @var{charset}
8217@kindex set host-charset
8218Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
8219
8220By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
8221system it is running on; you can override that default using the
8222@code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
8223automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
8224case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
8225
8226@value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
8227set. If you type @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
8228@value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
8229
8230@item set charset @var{charset}
8231@kindex set charset
8232Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
8233above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
8234@value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
8235for both host and target.
8236
8237@item show charset
8238@kindex show charset
8239Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
8240
8241@item show host-charset
8242@kindex show host-charset
8243Show the name of the current host character set.
8244
8245@item show target-charset
8246@kindex show target-charset
8247Show the name of the current target character set.
8248
8249@item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
8250@kindex set target-wide-charset
8251Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
8252the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
8253display the list of supported wide character sets, type
8254@kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
8255
8256@item show target-wide-charset
8257@kindex show target-wide-charset
8258Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
8259@end table
8260
8261Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
8262Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
8263@file{charset-test.c}:
8264
8265@smallexample
8266#include <stdio.h>
8267
8268char ascii_hello[]
8269 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
8270 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
8271char ibm1047_hello[]
8272 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
8273 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
8274
8275main ()
8276@{
8277 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
8278@}
8279@end smallexample
8280
8281In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
8282containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
8283encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
8284
8285We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
8286
8287@smallexample
8288$ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
8289$ gdb -nw charset-test
8290GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
8291Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
8292@dots{}
8293(@value{GDBP})
8294@end smallexample
8295
8296We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
8297@value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
8298strings:
8299
8300@smallexample
8301(@value{GDBP}) show charset
8302The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
8303(@value{GDBP})
8304@end smallexample
8305
8306For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
8307initial character set:
8308@smallexample
8309(@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
8310(@value{GDBP}) show charset
8311The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
8312(@value{GDBP})
8313@end smallexample
8314
8315Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
8316host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
8317characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
8318them properly. Since our current target character set is also
8319@sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
8320
8321@smallexample
8322(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
8323$1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
8324(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
8325$2 = 72 'H'
8326(@value{GDBP})
8327@end smallexample
8328
8329@value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
8330literals you use in expressions:
8331
8332@smallexample
8333(@value{GDBP}) print '+'
8334$3 = 43 '+'
8335(@value{GDBP})
8336@end smallexample
8337
8338The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
8339character.
8340
8341@value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
8342target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
8343character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
8344
8345@smallexample
8346(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
8347$4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
8348(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
8349$5 = 200 '\310'
8350(@value{GDBP})
8351@end smallexample
8352
8353If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
8354@value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
8355
8356@smallexample
8357(@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
8358ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
8359(@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
8360@end smallexample
8361
8362We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
8363program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
8364@value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
8365target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
8366@sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
8367
8368@smallexample
8369(@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
8370(@value{GDBP}) show charset
8371The current host character set is `ASCII'.
8372The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
8373(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
8374$6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
8375(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
8376$7 = 72 '\110'
8377(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
8378$8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
8379(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
8380$9 = 200 'H'
8381(@value{GDBP})
8382@end smallexample
8383
8384As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
8385string literals you use in expressions:
8386
8387@smallexample
8388(@value{GDBP}) print '+'
8389$10 = 78 '+'
8390(@value{GDBP})
8391@end smallexample
8392
8393The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
8394character.
8395
8396@node Caching Remote Data
8397@section Caching Data of Remote Targets
8398@cindex caching data of remote targets
8399
8400@value{GDBN} can cache data exchanged between the debugger and a
8401remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
8402performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
8403bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately,
8404@value{GDBN} does not currently know anything about volatile
8405registers, and thus data caching will produce incorrect results when
8406volatile registers are in use.
8407
8408@table @code
8409@kindex set remotecache
8410@item set remotecache on
8411@itemx set remotecache off
8412Set caching state for remote targets. When @code{ON}, use data
8413caching. By default, this option is @code{OFF}.
8414
8415@kindex show remotecache
8416@item show remotecache
8417Show the current state of data caching for remote targets.
8418
8419@kindex info dcache
8420@item info dcache
8421Print the information about the data cache performance. The
8422information displayed includes: the dcache width and depth; and for
8423each cache line, how many times it was referenced, and its data and
8424state (invalid, dirty, valid). This command is useful for debugging
8425the data cache operation.
8426@end table
8427
8428@node Searching Memory
8429@section Search Memory
8430@cindex searching memory
8431
8432Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
8433@code{find} command.
8434
8435@table @code
8436@kindex find
8437@item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
8438@itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
8439Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
8440etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
8441@var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
8442@end table
8443
8444@var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
8445They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
8446
8447@table @r
8448@item @var{s}, search query size
8449The size of each search query value.
8450
8451@table @code
8452@item b
8453bytes
8454@item h
8455halfwords (two bytes)
8456@item w
8457words (four bytes)
8458@item g
8459giant words (eight bytes)
8460@end table
8461
8462All values are interpreted in the current language.
8463This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
8464then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
8465
8466If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
8467value's type in the current language.
8468This is useful when one wants to specify the search
8469pattern as a mixture of types.
8470Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
8471a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
8472which is typically four bytes.
8473
8474@item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
8475The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
8476@end table
8477
8478You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
8479 (@code{"}).
8480The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
8481regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
8482
8483The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
8484number of matches found.
8485
8486The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
8487@samp{$_}.
8488A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
8489
8490For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
8491
8492@smallexample
8493void
8494hello ()
8495@{
8496 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
8497 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
8498 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
8499 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
8500 printf ("%s\n", hello);
8501@}
8502@end smallexample
8503
8504@noindent
8505you get during debugging:
8506
8507@smallexample
8508(gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
85090x804956d <hello.1620+6>
85101 pattern found
8511(gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
85120x8049567 <hello.1620>
85130x804956d <hello.1620+6>
85142 patterns found
8515(gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
85160x8049567 <hello.1620>
85171 pattern found
8518(gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
85190x8049560 <mixed.1625>
85201 pattern found
8521(gdb) print $numfound
8522$1 = 1
8523(gdb) print $_
8524$2 = (void *) 0x8049560
8525@end smallexample
8526
8527@node Optimized Code
8528@chapter Debugging Optimized Code
8529@cindex optimized code, debugging
8530@cindex debugging optimized code
8531
8532Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
8533disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
8534directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
8535applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
8536diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
8537information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
8538the running program back to constructs from your original source.
8539
8540@value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
8541can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
8542progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
8543where you may need to debug an optimized version.
8544
8545When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
8546optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
8547really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
8548exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
8549variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
8550variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
8551
8552Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
8553@samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
8554doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
8555please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
8556@xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
8557
8558@menu
8559* Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
8560@end menu
8561
8562@node Inline Functions
8563@section Inline Functions
8564@cindex inline functions, debugging
8565
8566@dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
8567body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
8568routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
8569non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
8570arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
8571them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
8572You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
8573@code{info frame} command.
8574
8575For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
8576record information about inlining in the debug information ---
8577@value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
8578other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
8579when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
8580do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
8581@samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
8582function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
8583displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
8584local variables in the caller.
8585
8586The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
8587unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
8588the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
8589start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
8590the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
8591the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
8592instructions are executed.
8593
8594This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
8595context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
8596a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
8597this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
8598
8599There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
8600function calls are the same as normal calls:
8601
8602@itemize @bullet
8603@item
8604You cannot set breakpoints on inlined functions. @value{GDBN}
8605either reports that there is no symbol with that name, or else sets the
8606breakpoint only on non-inlined copies of the function. This limitation
8607will be removed in a future version of @value{GDBN}; until then,
8608set a breakpoint by line number on the first line of the inlined
8609function instead.
8610
8611@item
8612Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
8613work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
8614may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
8615function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
8616version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
8617or inside the inlined function instead.
8618
8619@item
8620@value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
8621using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
8622debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
8623and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
8624
8625@end itemize
8626
8627
8628@node Macros
8629@chapter C Preprocessor Macros
8630
8631Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
8632``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
8633@value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
8634the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
8635where it was defined.
8636
8637You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
8638with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
8639include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
8640with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
8641
8642A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
8643and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
8644points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
8645no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
8646uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
8647@value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
8648see @ref{List}.
8649
8650Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
8651macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
8652the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
8653
8654@table @code
8655
8656@kindex macro expand
8657@cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
8658@cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
8659@cindex expanding preprocessor macros
8660@item macro expand @var{expression}
8661@itemx macro exp @var{expression}
8662Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
8663@var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
8664not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
8665it can be any string of tokens.
8666
8667@kindex macro exp1
8668@item macro expand-once @var{expression}
8669@itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
8670@cindex expand macro once
8671@i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
8672expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
8673@var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
8674left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
8675particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
8676expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
8677parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
8678can be any string of tokens.
8679
8680@kindex info macro
8681@cindex macro definition, showing
8682@cindex definition, showing a macro's
8683@item info macro @var{macro}
8684Show the definition of the macro named @var{macro}, and describe the
8685source location or compiler command-line where that definition was established.
8686
8687@kindex macro define
8688@cindex user-defined macros
8689@cindex defining macros interactively
8690@cindex macros, user-defined
8691@item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
8692@itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
8693Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
8694invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
8695@var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
8696``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
8697defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
8698@var{arglist}.
8699
8700A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
8701expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
8702@code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
8703all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
8704as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
8705
8706@kindex macro undef
8707@item macro undef @var{macro}
8708Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
8709This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
8710define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
8711in the program being debugged.
8712
8713@kindex macro list
8714@item macro list
8715List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
8716@end table
8717
8718@cindex macros, example of debugging with
8719Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
8720show our source files:
8721
8722@smallexample
8723$ cat sample.c
8724#include <stdio.h>
8725#include "sample.h"
8726
8727#define M 42
8728#define ADD(x) (M + x)
8729
8730main ()
8731@{
8732#define N 28
8733 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
8734#undef N
8735 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
8736#define N 1729
8737 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
8738@}
8739$ cat sample.h
8740#define Q <
8741$
8742@end smallexample
8743
8744Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler, @value{NGCC}.
8745We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-g3} flags to ensure the
8746compiler includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
8747information.
8748
8749@smallexample
8750$ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
8751$
8752@end smallexample
8753
8754Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
8755
8756@smallexample
8757$ gdb -nw sample
8758GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
8759Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
8760GDB is free software, @dots{}
8761(@value{GDBP})
8762@end smallexample
8763
8764We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
8765program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
8766to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
8767
8768@smallexample
8769(@value{GDBP}) list main
87703
87714 #define M 42
87725 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
87736
87747 main ()
87758 @{
87769 #define N 28
877710 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
877811 #undef N
877912 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
8780(@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
8781Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
8782#define ADD(x) (M + x)
8783(@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
8784Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
8785 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
8786#define Q <
8787(@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
8788expands to: (42 + 1)
8789(@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
8790expands to: once (M + 1)
8791(@value{GDBP})
8792@end smallexample
8793
8794In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
8795the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
8796@code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
8797which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
8798
8799Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
8800force at the source line of the current stack frame:
8801
8802@smallexample
8803(@value{GDBP}) break main
8804Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
8805(@value{GDBP}) run
8806Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
8807
8808Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
880910 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
8810(@value{GDBP})
8811@end smallexample
8812
8813At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
8814
8815@smallexample
8816(@value{GDBP}) info macro N
8817Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
8818#define N 28
8819(@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
8820expands to: 28 < 42
8821(@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
8822$1 = 1
8823(@value{GDBP})
8824@end smallexample
8825
8826As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
8827give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
8828thereof) in force at each point:
8829
8830@smallexample
8831(@value{GDBP}) next
8832Hello, world!
883312 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
8834(@value{GDBP}) info macro N
8835The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
8836at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
8837(@value{GDBP}) next
8838We're so creative.
883914 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
8840(@value{GDBP}) info macro N
8841Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
8842#define N 1729
8843(@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
8844expands to: 1729 < 42
8845(@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
8846$2 = 0
8847(@value{GDBP})
8848@end smallexample
8849
8850In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
8851line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
8852such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
8853of the source file submitted to the compiler.
8854
8855@smallexample
8856(@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
8857Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
8858-D__STDC__=1
8859(@value{GDBP})
8860@end smallexample
8861
8862
8863@node Tracepoints
8864@chapter Tracepoints
8865@c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
8866@c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
8867
8868@cindex tracepoints
8869In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
8870the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
8871anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
8872depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
8873might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
8874fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
8875to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
8876
8877Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
8878specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
8879arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
8880Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
8881those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
8882expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
8883for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
8884a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
8885in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
8886values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
8887unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
8888
8889The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
8890targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
8891how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
8892remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
8893support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
8894packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
8895Packets}.
8896
8897This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
8898
8899@menu
8900* Set Tracepoints::
8901* Analyze Collected Data::
8902* Tracepoint Variables::
8903@end menu
8904
8905@node Set Tracepoints
8906@section Commands to Set Tracepoints
8907
8908Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
8909tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
8910breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
8911standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
8912tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
8913of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
8914as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
8915
8916For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
8917of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
8918it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
8919local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
8920commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
8921tracepoint was hit.
8922
8923Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Conditional
8924expressions and ignore counts on tracepoints have no effect, and
8925tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN} commands when they are
8926hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific either.
8927
8928This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
8929conditions and actions.
8930
8931@menu
8932* Create and Delete Tracepoints::
8933* Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
8934* Tracepoint Passcounts::
8935* Tracepoint Conditions::
8936* Tracepoint Actions::
8937* Listing Tracepoints::
8938* Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
8939@end menu
8940
8941@node Create and Delete Tracepoints
8942@subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
8943
8944@table @code
8945@cindex set tracepoint
8946@kindex trace
8947@item trace @var{location}
8948The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
8949Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
8950an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
8951@code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
8952target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
8953data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
8954changing its actions doesn't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
8955command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
8956not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts.
8957
8958Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
8959
8960@smallexample
8961(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
8962
8963(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
8964
8965(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
8966
8967(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
8968
8969(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
8970@end smallexample
8971
8972@noindent
8973You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
8974
8975@item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
8976Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
8977@var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
8978if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
8979@xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
8980information on tracepoint conditions.
8981
8982@vindex $tpnum
8983@cindex last tracepoint number
8984@cindex recent tracepoint number
8985@cindex tracepoint number
8986The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
8987of the most recently set tracepoint.
8988
8989@kindex delete tracepoint
8990@cindex tracepoint deletion
8991@item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
8992Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
8993default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
8994@code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
8995
8996Examples:
8997
8998@smallexample
8999(@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
9000
9001(@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
9002@end smallexample
9003
9004@noindent
9005You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
9006@end table
9007
9008@node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
9009@subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
9010
9011These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
9012
9013@table @code
9014@kindex disable tracepoint
9015@item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9016Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
9017@var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
9018the next trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
9019a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
9020
9021@kindex enable tracepoint
9022@item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9023Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. The enabled
9024tracepoints will become effective the next time a trace experiment is
9025run.
9026@end table
9027
9028@node Tracepoint Passcounts
9029@subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
9030
9031@table @code
9032@kindex passcount
9033@cindex tracepoint pass count
9034@item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
9035Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
9036automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
9037@var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
9038the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
9039@var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
9040passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
9041given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
9042user.
9043
9044Examples:
9045
9046@smallexample
9047(@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
9048@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
9049
9050(@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
9051@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
9052(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
9053(@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
9054(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
9055(@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
9056(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
9057(@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
9058@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
9059@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
9060@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
9061@end smallexample
9062@end table
9063
9064@node Tracepoint Conditions
9065@subsection Tracepoint Conditions
9066@cindex conditional tracepoints
9067@cindex tracepoint conditions
9068
9069The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
9070reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
9071a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
9072programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
9073tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
9074program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
9075is true.
9076
9077Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
9078using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
9079@xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
9080also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
9081just as with breakpoints.
9082
9083Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
9084the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
9085expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions}
9086suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
9087Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
9088accesses, and so forth.
9089
9090For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
9091frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
9092could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
9093of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
9094through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
9095collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
9096search through.
9097
9098@smallexample
9099(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
9100@end smallexample
9101
9102@node Tracepoint Actions
9103@subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
9104
9105@table @code
9106@kindex actions
9107@cindex tracepoint actions
9108@item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9109This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
9110tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
9111specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
9112recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
9113@code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
9114actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
9115terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
9116far, the only defined actions are @code{collect} and
9117@code{while-stepping}.
9118
9119@cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
9120To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
9121and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
9122
9123@smallexample
9124(@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
9125
9126(@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
9127
9128(@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
9129@end smallexample
9130
9131In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
9132commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
9133hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
9134following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
9135followed by the list of things to be collected while stepping. The
9136@code{while-stepping} command is terminated by its own separate
9137@code{end} command. Lastly, the action list is terminated by an
9138@code{end} command.
9139
9140@smallexample
9141(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
9142(@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
9143Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
9144> collect bar,baz
9145> collect $regs
9146> while-stepping 12
9147 > collect $fp, $sp
9148 > end
9149end
9150@end smallexample
9151
9152@kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
9153@item collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
9154Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
9155This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
9156In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
9157special arguments are supported:
9158
9159@table @code
9160@item $regs
9161collect all registers
9162
9163@item $args
9164collect all function arguments
9165
9166@item $locals
9167collect all local variables.
9168@end table
9169
9170You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
9171with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
9172arguments separated by commas: the effect is the same.
9173
9174The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
9175particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
9176
9177@kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
9178@item while-stepping @var{n}
9179Perform @var{n} single-step traces after the tracepoint, collecting
9180new data at each step. The @code{while-stepping} command is
9181followed by the list of what to collect while stepping (followed by
9182its own @code{end} command):
9183
9184@smallexample
9185> while-stepping 12
9186 > collect $regs, myglobal
9187 > end
9188>
9189@end smallexample
9190
9191@noindent
9192You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
9193@code{stepping}.
9194@end table
9195
9196@node Listing Tracepoints
9197@subsection Listing Tracepoints
9198
9199@table @code
9200@kindex info tracepoints
9201@kindex info tp
9202@cindex information about tracepoints
9203@item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9204Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
9205specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
9206tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
9207@code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
9208command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
9209
9210A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
9211tracing:
9212
9213@itemize @bullet
9214@item
9215its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
9216@item
9217its step count as given by the @code{while-stepping @var{n}} command
9218@item
9219its action list as given by the @code{actions} command. The actions
9220are prefixed with an @samp{A} so as to distinguish them from commands.
9221@end itemize
9222
9223@smallexample
9224(@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
9225Num Type Disp Enb Address What
92261 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
9227 pass count 1200
9228 step count 20
9229 A while-stepping 20
9230 A collect globfoo, $regs
9231 A end
9232 A collect globfoo2
9233 A end
9234(@value{GDBP})
9235@end smallexample
9236
9237@noindent
9238This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
9239@end table
9240
9241@node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
9242@subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
9243
9244@table @code
9245@kindex tstart
9246@cindex start a new trace experiment
9247@cindex collected data discarded
9248@item tstart
9249This command takes no arguments. It starts the trace experiment, and
9250begins collecting data. This has the side effect of discarding all
9251the data collected in the trace buffer during the previous trace
9252experiment.
9253
9254@kindex tstop
9255@cindex stop a running trace experiment
9256@item tstop
9257This command takes no arguments. It ends the trace experiment, and
9258stops collecting data.
9259
9260@strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
9261automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
9262(@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
9263
9264@kindex tstatus
9265@cindex status of trace data collection
9266@cindex trace experiment, status of
9267@item tstatus
9268This command displays the status of the current trace data
9269collection.
9270@end table
9271
9272Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
9273
9274@smallexample
9275(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
9276(@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
9277Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
9278> collect $regs,$locals,$args
9279> while-stepping 11
9280 > collect $regs
9281 > end
9282> end
9283(@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
9284 [time passes @dots{}]
9285(@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
9286@end smallexample
9287
9288
9289@node Analyze Collected Data
9290@section Using the Collected Data
9291
9292After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
9293for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
9294collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
9295snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
9296consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
9297examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
9298specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
9299snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
9300registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
9301rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
9302debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
9303(@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
9304behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
9305when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
9306the buffer will fail.
9307
9308@menu
9309* tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
9310* tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
9311* save-tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
9312@end menu
9313
9314@node tfind
9315@subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
9316
9317@kindex tfind
9318@cindex select trace snapshot
9319@cindex find trace snapshot
9320The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
9321@code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
9322counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
9323snapshot is selected.
9324
9325Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
9326
9327@table @code
9328@item tfind start
9329Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
9330@code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
9331
9332@item tfind none
9333Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
9334
9335@item tfind end
9336Same as @samp{tfind none}.
9337
9338@item tfind
9339No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
9340
9341@item tfind -
9342Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
9343retracing earlier steps.
9344
9345@item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
9346Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
9347proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
9348argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
9349for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
9350
9351@item tfind pc @var{addr}
9352Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
9353program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
9354snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
9355snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
9356
9357@item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
9358Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
9359addresses.
9360
9361@item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
9362Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
9363@var{addr2}. @c FIXME: Is the range inclusive or exclusive?
9364
9365@item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
9366Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
9367the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
9368that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
9369trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
9370next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
9371@code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
9372stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
9373@end table
9374
9375The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
9376designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
9377instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
9378snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
9379trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
9380simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
9381snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
9382@key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
9383The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
9384for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
9385no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
9386(PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
9387no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
9388tracepoint as the current one.
9389
9390In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
9391these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
9392scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
9393you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
9394registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
9395
9396@smallexample
9397(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
9398(@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
9399> printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
9400 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
9401> tfind
9402> end
9403
9404Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
9405Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
9406Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
9407Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
9408Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
9409Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
9410Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
9411Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
9412Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
9413Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
9414Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
9415@end smallexample
9416
9417Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
9418the buffer:
9419
9420@smallexample
9421(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
9422(@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
9423> printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
9424> tfind line
9425> end
9426
9427Frame 0, X = 1
9428Frame 7, X = 2
9429Frame 13, X = 255
9430@end smallexample
9431
9432@node tdump
9433@subsection @code{tdump}
9434@kindex tdump
9435@cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
9436@cindex tracepoint data, display
9437
9438This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
9439the current trace snapshot.
9440
9441@smallexample
9442(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
9443(@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
9444Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
9445> collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
9446> end
9447
9448(@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
9449
9450(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
9451#0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
9452at gdb_test.c:444
9453444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
9454
9455(@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
9456Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
9457d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
9458d1 0x18 24
9459d2 0x80 128
9460d3 0x33 51
9461d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
9462d5 0x22 34
9463d6 0xe0 224
9464d7 0x380035 3670069
9465a0 0x19e24a 1696330
9466a1 0x3000668 50333288
9467a2 0x100 256
9468a3 0x322000 3284992
9469a4 0x3000698 50333336
9470a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
9471fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
9472sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
9473ps 0x0 0
9474pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
9475fpcontrol 0x0 0
9476fpstatus 0x0 0
9477fpiaddr 0x0 0
9478p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
9479p1 = (void *) 0x11
9480p2 = (void *) 0x22
9481p3 = (void *) 0x33
9482p4 = (void *) 0x44
9483p5 = (void *) 0x55
9484p6 = (void *) 0x66
9485gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
9486
9487(@value{GDBP})
9488@end smallexample
9489
9490@node save-tracepoints
9491@subsection @code{save-tracepoints @var{filename}}
9492@kindex save-tracepoints
9493@cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
9494
9495This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
9496their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
9497suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
9498tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
9499Files}).
9500
9501@node Tracepoint Variables
9502@section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
9503@cindex tracepoint variables
9504@cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
9505
9506@table @code
9507@vindex $trace_frame
9508@item (int) $trace_frame
9509The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
9510snapshot is selected.
9511
9512@vindex $tracepoint
9513@item (int) $tracepoint
9514The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
9515
9516@vindex $trace_line
9517@item (int) $trace_line
9518The line number for the current trace snapshot.
9519
9520@vindex $trace_file
9521@item (char []) $trace_file
9522The source file for the current trace snapshot.
9523
9524@vindex $trace_func
9525@item (char []) $trace_func
9526The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
9527@end table
9528
9529Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
9530use @code{output} instead.
9531
9532Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
9533stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
9534data.
9535
9536@smallexample
9537(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
9538
9539(@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
9540> output $trace_file
9541> printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
9542> tfind
9543> end
9544@end smallexample
9545
9546@node Overlays
9547@chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
9548@cindex overlays
9549
9550If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
9551memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
9552problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
9553use overlays.
9554
9555@menu
9556* How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
9557* Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
9558* Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
9559 mapped by asking the inferior.
9560* Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
9561@end menu
9562
9563@node How Overlays Work
9564@section How Overlays Work
9565@cindex mapped overlays
9566@cindex unmapped overlays
9567@cindex load address, overlay's
9568@cindex mapped address
9569@cindex overlay area
9570
9571Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
9572kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
9573other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
9574management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
9575adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
9576
9577One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
9578independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
9579@dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
9580their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
9581instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
9582largest overlay as well.
9583
9584Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
9585overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
9586for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
9587there.
9588
9589@c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
9590@c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
9591@c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
9592
9593@smallexample
9594@group
9595 Data Instruction Larger
9596Address Space Address Space Address Space
9597+-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
9598| | | | | |
9599+-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
9600| program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
9601| variables | | program | | +-----------+
9602| and heap | | | | | |
9603+-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
9604| | +-----------+ | | | load address
9605+-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
9606 | | | | | |
9607 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
9608 address | | | | | |
9609 | overlay | <-' | | |
9610 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
9611 | | <---. | | load address
9612 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
9613 | | | |
9614 +-----------+ | |
9615 +-----------+
9616 | |
9617 +-----------+
9618
9619 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
9620@end group
9621@end smallexample
9622
9623The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
9624and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
9625its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
9626Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
9627may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
9628data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
9629program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
9630program and the overlay area.
9631
9632An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
9633@dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
9634instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
9635in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
9636is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
9637the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
9638called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
9639
9640Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
9641program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
9642global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
9643
9644@itemize @bullet
9645
9646@item
9647Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
9648must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
9649return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
9650overlay, and your program will probably crash.
9651
9652@item
9653If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
9654will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
9655your program's performance.
9656
9657@item
9658The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
9659overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
9660mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
9661and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
9662You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
9663addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
9664ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
9665
9666@item
9667The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
9668to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
9669instruction and data spaces.
9670
9671@end itemize
9672
9673The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
9674improved in many ways:
9675
9676@itemize @bullet
9677
9678@item
9679If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
9680hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
9681contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
9682This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
9683area in the usual way.
9684
9685@item
9686If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
9687overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
9688
9689@item
9690You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
9691general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
9692code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
9693return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
9694the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
9695must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
9696different data overlay into the same mapped area.
9697
9698@end itemize
9699
9700
9701@node Overlay Commands
9702@section Overlay Commands
9703
9704To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
9705correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
9706virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
9707mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
9708@value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
9709variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
9710
9711@value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
9712you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
9713
9714@table @code
9715@item overlay off
9716@kindex overlay
9717Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
9718disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
9719always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
9720overlay support is disabled.
9721
9722@item overlay manual
9723@cindex manual overlay debugging
9724Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
9725relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
9726using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
9727commands described below.
9728
9729@item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
9730@itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
9731@cindex map an overlay
9732Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
9733be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
9734overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
9735functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
9736that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
9737@var{overlay} are now unmapped.
9738
9739@item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
9740@itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
9741@cindex unmap an overlay
9742Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
9743must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
9744When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
9745overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
9746
9747@item overlay auto
9748Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
9749consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
9750to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
9751Overlay Debugging}.
9752
9753@item overlay load-target
9754@itemx overlay load
9755@cindex reloading the overlay table
9756Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
9757re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
9758stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
9759overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
9760useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
9761
9762@item overlay list-overlays
9763@itemx overlay list
9764@cindex listing mapped overlays
9765Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
9766addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
9767
9768@end table
9769
9770Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
9771of the function the address falls in:
9772
9773@smallexample
9774(@value{GDBP}) print main
9775$3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
9776@end smallexample
9777@noindent
9778When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
9779unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
9780asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
9781unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
9782
9783@smallexample
9784(@value{GDBP}) overlay list
9785No sections are mapped.
9786(@value{GDBP}) print foo
9787$5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
9788@end smallexample
9789@noindent
9790When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
9791name normally:
9792
9793@smallexample
9794(@value{GDBP}) overlay list
9795Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
9796 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
9797(@value{GDBP}) print foo
9798$6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
9799@end smallexample
9800
9801When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
9802address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
9803overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
9804@code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
9805code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
9806
9807@itemize @bullet
9808@item
9809@cindex breakpoints in overlays
9810@cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
9811You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
9812@value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
9813@item
9814@value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
9815unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
9816overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
9817you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
9818breakpoints properly.
9819@end itemize
9820
9821
9822@node Automatic Overlay Debugging
9823@section Automatic Overlay Debugging
9824@cindex automatic overlay debugging
9825
9826@value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
9827are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
9828inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
9829@code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
9830looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
9831current state of the overlays.
9832
9833Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
9834@value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
9835
9836@table @asis
9837
9838@item @code{_ovly_table}:
9839This variable must be an array of the following structures:
9840
9841@smallexample
9842struct
9843@{
9844 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
9845 unsigned long vma;
9846
9847 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
9848 unsigned long size;
9849
9850 /* The overlay's load address. */
9851 unsigned long lma;
9852
9853 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
9854 zero otherwise. */
9855 unsigned long mapped;
9856@}
9857@end smallexample
9858
9859@item @code{_novlys}:
9860This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
9861number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
9862
9863@end table
9864
9865To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
9866looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
9867@code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
9868executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
9869the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
9870currently mapped.
9871
9872In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
9873@code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
9874will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
9875calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
9876will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
9877are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
9878in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
9879overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
9880are not being executed.
9881
9882@node Overlay Sample Program
9883@section Overlay Sample Program
9884@cindex overlay example program
9885
9886When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
9887at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
9888addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
9889Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
9890since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
9891architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
9892portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
9893
9894However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
9895program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
9896suite. The program consists of the following files from
9897@file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
9898
9899@table @file
9900@item overlays.c
9901The main program file.
9902@item ovlymgr.c
9903A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
9904@item foo.c
9905@itemx bar.c
9906@itemx baz.c
9907@itemx grbx.c
9908Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
9909@item d10v.ld
9910@itemx m32r.ld
9911Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
9912and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
9913@end table
9914
9915You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
9916cross-compiler like this:
9917
9918@smallexample
9919$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
9920$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
9921$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
9922$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
9923$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
9924$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
9925$ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
9926 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
9927@end smallexample
9928
9929The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
9930you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
9931target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
9932
9933
9934@node Languages
9935@chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
9936@cindex languages
9937
9938Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
9939rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
9940dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
9941Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
9942represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
9943@samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
9944
9945@cindex working language
9946Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
9947allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
9948native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
9949consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
9950language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
9951language}.
9952
9953@menu
9954* Setting:: Switching between source languages
9955* Show:: Displaying the language
9956* Checks:: Type and range checks
9957* Supported Languages:: Supported languages
9958* Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
9959@end menu
9960
9961@node Setting
9962@section Switching Between Source Languages
9963
9964There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
9965set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
9966@code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
9967defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
9968used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
9969are printed, etc.
9970
9971In addition to the working language, every source file that
9972@value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
9973file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
9974source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
9975language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
9976controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
9977show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
9978set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
9979set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
9980Displaying the Language}.
9981
9982This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
9983as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
9984another language. In that case, make the
9985program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
9986@value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
9987program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
9988
9989@menu
9990* Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
9991* Manually:: Setting the working language manually
9992* Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
9993@end menu
9994
9995@node Filenames
9996@subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
9997
9998If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
9999@value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
10000
10001@table @file
10002@item .ada
10003@itemx .ads
10004@itemx .adb
10005@itemx .a
10006Ada source file.
10007
10008@item .c
10009C source file
10010
10011@item .C
10012@itemx .cc
10013@itemx .cp
10014@itemx .cpp
10015@itemx .cxx
10016@itemx .c++
10017C@t{++} source file
10018
10019@item .m
10020Objective-C source file
10021
10022@item .f
10023@itemx .F
10024Fortran source file
10025
10026@item .mod
10027Modula-2 source file
10028
10029@item .s
10030@itemx .S
10031Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
10032@value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
10033@end table
10034
10035In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
10036extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
10037
10038@node Manually
10039@subsection Setting the Working Language
10040
10041If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
10042expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
10043your program.
10044
10045@kindex set language
10046If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
10047command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
10048a language, such as
10049@code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
10050For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
10051
10052Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
10053language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
10054to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
10055source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
10056languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
10057source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
10058command such as:
10059
10060@smallexample
10061print a = b + c
10062@end smallexample
10063
10064@noindent
10065might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
10066@code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
10067printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
10068@code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
10069
10070@node Automatically
10071@subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
10072
10073To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
10074@samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
10075then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
10076frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
10077working language to the language recorded for the function in that
10078frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
10079or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
10080does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
10081not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
10082
10083This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
10084entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
10085written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
10086a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
10087case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
10088
10089@node Show
10090@section Displaying the Language
10091
10092The following commands help you find out which language is the
10093working language, and also what language source files were written in.
10094
10095@table @code
10096@item show language
10097@kindex show language
10098Display the current working language. This is the
10099language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
10100build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
10101
10102@item info frame
10103@kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
10104Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
10105working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
10106@xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
10107information listed here.
10108
10109@item info source
10110@kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
10111Display the source language of this source file.
10112@xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
10113information listed here.
10114@end table
10115
10116In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
10117not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
10118with a language explicitly:
10119
10120@table @code
10121@item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
10122@kindex set extension-language
10123Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
10124assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
10125
10126@item info extensions
10127@kindex info extensions
10128List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
10129@end table
10130
10131@node Checks
10132@section Type and Range Checking
10133
10134@quotation
10135@emph{Warning:} In this release, the @value{GDBN} commands for type and range
10136checking are included, but they do not yet have any effect. This
10137section documents the intended facilities.
10138@end quotation
10139@c FIXME remove warning when type/range code added
10140
10141Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
10142errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
10143checking the type of arguments to functions and operators, and making
10144sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
10145these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
10146by eliminating type mismatches, and providing active checks for range
10147errors when your program is running.
10148
10149@value{GDBN} can check for conditions like the above if you wish.
10150Although @value{GDBN} does not check the statements in your program,
10151it can check expressions entered directly into @value{GDBN} for
10152evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example. As with the
10153working language, @value{GDBN} can also decide whether or not to check
10154automatically based on your program's source language.
10155@xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default
10156settings of supported languages.
10157
10158@menu
10159* Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
10160* Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
10161@end menu
10162
10163@cindex type checking
10164@cindex checks, type
10165@node Type Checking
10166@subsection An Overview of Type Checking
10167
10168Some languages, such as Modula-2, are strongly typed, meaning that the
10169arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
10170otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
10171errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
10172
10173@smallexample
101741 + 2 @result{} 3
10175@exdent but
10176@error{} 1 + 2.3
10177@end smallexample
10178
10179The second example fails because the @code{CARDINAL} 1 is not
10180type-compatible with the @code{REAL} 2.3.
10181
10182For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell the
10183@value{GDBN} type checker to skip checking;
10184to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
10185or to only issue warnings when type mismatches occur,
10186but evaluate the expression anyway. When you choose the last of
10187these, @value{GDBN} evaluates expressions like the second example above, but
10188also issues a warning.
10189
10190Even if you turn type checking off, there may be other reasons
10191related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
10192For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
10193a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
10194with the language in use, and usually arise from expressions, such as
10195the one described above, which make little sense to evaluate anyway.
10196
10197Each language defines to what degree it is strict about type. For
10198instance, both Modula-2 and C require the arguments to arithmetical
10199operators to be numbers. In C, enumerated types and pointers can be
10200represented as numbers, so that they are valid arguments to mathematical
10201operators. @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for further
10202details on specific languages.
10203
10204@value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the type checker:
10205
10206@kindex set check type
10207@kindex show check type
10208@table @code
10209@item set check type auto
10210Set type checking on or off based on the current working language.
10211@xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
10212each language.
10213
10214@item set check type on
10215@itemx set check type off
10216Set type checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
10217current working language. Issue a warning if the setting does not
10218match the language default. If any type mismatches occur in
10219evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
10220message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
10221
10222@item set check type warn
10223Cause the type checker to issue warnings, but to always attempt to
10224evaluate the expression. Evaluating the expression may still
10225be impossible for other reasons. For example, @value{GDBN} cannot add
10226numbers and structures.
10227
10228@item show type
10229Show the current setting of the type checker, and whether or not @value{GDBN}
10230is setting it automatically.
10231@end table
10232
10233@cindex range checking
10234@cindex checks, range
10235@node Range Checking
10236@subsection An Overview of Range Checking
10237
10238In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
10239bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
10240checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
10241computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
10242not exceed the bounds of the array.
10243
10244For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
10245@value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
10246always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
10247warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
10248
10249A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
10250array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
10251of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
10252error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
10253result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
10254the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
10255
10256@smallexample
10257@var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
10258@end smallexample
10259
10260This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
10261specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
10262Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
10263
10264@value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
10265
10266@kindex set check range
10267@kindex show check range
10268@table @code
10269@item set check range auto
10270Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
10271@xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
10272each language.
10273
10274@item set check range on
10275@itemx set check range off
10276Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
10277current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
10278match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
10279then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
10280
10281@item set check range warn
10282Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
10283but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
10284expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
10285memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
10286systems).
10287
10288@item show range
10289Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
10290being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
10291@end table
10292
10293@node Supported Languages
10294@section Supported Languages
10295
10296@value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, Objective-C, Fortran, Java, Pascal,
10297assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
10298@c This is false ...
10299Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
10300language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
10301and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
10302,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
10303language.
10304
10305The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
10306supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
10307tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
10308@value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
10309formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
10310books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
10311language reference or tutorial.
10312
10313@menu
10314* C:: C and C@t{++}
10315* Objective-C:: Objective-C
10316* Fortran:: Fortran
10317* Pascal:: Pascal
10318* Modula-2:: Modula-2
10319* Ada:: Ada
10320@end menu
10321
10322@node C
10323@subsection C and C@t{++}
10324
10325@cindex C and C@t{++}
10326@cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
10327
10328Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
10329to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
10330together.
10331
10332@cindex C@t{++}
10333@cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
10334@cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
10335The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
10336compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
10337effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
10338C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
10339compiler (@code{aCC}).
10340
10341For best results when using @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, use the DWARF 2 debugging
10342format; if it doesn't work on your system, try the stabs+ debugging
10343format. You can select those formats explicitly with the @code{g++}
10344command-line options @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-gstabs+}.
10345@xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
10346gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
10347
10348@menu
10349* C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
10350* C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
10351* C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
10352* C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
10353* C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
10354* Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
10355* Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
10356* Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
10357@end menu
10358
10359@node C Operators
10360@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
10361
10362@cindex C and C@t{++} operators
10363
10364Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
10365@code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
10366often defined on groups of types.
10367
10368For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
10369
10370@itemize @bullet
10371
10372@item
10373@emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
10374specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
10375
10376@item
10377@emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
10378@code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
10379
10380@item
10381@emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
10382
10383@item
10384@emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
10385
10386@end itemize
10387
10388@noindent
10389The following operators are supported. They are listed here
10390in order of increasing precedence:
10391
10392@table @code
10393@item ,
10394The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
10395are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
10396expression being the last expression evaluated.
10397
10398@item =
10399Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
10400assigned. Defined on scalar types.
10401
10402@item @var{op}=
10403Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
10404and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
10405@w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
10406@var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
10407@code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
10408
10409@item ?:
10410The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
10411of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
10412integral type.
10413
10414@item ||
10415Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
10416
10417@item &&
10418Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
10419
10420@item |
10421Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
10422
10423@item ^
10424Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
10425
10426@item &
10427Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
10428
10429@item ==@r{, }!=
10430Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
10431expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
10432
10433@item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
10434Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
10435Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
10436and non-zero for true.
10437
10438@item <<@r{, }>>
10439left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
10440
10441@item @@
10442The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
10443
10444@item +@r{, }-
10445Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
10446pointer types.
10447
10448@item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
10449Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
10450defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
10451integral types.
10452
10453@item ++@r{, }--
10454Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
10455operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
10456when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
10457operation takes place.
10458
10459@item *
10460Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
10461@code{++}.
10462
10463@item &
10464Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
10465
10466For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
10467allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
10468to examine the address
10469where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
10470stored.
10471
10472@item -
10473Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
10474precedence as @code{++}.
10475
10476@item !
10477Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
10478@code{++}.
10479
10480@item ~
10481Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
10482@code{++}.
10483
10484
10485@item .@r{, }->
10486Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
10487@value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
10488pointer based on the stored type information.
10489Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
10490
10491@item .*@r{, }->*
10492Dereferences of pointers to members.
10493
10494@item []
10495Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
10496@code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
10497
10498@item ()
10499Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
10500
10501@item ::
10502C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
10503and @code{class} types.
10504
10505@item ::
10506Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
10507(@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
10508above.
10509@end table
10510
10511If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
10512attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
10513predefined meaning.
10514
10515@node C Constants
10516@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
10517
10518@cindex C and C@t{++} constants
10519
10520@value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
10521following ways:
10522
10523@itemize @bullet
10524@item
10525Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
10526specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
10527by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
10528@samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
10529@code{long} value.
10530
10531@item
10532Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
10533point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
10534exponent. An exponent is of the form:
10535@samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
10536sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
10537A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
10538@samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
10539the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
10540a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
10541constant.
10542
10543@item
10544Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
10545integral equivalents.
10546
10547@item
10548Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
10549(@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
10550(usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
10551be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
10552the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
10553of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
10554@samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
10555@samp{\n} for newline.
10556
10557@item
10558String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
10559double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
10560above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
10561a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
10562characters.
10563
10564@item
10565Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
10566to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
10567
10568@item
10569Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
10570and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
10571integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
10572and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
10573@end itemize
10574
10575@node C Plus Plus Expressions
10576@subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
10577
10578@cindex expressions in C@t{++}
10579@value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
10580
10581@cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
10582@cindex C@t{++} compilers
10583@cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
10584@cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
10585@quotation
10586@emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use the
10587proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently, @value{GDBN}
10588works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled with
10589@value{NGCC} 2.95.3 or with @value{NGCC} 3.1 or newer, using the options
10590@option{-gdwarf-2} or @option{-gstabs+}. DWARF 2 is preferred over
10591stabs+. Most configurations of @value{NGCC} emit either DWARF 2 or
10592stabs+ as their default debug format, so you usually don't need to
10593specify a debug format explicitly. Other compilers and/or debug formats
10594are likely to work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug
10595C@t{++} code.
10596@end quotation
10597
10598@enumerate
10599
10600@cindex member functions
10601@item
10602Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
10603
10604@smallexample
10605count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
10606@end smallexample
10607
10608@vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
10609@cindex namespace in C@t{++}
10610@item
10611While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
10612expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
10613that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
10614pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}.
10615
10616@cindex call overloaded functions
10617@cindex overloaded functions, calling
10618@cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
10619@item
10620You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
10621call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
10622perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
10623calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
10624in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
10625default arguments.
10626
10627It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
10628promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
10629class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
10630functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
10631number of function arguments.
10632
10633Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
10634@code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
10635,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
10636
10637You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
10638explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
10639@smallexample
10640p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
10641@end smallexample
10642
10643The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
10644see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
10645
10646@cindex reference declarations
10647@item
10648@value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
10649them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
10650dereferenced.
10651
10652In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
10653reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
10654avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
10655The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
10656you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
10657
10658@item
10659@value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
10660expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
10661one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
10662necessary, for example in an expression like
10663@samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
10664resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
10665debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
10666@end enumerate
10667
10668In addition, when used with HP's C@t{++} compiler, @value{GDBN} supports
10669calling virtual functions correctly, printing out virtual bases of
10670objects, calling functions in a base subobject, casting objects, and
10671invoking user-defined operators.
10672
10673@node C Defaults
10674@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
10675
10676@cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
10677
10678If you allow @value{GDBN} to set type and range checking automatically, they
10679both default to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
10680C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
10681selects the working language.
10682
10683If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
10684recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
10685@file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
10686these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
10687@xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
10688for further details.
10689
10690@c Type checking is (a) primarily motivated by Modula-2, and (b)
10691@c unimplemented. If (b) changes, it might make sense to let this node
10692@c appear even if Mod-2 does not, but meanwhile ignore it. roland 16jul93.
10693
10694@node C Checks
10695@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
10696
10697@cindex C and C@t{++} checks
10698
10699By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, type checking
10700is not used. However, if you turn type checking on, @value{GDBN}
10701considers two variables type equivalent if:
10702
10703@itemize @bullet
10704@item
10705The two variables are structured and have the same structure, union, or
10706enumerated tag.
10707
10708@item
10709The two variables have the same type name, or types that have been
10710declared equivalent through @code{typedef}.
10711
10712@ignore
10713@c leaving this out because neither J Gilmore nor R Pesch understand it.
10714@c FIXME--beers?
10715@item
10716The two @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} variables are
10717declared in the same declaration. (Note: this may not be true for all C
10718compilers.)
10719@end ignore
10720@end itemize
10721
10722Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
10723indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
10724that is not itself an array.
10725
10726@node Debugging C
10727@subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
10728
10729The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
10730the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
10731inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
10732appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
10733
10734The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
10735with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
10736,Expressions}.
10737
10738@node Debugging C Plus Plus
10739@subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
10740
10741@cindex commands for C@t{++}
10742
10743Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
10744designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
10745
10746@table @code
10747@cindex break in overloaded functions
10748@item @r{breakpoint menus}
10749When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
10750@value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
10751locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
10752@xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
10753
10754@cindex overloading in C@t{++}
10755@item rbreak @var{regex}
10756Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
10757breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
10758classes.
10759@xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
10760
10761@cindex C@t{++} exception handling
10762@item catch throw
10763@itemx catch catch
10764Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
10765Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
10766
10767@cindex inheritance
10768@item ptype @var{typename}
10769Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
10770@var{typename}.
10771@xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
10772
10773@cindex C@t{++} symbol display
10774@item set print demangle
10775@itemx show print demangle
10776@itemx set print asm-demangle
10777@itemx show print asm-demangle
10778Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
10779displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
10780@xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
10781
10782@item set print object
10783@itemx show print object
10784Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
10785@xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
10786
10787@item set print vtbl
10788@itemx show print vtbl
10789Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
10790@xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
10791(The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
10792ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
10793
10794@kindex set overload-resolution
10795@cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
10796@item set overload-resolution on
10797Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
10798is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
10799and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
10800using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
10801Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
10802If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
10803
10804@item set overload-resolution off
10805Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
10806overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
10807chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
10808symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
10809overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
10810searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
10811argument types.
10812
10813@kindex show overload-resolution
10814@item show overload-resolution
10815Show the current setting of overload resolution.
10816
10817@item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
10818You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
10819the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
10820@code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
10821also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
10822available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
10823@xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
10824@end table
10825
10826@node Decimal Floating Point
10827@subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
10828@cindex decimal floating point format
10829
10830@value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
10831decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
10832@code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
10833specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
10834
10835There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
10836Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
10837PowerPC. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the configured
10838target.
10839
10840Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
10841to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
10842(using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
10843
10844In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
10845point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
10846underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
10847
10848In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
10849to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers. See
10850@ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
10851
10852@node Objective-C
10853@subsection Objective-C
10854
10855@cindex Objective-C
10856This section provides information about some commands and command
10857options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
10858@ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
10859few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
10860
10861@menu
10862* Method Names in Commands::
10863* The Print Command with Objective-C::
10864@end menu
10865
10866@node Method Names in Commands
10867@subsubsection Method Names in Commands
10868
10869The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
10870names as line specifications:
10871
10872@kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
10873@kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
10874@kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
10875@kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
10876@kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
10877@itemize
10878@item @code{clear}
10879@item @code{break}
10880@item @code{info line}
10881@item @code{jump}
10882@item @code{list}
10883@end itemize
10884
10885A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
10886
10887@smallexample
10888-[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
10889@end smallexample
10890
10891where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
10892plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
10893name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
10894brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
10895source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
10896instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
10897debugged, enter:
10898
10899@smallexample
10900break -[Fruit create]
10901@end smallexample
10902
10903To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
10904enter:
10905
10906@smallexample
10907list +[NSText initialize]
10908@end smallexample
10909
10910In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
10911required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
10912sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
10913is also possible to specify just a method name:
10914
10915@smallexample
10916break create
10917@end smallexample
10918
10919You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
10920your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
10921you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
10922method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
10923none apply.
10924
10925As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
10926@code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
10927
10928@smallexample
10929clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
10930@end smallexample
10931
10932@node The Print Command with Objective-C
10933@subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
10934@cindex Objective-C, print objects
10935@kindex print-object
10936@kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
10937
10938The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
10939
10940@smallexample
10941print -[@var{object} hash]
10942@end smallexample
10943
10944@cindex print an Objective-C object description
10945@cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
10946@noindent
10947will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
10948and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
10949@code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
10950the description of an object. However, this command may only work
10951with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
10952function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
10953
10954@node Fortran
10955@subsection Fortran
10956@cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
10957
10958@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
10959currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
10960
10961@cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
10962Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
10963among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
10964functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
10965will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
10966underscore.
10967
10968@menu
10969* Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
10970* Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
10971* Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
10972@end menu
10973
10974@node Fortran Operators
10975@subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
10976
10977@cindex Fortran operators and expressions
10978
10979Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
10980@code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
10981arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
10982
10983@table @code
10984@item **
10985The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
10986of the second one.
10987
10988@item :
10989The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
10990represent a section of array.
10991
10992@item %
10993The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
10994types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
10995this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
10996union type.
10997@end table
10998
10999@node Fortran Defaults
11000@subsubsection Fortran Defaults
11001
11002@cindex Fortran Defaults
11003
11004Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
11005default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
11006change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
11007@ref{Symbols}, for the details.
11008
11009@node Special Fortran Commands
11010@subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
11011
11012@cindex Special Fortran commands
11013
11014@value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
11015such as displaying common blocks.
11016
11017@table @code
11018@cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
11019@kindex info common
11020@item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
11021This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
11022block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
11023all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
11024printed.
11025@end table
11026
11027@node Pascal
11028@subsection Pascal
11029
11030@cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
11031Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
11032nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
11033entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
11034syntax.
11035
11036The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
11037controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
11038@xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
11039
11040@node Modula-2
11041@subsection Modula-2
11042
11043@cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
11044
11045The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
11046output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
11047developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
11048attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
11049to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
11050table.
11051
11052@cindex expressions in Modula-2
11053@menu
11054* M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
11055* Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
11056* M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
11057* M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
11058* M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
11059* Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
11060* M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
11061* M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
11062* GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
11063@end menu
11064
11065@node M2 Operators
11066@subsubsection Operators
11067@cindex Modula-2 operators
11068
11069Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
11070@code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
11071often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
11072following definitions hold:
11073
11074@itemize @bullet
11075
11076@item
11077@emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
11078their subranges.
11079
11080@item
11081@emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
11082
11083@item
11084@emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
11085
11086@item
11087@emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
11088@var{type}}.
11089
11090@item
11091@emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
11092
11093@item
11094@emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
11095
11096@item
11097@emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
11098@end itemize
11099
11100@noindent
11101The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
11102increasing precedence:
11103
11104@table @code
11105@item ,
11106Function argument or array index separator.
11107
11108@item :=
11109Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
11110@var{value}.
11111
11112@item <@r{, }>
11113Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
11114types.
11115
11116@item <=@r{, }>=
11117Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
11118on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
11119set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
11120
11121@item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
11122Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
11123Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
11124available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
11125comment character.
11126
11127@item IN
11128Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
11129Same precedence as @code{<}.
11130
11131@item OR
11132Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
11133
11134@item AND@r{, }&
11135Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
11136
11137@item @@
11138The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
11139
11140@item +@r{, }-
11141Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
11142and difference on set types.
11143
11144@item *
11145Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
11146on set types.
11147
11148@item /
11149Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
11150types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
11151
11152@item DIV@r{, }MOD
11153Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
11154precedence as @code{*}.
11155
11156@item -
11157Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
11158
11159@item ^
11160Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
11161
11162@item NOT
11163Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
11164@code{^}.
11165
11166@item .
11167@code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
11168precedence as @code{^}.
11169
11170@item []
11171Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
11172
11173@item ()
11174Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
11175as @code{^}.
11176
11177@item ::@r{, }.
11178@value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
11179@end table
11180
11181@quotation
11182@emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
11183treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
11184@code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
11185@code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
11186@end quotation
11187
11188
11189@node Built-In Func/Proc
11190@subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
11191@cindex Modula-2 built-ins
11192
11193Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
11194In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
11195
11196@table @var
11197
11198@item a
11199represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
11200
11201@item c
11202represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
11203
11204@item i
11205represents a variable or constant of integral type.
11206
11207@item m
11208represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
11209same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
11210be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
11211
11212@item n
11213represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
11214
11215@item r
11216represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
11217
11218@item t
11219represents a type.
11220
11221@item v
11222represents a variable.
11223
11224@item x
11225represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
11226explanation of the function for details.
11227@end table
11228
11229All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
11230
11231@table @code
11232@item ABS(@var{n})
11233Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
11234
11235@item CAP(@var{c})
11236If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
11237equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
11238
11239@item CHR(@var{i})
11240Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
11241
11242@item DEC(@var{v})
11243Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
11244
11245@item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
11246Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
11247new value.
11248
11249@item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
11250Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
11251set.
11252
11253@item FLOAT(@var{i})
11254Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
11255
11256@item HIGH(@var{a})
11257Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
11258
11259@item INC(@var{v})
11260Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
11261
11262@item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
11263Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
11264new value.
11265
11266@item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
11267Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
11268there. Returns the new set.
11269
11270@item MAX(@var{t})
11271Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
11272
11273@item MIN(@var{t})
11274Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
11275
11276@item ODD(@var{i})
11277Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
11278
11279@item ORD(@var{x})
11280Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
11281value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
11282@sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
11283integral, character and enumerated types.
11284
11285@item SIZE(@var{x})
11286Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
11287
11288@item TRUNC(@var{r})
11289Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
11290
11291@item TSIZE(@var{x})
11292Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
11293
11294@item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
11295Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
11296@end table
11297
11298@quotation
11299@emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
11300@value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
11301an error.
11302@end quotation
11303
11304@cindex Modula-2 constants
11305@node M2 Constants
11306@subsubsection Constants
11307
11308@value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
11309ways:
11310
11311@itemize @bullet
11312
11313@item
11314Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
11315expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
11316rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
11317trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
11318
11319@item
11320Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
11321decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
11322then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
11323@samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
11324digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
11325digits.
11326
11327@item
11328Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
11329like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
11330also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
11331followed by a @samp{C}.
11332
11333@item
11334String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
11335pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
11336Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
11337Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
11338sequences.
11339
11340@item
11341Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
11342
11343@item
11344Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
11345@code{FALSE}.
11346
11347@item
11348Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
11349
11350@item
11351Set constants are not yet supported.
11352@end itemize
11353
11354@node M2 Types
11355@subsubsection Modula-2 Types
11356@cindex Modula-2 types
11357
11358Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
11359syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
11360types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
11361print the contents of variables declared using these type.
11362This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
11363sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
11364
11365The first example contains the following section of code:
11366
11367@smallexample
11368VAR
11369 s: SET OF CHAR ;
11370 r: [20..40] ;
11371@end smallexample
11372
11373@noindent
11374and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
11375@code{r} and @code{s}.
11376
11377@smallexample
11378(@value{GDBP}) print s
11379@{'A'..'C', 'Z'@}
11380(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
11381SET OF CHAR
11382(@value{GDBP}) print r
1138321
11384(@value{GDBP}) ptype r
11385[20..40]
11386@end smallexample
11387
11388@noindent
11389Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
11390
11391@smallexample
11392VAR
11393 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
11394@end smallexample
11395
11396@noindent
11397then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
11398
11399@smallexample
11400(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
11401type = SET ['A'..'Z']
11402@end smallexample
11403
11404@noindent
11405Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
11406expressions using the debugger.
11407
11408The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
11409and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
11410
11411@smallexample
11412VAR
11413 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
11414@end smallexample
11415
11416@smallexample
11417(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
11418ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
11419@end smallexample
11420
11421Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
11422is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
11423arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
11424above.
11425
11426Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
11427
11428@smallexample
11429TYPE
11430 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
11431 t = [blue..yellow] ;
11432VAR
11433 s: t ;
11434BEGIN
11435 s := blue ;
11436@end smallexample
11437
11438@noindent
11439The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
11440and value of a variable.
11441
11442@smallexample
11443(@value{GDBP}) print s
11444$1 = blue
11445(@value{GDBP}) ptype t
11446type = [blue..yellow]
11447@end smallexample
11448
11449@noindent
11450In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
11451displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
11452their @code{C} counterparts.
11453
11454@smallexample
11455VAR
11456 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
11457BEGIN
11458 s[1] := 1 ;
11459@end smallexample
11460
11461@smallexample
11462(@value{GDBP}) print s
11463$1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
11464(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
11465type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
11466@end smallexample
11467
11468The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
11469pointer types as shown in this example:
11470
11471@smallexample
11472VAR
11473 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
11474BEGIN
11475 NEW(s) ;
11476 s^[1] := 1 ;
11477@end smallexample
11478
11479@noindent
11480and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
11481
11482@smallexample
11483(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
11484type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
11485@end smallexample
11486
11487@value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
11488Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
11489types:
11490
11491@smallexample
11492TYPE
11493 foo = RECORD
11494 f1: CARDINAL ;
11495 f2: CHAR ;
11496 f3: myarray ;
11497 END ;
11498
11499 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
11500 myrange = [-2..2] ;
11501VAR
11502 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
11503@end smallexample
11504
11505@noindent
11506and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
11507below.
11508
11509@smallexample
11510(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
11511type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
11512 f1 : CARDINAL;
11513 f2 : CHAR;
11514 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
11515END
11516@end smallexample
11517
11518@node M2 Defaults
11519@subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
11520@cindex Modula-2 defaults
11521
11522If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
11523both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
11524Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
11525selected the working language.
11526
11527If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
11528code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
11529working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
11530Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
11531
11532@node Deviations
11533@subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
11534@cindex Modula-2, deviations from
11535
11536A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
11537This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
11538
11539@itemize @bullet
11540@item
11541Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
11542integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
11543debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
11544pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
11545through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
11546returned a pointer.)
11547
11548@item
11549C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
11550non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
11551escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
11552printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
11553
11554@item
11555The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
11556argument.
11557
11558@item
11559All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
11560@end itemize
11561
11562@node M2 Checks
11563@subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
11564@cindex Modula-2 checks
11565
11566@quotation
11567@emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
11568range checking.
11569@end quotation
11570@c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
11571
11572@value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
11573
11574@itemize @bullet
11575@item
11576They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
11577@var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
11578
11579@item
11580They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
11581@sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
11582@end itemize
11583
11584As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
11585whose types are not equivalent is an error.
11586
11587Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
11588index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
11589
11590@node M2 Scope
11591@subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
11592@cindex scope
11593@cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
11594@cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
11595@ifinfo
11596@vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
11597@c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
11598@end ifinfo
11599@ifnotinfo
11600@vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
11601@end ifnotinfo
11602
11603There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
11604(@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
11605similar syntax:
11606
11607@smallexample
11608
11609@var{module} . @var{id}
11610@var{scope} :: @var{id}
11611@end smallexample
11612
11613@noindent
11614where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
11615@var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
11616identifier within your program, except another module.
11617
11618Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
11619specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
11620found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
11621enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
11622
11623Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
11624the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
11625definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
11626an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
11627module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
11628@var{module}.
11629
11630@node GDB/M2
11631@subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
11632
11633Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
11634Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
11635specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
11636@samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
11637apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
11638analogue in Modula-2.
11639
11640The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
11641with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
11642intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
11643created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
11644address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
11645@samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
11646
11647@cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
11648In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
11649interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
11650
11651@node Ada
11652@subsection Ada
11653@cindex Ada
11654
11655The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
11656output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
11657Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
11658attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
11659to be difficult.
11660
11661
11662@cindex expressions in Ada
11663@menu
11664* Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
11665 and semantics supported by Ada mode
11666 in @value{GDBN}.
11667* Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
11668* Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
11669* Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
11670* Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
11671* Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
11672* Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
11673@end menu
11674
11675@node Ada Mode Intro
11676@subsubsection Introduction
11677@cindex Ada mode, general
11678
11679The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
11680syntax, with some extensions.
11681The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
11682
11683@itemize @bullet
11684@item
11685That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
11686arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
11687leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
11688program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
11689
11690@item
11691That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
11692are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
11693
11694@item
11695That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
11696@end itemize
11697
11698Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
11699user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
11700according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
11701names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
11702ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
11703
11704The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
11705As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
11706was translated from an Ada source file.
11707
11708While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
11709mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
11710(@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
11711middle (to allow based literals).
11712
11713The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
11714the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
11715actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
11716the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
11717procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
11718functions to procedures elsewhere.
11719
11720@node Omissions from Ada
11721@subsubsection Omissions from Ada
11722@cindex Ada, omissions from
11723
11724Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
11725
11726@itemize @bullet
11727@item
11728Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
11729
11730@itemize @minus
11731@item
11732@t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
11733 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
11734
11735@item
11736@t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
11737
11738@item
11739@t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
11740
11741@item
11742@t{'Tag}.
11743
11744@item
11745@t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
11746operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
11747
11748@item
11749@t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
11750@t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
11751
11752@item
11753@t{'Address}.
11754@end itemize
11755
11756@item
11757The names in
11758@code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
11759concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
11760not currently available.
11761
11762@item
11763Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
11764equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
11765for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
11766They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
11767types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
11768(in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
11769zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
11770indeterminate values.
11771
11772@item
11773The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
11774@code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
11775are not implemented.
11776
11777@item
11778@cindex array aggregates (Ada)
11779@cindex record aggregates (Ada)
11780@cindex aggregates (Ada)
11781There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
11782permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
11783
11784@smallexample
11785(@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
11786(@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
11787(@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
11788(@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
11789(@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
11790(@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
11791@end smallexample
11792
11793Changing a
11794discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
11795undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
11796However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
11797them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
11798aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
11799declared to have a type such as:
11800
11801@smallexample
11802type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
11803 Id : Integer;
11804 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
11805end record;
11806@end smallexample
11807
11808you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
11809assignments:
11810
11811@smallexample
11812(@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
11813(@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
11814@end smallexample
11815
11816As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
11817rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
11818components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
11819component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
11820original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
11821indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
11822redundant component associations, although which component values are
11823assigned in such cases is not defined.
11824
11825@item
11826Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
11827
11828@item
11829The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
11830than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
11831which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
11832looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
11833function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
11834the proper resolution.
11835
11836@item
11837The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
11838
11839@item
11840Entry calls are not implemented.
11841
11842@item
11843Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
11844formats are not supported.
11845
11846@item
11847It is not possible to slice a packed array.
11848
11849@item
11850The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
11851are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
11852context.
11853Should your program
11854redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
11855you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
11856@end itemize
11857
11858@node Additions to Ada
11859@subsubsection Additions to Ada
11860@cindex Ada, deviations from
11861
11862As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
11863extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
11864
11865@itemize @bullet
11866@item
11867If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
11868a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
11869then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
11870@var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
11871Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
11872in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
11873Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
11874which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
11875
11876@item
11877@code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
11878appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
11879you must typically surround it in single quotes.
11880
11881@item
11882The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
11883@var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
11884
11885@item
11886A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
11887(@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
11888@end itemize
11889
11890In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
11891additions specific to Ada:
11892
11893@itemize @bullet
11894@item
11895The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
11896its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
11897
11898@smallexample
11899(@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
11900(@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
11901@end smallexample
11902
11903@item
11904The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
11905the value of its right-hand operand.
11906This allows, for example,
11907complex conditional breaks:
11908
11909@smallexample
11910(@value{GDBP}) break f
11911(@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
11912@end smallexample
11913
11914@item
11915Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
11916characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
11917which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
11918@samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
11919(single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
11920sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
11921in strings. For example,
11922@smallexample
11923 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
11924@end smallexample
11925@noindent
11926contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
11927after each period.
11928
11929@item
11930The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
11931@t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
11932to write
11933
11934@smallexample
11935(@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
11936@end smallexample
11937
11938@item
11939When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
11940array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
11941For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
11942of 3 might print as
11943
11944@smallexample
11945(3 => 10, 17, 1)
11946@end smallexample
11947
11948@noindent
11949That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
11950clause.
11951
11952@item
11953You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
11954multi-character subsequence of
11955their names (an exact match gets preference).
11956For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
11957in place of @t{a'length}.
11958
11959@item
11960@cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
11961Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
11962to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
11963some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
11964For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
11965enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
11966For example,
11967@smallexample
11968(@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
11969@end smallexample
11970
11971@item
11972Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
11973access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
11974specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
11975selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
11976object.
11977
11978@end itemize
11979
11980@node Stopping Before Main Program
11981@subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
11982
11983@cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
11984It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
11985before reaching the main procedure.
11986As defined in the Ada Reference
11987Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
11988@code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
11989elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
11990@code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
11991
11992@node Ada Tasks
11993@subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
11994@cindex Ada, tasking
11995
11996Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
11997@value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
11998
11999@table @code
12000@kindex info tasks
12001@item info tasks
12002This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
12003
12004
12005@smallexample
12006@iftex
12007@leftskip=0.5cm
12008@end iftex
12009(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
12010 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
12011 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
12012 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
12013 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
12014* 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
12015
12016@end smallexample
12017
12018@noindent
12019In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
12020task currently being inspected.
12021
12022@table @asis
12023@item ID
12024Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
12025
12026@item TID
12027The Ada task ID.
12028
12029@item P-ID
12030The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
12031
12032@item Pri
12033The base priority of the task.
12034
12035@item State
12036Current state of the task.
12037
12038@table @code
12039@item Unactivated
12040The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
12041executing.
12042
12043@item Runnable
12044The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
12045for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
12046
12047@item Terminated
12048The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
12049that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
12050terminated themselves.
12051
12052@item Child Activation Wait
12053The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
12054
12055@item Accept Statement
12056The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
12057
12058@item Waiting on entry call
12059The task is waiting on an entry call.
12060
12061@item Async Select Wait
12062The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
12063select statement.
12064
12065@item Delay Sleep
12066The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
12067alternative open.
12068
12069@item Child Termination Wait
12070The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
12071waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
12072waiting on a terminate Phase.
12073
12074@item Wait Child in Term Alt
12075The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
12076finish terminating.
12077
12078@item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
12079The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
12080@end table
12081
12082@item Name
12083Name of the task in the program.
12084
12085@end table
12086
12087@kindex info task @var{taskno}
12088@item info task @var{taskno}
12089This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
12090the following example:
12091@smallexample
12092@iftex
12093@leftskip=0.5cm
12094@end iftex
12095(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
12096 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
12097 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
12098* 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
12099(@value{GDBP}) info task 2
12100Ada Task: 0x807c468
12101Name: task_1
12102Thread: 0x807f378
12103Parent: 1 (main_task)
12104Base Priority: 15
12105State: Runnable
12106@end smallexample
12107
12108@item task
12109@kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
12110@cindex current Ada task ID
12111This command prints the ID of the current task.
12112
12113@smallexample
12114@iftex
12115@leftskip=0.5cm
12116@end iftex
12117(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
12118 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
12119 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
12120* 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
12121(@value{GDBP}) task
12122[Current task is 2]
12123@end smallexample
12124
12125@item task @var{taskno}
12126@cindex Ada task switching
12127This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
12128command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
12129from the current task to the given task.
12130
12131@smallexample
12132@iftex
12133@leftskip=0.5cm
12134@end iftex
12135(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
12136 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
12137 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
12138* 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
12139(@value{GDBP}) task 1
12140[Switching to task 1]
12141#0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
12142(@value{GDBP}) bt
12143#0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
12144#1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
12145#2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
12146#3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
12147#4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
12148@end smallexample
12149
12150@item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
12151@itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
12152@cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
12153@cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
12154@kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
12155These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
12156command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
12157@var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
12158in @ref{Specify Location}.
12159
12160Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
12161to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
12162particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
12163numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
12164column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
12165
12166If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
12167breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
12168program.
12169
12170You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
12171well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
12172breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
12173
12174For example,
12175
12176@smallexample
12177@iftex
12178@leftskip=0.5cm
12179@end iftex
12180(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
12181 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
12182 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
12183 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
12184 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
12185* 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
12186(@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
12187Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
12188(@value{GDBP}) cont
12189Continuing.
12190task # 1 running
12191task # 2 running
12192
12193Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
1219415 flush;
12195(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
12196 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
12197 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
12198* 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
12199 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
12200 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
12201@end smallexample
12202@end table
12203
12204@node Ada Tasks and Core Files
12205@subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
12206@cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
12207
12208When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
12209tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
12210the platform being used.
12211For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
12212switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
12213as usual.
12214
12215On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
12216memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
12217a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
12218privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
12219Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
12220file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
12221
12222@node Ada Glitches
12223@subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
12224@cindex Ada, problems
12225
12226Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
12227we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
12228@value{GDBN},
12229some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
12230and the GNU Ada compiler.
12231
12232@itemize @bullet
12233@item
12234Currently, the debugger
12235has insufficient information to determine whether certain pointers represent
12236pointers to objects or the objects themselves.
12237Thus, the user may have to tack an extra @code{.all} after an expression
12238to get it printed properly.
12239
12240@item
12241Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
12242storage are invisible to the debugger.
12243
12244@item
12245Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
12246argument lists are treated as positional).
12247
12248@item
12249Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
12250
12251@item
12252Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
12253floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
12254the host machine.
12255
12256@item
12257The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
12258the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
12259this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
12260look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
12261symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
12262defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
12263local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
12264GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
12265you can usually resolve the confusion
12266by qualifying the problematic names with package
12267@code{Standard} explicitly.
12268@end itemize
12269
12270@node Unsupported Languages
12271@section Unsupported Languages
12272
12273@cindex unsupported languages
12274@cindex minimal language
12275In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
12276@value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
12277It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
12278of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
12279This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
12280an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
12281
12282If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
12283select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
12284language.
12285
12286@node Symbols
12287@chapter Examining the Symbol Table
12288
12289The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
12290symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
12291program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
12292does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
12293program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
12294(@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
12295file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
12296
12297@cindex symbol names
12298@cindex names of symbols
12299@cindex quoting names
12300Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
12301characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
12302most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
12303source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
12304are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
12305ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
12306@samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
12307@samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
12308
12309@smallexample
12310p 'foo.c'::x
12311@end smallexample
12312
12313@noindent
12314looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
12315
12316@table @code
12317@cindex case-insensitive symbol names
12318@cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
12319@kindex set case-sensitive
12320@item set case-sensitive on
12321@itemx set case-sensitive off
12322@itemx set case-sensitive auto
12323Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
12324with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
12325Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
12326case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
12327case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
12328you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
12329suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
12330matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
12331case-insensitive matches.
12332
12333@kindex show case-sensitive
12334@item show case-sensitive
12335This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
12336lookups.
12337
12338@kindex info address
12339@cindex address of a symbol
12340@item info address @var{symbol}
12341Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
12342variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
12343local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
12344is always stored.
12345
12346Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
12347at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
12348the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
12349
12350@kindex info symbol
12351@cindex symbol from address
12352@cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
12353@item info symbol @var{addr}
12354Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
12355If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
12356nearest symbol and an offset from it:
12357
12358@smallexample
12359(@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
12360_initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
12361@end smallexample
12362
12363@noindent
12364This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
12365it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
12366
12367For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
12368library containing the symbol is also printed:
12369
12370@smallexample
12371(@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
12372_start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
12373(@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
12374__read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
12375@end smallexample
12376
12377@kindex whatis
12378@item whatis [@var{arg}]
12379Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression or
12380a data type. With no argument, print the data type of @code{$}, the
12381last value in the value history. If @var{arg} is an expression, it is
12382not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
12383assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place. If
12384@var{arg} is a type name, it may be the name of a type or typedef, or
12385for C code it may have the form @samp{class @var{class-name}},
12386@samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union @var{union-tag}} or
12387@samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
12388@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
12389
12390@kindex ptype
12391@item ptype [@var{arg}]
12392@code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
12393detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
12394@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
12395
12396For example, for this variable declaration:
12397
12398@smallexample
12399struct complex @{double real; double imag;@} v;
12400@end smallexample
12401
12402@noindent
12403the two commands give this output:
12404
12405@smallexample
12406@group
12407(@value{GDBP}) whatis v
12408type = struct complex
12409(@value{GDBP}) ptype v
12410type = struct complex @{
12411 double real;
12412 double imag;
12413@}
12414@end group
12415@end smallexample
12416
12417@noindent
12418As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
12419the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
12420
12421@cindex incomplete type
12422Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
12423of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
12424program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
12425the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
12426given these declarations:
12427
12428@smallexample
12429 struct foo;
12430 struct foo *fooptr;
12431@end smallexample
12432
12433@noindent
12434but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
12435
12436@smallexample
12437 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
12438 $1 = <incomplete type>
12439@end smallexample
12440
12441@noindent
12442``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
12443completely specified.
12444
12445@kindex info types
12446@item info types @var{regexp}
12447@itemx info types
12448Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
12449expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
12450no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
12451complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
12452types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
12453@samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
12454name is @code{value}.
12455
12456This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
12457@code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
12458lists all source files where a type is defined.
12459
12460@kindex info scope
12461@cindex local variables
12462@item info scope @var{location}
12463List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
12464accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
12465an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
12466to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
12467details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
12468
12469@smallexample
12470(@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
12471Scope for command_line_handler:
12472Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
12473Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
12474Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
12475Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
12476Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
12477Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
12478Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
12479@end smallexample
12480
12481@noindent
12482This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
12483during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
12484collect}.
12485
12486@kindex info source
12487@item info source
12488Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
12489the function containing the current point of execution:
12490@itemize @bullet
12491@item
12492the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
12493@item
12494the directory it was compiled in,
12495@item
12496its length, in lines,
12497@item
12498which programming language it is written in,
12499@item
12500whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
12501if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
12502@item
12503whether the debugging information includes information about
12504preprocessor macros.
12505@end itemize
12506
12507
12508@kindex info sources
12509@item info sources
12510Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
12511debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
12512have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
12513
12514@kindex info functions
12515@item info functions
12516Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
12517
12518@item info functions @var{regexp}
12519Print the names and data types of all defined functions
12520whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
12521Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
12522include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
12523start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
12524that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
12525@samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
12526
12527@kindex info variables
12528@item info variables
12529Print the names and data types of all variables that are declared
12530outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
12531
12532@item info variables @var{regexp}
12533Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
12534variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
12535@var{regexp}.
12536
12537@kindex info classes
12538@cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
12539@item info classes
12540@itemx info classes @var{regexp}
12541Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
12542(with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
12543expression.
12544
12545@kindex info selectors
12546@item info selectors
12547@itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
12548Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
12549(with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
12550expression.
12551
12552@ignore
12553This was never implemented.
12554@kindex info methods
12555@item info methods
12556@itemx info methods @var{regexp}
12557The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
12558methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
12559specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
12560C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
12561from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
12562@code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
12563which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
12564@end ignore
12565
12566@cindex reloading symbols
12567Some systems allow individual object files that make up your program to
12568be replaced without stopping and restarting your program. For example,
12569in VxWorks you can simply recompile a defective object file and keep on
12570running. If you are running on one of these systems, you can allow
12571@value{GDBN} to reload the symbols for automatically relinked modules:
12572
12573@table @code
12574@kindex set symbol-reloading
12575@item set symbol-reloading on
12576Replace symbol definitions for the corresponding source file when an
12577object file with a particular name is seen again.
12578
12579@item set symbol-reloading off
12580Do not replace symbol definitions when encountering object files of the
12581same name more than once. This is the default state; if you are not
12582running on a system that permits automatic relinking of modules, you
12583should leave @code{symbol-reloading} off, since otherwise @value{GDBN}
12584may discard symbols when linking large programs, that may contain
12585several modules (from different directories or libraries) with the same
12586name.
12587
12588@kindex show symbol-reloading
12589@item show symbol-reloading
12590Show the current @code{on} or @code{off} setting.
12591@end table
12592
12593@cindex opaque data types
12594@kindex set opaque-type-resolution
12595@item set opaque-type-resolution on
12596Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
12597declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
12598@code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
12599source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
12600another source file. The default is on.
12601
12602A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
12603the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
12604
12605@item set opaque-type-resolution off
12606Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
12607is printed as follows:
12608@smallexample
12609@{<no data fields>@}
12610@end smallexample
12611
12612@kindex show opaque-type-resolution
12613@item show opaque-type-resolution
12614Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
12615
12616@kindex set print symbol-loading
12617@cindex print messages when symbols are loaded
12618@item set print symbol-loading
12619@itemx set print symbol-loading on
12620@itemx set print symbol-loading off
12621The @code{set print symbol-loading} command allows you to enable or
12622disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} loads symbols.
12623By default, these messages will be printed, and normally this is what
12624you want. Disabling these messages is useful when debugging applications
12625with lots of shared libraries where the quantity of output can be more
12626annoying than useful.
12627
12628@kindex show print symbol-loading
12629@item show print symbol-loading
12630Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} loads symbols.
12631
12632@kindex maint print symbols
12633@cindex symbol dump
12634@kindex maint print psymbols
12635@cindex partial symbol dump
12636@item maint print symbols @var{filename}
12637@itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
12638@itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
12639Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
12640These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
12641symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
12642symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
12643collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
12644only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
12645command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
12646use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
12647symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
12648files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
12649@samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
12650required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
12651@xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
12652@value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
12653
12654@kindex maint info symtabs
12655@kindex maint info psymtabs
12656@cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
12657@cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
12658@cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
12659@cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
12660@item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
12661@itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
12662
12663List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
12664structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
12665given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
12666copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
12667structure in more detail. For example:
12668
12669@smallexample
12670(@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
12671@{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
12672 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
12673 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
12674 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
12675 readin no
12676 fullname (null)
12677 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
12678 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
12679 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
12680 dependencies (none)
12681 @}
12682@}
12683(@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
12684(@value{GDBP})
12685@end smallexample
12686@noindent
12687We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
12688the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
12689and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
12690If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
12691read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
12692
12693@smallexample
12694(@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
12695Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
12696line 1574.
12697(@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
12698@{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
12699 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
12700 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
12701 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
12702 dirname (null)
12703 fullname (null)
12704 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
12705 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
12706 debugformat DWARF 2
12707 @}
12708@}
12709(@value{GDBP})
12710@end smallexample
12711@end table
12712
12713
12714@node Altering
12715@chapter Altering Execution
12716
12717Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
12718find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
12719correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
12720experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
12721program.
12722
12723For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
12724locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
12725address, or even return prematurely from a function.
12726
12727@menu
12728* Assignment:: Assignment to variables
12729* Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
12730* Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
12731* Returning:: Returning from a function
12732* Calling:: Calling your program's functions
12733* Patching:: Patching your program
12734@end menu
12735
12736@node Assignment
12737@section Assignment to Variables
12738
12739@cindex assignment
12740@cindex setting variables
12741To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
12742@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
12743
12744@smallexample
12745print x=4
12746@end smallexample
12747
12748@noindent
12749stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
12750value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
12751@xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
12752information on operators in supported languages.
12753
12754@kindex set variable
12755@cindex variables, setting
12756If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
12757@code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
12758really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
12759not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
12760,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
12761
12762If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
12763appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
12764variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
12765to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
12766program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
12767a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
12768command @code{set width}:
12769
12770@smallexample
12771(@value{GDBP}) whatis width
12772type = double
12773(@value{GDBP}) p width
12774$4 = 13
12775(@value{GDBP}) set width=47
12776Invalid syntax in expression.
12777@end smallexample
12778
12779@noindent
12780The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
12781order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
12782
12783@smallexample
12784(@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
12785@end smallexample
12786
12787Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
12788with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
12789@code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
12790your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
12791to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
12792the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
12793
12794@smallexample
12795@group
12796(@value{GDBP}) whatis g
12797type = double
12798(@value{GDBP}) p g
12799$1 = 1
12800(@value{GDBP}) set g=4
12801(@value{GDBP}) p g
12802$2 = 1
12803(@value{GDBP}) r
12804The program being debugged has been started already.
12805Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
12806Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
12807"/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
12808 Invalid bfd target.
12809(@value{GDBP}) show g
12810The current BFD target is "=4".
12811@end group
12812@end smallexample
12813
12814@noindent
12815The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
12816@code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
12817@code{g}, use
12818
12819@smallexample
12820(@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
12821@end smallexample
12822
12823@value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
12824freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
12825and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
12826same length or shorter.
12827@comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
12828@comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
12829
12830To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
12831construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
12832(@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
12833to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
12834and representation in memory), and
12835
12836@smallexample
12837set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
12838@end smallexample
12839
12840@noindent
12841stores the value 4 into that memory location.
12842
12843@node Jumping
12844@section Continuing at a Different Address
12845
12846Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
12847it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
12848an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
12849
12850@table @code
12851@kindex jump
12852@item jump @var{linespec}
12853@itemx jump @var{location}
12854Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
12855@var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
12856breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
12857different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
12858practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
12859@code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
12860
12861The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
12862the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
12863register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
12864a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
12865be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
12866of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
12867confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
12868executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
12869well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
12870@end table
12871
12872@c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
12873On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
12874command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
12875difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
12876changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
12877example,
12878
12879@smallexample
12880set $pc = 0x485
12881@end smallexample
12882
12883@noindent
12884makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
12885address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
12886@xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
12887
12888The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
12889up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
12890that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
12891detail.
12892
12893@c @group
12894@node Signaling
12895@section Giving your Program a Signal
12896@cindex deliver a signal to a program
12897
12898@table @code
12899@kindex signal
12900@item signal @var{signal}
12901Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
12902signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
12903signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
12904SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
12905
12906Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
12907giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
12908a signal and would ordinary see the signal when resumed with the
12909@code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
12910signal.
12911
12912@code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
12913after executing the command.
12914@end table
12915@c @end group
12916
12917Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
12918@code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
12919causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
12920the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
12921passes the signal directly to your program.
12922
12923
12924@node Returning
12925@section Returning from a Function
12926
12927@table @code
12928@cindex returning from a function
12929@kindex return
12930@item return
12931@itemx return @var{expression}
12932You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
12933command. If you give an
12934@var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
12935value.
12936@end table
12937
12938When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
12939(and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
12940discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
12941be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
12942
12943This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
12944Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
12945innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
12946specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
12947of functions.
12948
12949The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
12950program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
12951returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
12952and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
12953selected stack frame returns naturally.
12954
12955@value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
12956the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
12957type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
12958OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
12959CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
12960registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
12961specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
12962current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
12963assignment into the right register(s).
12964
12965Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
12966use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
12967debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
12968function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
12969int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
12970into a @code{long long int}:
12971
12972@smallexample
12973Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
1297429 return 31;
12975(@value{GDBP}) return -1
12976Make func return now? (y or n) y
12977#0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
1297843 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
12979(@value{GDBP})
12980@end smallexample
12981
12982However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
12983function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
12984to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
12985in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
12986typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
12987of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
12988architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
12989an appropriate cast explicitly:
12990
12991@smallexample
12992Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
12993(@value{GDBP}) return -1
12994Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
12995Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
12996(@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
12997Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
12998#0 0x00400526 in main ()
12999(@value{GDBP})
13000@end smallexample
13001
13002@node Calling
13003@section Calling Program Functions
13004
13005@table @code
13006@cindex calling functions
13007@cindex inferior functions, calling
13008@item print @var{expr}
13009Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
13010@var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
13011debugged.
13012
13013@kindex call
13014@item call @var{expr}
13015Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
13016returned values.
13017
13018You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
13019execute a function from your program that does not return anything
13020(a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
13021with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
13022print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
13023value history.
13024@end table
13025
13026It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
13027@code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
13028the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
13029in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
13030
13031Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
13032call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
13033exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
13034frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
13035an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
13036dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
13037seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
13038in that case is controlled by the
13039@code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
13040
13041@table @code
13042@item set unwindonsignal
13043@kindex set unwindonsignal
13044@cindex unwind stack in called functions
13045@cindex call dummy stack unwinding
13046Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
13047that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
13048@value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
13049the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
13050default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
13051received.
13052
13053@item show unwindonsignal
13054@kindex show unwindonsignal
13055Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
13056@value{GDBN}.
13057
13058@item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
13059@kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
13060@cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
13061@cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
13062Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
13063unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
13064debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
13065it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
13066the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
13067the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
13068
13069@item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
13070@kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
13071Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
13072@value{GDBN}.
13073
13074@end table
13075
13076@cindex weak alias functions
13077Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
13078for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
13079the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
13080which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
13081As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
13082even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
13083function instead.
13084
13085@node Patching
13086@section Patching Programs
13087
13088@cindex patching binaries
13089@cindex writing into executables
13090@cindex writing into corefiles
13091
13092By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
13093executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
13094alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
13095patching your program's binary.
13096
13097If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
13098explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
13099want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
13100repairs.
13101
13102@table @code
13103@kindex set write
13104@item set write on
13105@itemx set write off
13106If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
13107core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
13108off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
13109
13110If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
13111@code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
13112write}, for your new setting to take effect.
13113
13114@item show write
13115@kindex show write
13116Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
13117as well as reading.
13118@end table
13119
13120@node GDB Files
13121@chapter @value{GDBN} Files
13122
13123@value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
13124both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
13125program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
13126@value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
13127
13128@menu
13129* Files:: Commands to specify files
13130* Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
13131* Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
13132* Data Files:: GDB data files
13133@end menu
13134
13135@node Files
13136@section Commands to Specify Files
13137
13138@cindex symbol table
13139@cindex core dump file
13140
13141You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
13142way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
13143@value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
13144Out of @value{GDBN}}).
13145
13146Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
13147@value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
13148specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
13149via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
13150Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
13151new files are useful.
13152
13153@table @code
13154@cindex executable file
13155@kindex file
13156@item file @var{filename}
13157Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
13158symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
13159executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
13160directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
13161@value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
13162directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
13163to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
13164and your program, using the @code{path} command.
13165
13166@cindex unlinked object files
13167@cindex patching object files
13168You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
13169the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
13170file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
13171if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
13172@kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
13173that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
13174case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
13175the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
13176
13177@item file
13178@code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
13179has on both executable file and the symbol table.
13180
13181@kindex exec-file
13182@item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
13183Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
13184in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
13185if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
13186discard information on the executable file.
13187
13188@kindex symbol-file
13189@item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
13190Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
13191searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
13192table and program to run from the same file.
13193
13194@code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
13195program's symbol table.
13196
13197The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
13198some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
13199contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
13200which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
13201@value{GDBN}.
13202
13203@code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
13204executing it once.
13205
13206When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
13207understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
13208generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
13209other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
13210Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
13211using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
13212optimized code.
13213
13214For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
13215using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
13216symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
13217quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
13218details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
13219
13220The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
13221start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
13222occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
13223file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
13224pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
13225Warnings and Messages}.)
13226
13227We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
13228symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
13229symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
13230still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
13231in stabs format.
13232
13233@kindex readnow
13234@cindex reading symbols immediately
13235@cindex symbols, reading immediately
13236@item symbol-file @var{filename} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
13237@itemx file @var{filename} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
13238You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
13239tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
13240load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
13241entire symbol table available.
13242
13243@c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
13244@c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
13245@c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
13246@c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
13247@c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
13248@c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
13249@c files.
13250
13251@kindex core-file
13252@item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
13253@itemx core
13254Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
13255of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
13256address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
13257executable file itself for other parts.
13258
13259@code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
13260to be used.
13261
13262Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
13263under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
13264wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
13265the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
13266(@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
13267
13268@kindex add-symbol-file
13269@cindex dynamic linking
13270@item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
13271@itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
13272@itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @r{-s}@var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
13273The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
13274information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
13275when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
13276into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
13277address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
13278this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
13279of @samp{@r{-s}@var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
13280section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
13281@var{address} as an expression.
13282
13283The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
13284originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
13285@code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
13286thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
13287instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
13288
13289@cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
13290@cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
13291@cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
13292@cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
13293@cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
13294Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
13295executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
13296relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
13297information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
13298
13299@itemize @bullet
13300@item
13301the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
13302that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
13303@item
13304every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
13305been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
13306@item
13307you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
13308provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
13309@end itemize
13310
13311@noindent
13312Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
13313relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
13314typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
13315important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
13316procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
13317assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
13318general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
13319relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
13320as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
13321way.
13322
13323@code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
13324
13325@kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
13326@cindex @code{syscall DSO}
13327@cindex load symbols from memory
13328@item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
13329Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
13330object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
13331For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
13332process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
13333some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
13334evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
13335For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
13336@code{exec-file} commands in advance.
13337
13338@kindex add-shared-symbol-files
13339@kindex assf
13340@item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
13341@itemx assf @var{library-file}
13342The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
13343in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
13344alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
13345@value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
13346@value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
13347@code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
13348library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
13349@code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
13350
13351@kindex section
13352@item section @var{section} @var{addr}
13353The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
13354@var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
13355exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
13356@code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
13357itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
13358@code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
13359their addresses.
13360
13361@kindex info files
13362@kindex info target
13363@item info files
13364@itemx info target
13365@code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
13366current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
13367including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
13368use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
13369command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
13370current ones.
13371
13372@kindex maint info sections
13373@item maint info sections
13374Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
13375is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
13376displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
13377offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
13378@code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
13379may be arbitrarily combined):
13380
13381@table @code
13382@item ALLOBJ
13383Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
13384@item @var{sections}
13385Display info only for named @var{sections}.
13386@item @var{section-flags}
13387Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
13388The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
13389@table @code
13390@item ALLOC
13391Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
13392Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
13393@item LOAD
13394Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
13395Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
13396@item RELOC
13397Section needs to be relocated before loading.
13398@item READONLY
13399Section cannot be modified by the child process.
13400@item CODE
13401Section contains executable code only.
13402@item DATA
13403Section contains data only (no executable code).
13404@item ROM
13405Section will reside in ROM.
13406@item CONSTRUCTOR
13407Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
13408@item HAS_CONTENTS
13409Section is not empty.
13410@item NEVER_LOAD
13411An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
13412@item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
13413A notification to the linker that the section contains
13414COFF shared library information.
13415@item IS_COMMON
13416Section contains common symbols.
13417@end table
13418@end table
13419@kindex set trust-readonly-sections
13420@cindex read-only sections
13421@item set trust-readonly-sections on
13422Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
13423really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
13424In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
13425out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
13426For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
13427enhancement to debugging performance.
13428
13429The default is off.
13430
13431@item set trust-readonly-sections off
13432Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
13433the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
13434and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
13435
13436@item show trust-readonly-sections
13437Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
13438@end table
13439
13440All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
13441as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
13442name and remembers it that way.
13443
13444@cindex shared libraries
13445@anchor{Shared Libraries}
13446@value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
13447and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
13448
13449On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
13450shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
13451
13452@value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
13453when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
13454(Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
13455references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
13456debugging a core file).
13457
13458On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
13459automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
13460
13461@c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
13462@c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
13463@c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
13464
13465There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
13466symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
13467particularly large or there are many of them.
13468
13469To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
13470commands:
13471
13472@table @code
13473@kindex set auto-solib-add
13474@item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
13475If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
13476will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
13477attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
13478informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
13479is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
13480@code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
13481
13482@cindex memory used for symbol tables
13483If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
13484takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
13485memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
13486symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
13487auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
13488library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
13489@var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
13490the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
13491
13492@kindex show auto-solib-add
13493@item show auto-solib-add
13494Display the current autoloading mode.
13495@end table
13496
13497@cindex load shared library
13498To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
13499command:
13500
13501@table @code
13502@kindex info sharedlibrary
13503@kindex info share
13504@item info share
13505@itemx info sharedlibrary
13506Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded.
13507
13508@kindex sharedlibrary
13509@kindex share
13510@item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
13511@itemx share @var{regex}
13512Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
13513Unix regular expression.
13514As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
13515required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
13516@var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
13517loaded.
13518
13519@item nosharedlibrary
13520@kindex nosharedlibrary
13521@cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
13522Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
13523that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
13524libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
13525discarded.
13526@end table
13527
13528Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
13529when any of shared library events happen. Use the @code{set
13530stop-on-solib-events} command for this:
13531
13532@table @code
13533@item set stop-on-solib-events
13534@kindex set stop-on-solib-events
13535This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
13536when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
13537The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
13538shared library.
13539
13540@item show stop-on-solib-events
13541@kindex show stop-on-solib-events
13542Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
13543library events happen.
13544@end table
13545
13546Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
13547configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
13548this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
13549on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
13550libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
13551provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
13552copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
13553not.
13554
13555@cindex where to look for shared libraries
13556For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
13557libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
13558may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
13559to specify the search directories for target libraries.
13560
13561@table @code
13562@cindex prefix for shared library file names
13563@cindex system root, alternate
13564@kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
13565@kindex set sysroot
13566@item set sysroot @var{path}
13567Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
13568absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
13569runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
13570target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
13571libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
13572the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
13573under @var{path}.
13574
13575If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
13576retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
13577supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
13578command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
13579The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
13580(if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
13581@footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
13582that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
13583variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
13584
13585The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
13586sysroot}.
13587
13588@cindex default system root
13589@cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
13590You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
13591@samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
13592@value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
13593@samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
13594automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
13595location.
13596
13597@kindex show sysroot
13598@item show sysroot
13599Display the current shared library prefix.
13600
13601@kindex set solib-search-path
13602@item set solib-search-path @var{path}
13603If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
13604directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
13605is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
13606path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
13607use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
13608@samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
13609finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
13610it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
13611of shared library symbols.
13612
13613@kindex show solib-search-path
13614@item show solib-search-path
13615Display the current shared library search path.
13616@end table
13617
13618
13619@node Separate Debug Files
13620@section Debugging Information in Separate Files
13621@cindex separate debugging information files
13622@cindex debugging information in separate files
13623@cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
13624@cindex debugging information directory, global
13625@cindex global debugging information directory
13626@cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
13627@cindex @file{.build-id} directory
13628
13629@value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
13630file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
13631@value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
13632Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
13633than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
13634information for their executables in separate files, which users can
13635install only when they need to debug a problem.
13636
13637@value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
13638file:
13639
13640@itemize @bullet
13641@item
13642The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
13643the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
13644usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
13645name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
13646(e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
13647debug link specifies a CRC32 checksum for the debug file, which
13648@value{GDBN} uses to validate that the executable and the debug file
13649came from the same build.
13650
13651@item
13652The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
13653also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
13654only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
13655for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
13656this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
13657command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
13658The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
13659explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
13660below.
13661@end itemize
13662
13663Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
13664uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
13665
13666@itemize @bullet
13667@item
13668For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
13669the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
13670directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under the global debug
13671directory, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
13672directories of the executable's absolute file name.
13673
13674@item
13675For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
13676@file{.build-id} subdirectory of the global debug directory for a file
13677named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
13678first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
13679are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
13680hex characters, not 10.)
13681@end itemize
13682
13683So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
13684@file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
13685file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
13686@code{abcdef1234}. If the global debug directory is
13687@file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
13688debug information files, in the indicated order:
13689
13690@itemize @minus
13691@item
13692@file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
13693@item
13694@file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
13695@item
13696@file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
13697@item
13698@file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
13699@end itemize
13700
13701You can set the global debugging info directory's name, and view the
13702name @value{GDBN} is currently using.
13703
13704@table @code
13705
13706@kindex set debug-file-directory
13707@item set debug-file-directory @var{directory}
13708Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
13709information files to @var{directory}.
13710
13711@kindex show debug-file-directory
13712@item show debug-file-directory
13713Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
13714information files.
13715
13716@end table
13717
13718@cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
13719@cindex debug link sections
13720A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
13721@code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
13722
13723@itemize
13724@item
13725A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
13726a zero byte,
13727@item
13728zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
13729boundary within the section, and
13730@item
13731a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
13732executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
13733information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
13734zero as the @var{crc} argument.
13735@end itemize
13736
13737Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
13738contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
13739described above.
13740
13741@cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
13742@cindex build ID sections
13743The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
13744ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
13745often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
13746It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
13747the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
13748algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
13749content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
13750value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
13751stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
13752
13753The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
13754executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
13755debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
13756should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
13757but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
13758in an ordinary executable.
13759
13760The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
13761@samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
13762the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
13763following commands:
13764
13765@smallexample
13766@kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
13767@kbd{strip -g foo}
13768@end smallexample
13769
13770@noindent
13771These commands remove the debugging
13772information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
13773@file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
13774two files:
13775
13776@itemize @bullet
13777@item
13778The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
13779behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
13780
13781@smallexample
13782@kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
13783@end smallexample
13784
13785Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
13786a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
13787foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
13788the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
13789
13790@item
13791Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
13792the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
13793compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
13794utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
13795@end itemize
13796
13797@noindent
13798
13799Since there are many different ways to compute CRC's for the debug
13800link (different polynomials, reversals, byte ordering, etc.), the
13801simplest way to describe the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}
13802sections is to give the complete code for a function that computes it:
13803
13804@kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
13805@smallexample
13806unsigned long
13807gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
13808 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
13809@{
13810 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
13811 @{
13812 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
13813 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
13814 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
13815 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
13816 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
13817 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
13818 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
13819 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
13820 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
13821 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
13822 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
13823 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
13824 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
13825 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
13826 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
13827 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
13828 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
13829 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
13830 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
13831 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
13832 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
13833 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
13834 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
13835 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
13836 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
13837 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
13838 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
13839 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
13840 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
13841 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
13842 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
13843 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
13844 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
13845 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
13846 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
13847 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
13848 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
13849 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
13850 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
13851 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
13852 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
13853 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
13854 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
13855 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
13856 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
13857 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
13858 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
13859 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
13860 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
13861 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
13862 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
13863 0x2d02ef8d
13864 @};
13865 unsigned char *end;
13866
13867 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
13868 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
13869 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
13870 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
13871@}
13872@end smallexample
13873
13874@noindent
13875This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
13876
13877
13878@node Symbol Errors
13879@section Errors Reading Symbol Files
13880
13881While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
13882such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
13883output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
13884they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
13885debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
13886about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
13887only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
13888times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
13889to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
13890complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
13891Messages}).
13892
13893The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
13894
13895@table @code
13896@item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
13897
13898The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
13899(such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
13900error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
13901in its outer scope blocks.
13902
13903@value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
13904the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
13905may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
13906function.
13907
13908@item block at @var{address} out of order
13909
13910The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
13911order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
13912do so.
13913
13914@value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
13915locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
13916can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
13917@code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
13918Messages}.)
13919
13920@item bad block start address patched
13921
13922The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
13923smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
13924to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
13925
13926@value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
13927starting on the previous source line.
13928
13929@item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
13930
13931@cindex foo
13932Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
13933larger than the size of the string table.
13934
13935@value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
13936name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
13937with this name.
13938
13939@item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
13940
13941The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
13942not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
13943uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
13944
13945@value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
13946This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
13947are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
13948debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
13949on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
13950and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
13951
13952@item stub type has NULL name
13953
13954@value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
13955
13956@item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
13957The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
13958information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
13959it.
13960
13961@item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
13962
13963@value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
13964
13965@end table
13966
13967@node Data Files
13968@section GDB Data Files
13969
13970@cindex prefix for data files
13971@value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
13972are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
13973
13974You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
13975is currently using.
13976
13977@table @code
13978@kindex set data-directory
13979@item set data-directory @var{directory}
13980Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
13981to @var{directory}.
13982
13983@kindex show data-directory
13984@item show data-directory
13985Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
13986@end table
13987
13988@cindex default data directory
13989@cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
13990You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
13991@samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
13992@value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
13993@samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
13994automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
13995location.
13996
13997@node Targets
13998@chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
13999
14000@cindex debugging target
14001A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
14002
14003Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
14004in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
14005you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
14006flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
14007host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
14008realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
14009command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
14010(@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
14011
14012@cindex target architecture
14013It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
14014architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
14015one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
14016command.
14017
14018@table @code
14019@kindex set architecture
14020@kindex show architecture
14021@item set architecture @var{arch}
14022This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
14023value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
14024supported architectures.
14025
14026@item show architecture
14027Show the current target architecture.
14028
14029@item set processor
14030@itemx processor
14031@kindex set processor
14032@kindex show processor
14033These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
14034and @code{show architecture}.
14035@end table
14036
14037@menu
14038* Active Targets:: Active targets
14039* Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
14040* Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
14041@end menu
14042
14043@node Active Targets
14044@section Active Targets
14045
14046@cindex stacking targets
14047@cindex active targets
14048@cindex multiple targets
14049
14050There are three classes of targets: processes, core files, and
14051executable files. @value{GDBN} can work concurrently on up to three
14052active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for example)
14053start a process and inspect its activity without abandoning your work on
14054a core file.
14055
14056For example, if you execute @samp{gdb a.out}, then the executable file
14057@code{a.out} is the only active target. If you designate a core file as
14058well---presumably from a prior run that crashed and coredumped---then
14059@value{GDBN} has two active targets and uses them in tandem, looking
14060first in the corefile target, then in the executable file, to satisfy
14061requests for memory addresses. (Typically, these two classes of target
14062are complementary, since core files contain only a program's
14063read-write memory---variables and so on---plus machine status, while
14064executable files contain only the program text and initialized data.)
14065
14066When you type @code{run}, your executable file becomes an active process
14067target as well. When a process target is active, all @value{GDBN}
14068commands requesting memory addresses refer to that target; addresses in
14069an active core file or executable file target are obscured while the
14070process target is active.
14071
14072Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new
14073core file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify
14074Files}). To specify as a target a process that is already running, use
14075the @code{attach} command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running
14076Process}).
14077
14078@node Target Commands
14079@section Commands for Managing Targets
14080
14081@table @code
14082@item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
14083Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
14084process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
14085facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
14086protocol of the target machine.
14087
14088Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
14089typically include things like device names or host names to connect
14090with, process numbers, and baud rates.
14091
14092The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
14093after executing the command.
14094
14095@kindex help target
14096@item help target
14097Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
14098currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
14099(@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
14100
14101@item help target @var{name}
14102Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
14103select it.
14104
14105@kindex set gnutarget
14106@item set gnutarget @var{args}
14107@value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
14108knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
14109a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
14110with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
14111with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
14112
14113@quotation
14114@emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
14115you must know the actual BFD name.
14116@end quotation
14117
14118@noindent
14119@xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
14120
14121@kindex show gnutarget
14122@item show gnutarget
14123Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
14124@code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
14125@value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
14126and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BDF target is "auto"}.
14127@end table
14128
14129@cindex common targets
14130Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
14131configuration):
14132
14133@table @code
14134@kindex target
14135@item target exec @var{program}
14136@cindex executable file target
14137An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
14138@samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
14139
14140@item target core @var{filename}
14141@cindex core dump file target
14142A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
14143@samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
14144
14145@item target remote @var{medium}
14146@cindex remote target
14147A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
14148connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
14149protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
14150
14151For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
14152machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
14153
14154@smallexample
14155target remote /dev/ttya
14156@end smallexample
14157
14158@code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
14159useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
14160system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
14161clobbered by the download.
14162
14163@item target sim
14164@cindex built-in simulator target
14165Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
14166In general,
14167@smallexample
14168 target sim
14169 load
14170 run
14171@end smallexample
14172@noindent
14173works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
14174drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
14175provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
14176see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
14177Processors}.
14178
14179@end table
14180
14181Some configurations may include these targets as well:
14182
14183@table @code
14184
14185@item target nrom @var{dev}
14186@cindex NetROM ROM emulator target
14187NetROM ROM emulator. This target only supports downloading.
14188
14189@end table
14190
14191Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
14192your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
14193
14194Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
14195you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
14196various aspects of this process.
14197
14198@table @code
14199
14200@item set hash
14201@kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
14202@cindex hash mark while downloading
14203This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
14204downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
14205displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
14206monitor.
14207
14208@item show hash
14209@kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
14210Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
14211
14212@item set debug monitor
14213@kindex set debug monitor
14214@cindex display remote monitor communications
14215Enable or disable display of communications messages between
14216@value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
14217
14218@item show debug monitor
14219@kindex show debug monitor
14220Show the current status of displaying communications between
14221@value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
14222@end table
14223
14224@table @code
14225
14226@kindex load @var{filename}
14227@item load @var{filename}
14228@anchor{load}
14229Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
14230@value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
14231is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
14232on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
14233@code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
14234the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
14235
14236If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
14237execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
14238target is @dots{}}''
14239
14240The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
14241For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
14242link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
14243specifies a fixed address.
14244@c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
14245
14246Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
14247load programs into flash memory.
14248
14249@code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
14250@end table
14251
14252@node Byte Order
14253@section Choosing Target Byte Order
14254
14255@cindex choosing target byte order
14256@cindex target byte order
14257
14258Some types of processors, such as the MIPS, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
14259offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
14260orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
14261designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
14262which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
14263@value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
14264
14265@table @code
14266@kindex set endian
14267@item set endian big
14268Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
14269
14270@item set endian little
14271Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
14272
14273@item set endian auto
14274Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
14275executable.
14276
14277@item show endian
14278Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
14279
14280@end table
14281
14282Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
14283data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
14284target system.
14285
14286
14287@node Remote Debugging
14288@chapter Debugging Remote Programs
14289@cindex remote debugging
14290
14291If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
14292@value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
14293For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
14294or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
14295powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
14296
14297Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
14298to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
14299@value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
14300but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
14301write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
14302communicate with @value{GDBN}.
14303
14304Other remote targets may be available in your
14305configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
14306
14307@menu
14308* Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
14309* File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
14310* Server:: Using the gdbserver program
14311* Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
14312* Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
14313@end menu
14314
14315@node Connecting
14316@section Connecting to a Remote Target
14317
14318On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
14319your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
14320Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
14321program as the first argument.
14322
14323@cindex @code{target remote}
14324@value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
14325over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
14326each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
14327program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
14328@code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
14329Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
14330
14331@table @code
14332
14333@item target remote @var{serial-device}
14334@cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
14335Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
14336to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
14337
14338@smallexample
14339target remote /dev/ttyb
14340@end smallexample
14341
14342If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
14343@w{@samp{--baud}} option, or use the @code{set remotebaud} command
14344(@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remotebaud}) before the
14345@code{target} command.
14346
14347@item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
14348@itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
14349@cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
14350Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
14351The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
14352address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
14353the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
14354it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
14355target.
14356
14357For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
14358@code{manyfarms}:
14359
14360@smallexample
14361target remote manyfarms:2828
14362@end smallexample
14363
14364If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
14365debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
14366same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
14367port 1234 on your local machine:
14368
14369@smallexample
14370target remote :1234
14371@end smallexample
14372@noindent
14373
14374Note that the colon is still required here.
14375
14376@item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
14377@cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
14378Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
14379connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
14380
14381@smallexample
14382target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
14383@end smallexample
14384
14385When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
14386keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
14387can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
14388cause havoc with your debugging session.
14389
14390@item target remote | @var{command}
14391@cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
14392Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
14393pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
14394by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
14395protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
14396standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
14397that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
14398using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
14399
14400If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
14401@value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
14402program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
14403
14404@end table
14405
14406Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
14407commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
14408running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
14409need to use @kbd{run}.
14410
14411@cindex interrupting remote programs
14412@cindex remote programs, interrupting
14413Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
14414interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
14415program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
14416and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
14417interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
14418
14419@smallexample
14420Interrupted while waiting for the program.
14421Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
14422@end smallexample
14423
14424If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
14425(If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
14426remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
14427goes back to waiting.
14428
14429@table @code
14430@kindex detach (remote)
14431@item detach
14432When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
14433@code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
14434Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
14435will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
14436command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
14437
14438@kindex disconnect
14439@item disconnect
14440The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
14441the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
14442(this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
14443the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
14444another target.
14445
14446@cindex send command to remote monitor
14447@cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
14448@cindex add new commands for external monitor
14449@kindex monitor
14450@item monitor @var{cmd}
14451This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
14452remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
14453sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
14454can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
14455and implement.
14456@end table
14457
14458@node File Transfer
14459@section Sending files to a remote system
14460@cindex remote target, file transfer
14461@cindex file transfer
14462@cindex sending files to remote systems
14463
14464Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
14465connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
14466for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
14467running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
14468e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
14469the only way to upload or download files.
14470
14471Not all remote targets support these commands.
14472
14473@table @code
14474@kindex remote put
14475@item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
14476Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
14477@value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
14478
14479@kindex remote get
14480@item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
14481Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
14482on the host system.
14483
14484@kindex remote delete
14485@item remote delete @var{targetfile}
14486Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
14487
14488@end table
14489
14490@node Server
14491@section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
14492
14493@kindex gdbserver
14494@cindex remote connection without stubs
14495@code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
14496allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
14497@code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
14498
14499@code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
14500because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
14501that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
14502@code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
14503@value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
14504because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
14505also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
14506started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
14507Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
14508the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
14509do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
14510by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
14511choice for debugging.
14512
14513@value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
14514or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
14515protocol.
14516
14517@quotation
14518@emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
14519Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
14520@value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
14521target system with the same privileges as the user running
14522@code{gdbserver}.
14523@end quotation
14524
14525@subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
14526@cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
14527
14528Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
14529program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
14530@code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
14531strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
14532system does all the symbol handling.
14533
14534To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
14535the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
14536syntax is:
14537
14538@smallexample
14539target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
14540@end smallexample
14541
14542@var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line) or a TCP
14543hostname and portnumber. For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
14544@samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
14545@file{/dev/com1}:
14546
14547@smallexample
14548target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
14549@end smallexample
14550
14551@code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
14552with it.
14553
14554To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
14555
14556@smallexample
14557target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
14558@end smallexample
14559
14560The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
14561specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
14562TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
14563expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
14564(Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
14565you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
14566TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
14567reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
14568conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
14569and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
14570@code{target remote} command.
14571
14572@subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
14573
14574On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
14575This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
14576
14577@smallexample
14578target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
14579@end smallexample
14580
14581@var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
14582to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
14583
14584@pindex pidof
14585@cindex attach to a program by name
14586You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
14587@code{pidof} utility:
14588
14589@smallexample
14590target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
14591@end smallexample
14592
14593In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
14594has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
14595@code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
14596
14597@subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
14598@cindex gdbserver, multiple processes
14599@cindex multiple processes with gdbserver
14600
14601When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
14602@code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
14603program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
14604and @code{gdbserver} exits.
14605
14606If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
14607enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
14608detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
14609though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
14610commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
14611The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
14612remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
14613arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
14614redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
14615
14616To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
14617or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
14618Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
14619the program you want to debug.
14620
14621@code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit in multi-process mode.
14622You can terminate it by using @code{monitor exit}
14623(@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}).
14624
14625@subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
14626
14627The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
14628status information about the debugging process. The
14629@option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
14630remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
14631@code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
14632
14633The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
14634for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
14635wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
14636@kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
14637
14638@code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
14639command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
14640program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
14641runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
14642
14643You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
14644its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
14645this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
14646with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
14647
14648For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
14649the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
14650environment:
14651
14652@smallexample
14653$ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
14654@end smallexample
14655
14656@subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
14657
14658Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
14659
14660First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
14661your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
14662@code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
14663was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
14664
14665The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
14666and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
14667system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
14668are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
14669during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
14670files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
14671programs.
14672
14673Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
14674For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
14675the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
14676text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
14677@samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
14678command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
14679already on the target.
14680
14681@subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
14682@cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
14683@anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
14684
14685During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
14686@code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
14687Here are the available commands.
14688
14689@table @code
14690@item monitor help
14691List the available monitor commands.
14692
14693@item monitor set debug 0
14694@itemx monitor set debug 1
14695Disable or enable general debugging messages.
14696
14697@item monitor set remote-debug 0
14698@itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
14699Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
14700protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
14701
14702@item monitor exit
14703Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
14704@code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
14705detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
14706Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
14707of a multi-process mode debug session.
14708
14709@end table
14710
14711@node Remote Configuration
14712@section Remote Configuration
14713
14714@kindex set remote
14715@kindex show remote
14716This section documents the configuration options available when
14717debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
14718extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
14719system-call-allowed}.
14720
14721@table @code
14722@item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
14723@cindex address size for remote targets
14724@cindex bits in remote address
14725Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
14726number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
14727that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
14728default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
14729
14730@item show remoteaddresssize
14731Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
14732
14733@item set remotebaud @var{n}
14734@cindex baud rate for remote targets
14735Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
14736value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
14737remote targets.
14738
14739@item show remotebaud
14740Show the current speed of the remote connection.
14741
14742@item set remotebreak
14743@cindex interrupt remote programs
14744@cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
14745@anchor{set remotebreak}
14746If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
14747when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
14748on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
14749character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
14750expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
14751
14752@item show remotebreak
14753Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
14754interrupt the remote program.
14755
14756@item set remoteflow on
14757@itemx set remoteflow off
14758@kindex set remoteflow
14759Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
14760on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
14761
14762@item show remoteflow
14763@kindex show remoteflow
14764Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
14765
14766@item set remotelogbase @var{base}
14767Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
14768communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
14769@code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
14770@code{ascii}.
14771
14772@item show remotelogbase
14773Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
14774protocol.
14775
14776@item set remotelogfile @var{file}
14777@cindex record serial communications on file
14778Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
14779default is not to record at all.
14780
14781@item show remotelogfile.
14782Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
14783serial communications.
14784
14785@item set remotetimeout @var{num}
14786@cindex timeout for serial communications
14787@cindex remote timeout
14788Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
14789@var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
14790
14791@item show remotetimeout
14792Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
14793responses.
14794
14795@cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
14796@cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
14797@anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
14798@anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
14799@item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
14800@itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
14801Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
14802watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
14803
14804@item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
14805@itemx show remote exec-file
14806@anchor{set remote exec-file}
14807@cindex executable file, for remote target
14808Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
14809extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
14810target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
14811filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
14812
14813@kindex set tcp
14814@kindex show tcp
14815@item set tcp auto-retry on
14816@cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
14817Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
14818debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
14819condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
14820before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
14821enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
14822to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
14823@code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
14824
14825@item set tcp auto-retry off
14826Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
14827
14828@item show tcp auto-retry
14829Show the current auto-retry setting.
14830
14831@item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
14832@cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
14833@cindex timeout, for remote target connection
14834Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
14835@var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
14836(enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
14837that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
14838value.
14839
14840@item show tcp connect-timeout
14841Show the current connection timeout setting.
14842@end table
14843
14844@cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
14845The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
14846your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
14847can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
14848packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
14849packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
14850or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
14851all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
14852see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
14853
14854During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
14855If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
14856in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
14857@value{GDBN} developers.
14858
14859For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
14860packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
14861are:
14862
14863@multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
14864@item Command Name
14865@tab Remote Packet
14866@tab Related Features
14867
14868@item @code{fetch-register}
14869@tab @code{p}
14870@tab @code{info registers}
14871
14872@item @code{set-register}
14873@tab @code{P}
14874@tab @code{set}
14875
14876@item @code{binary-download}
14877@tab @code{X}
14878@tab @code{load}, @code{set}
14879
14880@item @code{read-aux-vector}
14881@tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
14882@tab @code{info auxv}
14883
14884@item @code{symbol-lookup}
14885@tab @code{qSymbol}
14886@tab Detecting multiple threads
14887
14888@item @code{attach}
14889@tab @code{vAttach}
14890@tab @code{attach}
14891
14892@item @code{verbose-resume}
14893@tab @code{vCont}
14894@tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
14895
14896@item @code{run}
14897@tab @code{vRun}
14898@tab @code{run}
14899
14900@item @code{software-breakpoint}
14901@tab @code{Z0}
14902@tab @code{break}
14903
14904@item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
14905@tab @code{Z1}
14906@tab @code{hbreak}
14907
14908@item @code{write-watchpoint}
14909@tab @code{Z2}
14910@tab @code{watch}
14911
14912@item @code{read-watchpoint}
14913@tab @code{Z3}
14914@tab @code{rwatch}
14915
14916@item @code{access-watchpoint}
14917@tab @code{Z4}
14918@tab @code{awatch}
14919
14920@item @code{target-features}
14921@tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
14922@tab @code{set architecture}
14923
14924@item @code{library-info}
14925@tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
14926@tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
14927
14928@item @code{memory-map}
14929@tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
14930@tab @code{info mem}
14931
14932@item @code{read-spu-object}
14933@tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
14934@tab @code{info spu}
14935
14936@item @code{write-spu-object}
14937@tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
14938@tab @code{info spu}
14939
14940@item @code{read-siginfo-object}
14941@tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
14942@tab @code{print $_siginfo}
14943
14944@item @code{write-siginfo-object}
14945@tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
14946@tab @code{set $_siginfo}
14947
14948@item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
14949@tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
14950@tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
14951
14952@item @code{search-memory}
14953@tab @code{qSearch:memory}
14954@tab @code{find}
14955
14956@item @code{supported-packets}
14957@tab @code{qSupported}
14958@tab Remote communications parameters
14959
14960@item @code{pass-signals}
14961@tab @code{QPassSignals}
14962@tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
14963
14964@item @code{hostio-close-packet}
14965@tab @code{vFile:close}
14966@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
14967
14968@item @code{hostio-open-packet}
14969@tab @code{vFile:open}
14970@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
14971
14972@item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
14973@tab @code{vFile:pread}
14974@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
14975
14976@item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
14977@tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
14978@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
14979
14980@item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
14981@tab @code{vFile:unlink}
14982@tab @code{remote delete}
14983
14984@item @code{noack-packet}
14985@tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
14986@tab Packet acknowledgment
14987
14988@item @code{osdata}
14989@tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
14990@tab @code{info os}
14991
14992@item @code{query-attached}
14993@tab @code{qAttached}
14994@tab Querying remote process attach state.
14995@end multitable
14996
14997@node Remote Stub
14998@section Implementing a Remote Stub
14999
15000@cindex debugging stub, example
15001@cindex remote stub, example
15002@cindex stub example, remote debugging
15003The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
15004communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
15005@value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
15006these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
15007implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
15008with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
15009organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
15010
15011@cindex remote serial debugging, overview
15012To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
15013@dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
15014prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
15015program, you need:
15016
15017@enumerate
15018@item
15019A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
15020have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
15021your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
15022
15023@item
15024A C subroutine library to support your program's
15025subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
15026
15027@item
15028A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
15029download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
15030manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
15031documentation.
15032@end enumerate
15033
15034The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
15035communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
15036machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
15037
15038@table @emph
15039@item On the host,
15040@value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
15041else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
15042(@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
15043
15044@item On the target,
15045you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
15046implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
15047subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
15048
15049On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
15050@code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
15051@xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
15052@end table
15053
15054The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
15055machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
15056@sc{sparc} boards.
15057
15058@cindex remote serial stub list
15059These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
15060
15061@table @code
15062
15063@item i386-stub.c
15064@cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
15065@cindex Intel
15066@cindex i386
15067For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
15068
15069@item m68k-stub.c
15070@cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
15071@cindex Motorola 680x0
15072@cindex m680x0
15073For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
15074
15075@item sh-stub.c
15076@cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
15077@cindex Renesas
15078@cindex SH
15079For Renesas SH architectures.
15080
15081@item sparc-stub.c
15082@cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
15083@cindex Sparc
15084For @sc{sparc} architectures.
15085
15086@item sparcl-stub.c
15087@cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
15088@cindex Fujitsu
15089@cindex SparcLite
15090For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
15091
15092@end table
15093
15094The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
15095recently added stubs.
15096
15097@menu
15098* Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
15099* Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
15100* Debug Session:: Putting it all together
15101@end menu
15102
15103@node Stub Contents
15104@subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
15105
15106@cindex remote serial stub
15107The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
15108subroutines:
15109
15110@table @code
15111@item set_debug_traps
15112@findex set_debug_traps
15113@cindex remote serial stub, initialization
15114This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
15115program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly near the
15116beginning of your program.
15117
15118@item handle_exception
15119@findex handle_exception
15120@cindex remote serial stub, main routine
15121This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
15122explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
15123run when a trap is triggered.
15124
15125@code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
15126execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
15127with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
15128protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
15129representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
15130information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
15131retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
15132execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
15133@code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
15134machine.
15135
15136@item breakpoint
15137@cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
15138Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
15139breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
15140way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
15141machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
15142pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
15143@code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
15144simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
15145again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
15146your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
15147@value{GDBN} session gets control.
15148
15149Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
15150to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
15151start of your debugging session.
15152@end table
15153
15154@node Bootstrapping
15155@subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
15156
15157@cindex remote stub, support routines
15158The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
15159chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
15160debugging target machine.
15161
15162First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
15163serial port.
15164
15165@table @code
15166@item int getDebugChar()
15167@findex getDebugChar
15168Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
15169It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
15170different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
15171
15172@item void putDebugChar(int)
15173@findex putDebugChar
15174Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
15175It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
15176different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
15177@end table
15178
15179@cindex control C, and remote debugging
15180@cindex interrupting remote targets
15181If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
15182running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
15183for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
15184character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
15185remote system to stop.
15186
15187Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
15188probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
15189is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
15190@value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
15191
15192Other routines you need to supply are:
15193
15194@table @code
15195@item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
15196@findex exceptionHandler
15197Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
15198handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
15199way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
15200are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
15201containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
15202@var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
15203its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
15204might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
15205exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
15206@var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
15207and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
15208you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
15209should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
15210
15211For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
15212gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
15213should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
15214@sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
15215help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
15216
15217@item void flush_i_cache()
15218@findex flush_i_cache
15219On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
15220instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
15221instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
15222
15223On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
15224function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
15225@end table
15226
15227@noindent
15228You must also make sure this library routine is available:
15229
15230@table @code
15231@item void *memset(void *, int, int)
15232@findex memset
15233This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
15234memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
15235@code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
15236either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
15237@end table
15238
15239If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
15240library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
15241but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
15242subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
15243
15244
15245@node Debug Session
15246@subsection Putting it All Together
15247
15248@cindex remote serial debugging summary
15249In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
15250steps.
15251
15252@enumerate
15253@item
15254Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
15255(@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
15256@display
15257@code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
15258@code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
15259@end display
15260
15261@item
15262Insert these lines near the top of your program:
15263
15264@smallexample
15265set_debug_traps();
15266breakpoint();
15267@end smallexample
15268
15269@item
15270For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
15271@code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
15272
15273@smallexample
15274void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
15275@end smallexample
15276
15277@noindent
15278but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
15279function in your program, that function is called when
15280@code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
15281error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
15282one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
15283
15284@item
15285Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
15286your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
15287
15288@item
15289Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
15290the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
15291
15292@item
15293@c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
15294@c document that. FIXME.
15295Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
15296whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
15297
15298@item
15299Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
15300(@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
15301
15302@end enumerate
15303
15304@node Configurations
15305@chapter Configuration-Specific Information
15306
15307While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
15308cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
15309describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
15310
15311There are three major categories of configurations: native
15312configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
15313operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
15314different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
15315are quite different from each other.
15316
15317@menu
15318* Native::
15319* Embedded OS::
15320* Embedded Processors::
15321* Architectures::
15322@end menu
15323
15324@node Native
15325@section Native
15326
15327This section describes details specific to particular native
15328configurations.
15329
15330@menu
15331* HP-UX:: HP-UX
15332* BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
15333* SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
15334* DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
15335* Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
15336* Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
15337* Neutrino:: Features specific to QNX Neutrino
15338* Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
15339@end menu
15340
15341@node HP-UX
15342@subsection HP-UX
15343
15344On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
15345begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
15346name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
15347
15348
15349@node BSD libkvm Interface
15350@subsection BSD libkvm Interface
15351
15352@cindex libkvm
15353@cindex kernel memory image
15354@cindex kernel crash dump
15355
15356BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
15357interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
15358memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
15359uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
15360dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
15361special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
15362the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
15363@code{kvm} target:
15364
15365@smallexample
15366(@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
15367@end smallexample
15368
15369For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
15370argument:
15371
15372@smallexample
15373(@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
15374@end smallexample
15375
15376Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
15377available:
15378
15379@table @code
15380@kindex kvm
15381@item kvm pcb
15382Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
15383
15384@item kvm proc
15385Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
15386modern FreeBSD systems.
15387@end table
15388
15389@node SVR4 Process Information
15390@subsection SVR4 Process Information
15391@cindex /proc
15392@cindex examine process image
15393@cindex process info via @file{/proc}
15394
15395Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
15396@samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
15397process using file-system subroutines. If @value{GDBN} is configured
15398for an operating system with this facility, the command @code{info
15399proc} is available to report information about the process running
15400your program, or about any process running on your system. @code{info
15401proc} works only on SVR4 systems that include the @code{procfs} code.
15402This includes, as of this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital
15403Unix), Solaris, Irix, and Unixware, but not HP-UX, for example.
15404
15405@table @code
15406@kindex info proc
15407@cindex process ID
15408@item info proc
15409@itemx info proc @var{process-id}
15410Summarize available information about any running process. If a
15411process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
15412that process; otherwise display information about the program being
15413debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
15414line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
15415executable file's absolute file name.
15416
15417On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
15418@samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
15419within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
15420a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
15421needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
15422a process ID rather than a thread ID).
15423
15424@item info proc mappings
15425@cindex memory address space mappings
15426Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
15427information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
15428rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
15429includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
15430memory access rights to that range.
15431
15432@item info proc stat
15433@itemx info proc status
15434@cindex process detailed status information
15435These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
15436the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
15437how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
15438the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
15439consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
15440value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
15441(type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
15442
15443@item info proc all
15444Show all the information about the process described under all of the
15445above @code{info proc} subcommands.
15446
15447@ignore
15448@comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
15449@comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
15450@comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
15451@kindex info proc times
15452@item info proc times
15453Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
15454its children.
15455
15456@kindex info proc id
15457@item info proc id
15458Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
15459the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
15460@end ignore
15461
15462@item set procfs-trace
15463@kindex set procfs-trace
15464@cindex @code{procfs} API calls
15465This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
15466
15467@item show procfs-trace
15468@kindex show procfs-trace
15469Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
15470
15471@item set procfs-file @var{file}
15472@kindex set procfs-file
15473Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
15474@var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
15475contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
15476standard output.
15477
15478@item show procfs-file
15479@kindex show procfs-file
15480Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
15481
15482@item proc-trace-entry
15483@itemx proc-trace-exit
15484@itemx proc-untrace-entry
15485@itemx proc-untrace-exit
15486@kindex proc-trace-entry
15487@kindex proc-trace-exit
15488@kindex proc-untrace-entry
15489@kindex proc-untrace-exit
15490These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
15491from the @code{syscall} interface.
15492
15493@item info pidlist
15494@kindex info pidlist
15495@cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
15496For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
15497processes and all the threads within each process.
15498
15499@item info meminfo
15500@kindex info meminfo
15501@cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
15502For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
15503@end table
15504
15505@node DJGPP Native
15506@subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
15507@cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
15508@cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
15509@cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
15510
15511@cindex DPMI
15512@sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
15513MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
15514that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
15515top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
15516
15517@value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
15518defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
15519subsection describes those commands.
15520
15521@table @code
15522@kindex info dos
15523@item info dos
15524This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
15525information about the target system and important OS structures.
15526
15527@kindex sysinfo
15528@cindex MS-DOS system info
15529@cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
15530@item info dos sysinfo
15531This command displays assorted information about the underlying
15532platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
15533DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
15534
15535@cindex GDT
15536@cindex LDT
15537@cindex IDT
15538@cindex segment descriptor tables
15539@cindex descriptor tables display
15540@item info dos gdt
15541@itemx info dos ldt
15542@itemx info dos idt
15543These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
15544and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
15545tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
15546that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
15547descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
15548descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
15549rights.
15550
15551A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
15552segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
15553allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
15554conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
15555additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
15556
15557@cindex garbled pointers
15558These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
15559Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
15560displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
15561display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
15562example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
15563debugged program's data segment:
15564
15565@smallexample
15566@exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
15567@exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
15568@end smallexample
15569
15570@noindent
15571This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
15572the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
15573
15574@cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
15575@item info dos pde
15576@itemx info dos pte
15577These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
15578Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
15579data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
15580into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
15581page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
15582may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
15583Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
15584that is currently in use.
15585
15586Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
15587Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
15588the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
15589@kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
15590Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
15591means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
15592the specified entry in the Page Directory.
15593
15594@cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
15595These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
15596Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
15597controller.
15598
15599These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
15600
15601@cindex physical address from linear address
15602@item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
15603This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
15604address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
15605already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
15606because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
15607segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
15608the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
15609
15610@smallexample
15611@exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
15612@exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
15613@exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
15614@end smallexample
15615
15616@noindent
15617This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
15618whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
15619attributes of that page.
15620
15621Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
15622since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
15623address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
15624be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
15625declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
15626@code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
15627
15628Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
15629transfer buffer:
15630
15631@smallexample
15632@exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
15633@exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
15634@exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
15635@end smallexample
15636
15637@noindent
15638(The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
156393rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
15640clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
15641memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
15642linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
15643
15644This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
15645@end table
15646
15647@cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
15648In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
15649debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
15650to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
15651
15652@table @code
15653@kindex set com1base
15654@kindex set com1irq
15655@kindex set com2base
15656@kindex set com2irq
15657@kindex set com3base
15658@kindex set com3irq
15659@kindex set com4base
15660@kindex set com4irq
15661@item set com1base @var{addr}
15662This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
15663port.
15664
15665@item set com1irq @var{irq}
15666This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
15667for the @file{COM1} serial port.
15668
15669There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
15670etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
15671other 3 COM ports.
15672
15673@kindex show com1base
15674@kindex show com1irq
15675@kindex show com2base
15676@kindex show com2irq
15677@kindex show com3base
15678@kindex show com3irq
15679@kindex show com4base
15680@kindex show com4irq
15681The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
15682display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
15683lines used by the COM ports.
15684
15685@item info serial
15686@kindex info serial
15687@cindex DOS serial port status
15688This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
15689port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
15690IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
15691counts of various errors encountered so far.
15692@end table
15693
15694
15695@node Cygwin Native
15696@subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
15697@cindex MS Windows debugging
15698@cindex native Cygwin debugging
15699@cindex Cygwin-specific commands
15700
15701@value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
15702DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information. There are various
15703additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in this section.
15704Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is described in
15705@ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
15706
15707@table @code
15708@kindex info w32
15709@item info w32
15710This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
15711information about the target system and important OS structures.
15712
15713@item info w32 selector
15714This command displays information returned by
15715the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
15716It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
15717a long value to give the information about this given selector.
15718Without argument, this command displays information
15719about the six segment registers.
15720
15721@kindex info dll
15722@item info dll
15723This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
15724
15725@kindex dll-symbols
15726@item dll-symbols
15727This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
15728add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
15729
15730@kindex set cygwin-exceptions
15731@cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
15732@cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
15733@item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
15734If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
15735happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
15736@value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
15737exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
15738``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
15739Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
15740@value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
15741
15742@kindex show cygwin-exceptions
15743@item show cygwin-exceptions
15744Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
15745inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
15746
15747@kindex set new-console
15748@item set new-console @var{mode}
15749If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
15750be started in a new console on next start.
15751If @var{mode} is @code{off}i, the debuggee will
15752be started in the same console as the debugger.
15753
15754@kindex show new-console
15755@item show new-console
15756Displays whether a new console is used
15757when the debuggee is started.
15758
15759@kindex set new-group
15760@item set new-group @var{mode}
15761This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
15762start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
15763This affects the way the Windows OS handles
15764@samp{Ctrl-C}.
15765
15766@kindex show new-group
15767@item show new-group
15768Displays current value of new-group boolean.
15769
15770@kindex set debugevents
15771@item set debugevents
15772This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
15773to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
15774signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
15775unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
15776Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
15777
15778@kindex set debugexec
15779@item set debugexec
15780This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
15781(such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
15782
15783@kindex set debugexceptions
15784@item set debugexceptions
15785This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
15786debuggee seen by the debugger.
15787
15788@kindex set debugmemory
15789@item set debugmemory
15790This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
15791and writes by the debugger.
15792
15793@kindex set shell
15794@item set shell
15795This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
15796via a shell or directly (default value is on).
15797
15798@kindex show shell
15799@item show shell
15800Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
15801
15802@end table
15803
15804@menu
15805* Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
15806@end menu
15807
15808@node Non-debug DLL Symbols
15809@subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
15810@cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
15811@cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
15812
15813Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
15814not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
15815@file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
15816symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
15817information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
15818describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
15819``minimal symbols''.
15820
15821Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
15822will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
15823start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
15824program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
15825@value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
15826see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
15827@code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
15828explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
15829cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
15830which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
15831
15832@subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
15833
15834In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
15835tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
15836DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
15837also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
15838sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
15839(particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
15840necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
15841contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
15842exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
15843
15844Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
15845though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
15846symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
15847some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
15848@code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
15849(@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
15850
15851@smallexample
15852(@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
15853All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
15854
15855Non-debugging symbols:
158560x77e885f4 CreateFileA
158570x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
15858@end smallexample
15859
15860@smallexample
15861(@value{GDBP}) info function !
15862All functions matching regular expression "!":
15863
15864Non-debugging symbols:
158650x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
158660x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
158670x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
15868[etc...]
15869@end smallexample
15870
15871@subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
15872
15873Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
15874type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
15875refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
15876contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
15877contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
15878means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
15879a function within a DLL without a running program.
15880
15881Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
15882automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
15883variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
15884type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
15885problem:
15886
15887@smallexample
15888(@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
15889$1 = 268572168
15890@end smallexample
15891
15892@smallexample
15893(@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
158940x10021610: "\230y\""
15895@end smallexample
15896
15897And two possible solutions:
15898
15899@smallexample
15900(@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
15901$2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
15902@end smallexample
15903
15904@smallexample
15905(@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
159060x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
15907(@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
159080x10021608: 0x0022fd98
15909(@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
159100x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
15911@end smallexample
15912
15913Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
15914starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
15915examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
15916function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
15917to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
15918
15919@smallexample
15920(@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
15921Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
15922@end smallexample
15923
15924The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
15925break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
15926safe.
15927
15928@node Hurd Native
15929@subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
15930@cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
15931
15932This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
15933@sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
15934
15935@table @code
15936@item set signals
15937@itemx set sigs
15938@kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
15939@kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
15940This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
15941@value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
15942affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
15943@code{signals}.
15944
15945@item show signals
15946@itemx show sigs
15947@kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
15948@kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
15949Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
15950
15951@item set signal-thread
15952@itemx set sigthread
15953@kindex set signal-thread
15954@kindex set sigthread
15955This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
15956thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
15957process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
15958signal-thread}.
15959
15960@item show signal-thread
15961@itemx show sigthread
15962@kindex show signal-thread
15963@kindex show sigthread
15964These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
15965delivered a signal.
15966
15967@item set stopped
15968@kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
15969This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
15970as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
15971continued by delivering a signal to it.
15972
15973@item show stopped
15974@kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
15975This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
15976stopped.
15977
15978@item set exceptions
15979@kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
15980Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
15981When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
15982single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
15983trapping on.
15984
15985@item show exceptions
15986@kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
15987Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
15988
15989@item set task pause
15990@kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
15991@cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
15992@cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
15993This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
15994Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
15995whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
15996effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
15997to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
15998thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
15999
16000@item show task pause
16001@kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
16002Show the current state of task suspension.
16003
16004@item set task detach-suspend-count
16005@cindex task suspend count
16006@cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16007This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
16008@value{GDBN} detaches from it.
16009
16010@item show task detach-suspend-count
16011Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
16012
16013@item set task exception-port
16014@itemx set task excp
16015@cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16016This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
16017forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
16018rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
16019
16020@item set noninvasive
16021@cindex noninvasive task options
16022This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
16023invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
16024is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
16025@code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
16026
16027@item info send-rights
16028@itemx info receive-rights
16029@itemx info port-rights
16030@itemx info port-sets
16031@itemx info dead-names
16032@itemx info ports
16033@itemx info psets
16034@cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16035@cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16036@cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16037@cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16038@cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16039These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
16040receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
16041There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
16042port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
16043
16044@item set thread pause
16045@kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
16046@cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16047@cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
16048This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
16049control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
16050thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
16051off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
16052Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
16053control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
16054task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
16055only the current thread.
16056
16057@item show thread pause
16058@kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
16059This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
16060
16061@item set thread run
16062This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
16063
16064@item show thread run
16065Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
16066
16067@item set thread detach-suspend-count
16068@cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16069@cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16070This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
16071thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
16072found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
16073takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
16074
16075@item show thread detach-suspend-count
16076Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
16077detaching.
16078
16079@item set thread exception-port
16080@itemx set thread excp
16081Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
16082overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
16083@code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
16084
16085@item set thread takeover-suspend-count
16086Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
16087value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
16088changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
16089
16090@item set thread default
16091@itemx show thread default
16092@cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16093Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
16094default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
16095thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
16096variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
16097threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
16098the non-default commands.
16099@end table
16100
16101
16102@node Neutrino
16103@subsection QNX Neutrino
16104@cindex QNX Neutrino
16105
16106@value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the QNX
16107Neutrino target:
16108
16109@table @code
16110@item set debug nto-debug
16111@kindex set debug nto-debug
16112When set to on, enables debugging messages specific to the QNX
16113Neutrino support.
16114
16115@item show debug nto-debug
16116@kindex show debug nto-debug
16117Show the current state of QNX Neutrino messages.
16118@end table
16119
16120@node Darwin
16121@subsection Darwin
16122@cindex Darwin
16123
16124@value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
16125
16126@table @code
16127@item set debug darwin @var{num}
16128@kindex set debug darwin
16129When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
16130the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
16131
16132@item show debug darwin
16133@kindex show debug darwin
16134Show the current state of Darwin messages.
16135
16136@item set debug mach-o @var{num}
16137@kindex set debug mach-o
16138When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
16139@value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
16140file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
16141values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
16142problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
16143usage.
16144
16145@item show debug mach-o
16146@kindex show debug mach-o
16147Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
16148
16149@item set mach-exceptions on
16150@itemx set mach-exceptions off
16151@kindex set mach-exceptions
16152On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
16153mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
16154Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
16155better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
16156
16157@item show mach-exceptions
16158@kindex show mach-exceptions
16159Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
16160@end table
16161
16162
16163@node Embedded OS
16164@section Embedded Operating Systems
16165
16166This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
16167embedded operating systems that are available for several different
16168architectures.
16169
16170@menu
16171* VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
16172@end menu
16173
16174@value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
16175various real-time operating systems.
16176
16177@node VxWorks
16178@subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
16179
16180@cindex VxWorks
16181
16182@table @code
16183
16184@kindex target vxworks
16185@item target vxworks @var{machinename}
16186A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
16187is the target system's machine name or IP address.
16188
16189@end table
16190
16191On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
16192current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
16193
16194@value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
16195VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
16196the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
16197both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
16198@code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
16199installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
16200@value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
16201
16202@table @code
16203@item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
16204@kindex vxworks-timeout
16205All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
16206This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
16207seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
16208your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
16209of a thin network line.
16210@end table
16211
16212The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
16213this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
16214procedures.
16215
16216@findex INCLUDE_RDB
16217To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
16218to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
16219library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
16220VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
16221kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
16222source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
16223information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
16224manual.
16225@c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
16226
16227Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
16228your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
16229run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
16230@code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
16231
16232@value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
16233
16234@smallexample
16235(vxgdb)
16236@end smallexample
16237
16238@menu
16239* VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
16240* VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
16241* VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
16242@end menu
16243
16244@node VxWorks Connection
16245@subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
16246
16247The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
16248network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
16249
16250@smallexample
16251(vxgdb) target vxworks tt
16252@end smallexample
16253
16254@need 750
16255@value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
16256
16257@smallexample
16258Attaching remote machine across net...
16259Connected to tt.
16260@end smallexample
16261
16262@need 1000
16263@value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
16264loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
16265these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
16266path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
16267to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
16268
16269@smallexample
16270prog.o: No such file or directory.
16271@end smallexample
16272
16273When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
16274the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
16275command again.
16276
16277@node VxWorks Download
16278@subsubsection VxWorks Download
16279
16280@cindex download to VxWorks
16281If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
16282object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
16283@code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
16284incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
16285command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
16286to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
16287table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
16288the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
16289filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
16290Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
16291to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
16292the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
16293@file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
16294and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
16295program, type this on VxWorks:
16296
16297@smallexample
16298-> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
16299@end smallexample
16300
16301@noindent
16302Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
16303
16304@smallexample
16305(vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
16306(vxgdb) load prog.o
16307@end smallexample
16308
16309@value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
16310
16311@smallexample
16312Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
16313@end smallexample
16314
16315You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
16316after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
16317this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
16318auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
16319history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
16320debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
16321table.)
16322
16323@node VxWorks Attach
16324@subsubsection Running Tasks
16325
16326@cindex running VxWorks tasks
16327You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
16328follows:
16329
16330@smallexample
16331(vxgdb) attach @var{task}
16332@end smallexample
16333
16334@noindent
16335where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
16336or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
16337the time of attachment.
16338
16339@node Embedded Processors
16340@section Embedded Processors
16341
16342This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
16343configurations.
16344
16345@cindex send command to simulator
16346Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
16347allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
16348
16349@table @code
16350@item sim @var{command}
16351@kindex sim@r{, a command}
16352Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
16353documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
16354acceptable commands.
16355@end table
16356
16357
16358@menu
16359* ARM:: ARM RDI
16360* M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
16361* M68K:: Motorola M68K
16362* MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
16363* OpenRISC 1000:: OpenRisc 1000
16364* PA:: HP PA Embedded
16365* PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
16366* Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
16367* Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
16368* Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
16369* AVR:: Atmel AVR
16370* CRIS:: CRIS
16371* Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
16372@end menu
16373
16374@node ARM
16375@subsection ARM
16376@cindex ARM RDI
16377
16378@table @code
16379@kindex target rdi
16380@item target rdi @var{dev}
16381ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
16382use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
16383monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
16384
16385@kindex target rdp
16386@item target rdp @var{dev}
16387ARM Demon monitor.
16388
16389@end table
16390
16391@value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
16392
16393@table @code
16394@item set arm disassembler
16395@kindex set arm
16396This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
16397@code{"std"} style is the standard style.
16398
16399@item show arm disassembler
16400@kindex show arm
16401Show the current disassembly style.
16402
16403@item set arm apcs32
16404@cindex ARM 32-bit mode
16405This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
16406
16407@item show arm apcs32
16408Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
16409
16410@item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
16411This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
16412argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
16413
16414@table @code
16415@item auto
16416Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
16417@item softfpa
16418Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
16419processors.
16420@item fpa
16421GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
16422@item softvfp
16423Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
16424@item vfp
16425VFP co-processor.
16426@end table
16427
16428@item show arm fpu
16429Show the current type of the FPU.
16430
16431@item set arm abi
16432This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
16433
16434@item show arm abi
16435Show the currently used ABI.
16436
16437@item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
16438@value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
16439whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
16440@value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
16441available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
16442use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
16443register).
16444
16445@item show arm fallback-mode
16446Show the current fallback instruction mode.
16447
16448@item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
16449This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
16450instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
16451causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
16452of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
16453
16454@item show arm force-mode
16455Show the current forced instruction mode.
16456
16457@item set debug arm
16458Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
16459target support subsystem.
16460
16461@item show debug arm
16462Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
16463@end table
16464
16465The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
16466using the RDI interface:
16467
16468@table @code
16469@item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
16470@kindex rdilogfile
16471@cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
16472Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
16473With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
16474no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
16475@file{rdi.log}.
16476
16477@item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
16478@kindex rdilogenable
16479Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
16480enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
16481no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
16482ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
16483are logged to a file.
16484
16485@item set rdiromatzero
16486@kindex set rdiromatzero
16487@cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
16488Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
16489vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
16490(the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
16491effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
16492
16493@item show rdiromatzero
16494@kindex show rdiromatzero
16495Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
16496
16497@item set rdiheartbeat
16498@kindex set rdiheartbeat
16499@cindex RDI heartbeat
16500Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
16501turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
16502well as the Angel monitor.
16503
16504@item show rdiheartbeat
16505@kindex show rdiheartbeat
16506Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
16507@end table
16508
16509
16510@node M32R/D
16511@subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
16512
16513@table @code
16514@kindex target m32r
16515@item target m32r @var{dev}
16516Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
16517
16518@kindex target m32rsdi
16519@item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
16520Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
16521@end table
16522
16523The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
16524
16525@table @code
16526@item set download-path @var{path}
16527@kindex set download-path
16528@cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
16529Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
16530
16531@item show download-path
16532@kindex show download-path
16533Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
16534
16535@item set board-address @var{addr}
16536@kindex set board-address
16537@cindex M32-EVA target board address
16538Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
16539
16540@item show board-address
16541@kindex show board-address
16542Show the current IP address of the target board.
16543
16544@item set server-address @var{addr}
16545@kindex set server-address
16546@cindex download server address (M32R)
16547Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
16548host machine.
16549
16550@item show server-address
16551@kindex show server-address
16552Display the IP address of the download server.
16553
16554@item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
16555@kindex upload@r{, M32R}
16556Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
16557upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
16558executable file is uploaded.
16559
16560@item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
16561@kindex tload@r{, M32R}
16562Test the @code{upload} command.
16563@end table
16564
16565The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
16566
16567@table @code
16568@item sdireset
16569@kindex sdireset
16570@cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
16571This command resets the SDI connection.
16572
16573@item sdistatus
16574@kindex sdistatus
16575This command shows the SDI connection status.
16576
16577@item debug_chaos
16578@kindex debug_chaos
16579@cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
16580Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
16581
16582@item use_debug_dma
16583@kindex use_debug_dma
16584Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
16585
16586@item use_mon_code
16587@kindex use_mon_code
16588Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
16589
16590@item use_ib_break
16591@kindex use_ib_break
16592Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
16593
16594@item use_dbt_break
16595@kindex use_dbt_break
16596Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
16597@end table
16598
16599@node M68K
16600@subsection M68k
16601
16602The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
16603target command for the following ROM monitor.
16604
16605@table @code
16606
16607@kindex target dbug
16608@item target dbug @var{dev}
16609dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
16610
16611@end table
16612
16613@node MIPS Embedded
16614@subsection MIPS Embedded
16615
16616@cindex MIPS boards
16617@value{GDBN} can use the MIPS remote debugging protocol to talk to a
16618MIPS board attached to a serial line. This is available when
16619you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.
16620
16621@need 1000
16622Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
16623
16624@table @code
16625@item target mips @var{port}
16626@kindex target mips @var{port}
16627To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
16628name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
16629command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
16630the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
16631been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
16632download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
16633
16634For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
16635port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
16636debugger:
16637
16638@smallexample
16639host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
16640@value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
16641(@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
16642(@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
16643(@value{GDBP}) run
16644@end smallexample
16645
16646@item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
16647On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
16648connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
16649concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
16650@samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
16651
16652@item target pmon @var{port}
16653@kindex target pmon @var{port}
16654PMON ROM monitor.
16655
16656@item target ddb @var{port}
16657@kindex target ddb @var{port}
16658NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
16659
16660@item target lsi @var{port}
16661@kindex target lsi @var{port}
16662LSI variant of PMON.
16663
16664@kindex target r3900
16665@item target r3900 @var{dev}
16666Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
16667
16668@kindex target array
16669@item target array @var{dev}
16670Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
16671
16672@end table
16673
16674
16675@noindent
16676@value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for MIPS targets:
16677
16678@table @code
16679@item set mipsfpu double
16680@itemx set mipsfpu single
16681@itemx set mipsfpu none
16682@itemx set mipsfpu auto
16683@itemx show mipsfpu
16684@kindex set mipsfpu
16685@kindex show mipsfpu
16686@cindex MIPS remote floating point
16687@cindex floating point, MIPS remote
16688If your target board does not support the MIPS floating point
16689coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
16690need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
16691file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
16692functions which return floating point values. It also allows
16693@value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
16694functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
16695with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
16696processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
16697double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
16698@samp{set mipsfpu double}.
16699
16700In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
16701floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
16702and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
16703
16704As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
16705@samp{show mipsfpu}.
16706
16707@item set timeout @var{seconds}
16708@itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
16709@itemx show timeout
16710@itemx show retransmit-timeout
16711@cindex @code{timeout}, MIPS protocol
16712@cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, MIPS protocol
16713@kindex set timeout
16714@kindex show timeout
16715@kindex set retransmit-timeout
16716@kindex show retransmit-timeout
16717You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the MIPS
16718remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
16719default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
16720waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
16721retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
16722You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
16723retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
16724@value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.)
16725
16726The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
16727is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
16728forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
16729to run before stopping.
16730
16731@item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
16732@kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
16733@cindex synchronize with remote MIPS target
16734Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
16735it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
16736characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
16737
16738@item show syn-garbage-limit
16739@kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
16740Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
16741trying to synchronize with the remote system.
16742
16743@item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
16744@kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
16745@cindex remote monitor prompt
16746Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
16747remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
16748@table @asis
16749@item pmon target
16750@samp{PMON}
16751@item ddb target
16752@samp{NEC010}
16753@item lsi target
16754@samp{PMON>}
16755@end table
16756
16757@item show monitor-prompt
16758@kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
16759Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
16760remote monitor.
16761
16762@item set monitor-warnings
16763@kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
16764Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
16765has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
16766display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
16767PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
16768
16769@item show monitor-warnings
16770@kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
16771Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
16772
16773@item pmon @var{command}
16774@kindex pmon@r{, MIPS remote}
16775@cindex send PMON command
16776This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
16777monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
16778@end table
16779
16780@node OpenRISC 1000
16781@subsection OpenRISC 1000
16782@cindex OpenRISC 1000
16783
16784@cindex or1k boards
16785See OR1k Architecture document (@uref{www.opencores.org}) for more information
16786about platform and commands.
16787
16788@table @code
16789
16790@kindex target jtag
16791@item target jtag jtag://@var{host}:@var{port}
16792
16793Connects to remote JTAG server.
16794JTAG remote server can be either an or1ksim or JTAG server,
16795connected via parallel port to the board.
16796
16797Example: @code{target jtag jtag://localhost:9999}
16798
16799@kindex or1ksim
16800@item or1ksim @var{command}
16801If connected to @code{or1ksim} OpenRISC 1000 Architectural
16802Simulator, proprietary commands can be executed.
16803
16804@kindex info or1k spr
16805@item info or1k spr
16806Displays spr groups.
16807
16808@item info or1k spr @var{group}
16809@itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno}
16810Displays register names in selected group.
16811
16812@item info or1k spr @var{group} @var{register}
16813@itemx info or1k spr @var{register}
16814@itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno}
16815@itemx info or1k spr @var{registerno}
16816Shows information about specified spr register.
16817
16818@kindex spr
16819@item spr @var{group} @var{register} @var{value}
16820@itemx spr @var{register @var{value}}
16821@itemx spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno @var{value}}
16822@itemx spr @var{registerno @var{value}}
16823Writes @var{value} to specified spr register.
16824@end table
16825
16826Some implementations of OpenRISC 1000 Architecture also have hardware trace.
16827It is very similar to @value{GDBN} trace, except it does not interfere with normal
16828program execution and is thus much faster. Hardware breakpoints/watchpoint
16829triggers can be set using:
16830@table @code
16831@item $LEA/$LDATA
16832Load effective address/data
16833@item $SEA/$SDATA
16834Store effective address/data
16835@item $AEA/$ADATA
16836Access effective address ($SEA or $LEA) or data ($SDATA/$LDATA)
16837@item $FETCH
16838Fetch data
16839@end table
16840
16841When triggered, it can capture low level data, like: @code{PC}, @code{LSEA},
16842@code{LDATA}, @code{SDATA}, @code{READSPR}, @code{WRITESPR}, @code{INSTR}.
16843
16844@code{htrace} commands:
16845@cindex OpenRISC 1000 htrace
16846@table @code
16847@kindex hwatch
16848@item hwatch @var{conditional}
16849Set hardware watchpoint on combination of Load/Store Effective Address(es)
16850or Data. For example:
16851
16852@code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
16853
16854@code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
16855
16856@kindex htrace
16857@item htrace info
16858Display information about current HW trace configuration.
16859
16860@item htrace trigger @var{conditional}
16861Set starting criteria for HW trace.
16862
16863@item htrace qualifier @var{conditional}
16864Set acquisition qualifier for HW trace.
16865
16866@item htrace stop @var{conditional}
16867Set HW trace stopping criteria.
16868
16869@item htrace record [@var{data}]*
16870Selects the data to be recorded, when qualifier is met and HW trace was
16871triggered.
16872
16873@item htrace enable
16874@itemx htrace disable
16875Enables/disables the HW trace.
16876
16877@item htrace rewind [@var{filename}]
16878Clears currently recorded trace data.
16879
16880If filename is specified, new trace file is made and any newly collected data
16881will be written there.
16882
16883@item htrace print [@var{start} [@var{len}]]
16884Prints trace buffer, using current record configuration.
16885
16886@item htrace mode continuous
16887Set continuous trace mode.
16888
16889@item htrace mode suspend
16890Set suspend trace mode.
16891
16892@end table
16893
16894@node PowerPC Embedded
16895@subsection PowerPC Embedded
16896
16897@value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
16898
16899@table @code
16900@kindex set powerpc
16901@item set powerpc soft-float
16902@itemx show powerpc soft-float
16903Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
16904convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
16905on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
16906
16907@item set powerpc vector-abi
16908@itemx show powerpc vector-abi
16909Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
16910arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
16911@samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
16912@samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
16913registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
16914based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
16915
16916@kindex target dink32
16917@item target dink32 @var{dev}
16918DINK32 ROM monitor.
16919
16920@kindex target ppcbug
16921@item target ppcbug @var{dev}
16922@kindex target ppcbug1
16923@item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
16924PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
16925
16926@kindex target sds
16927@item target sds @var{dev}
16928SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
16929@end table
16930
16931@cindex SDS protocol
16932The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
16933by @value{GDBN}:
16934
16935@table @code
16936@item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
16937@kindex set sdstimeout
16938Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
16939default is 2 seconds.
16940
16941@item show sdstimeout
16942@kindex show sdstimeout
16943Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
16944
16945@item sds @var{command}
16946@kindex sds@r{, a command}
16947Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
16948@end table
16949
16950
16951@node PA
16952@subsection HP PA Embedded
16953
16954@table @code
16955
16956@kindex target op50n
16957@item target op50n @var{dev}
16958OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
16959
16960@kindex target w89k
16961@item target w89k @var{dev}
16962W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
16963
16964@end table
16965
16966@node Sparclet
16967@subsection Tsqware Sparclet
16968
16969@cindex Sparclet
16970
16971@value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
16972Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
16973@value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
16974both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
16975@code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
16976
16977@table @code
16978@item remotetimeout @var{args}
16979@kindex remotetimeout
16980@value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
16981This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
16982seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
16983@end table
16984
16985@cindex compiling, on Sparclet
16986When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
16987information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
16988load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
16989@samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
16990
16991@smallexample
16992sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
16993@end smallexample
16994
16995You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
16996
16997@smallexample
16998sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
16999@end smallexample
17000
17001@cindex running, on Sparclet
17002Once you have set
17003your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
17004run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
17005(or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
17006
17007@value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
17008
17009@smallexample
17010(gdbslet)
17011@end smallexample
17012
17013@menu
17014* Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
17015* Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
17016* Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
17017* Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
17018@end menu
17019
17020@node Sparclet File
17021@subsubsection Setting File to Debug
17022
17023The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
17024
17025@smallexample
17026(gdbslet) file prog
17027@end smallexample
17028
17029@need 1000
17030@value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
17031@value{GDBN} locates
17032the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
17033path.
17034If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
17035files will be searched as well.
17036@value{GDBN} locates
17037the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
17038path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
17039If it fails
17040to find a file, it displays a message such as:
17041
17042@smallexample
17043prog: No such file or directory.
17044@end smallexample
17045
17046When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
17047the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
17048@code{target} command again.
17049
17050@node Sparclet Connection
17051@subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
17052
17053The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
17054To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
17055
17056@smallexample
17057(gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
17058Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
17059main () at ../prog.c:3
17060@end smallexample
17061
17062@need 750
17063@value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
17064
17065@smallexample
17066Connected to ttya.
17067@end smallexample
17068
17069@node Sparclet Download
17070@subsubsection Sparclet Download
17071
17072@cindex download to Sparclet
17073Once connected to the Sparclet target,
17074you can use the @value{GDBN}
17075@code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
17076The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
17077command.
17078Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
17079address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
17080offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
17081of each of the file's sections.
17082For instance, if the program
17083@file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
17084and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
17085
17086@smallexample
17087(gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
17088Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
17089@end smallexample
17090
17091If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
17092to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
17093to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
17094
17095@node Sparclet Execution
17096@subsubsection Running and Debugging
17097
17098@cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
17099You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
17100commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
17101manual for the list of commands.
17102
17103@smallexample
17104(gdbslet) b main
17105Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
17106(gdbslet) run
17107Starting program: prog
17108Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
171093 char *symarg = 0;
17110(gdbslet) step
171114 char *execarg = "hello!";
17112(gdbslet)
17113@end smallexample
17114
17115@node Sparclite
17116@subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
17117
17118@table @code
17119
17120@kindex target sparclite
17121@item target sparclite @var{dev}
17122Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
17123You must use an additional command to debug the program.
17124For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
17125remote protocol.
17126
17127@end table
17128
17129@node Z8000
17130@subsection Zilog Z8000
17131
17132@cindex Z8000
17133@cindex simulator, Z8000
17134@cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
17135
17136When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
17137a Z8000 simulator.
17138
17139For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
17140unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
17141segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
17142appropriate by inspecting the object code.
17143
17144@table @code
17145@item target sim @var{args}
17146@kindex sim
17147@kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
17148Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
17149options, specify them via @var{args}.
17150@end table
17151
17152@noindent
17153After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
17154CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
17155@code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
17156to run your program, and so on.
17157
17158As well as making available all the usual machine registers
17159(@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
17160additional items of information as specially named registers:
17161
17162@table @code
17163
17164@item cycles
17165Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
17166
17167@item insts
17168Counts instructions run in the simulator.
17169
17170@item time
17171Execution time in 60ths of a second.
17172
17173@end table
17174
17175You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
17176conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
17177conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
17178simulated clock ticks.
17179
17180@node AVR
17181@subsection Atmel AVR
17182@cindex AVR
17183
17184When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
17185following AVR-specific commands:
17186
17187@table @code
17188@item info io_registers
17189@kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
17190@cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
17191This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
17192each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
17193@end table
17194
17195@node CRIS
17196@subsection CRIS
17197@cindex CRIS
17198
17199When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
17200following CRIS-specific commands:
17201
17202@table @code
17203@item set cris-version @var{ver}
17204@cindex CRIS version
17205Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
17206The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
17207case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
17208
17209@item show cris-version
17210Show the current CRIS version.
17211
17212@item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
17213@cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
17214Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
17215Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
17216@code{R59}.
17217
17218@item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
17219Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
17220
17221@item set cris-mode @var{mode}
17222@cindex CRIS mode
17223Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
17224debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
17225@samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
17226
17227@item show cris-mode
17228Show the current CRIS mode.
17229@end table
17230
17231@node Super-H
17232@subsection Renesas Super-H
17233@cindex Super-H
17234
17235For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
17236commands:
17237
17238@table @code
17239@item regs
17240@kindex regs@r{, Super-H}
17241Show the values of all Super-H registers.
17242
17243@item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
17244@kindex set sh calling-convention
17245Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
17246Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
17247With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
17248convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
17249that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
17250is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
17251is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
17252regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
17253default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
17254does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
17255
17256@item show sh calling-convention
17257@kindex show sh calling-convention
17258Show the current calling convention setting.
17259
17260@end table
17261
17262
17263@node Architectures
17264@section Architectures
17265
17266This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
17267all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
17268
17269@menu
17270* i386::
17271* A29K::
17272* Alpha::
17273* MIPS::
17274* HPPA:: HP PA architecture
17275* SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
17276* PowerPC::
17277@end menu
17278
17279@node i386
17280@subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
17281
17282@table @code
17283@item set struct-convention @var{mode}
17284@kindex set struct-convention
17285@cindex struct return convention
17286@cindex struct/union returned in registers
17287Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
17288@code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
17289@var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
17290default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
17291are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
17292@code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
17293be returned in a register.
17294
17295@item show struct-convention
17296@kindex show struct-convention
17297Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
17298from functions.
17299@end table
17300
17301@node A29K
17302@subsection A29K
17303
17304@table @code
17305
17306@kindex set rstack_high_address
17307@cindex AMD 29K register stack
17308@cindex register stack, AMD29K
17309@item set rstack_high_address @var{address}
17310On AMD 29000 family processors, registers are saved in a separate
17311@dfn{register stack}. There is no way for @value{GDBN} to determine the
17312extent of this stack. Normally, @value{GDBN} just assumes that the
17313stack is ``large enough''. This may result in @value{GDBN} referencing
17314memory locations that do not exist. If necessary, you can get around
17315this problem by specifying the ending address of the register stack with
17316the @code{set rstack_high_address} command. The argument should be an
17317address, which you probably want to precede with @samp{0x} to specify in
17318hexadecimal.
17319
17320@kindex show rstack_high_address
17321@item show rstack_high_address
17322Display the current limit of the register stack, on AMD 29000 family
17323processors.
17324
17325@end table
17326
17327@node Alpha
17328@subsection Alpha
17329
17330See the following section.
17331
17332@node MIPS
17333@subsection MIPS
17334
17335@cindex stack on Alpha
17336@cindex stack on MIPS
17337@cindex Alpha stack
17338@cindex MIPS stack
17339Alpha- and MIPS-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
17340sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
17341find the beginning of a function.
17342
17343@cindex response time, MIPS debugging
17344To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
17345@value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
17346you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
17347commands:
17348
17349@table @code
17350@cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, MIPS)
17351@item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
17352Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
17353search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
17354default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
17355larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
17356and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
17357this command when debugging a stripped executable.
17358
17359@item show heuristic-fence-post
17360Display the current limit.
17361@end table
17362
17363@noindent
17364These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
17365for debugging programs on Alpha or MIPS processors.
17366
17367Several MIPS-specific commands are available when debugging MIPS
17368programs:
17369
17370@table @code
17371@item set mips abi @var{arg}
17372@kindex set mips abi
17373@cindex set ABI for MIPS
17374Tell @value{GDBN} which MIPS ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
17375values of @var{arg} are:
17376
17377@table @samp
17378@item auto
17379The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
17380default).
17381@item o32
17382@item o64
17383@item n32
17384@item n64
17385@item eabi32
17386@item eabi64
17387@item auto
17388@end table
17389
17390@item show mips abi
17391@kindex show mips abi
17392Show the MIPS ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
17393
17394@item set mipsfpu
17395@itemx show mipsfpu
17396@xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
17397
17398@item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
17399@kindex set mips mask-address
17400@cindex MIPS addresses, masking
17401This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
17402MIPS addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
17403@samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
17404setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
17405
17406@item show mips mask-address
17407@kindex show mips mask-address
17408Show whether the upper 32 bits of MIPS addresses are masked off or
17409not.
17410
17411@item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
17412@kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
17413This command controls compatibility with 64-bit MIPS targets that
17414transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old MIPS 64 target
17415that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
17416and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
17417
17418@item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
17419@kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
17420Show the current setting of compatibility with older MIPS 64 targets.
17421
17422@item set debug mips
17423@kindex set debug mips
17424This command turns on and off debugging messages for the MIPS-specific
17425target code in @value{GDBN}.
17426
17427@item show debug mips
17428@kindex show debug mips
17429Show the current setting of MIPS debugging messages.
17430@end table
17431
17432
17433@node HPPA
17434@subsection HPPA
17435@cindex HPPA support
17436
17437When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
17438following special commands:
17439
17440@table @code
17441@item set debug hppa
17442@kindex set debug hppa
17443This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
17444messages are to be displayed.
17445
17446@item show debug hppa
17447Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
17448
17449@item maint print unwind @var{address}
17450@kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
17451This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
17452given @var{address}.
17453
17454@end table
17455
17456
17457@node SPU
17458@subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
17459@cindex Cell Broadband Engine
17460@cindex SPU
17461
17462When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
17463it provides the following special commands:
17464
17465@table @code
17466@item info spu event
17467@kindex info spu
17468Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
17469and pending event status.
17470
17471@item info spu signal
17472Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
17473signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
17474notification channels.
17475
17476@item info spu mailbox
17477Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
17478in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
17479SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
17480
17481@item info spu dma
17482Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
17483DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
17484and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
17485
17486@item info spu proxydma
17487Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
17488Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
17489and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
17490
17491@end table
17492
17493@node PowerPC
17494@subsection PowerPC
17495@cindex PowerPC architecture
17496
17497When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
17498pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
17499numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
17500in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
17501@code{f0} or @code{f2}.
17502
17503The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
17504by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
17505@code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
17506
17507For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
17508wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
17509
17510
17511@node Controlling GDB
17512@chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
17513
17514You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
17515@code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
17516data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
17517described here.
17518
17519@menu
17520* Prompt:: Prompt
17521* Editing:: Command editing
17522* Command History:: Command history
17523* Screen Size:: Screen size
17524* Numbers:: Numbers
17525* ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
17526* Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
17527* Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
17528@end menu
17529
17530@node Prompt
17531@section Prompt
17532
17533@cindex prompt
17534
17535@value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
17536called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
17537can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
17538instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
17539the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
17540which one you are talking to.
17541
17542@emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
17543prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
17544or a prompt that does not.
17545
17546@table @code
17547@kindex set prompt
17548@item set prompt @var{newprompt}
17549Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
17550
17551@kindex show prompt
17552@item show prompt
17553Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
17554@end table
17555
17556@node Editing
17557@section Command Editing
17558@cindex readline
17559@cindex command line editing
17560
17561@value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
17562@sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
17563command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
17564or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
17565substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
17566debugging sessions.
17567
17568You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
17569command @code{set}.
17570
17571@table @code
17572@kindex set editing
17573@cindex editing
17574@item set editing
17575@itemx set editing on
17576Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
17577
17578@item set editing off
17579Disable command line editing.
17580
17581@kindex show editing
17582@item show editing
17583Show whether command line editing is enabled.
17584@end table
17585
17586@xref{Command Line Editing}, for more details about the Readline
17587interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
17588encouraged to read that chapter.
17589
17590@node Command History
17591@section Command History
17592@cindex command history
17593
17594@value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
17595debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
17596happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
17597history facility.
17598
17599@value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
17600package, to provide the history facility. @xref{Using History
17601Interactively}, for the detailed description of the History library.
17602
17603To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
17604the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
17605(@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
17606means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
17607affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
17608pressed on a line by itself.
17609
17610@cindex @code{server}, command prefix
17611The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
17612history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
17613use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
17614
17615Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
17616history.
17617
17618@table @code
17619@cindex history substitution
17620@cindex history file
17621@kindex set history filename
17622@cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
17623@item set history filename @var{fname}
17624Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
17625This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
17626list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
17627exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
17628the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
17629to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
17630@file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
17631is not set.
17632
17633@cindex save command history
17634@kindex set history save
17635@item set history save
17636@itemx set history save on
17637Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
17638@code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
17639
17640@item set history save off
17641Stop recording command history in a file.
17642
17643@cindex history size
17644@kindex set history size
17645@cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
17646@item set history size @var{size}
17647Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
17648This defaults to the value of the environment variable
17649@code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set.
17650@end table
17651
17652History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
17653@xref{Event Designators}, for more details.
17654
17655@cindex history expansion, turn on/off
17656Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
17657is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
17658@code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
17659follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
17660a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
17661history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
17662@kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
17663
17664The commands to control history expansion are:
17665
17666@table @code
17667@item set history expansion on
17668@itemx set history expansion
17669@kindex set history expansion
17670Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
17671
17672@item set history expansion off
17673Disable history expansion.
17674
17675@c @group
17676@kindex show history
17677@item show history
17678@itemx show history filename
17679@itemx show history save
17680@itemx show history size
17681@itemx show history expansion
17682These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
17683@code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
17684@c @end group
17685@end table
17686
17687@table @code
17688@kindex show commands
17689@cindex show last commands
17690@cindex display command history
17691@item show commands
17692Display the last ten commands in the command history.
17693
17694@item show commands @var{n}
17695Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
17696
17697@item show commands +
17698Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
17699@end table
17700
17701@node Screen Size
17702@section Screen Size
17703@cindex size of screen
17704@cindex pauses in output
17705
17706Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
17707information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
17708@value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
17709output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
17710to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
17711determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
17712printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
17713rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
17714
17715Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
17716driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
17717together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
17718@code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
17719you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
17720width} commands:
17721
17722@table @code
17723@kindex set height
17724@kindex set width
17725@kindex show width
17726@kindex show height
17727@item set height @var{lpp}
17728@itemx show height
17729@itemx set width @var{cpl}
17730@itemx show width
17731These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
17732a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
17733commands display the current settings.
17734
17735If you specify a height of zero lines, @value{GDBN} does not pause during
17736output no matter how long the output is. This is useful if output is to a
17737file or to an editor buffer.
17738
17739Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN}
17740from wrapping its output.
17741
17742@item set pagination on
17743@itemx set pagination off
17744@kindex set pagination
17745Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
17746pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height 0}.
17747
17748@item show pagination
17749@kindex show pagination
17750Show the current pagination mode.
17751@end table
17752
17753@node Numbers
17754@section Numbers
17755@cindex number representation
17756@cindex entering numbers
17757
17758You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
17759@value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
17760@samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
17761begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
17762@samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
1776310; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
17764format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
17765both input and output with the commands described below.
17766
17767@table @code
17768@kindex set input-radix
17769@item set input-radix @var{base}
17770Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
17771for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
17772specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
17773example, any of
17774
17775@smallexample
17776set input-radix 012
17777set input-radix 10.
17778set input-radix 0xa
17779@end smallexample
17780
17781@noindent
17782sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
17783leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
17784@samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
17785interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
17786@samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
17787change the radix.
17788
17789@kindex set output-radix
17790@item set output-radix @var{base}
17791Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
17792for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
17793specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
17794
17795@kindex show input-radix
17796@item show input-radix
17797Display the current default base for numeric input.
17798
17799@kindex show output-radix
17800@item show output-radix
17801Display the current default base for numeric display.
17802
17803@item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
17804@itemx show radix
17805@kindex set radix
17806@kindex show radix
17807These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
17808of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
17809the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
17810default value of 10.
17811
17812@end table
17813
17814@node ABI
17815@section Configuring the Current ABI
17816
17817@value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
17818application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
17819conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
17820current ABI.
17821
17822@cindex OS ABI
17823@kindex set osabi
17824@kindex show osabi
17825
17826One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
17827system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
17828@value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
17829but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
17830One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
17831an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
17832not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
17833platform provides.
17834
17835@table @code
17836@item show osabi
17837Show the OS ABI currently in use.
17838
17839@item set osabi
17840With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
17841
17842@item set osabi @var{abi}
17843Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
17844@end table
17845
17846@cindex float promotion
17847
17848Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
17849function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
17850(i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
17851according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
17852(i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
17853@code{double} and then passed.
17854
17855Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
17856a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
17857as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
17858
17859@table @code
17860@kindex set coerce-float-to-double
17861@item set coerce-float-to-double
17862@itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
17863Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
17864to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
17865
17866@item set coerce-float-to-double off
17867Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
17868functions.
17869
17870@kindex show coerce-float-to-double
17871@item show coerce-float-to-double
17872Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
17873@end table
17874
17875@kindex set cp-abi
17876@kindex show cp-abi
17877@value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
17878objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
17879used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
17880programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
17881multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
17882program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
17883Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
17884before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
17885``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
17886use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
17887``auto''.
17888
17889@table @code
17890@item show cp-abi
17891Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
17892
17893@item set cp-abi
17894With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
17895
17896@item set cp-abi @var{abi}
17897@itemx set cp-abi auto
17898Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
17899@end table
17900
17901@node Messages/Warnings
17902@section Optional Warnings and Messages
17903
17904@cindex verbose operation
17905@cindex optional warnings
17906By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
17907running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
17908command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
17909internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
17910
17911Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
17912which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
17913see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
17914
17915@table @code
17916@kindex set verbose
17917@item set verbose on
17918Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
17919
17920@item set verbose off
17921Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
17922
17923@kindex show verbose
17924@item show verbose
17925Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
17926@end table
17927
17928By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
17929object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
17930find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
17931Symbol Files}).
17932
17933@table @code
17934
17935@kindex set complaints
17936@item set complaints @var{limit}
17937Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
17938unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
17939@var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
17940to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
17941
17942@kindex show complaints
17943@item show complaints
17944Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
17945
17946@end table
17947
17948By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
17949lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
17950you try to run a program which is already running:
17951
17952@smallexample
17953(@value{GDBP}) run
17954The program being debugged has been started already.
17955Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
17956@end smallexample
17957
17958If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
17959commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
17960
17961@table @code
17962
17963@kindex set confirm
17964@cindex flinching
17965@cindex confirmation
17966@cindex stupid questions
17967@item set confirm off
17968Disables confirmation requests.
17969
17970@item set confirm on
17971Enables confirmation requests (the default).
17972
17973@kindex show confirm
17974@item show confirm
17975Displays state of confirmation requests.
17976
17977@end table
17978
17979@cindex command tracing
17980If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
17981useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
17982printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
17983quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
17984
17985@table @code
17986@kindex set trace-commands
17987@cindex command scripts, debugging
17988@item set trace-commands on
17989Enable command tracing.
17990@item set trace-commands off
17991Disable command tracing.
17992@item show trace-commands
17993Display the current state of command tracing.
17994@end table
17995
17996@node Debugging Output
17997@section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
17998@cindex optional debugging messages
17999
18000@value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
18001various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
18002interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
18003section documents those commands.
18004
18005@table @code
18006@kindex set exec-done-display
18007@item set exec-done-display
18008Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
18009completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
18010asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
18011@kindex show exec-done-display
18012@item show exec-done-display
18013Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
18014notification.
18015@kindex set debug
18016@cindex gdbarch debugging info
18017@cindex architecture debugging info
18018@item set debug arch
18019Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
18020@kindex show debug
18021@item show debug arch
18022Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
18023@item set debug aix-thread
18024@cindex AIX threads
18025Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
18026module.
18027@item show debug aix-thread
18028Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
18029@item set debug dwarf2-die
18030@cindex DWARF2 DIEs
18031Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
18032The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
18033A value of zero turns off the display.
18034@item show debug dwarf2-die
18035Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
18036@item set debug displaced
18037@cindex displaced stepping debugging info
18038Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
18039displaced stepping support. The default is off.
18040@item show debug displaced
18041Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
18042related to displaced stepping.
18043@item set debug event
18044@cindex event debugging info
18045Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
18046default is off.
18047@item show debug event
18048Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
18049info.
18050@item set debug expression
18051@cindex expression debugging info
18052Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
18053expression parsing. The default is off.
18054@item show debug expression
18055Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
18056@value{GDBN} expression parsing.
18057@item set debug frame
18058@cindex frame debugging info
18059Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
18060default is off.
18061@item show debug frame
18062Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
18063info.
18064@item set debug gnu-nat
18065@cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
18066Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
18067@item show debug gnu-nat
18068Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
18069@item set debug infrun
18070@cindex inferior debugging info
18071Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
18072The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
18073for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
18074@item show debug infrun
18075Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
18076@item set debug lin-lwp
18077@cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
18078@cindex Linux lightweight processes
18079Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
18080@item show debug lin-lwp
18081Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
18082@item set debug lin-lwp-async
18083@cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP async debug messages
18084@cindex Linux lightweight processes
18085Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP async debug support.
18086@item show debug lin-lwp-async
18087Show the current state of Linux LWP async debugging messages.
18088@item set debug observer
18089@cindex observer debugging info
18090Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
18091includes info such as the notification of observable events.
18092@item show debug observer
18093Displays the current state of observer debugging.
18094@item set debug overload
18095@cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
18096Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
18097info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
18098is off.
18099@item show debug overload
18100Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
18101debugging info.
18102@cindex packets, reporting on stdout
18103@cindex serial connections, debugging
18104@cindex debug remote protocol
18105@cindex remote protocol debugging
18106@cindex display remote packets
18107@item set debug remote
18108Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
18109the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
18110@value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
18111@item show debug remote
18112Displays the state of display of remote packets.
18113@item set debug serial
18114Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
18115default is off.
18116@item show debug serial
18117Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
18118info.
18119@item set debug solib-frv
18120@cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
18121Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
18122@item show debug solib-frv
18123Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
18124messages.
18125@item set debug target
18126@cindex target debugging info
18127Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
18128includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
18129default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
18130value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
18131until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
18132@item show debug target
18133Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
18134info.
18135@item set debug timestamp
18136@cindex timestampping debugging info
18137Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
18138When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
18139message.
18140@item show debug timestamp
18141Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
18142debugging info.
18143@item set debugvarobj
18144@cindex variable object debugging info
18145Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
18146info. The default is off.
18147@item show debugvarobj
18148Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
18149debugging info.
18150@item set debug xml
18151@cindex XML parser debugging
18152Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
18153@item show debug xml
18154Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
18155@end table
18156
18157@node Extending GDB
18158@chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
18159@cindex extending GDB
18160
18161@value{GDBN} provides two mechanisms for extension. The first is based
18162on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, and the second is based on the
18163Python scripting language.
18164
18165@menu
18166* Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
18167* Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
18168@end menu
18169
18170@node Sequences
18171@section Canned Sequences of Commands
18172
18173Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
18174Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
18175commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
18176files.
18177
18178@menu
18179* Define:: How to define your own commands
18180* Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
18181* Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
18182* Output:: Commands for controlled output
18183@end menu
18184
18185@node Define
18186@subsection User-defined Commands
18187
18188@cindex user-defined command
18189@cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
18190A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
18191which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
18192@code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
18193separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
18194via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
18195
18196@smallexample
18197define adder
18198 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
18199end
18200@end smallexample
18201
18202@noindent
18203To execute the command use:
18204
18205@smallexample
18206adder 1 2 3
18207@end smallexample
18208
18209@noindent
18210This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
18211its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
18212reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
18213functions calls.
18214
18215@cindex argument count in user-defined commands
18216@cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
18217In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
18218been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
18219
18220@smallexample
18221define adder
18222 if $argc == 2
18223 print $arg0 + $arg1
18224 end
18225 if $argc == 3
18226 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
18227 end
18228end
18229@end smallexample
18230
18231@table @code
18232
18233@kindex define
18234@item define @var{commandname}
18235Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
18236by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
18237@var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
18238numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
18239prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
18240a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
18241
18242The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
18243which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
18244commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
18245
18246@kindex document
18247@kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
18248@item document @var{commandname}
18249Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
18250accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
18251defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
18252reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
18253After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
18254@var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
18255
18256You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
18257documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
18258does not change the documentation.
18259
18260@kindex dont-repeat
18261@cindex don't repeat command
18262@item dont-repeat
18263Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
18264command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
18265(@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
18266
18267@kindex help user-defined
18268@item help user-defined
18269List all user-defined commands, with the first line of the documentation
18270(if any) for each.
18271
18272@kindex show user
18273@item show user
18274@itemx show user @var{commandname}
18275Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
18276not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
18277definitions for all user-defined commands.
18278
18279@cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
18280@kindex show max-user-call-depth
18281@kindex set max-user-call-depth
18282@item show max-user-call-depth
18283@itemx set max-user-call-depth
18284The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
18285levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
18286infinite recursion and aborts the command.
18287@end table
18288
18289In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
18290use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
18291
18292When user-defined commands are executed, the
18293commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
18294stops execution of the user-defined command.
18295
18296If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
18297without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
18298commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
18299messages when used in a user-defined command.
18300
18301@node Hooks
18302@subsection User-defined Command Hooks
18303@cindex command hooks
18304@cindex hooks, for commands
18305@cindex hooks, pre-command
18306
18307@kindex hook
18308You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
18309command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
18310command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
18311before that command.
18312
18313@cindex hooks, post-command
18314@kindex hookpost
18315A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
18316Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
18317@samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
18318that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
18319pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
18320
18321It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
18322occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
18323
18324@c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
18325@c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
18326
18327@kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
18328In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
18329(@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
18330execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
18331displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
18332
18333For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
18334single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
18335you could define:
18336
18337@smallexample
18338define hook-stop
18339handle SIGALRM nopass
18340end
18341
18342define hook-run
18343handle SIGALRM pass
18344end
18345
18346define hook-continue
18347handle SIGALRM pass
18348end
18349@end smallexample
18350
18351As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
18352command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
18353you could define:
18354
18355@smallexample
18356define hook-echo
18357echo <<<---
18358end
18359
18360define hookpost-echo
18361echo --->>>\n
18362end
18363
18364(@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
18365<<<---Hello World--->>>
18366(@value{GDBP})
18367
18368@end smallexample
18369
18370You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
18371not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
18372name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
18373@c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
18374@c or not?
18375You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
18376@code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
18377@samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
18378
18379If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
18380@value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
18381(before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
18382
18383If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
18384get a warning from the @code{define} command.
18385
18386@node Command Files
18387@subsection Command Files
18388
18389@cindex command files
18390@cindex scripting commands
18391A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
18392@value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
18393also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
18394does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
18395terminal.
18396
18397You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
18398command:
18399
18400@table @code
18401@kindex source
18402@cindex execute commands from a file
18403@item source [@code{-v}] @var{filename}
18404Execute the command file @var{filename}.
18405@end table
18406
18407The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
18408unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
18409@emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
18410printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
18411execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
18412
18413@value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename} in the current directory and then
18414on the search path (specified with the @samp{directory} command).
18415
18416If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
18417each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
18418@var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
18419
18420Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
18421without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
18422normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
18423when called from command files.
18424
18425@value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
18426mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
18427standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
18428not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
18429the next command.
18430
18431@smallexample
18432gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
18433@end smallexample
18434
18435(The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
18436will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
18437would be directed to @file{log}.
18438
18439Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
18440commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
18441complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
18442variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
18443built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
18444deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
18445complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
18446conditionally, etc.
18447
18448@table @code
18449@kindex if
18450@kindex else
18451@item if
18452@itemx else
18453This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
18454commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
18455expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
18456are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
18457There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
18458of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
18459end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
18460
18461@kindex while
18462@item while
18463This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
18464@code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
18465to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
18466line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
18467@dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
18468executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
18469
18470@kindex loop_break
18471@item loop_break
18472This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
18473Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
18474line.
18475
18476@kindex loop_continue
18477@item loop_continue
18478This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
18479in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
18480branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
18481the controlling expression.
18482
18483@kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
18484@item end
18485Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
18486@code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
18487@end table
18488
18489
18490@node Output
18491@subsection Commands for Controlled Output
18492
18493During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
18494@value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
18495explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
18496describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
18497want.
18498
18499@table @code
18500@kindex echo
18501@item echo @var{text}
18502@c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
18503@c because it is not in ANSI.
18504Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
18505@var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
18506newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
18507In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
18508by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
18509string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
18510trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
18511To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
18512@samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
18513
18514A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
18515the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
18516
18517@smallexample
18518echo This is some text\n\
18519which is continued\n\
18520onto several lines.\n
18521@end smallexample
18522
18523produces the same output as
18524
18525@smallexample
18526echo This is some text\n
18527echo which is continued\n
18528echo onto several lines.\n
18529@end smallexample
18530
18531@kindex output
18532@item output @var{expression}
18533Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
18534newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
18535value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
18536on expressions.
18537
18538@item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
18539Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
18540the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
18541Formats}, for more information.
18542
18543@kindex printf
18544@item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
18545Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
18546the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
18547@var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
18548which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
18549specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
18550executing the code below:
18551
18552@smallexample
18553printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
18554@end smallexample
18555
18556As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
18557are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
18558by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
18559evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
18560style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
18561printed.
18562
18563For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
18564
18565@smallexample
18566printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
18567@end smallexample
18568
18569@code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
18570specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
18571character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
18572
18573@itemize @bullet
18574@item
18575The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
18576
18577@item
18578The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
18579width.
18580
18581@item
18582The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
18583@code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
18584
18585@item
18586The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
18587supported.
18588
18589@item
18590The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
18591
18592@item
18593The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
18594@end itemize
18595
18596@noindent
18597Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
18598underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
18599the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
18600supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
18601
18602As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
18603sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
18604@samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
18605single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
18606supported.
18607
18608Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
18609(@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
18610together with a floating point specifier.
18611letters:
18612
18613@itemize @bullet
18614@item
18615@samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
18616
18617@item
18618@samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
18619
18620@item
18621@samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
18622@end itemize
18623
18624If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
18625support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
18626such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
18627
18628In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
18629available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
18630
18631Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
18632@smallexample
18633printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
18634@end smallexample
18635
18636@end table
18637
18638@node Python
18639@section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
18640@cindex python scripting
18641@cindex scripting with python
18642
18643You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
18644Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
18645@value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
18646
18647@menu
18648* Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
18649* Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
18650@end menu
18651
18652@node Python Commands
18653@subsection Python Commands
18654@cindex python commands
18655@cindex commands to access python
18656
18657@value{GDBN} provides one command for accessing the Python interpreter,
18658and one related setting:
18659
18660@table @code
18661@kindex python
18662@item python @r{[}@var{code}@r{]}
18663The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
18664
18665If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
18666argument as a Python command. For example:
18667
18668@smallexample
18669(@value{GDBP}) python print 23
1867023
18671@end smallexample
18672
18673If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
18674multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
18675script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
18676@code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
18677containing @code{end}. For example:
18678
18679@smallexample
18680(@value{GDBP}) python
18681Type python script
18682End with a line saying just "end".
18683>print 23
18684>end
1868523
18686@end smallexample
18687
18688@kindex maint set python print-stack
18689@item maint set python print-stack
18690By default, @value{GDBN} will print a stack trace when an error occurs
18691in a Python script. This can be controlled using @code{maint set
18692python print-stack}: if @code{on}, the default, then Python stack
18693printing is enabled; if @code{off}, then Python stack printing is
18694disabled.
18695@end table
18696
18697@node Python API
18698@subsection Python API
18699@cindex python api
18700@cindex programming in python
18701
18702@cindex python stdout
18703@cindex python pagination
18704At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
18705@code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
18706A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
18707output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
18708situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
18709
18710@menu
18711* Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
18712* Exception Handling::
18713* Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
18714* Values From Inferior::
18715* Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
18716* Pretty Printing:: Pretty-printing values.
18717* Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
18718* Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
18719* Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
18720* Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
18721* Frames In Python:: Acessing inferior stack frames from Python.
18722@end menu
18723
18724@node Basic Python
18725@subsubsection Basic Python
18726
18727@cindex python functions
18728@cindex python module
18729@cindex gdb module
18730@value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
18731methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
18732@value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
18733use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
18734
18735@findex gdb.execute
18736@defun execute command [from_tty]
18737Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
18738If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
18739translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
18740If no exceptions occur, this function returns @code{None}.
18741
18742@var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
18743command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
18744It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
18745@end defun
18746
18747@findex gdb.parameter
18748@defun parameter parameter
18749Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
18750string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
18751spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
18752@samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
18753
18754If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
18755@code{RuntimeError}. Otherwise, the parameter's value is converted to
18756a Python value of the appropriate type, and returned.
18757@end defun
18758
18759@findex gdb.history
18760@defun history number
18761Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
18762History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
18763If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
18764and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
18765find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
18766return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
18767doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{RuntimeError} exception will be
18768raised.
18769
18770If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
18771@code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
18772@end defun
18773
18774@findex gdb.write
18775@defun write string
18776Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated standard output stream.
18777Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
18778call this function.
18779@end defun
18780
18781@findex gdb.flush
18782@defun flush
18783Flush @value{GDBN}'s paginated standard output stream. Flushing
18784@code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically call this
18785function.
18786@end defun
18787
18788@node Exception Handling
18789@subsubsection Exception Handling
18790@cindex python exceptions
18791@cindex exceptions, python
18792
18793When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
18794uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
18795@value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
18796@code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
18797terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
18798exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
18799backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
18800
18801@smallexample
18802(@value{GDBP}) python print foo
18803Traceback (most recent call last):
18804 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
18805NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
18806@end smallexample
18807
18808@value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by Python
18809code are converted to Python @code{RuntimeError} exceptions. User
18810interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
18811prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt}
18812exception. If you catch these exceptions in your Python code, your
18813exception handler will see @code{RuntimeError} or
18814@code{KeyboardInterrupt} as the exception type, the @value{GDBN} error
18815message as its value, and the Python call stack backtrace at the
18816Python statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
18817traceback.
18818
18819@node Auto-loading
18820@subsubsection Auto-loading
18821@cindex auto-loading, Python
18822
18823When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
18824command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
18825@value{GDBN} will look for a file named @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py},
18826where @var{objfile} is the object file's real name, formed by ensuring
18827that the file name is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving
18828@code{.} and @code{..} components. If this file exists and is
18829readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a Python script.
18830
18831If this file does not exist, and if the parameter
18832@code{debug-file-directory} is set (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}),
18833then @value{GDBN} will use the file named
18834@file{@var{debug-file-directory}/@var{real-name}}, where
18835@var{real-name} is the object file's real name, as described above.
18836
18837Finally, if this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
18838a file named @file{@var{data-directory}/python/auto-load/@var{real-name}}, where
18839@var{data-directory} is @value{GDBN}'s data directory (available via
18840@code{show data-directory}, @pxref{Data Files}), and @var{real-name}
18841is the object file's real name, as described above.
18842
18843When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the ``current
18844objfile''. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
18845function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
18846registering objfile-specific pretty-printers.
18847
18848The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
18849debugging commands and scripts. You can enable or disable this
18850feature, and view its current state.
18851
18852@table @code
18853@kindex maint set python auto-load
18854@item maint set python auto-load [yes|no]
18855Enable or disable the Python auto-loading feature.
18856
18857@kindex show python auto-load
18858@item show python auto-load
18859Show whether Python auto-loading is enabled or disabled.
18860@end table
18861
18862@value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded.
18863So, your @samp{-gdb.py} file should take care to ensure that it may be
18864evaluated multiple times without error.
18865
18866@node Values From Inferior
18867@subsubsection Values From Inferior
18868@cindex values from inferior, with Python
18869@cindex python, working with values from inferior
18870
18871@cindex @code{gdb.Value}
18872@value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
18873an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
18874for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
18875fetching values when necessary.
18876
18877Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
18878Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
18879an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
18880
18881@smallexample
18882bar = some_val + 2
18883@end smallexample
18884
18885@noindent
18886As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
18887whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
18888
18889Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
18890be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
18891@code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
18892can access its @code{foo} element with:
18893
18894@smallexample
18895bar = some_val['foo']
18896@end smallexample
18897
18898Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
18899
18900The following attributes are provided:
18901
18902@table @code
18903@defivar Value address
18904If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
18905@code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
18906this attribute holds @code{None}.
18907@end defivar
18908
18909@cindex optimized out value in Python
18910@defivar Value is_optimized_out
18911This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
18912this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
18913@end defivar
18914
18915@defivar Value type
18916The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
18917@code{gdb.Type} object.
18918@end defivar
18919@end table
18920
18921The following methods are provided:
18922
18923@table @code
18924@defmethod Value dereference
18925For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
18926whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
18927@code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
18928
18929@smallexample
18930int *foo;
18931@end smallexample
18932
18933@noindent
18934then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
18935@code{foo} points to like this:
18936
18937@smallexample
18938bar = foo.dereference ()
18939@end smallexample
18940
18941The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
18942value pointed to by @code{foo}.
18943@end defmethod
18944
18945@defmethod Value string @r{[}encoding@r{]} @r{[}errors@r{]} @r{[}length@r{]}
18946If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
18947converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
18948throw an exception.
18949
18950Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
18951@code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
18952language.
18953
18954For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
18955array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
18956by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
18957argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
18958ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
18959
18960If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
18961naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
18962@code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
18963the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
18964@code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
18965to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
18966@var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
18967(@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
18968will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
18969
18970The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
18971argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
18972
18973If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
18974fetched and converted to the given length.
18975@end defmethod
18976@end table
18977
18978@node Types In Python
18979@subsubsection Types In Python
18980@cindex types in Python
18981@cindex Python, working with types
18982
18983@tindex gdb.Type
18984@value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
18985@code{gdb.Type}.
18986
18987The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
18988module:
18989
18990@findex gdb.lookup_type
18991@defun lookup_type name [block]
18992This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
18993type to look up. It must be a string.
18994
18995Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
18996If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
18997@end defun
18998
18999An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
19000
19001@table @code
19002@defivar Type code
19003The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
19004@code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
19005@end defivar
19006
19007@defivar Type sizeof
19008The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
19009target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
19010unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
19011@end defivar
19012
19013@defivar Type tag
19014The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
19015@code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
19016languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
19017@code{None} is returned.
19018@end defivar
19019@end table
19020
19021The following methods are provided:
19022
19023@table @code
19024@defmethod Type fields
19025For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
19026types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
19027have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
19028field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
19029represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
19030into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
19031
19032Each field is an object, with some pre-defined attributes:
19033@table @code
19034@item bitpos
19035This attribute is not available for @code{static} fields (as in
19036C@t{++} or Java). For non-@code{static} fields, the value is the bit
19037position of the field.
19038
19039@item name
19040The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
19041
19042@item artificial
19043This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
19044it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
19045always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
19046
19047@item bitsize
19048If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
19049non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
19050this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
19051
19052@item type
19053The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
19054but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
19055@end table
19056@end defmethod
19057
19058@defmethod Type const
19059Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
19060@code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
19061@end defmethod
19062
19063@defmethod Type volatile
19064Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
19065@code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
19066@end defmethod
19067
19068@defmethod Type unqualified
19069Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
19070variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
19071@code{volatile}.
19072@end defmethod
19073
19074@defmethod Type reference
19075Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
19076type.
19077@end defmethod
19078
19079@defmethod Type strip_typedefs
19080Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
19081after removing all layers of typedefs.
19082@end defmethod
19083
19084@defmethod Type target
19085Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
19086of this type.
19087
19088For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
19089object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
19090the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
19091the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
19092the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
19093target type is the aliased type.
19094
19095If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
19096exception.
19097@end defmethod
19098
19099@defmethod Type template_argument n
19100If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
19101return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
19102@var{n}th template argument.
19103
19104If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
19105exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
19106
19107@var{name} is searched for globally.
19108@end defmethod
19109@end table
19110
19111
19112Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
19113into. The available type categories are represented by constants
19114defined in the @code{gdb} module:
19115
19116@table @code
19117@findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
19118@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
19119@item TYPE_CODE_PTR
19120The type is a pointer.
19121
19122@findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
19123@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
19124@item TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
19125The type is an array.
19126
19127@findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
19128@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
19129@item TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
19130The type is a structure.
19131
19132@findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
19133@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
19134@item TYPE_CODE_UNION
19135The type is a union.
19136
19137@findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
19138@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
19139@item TYPE_CODE_ENUM
19140The type is an enum.
19141
19142@findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
19143@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
19144@item TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
19145A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
19146
19147@findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
19148@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
19149@item TYPE_CODE_FUNC
19150The type is a function.
19151
19152@findex TYPE_CODE_INT
19153@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
19154@item TYPE_CODE_INT
19155The type is an integer type.
19156
19157@findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
19158@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
19159@item TYPE_CODE_FLT
19160A floating point type.
19161
19162@findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
19163@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
19164@item TYPE_CODE_VOID
19165The special type @code{void}.
19166
19167@findex TYPE_CODE_SET
19168@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
19169@item TYPE_CODE_SET
19170A Pascal set type.
19171
19172@findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
19173@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
19174@item TYPE_CODE_RANGE
19175A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
19176
19177@findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
19178@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
19179@item TYPE_CODE_STRING
19180A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
19181language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
19182
19183@findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
19184@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
19185@item TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
19186A string of bits.
19187
19188@findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
19189@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
19190@item TYPE_CODE_ERROR
19191An unknown or erroneous type.
19192
19193@findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
19194@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
19195@item TYPE_CODE_METHOD
19196A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
19197
19198@findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
19199@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
19200@item TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
19201A pointer-to-member-function.
19202
19203@findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
19204@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
19205@item TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
19206A pointer-to-member.
19207
19208@findex TYPE_CODE_REF
19209@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
19210@item TYPE_CODE_REF
19211A reference type.
19212
19213@findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
19214@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
19215@item TYPE_CODE_CHAR
19216A character type.
19217
19218@findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
19219@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
19220@item TYPE_CODE_BOOL
19221A boolean type.
19222
19223@findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
19224@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
19225@item TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
19226A complex float type.
19227
19228@findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
19229@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
19230@item TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
19231A typedef to some other type.
19232
19233@findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
19234@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
19235@item TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
19236A C@t{++} namespace.
19237
19238@findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
19239@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
19240@item TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
19241A decimal floating point type.
19242
19243@findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
19244@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
19245@item TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
19246A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
19247convenience functions.
19248@end table
19249
19250@node Pretty Printing
19251@subsubsection Pretty Printing
19252
19253@value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values
19254using Python code. The pretty-printer API allows application-specific
19255code to greatly simplify the display of complex objects. This
19256mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
19257
19258For example, here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a
19259pretty-printer:
19260
19261@smallexample
19262(@value{GDBP}) print s
19263$1 = @{
19264 static npos = 4294967295,
19265 _M_dataplus = @{
19266 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
19267 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{<No data fields>@}, <No data fields>@},
19268 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>, std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
19269 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
19270 @}
19271@}
19272@end smallexample
19273
19274After a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} has been installed, only
19275the contents are printed:
19276
19277@smallexample
19278(@value{GDBP}) print s
19279$2 = "abcd"
19280@end smallexample
19281
19282A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
19283specific interface, defined here.
19284
19285@defop Operation {pretty printer} children (self)
19286@value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
19287children of the pretty-printer's value.
19288
19289This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
19290protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
19291two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
19292second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
19293object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
19294
19295This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
19296as though the value has no children.
19297@end defop
19298
19299@defop Operation {pretty printer} display_hint (self)
19300The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
19301formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
19302consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
19303printed.
19304
19305This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
19306string.
19307
19308Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
19309
19310@table @samp
19311@item array
19312Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
19313uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
19314@code{set print array}.
19315
19316@item map
19317Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
19318children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
19319values.
19320
19321@item string
19322Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
19323printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
19324kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
19325string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
19326adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
19327@code{set print elements}, and the like.
19328@end table
19329@end defop
19330
19331@defop Operation {pretty printer} to_string (self)
19332@value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
19333representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
19334
19335When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
19336then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
19337@code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
19338the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
19339depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
19340print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
19341the result of @code{children}.
19342
19343If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
19344
19345Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
19346then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
19347another pretty-printer.
19348
19349If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
19350@code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
19351the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
19352pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
19353strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
19354
19355If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
19356@end defop
19357
19358@node Selecting Pretty-Printers
19359@subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
19360
19361The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
19362functions that have been registered via addition as a pretty-printer.
19363Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
19364attribute.
19365
19366A function on one of these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
19367argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
19368interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing}). If a function
19369cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
19370@code{None}.
19371
19372@value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
19373@code{gdb.Objfile} and iteratively calls each function in the list for
19374that @code{gdb.Objfile} until it receives a pretty-printer object.
19375After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
19376@code{gdb.pretty-printers} list, again calling each function until an
19377object is returned.
19378
19379The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
19380given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
19381and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
19382object is returned.
19383
19384Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
19385written:
19386
19387@smallexample
19388class StdStringPrinter:
19389 "Print a std::string"
19390
19391 def __init__ (self, val):
19392 self.val = val
19393
19394 def to_string (self):
19395 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
19396
19397 def display_hint (self):
19398 return 'string'
19399@end smallexample
19400
19401And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
19402example above might be written.
19403
19404@smallexample
19405def str_lookup_function (val):
19406
19407 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
19408 regex = re.compile ("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
19409 if lookup_tag == None:
19410 return None
19411 if regex.match (lookup_tag):
19412 return StdStringPrinter (val)
19413
19414 return None
19415@end smallexample
19416
19417The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
19418match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
19419printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
19420returns @code{None}.
19421
19422We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
19423package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
19424further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
19425This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
19426your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
19427different names.
19428
19429You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Auto-loading}) such that it
19430can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
19431ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
19432printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
19433the current objfile.
19434
19435Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
19436inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
19437Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
19438@value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
19439Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
19440because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
19441printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
19442printers for the specific version of the library used by each
19443inferior.
19444
19445To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing}),
19446this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
19447
19448@smallexample
19449def register_printers (objfile):
19450 objfile.pretty_printers.add (str_lookup_function)
19451@end smallexample
19452
19453@noindent
19454And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
19455
19456@smallexample
19457import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
19458gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers (gdb.current_objfile ())
19459@end smallexample
19460
19461@node Commands In Python
19462@subsubsection Commands In Python
19463
19464@cindex commands in python
19465@cindex python commands
19466You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
19467command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
19468class, most commonly using a subclass.
19469
19470@defmethod Command __init__ name @var{command_class} @r{[}@var{completer_class}@r{]} @r{[}@var{prefix}@r{]}
19471The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
19472with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
19473subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
19474
19475@var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
19476multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
19477commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
19478an exception is raised.
19479
19480There is no support for multi-line commands.
19481
19482@var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
19483defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
19484new command in the help system.
19485
19486@var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
19487one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
19488tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
19489given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
19490@code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
19491error will occur when completion is attempted.
19492
19493@var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
19494command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
19495registered.
19496
19497The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
19498documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
19499documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
19500not documented.'' is used.
19501@end defmethod
19502
19503@cindex don't repeat Python command
19504@defmethod Command dont_repeat
19505By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
19506blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
19507behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
19508to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
19509@end defmethod
19510
19511@defmethod Command invoke argument from_tty
19512This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
19513
19514@var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
19515leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
19516
19517@var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
19518command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
19519that the command came from elsewhere.
19520
19521If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
19522@code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
19523@end defmethod
19524
19525@cindex completion of Python commands
19526@defmethod Command complete text word
19527This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
19528completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
19529this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
19530(@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
19531complete}).
19532
19533The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
19534holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
19535@var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
19536using a word-breaking heuristic.
19537
19538The @code{complete} method can return several values:
19539@itemize @bullet
19540@item
19541If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
19542used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
19543contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
19544allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
19545string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
19546sequence are ignored.
19547
19548@item
19549If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
19550below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
19551function is invoked, and its result is used.
19552
19553@item
19554All other results are treated as though there were no available
19555completions.
19556@end itemize
19557@end defmethod
19558
19559When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
19560some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
19561commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
19562listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
19563command. The available classifications are represented by constants
19564defined in the @code{gdb} module:
19565
19566@table @code
19567@findex COMMAND_NONE
19568@findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
19569@item COMMAND_NONE
19570The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
19571this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
19572
19573@findex COMMAND_RUNNING
19574@findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
19575@item COMMAND_RUNNING
19576The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
19577@code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
19578Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
19579commands in this category.
19580
19581@findex COMMAND_DATA
19582@findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
19583@item COMMAND_DATA
19584The command is related to data or variables. For example,
19585@code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
19586@kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
19587in this category.
19588
19589@findex COMMAND_STACK
19590@findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
19591@item COMMAND_STACK
19592The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
19593@code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
19594category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
19595list of commands in this category.
19596
19597@findex COMMAND_FILES
19598@findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
19599@item COMMAND_FILES
19600This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
19601@code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
19602Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
19603commands in this category.
19604
19605@findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
19606@findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
19607@item COMMAND_SUPPORT
19608This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
19609things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
19610but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
19611@code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
19612@kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
19613commands in this category.
19614
19615@findex COMMAND_STATUS
19616@findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
19617@item COMMAND_STATUS
19618The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
19619state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
19620and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
19621@value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
19622
19623@findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
19624@findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
19625@item COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
19626The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
19627@code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
19628breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
19629this category.
19630
19631@findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
19632@findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
19633@item COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
19634The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
19635@code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
19636@kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
19637commands in this category.
19638
19639@findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
19640@findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
19641@item COMMAND_OBSCURE
19642The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
19643general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
19644@code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
19645obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
19646category.
19647
19648@findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
19649@findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
19650@item COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
19651The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
19652@code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
19653Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
19654commands in this category.
19655@end table
19656
19657A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
19658specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
19659from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
19660constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
19661
19662@table @code
19663@findex COMPLETE_NONE
19664@findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
19665@item COMPLETE_NONE
19666This constant means that no completion should be done.
19667
19668@findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
19669@findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
19670@item COMPLETE_FILENAME
19671This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
19672
19673@findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
19674@findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
19675@item COMPLETE_LOCATION
19676This constant means that location completion should be done.
19677@xref{Specify Location}.
19678
19679@findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
19680@findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
19681@item COMPLETE_COMMAND
19682This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
19683command names.
19684
19685@findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
19686@findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
19687@item COMPLETE_SYMBOL
19688This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
19689as the source.
19690@end table
19691
19692The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
19693implemented in Python:
19694
19695@smallexample
19696class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
19697 """Greet the whole world."""
19698
19699 def __init__ (self):
19700 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
19701
19702 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
19703 print "Hello, World!"
19704
19705HelloWorld ()
19706@end smallexample
19707
19708The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
19709registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
19710Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
19711@code{gdb} module explicitly.
19712
19713@node Functions In Python
19714@subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
19715
19716@cindex writing convenience functions
19717@cindex convenience functions in python
19718@cindex python convenience functions
19719@tindex gdb.Function
19720@tindex Function
19721You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
19722in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
19723class @code{gdb.Function}.
19724
19725@defmethod Function __init__ name
19726The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
19727@value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
19728a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
19729variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
19730the given @var{name}.
19731
19732The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
19733string for the new class.
19734@end defmethod
19735
19736@defmethod Function invoke @var{*args}
19737When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
19738to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
19739@code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
19740predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
19741available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
19742standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
19743function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
19744
19745The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
19746expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
19747to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
19748@end defmethod
19749
19750The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
19751be implemented in Python:
19752
19753@smallexample
19754class Greet (gdb.Function):
19755 """Return string to greet someone.
19756Takes a name as argument."""
19757
19758 def __init__ (self):
19759 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
19760
19761 def invoke (self, name):
19762 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
19763
19764Greet ()
19765@end smallexample
19766
19767The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
19768registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
19769Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
19770@code{gdb} module explicitly.
19771
19772@node Objfiles In Python
19773@subsubsection Objfiles In Python
19774
19775@cindex objfiles in python
19776@tindex gdb.Objfile
19777@tindex Objfile
19778@value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
19779symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
19780executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
19781separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
19782@value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
19783
19784The following objfile-related functions are available in the
19785@code{gdb} module:
19786
19787@findex gdb.current_objfile
19788@defun current_objfile
19789When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
19790sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
19791function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
19792this function returns @code{None}.
19793@end defun
19794
19795@findex gdb.objfiles
19796@defun objfiles
19797Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
19798@xref{Objfiles In Python}.
19799@end defun
19800
19801Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
19802class.
19803
19804@defivar Objfile filename
19805The file name of the objfile as a string.
19806@end defivar
19807
19808@defivar Objfile pretty_printers
19809The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
19810used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
19811function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
19812search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
19813which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing}, for more
19814information.
19815@end defivar
19816
19817@node Frames In Python
19818@subsubsection Acessing inferior stack frames from Python.
19819
19820@cindex frames in python
19821When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
19822stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
19823represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
19824while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
19825to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{RuntimeError}
19826exception.
19827
19828Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
19829operator, like:
19830
19831@smallexample
19832(@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
19833True
19834@end smallexample
19835
19836The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
19837
19838@findex gdb.selected_frame
19839@defun selected_frame
19840Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
19841@end defun
19842
19843@defun frame_stop_reason_string reason
19844Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
19845frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
19846@code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
19847@end defun
19848
19849A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
19850
19851@table @code
19852@defmethod Frame is_valid
19853Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
19854A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
19855exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
19856an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
19857@end defmethod
19858
19859@defmethod Frame name
19860Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
19861obtained.
19862@end defmethod
19863
19864@defmethod Frame type
19865Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of
19866@code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, @code{gdb.DUMMY_FRAME}, @code{gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME}
19867or @code{gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME}.
19868@end defmethod
19869
19870@defmethod Frame unwind_stop_reason
19871Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
19872more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
19873@code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
19874function to a string.
19875@end defmethod
19876
19877@defmethod Frame pc
19878Returns the frame's resume address.
19879@end defmethod
19880
19881@defmethod Frame older
19882Return the frame that called this frame.
19883@end defmethod
19884
19885@defmethod Frame newer
19886Return the frame called by this frame.
19887@end defmethod
19888
19889@defmethod Frame read_var variable
19890Return the value of the given variable in this frame. @var{variable} must
19891be a string.
19892@end defmethod
19893@end table
19894
19895@node Interpreters
19896@chapter Command Interpreters
19897@cindex command interpreters
19898
19899@value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
19900infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
19901between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
19902
19903@value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
19904interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
19905and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
19906describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
19907
19908By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
19909However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
19910interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
19911startup options. Defined interpreters include:
19912
19913@table @code
19914@item console
19915@cindex console interpreter
19916The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
19917used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
19918@value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
19919
19920@item mi
19921@cindex mi interpreter
19922The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
19923by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
19924or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
19925Interface}.
19926
19927@item mi2
19928@cindex mi2 interpreter
19929The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
19930
19931@item mi1
19932@cindex mi1 interpreter
19933The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
19934
19935@end table
19936
19937@cindex invoke another interpreter
19938The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
19939switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
19940precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
19941enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
19942@value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
19943the IDE inoperable!
19944
19945@kindex interpreter-exec
19946Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
19947commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
19948command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
19949@code{interpreter-exec} command:
19950
19951@smallexample
19952interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
19953@end smallexample
19954
19955@sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
19956@value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
19957
19958@node TUI
19959@chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
19960@cindex TUI
19961@cindex Text User Interface
19962
19963@menu
19964* TUI Overview:: TUI overview
19965* TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
19966* TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
19967* TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
19968* TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
19969@end menu
19970
19971The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
19972interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
19973file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
19974commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
19975on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
19976is available.
19977
19978@pindex @value{GDBTUI}
19979The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
19980either @samp{@value{GDBTUI}} or @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
19981You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
19982using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
19983@xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
19984
19985@node TUI Overview
19986@section TUI Overview
19987
19988In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
19989
19990@table @emph
19991@item command
19992This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
19993prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
19994managed using readline.
19995
19996@item source
19997The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
19998line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
19999
20000@item assembly
20001The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
20002
20003@item register
20004This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
20005when their values change.
20006@end table
20007
20008The source and assembly windows show the current program position
20009by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
20010Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
20011indicates the breakpoint type:
20012
20013@table @code
20014@item B
20015Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
20016
20017@item b
20018Breakpoint which was never hit.
20019
20020@item H
20021Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
20022
20023@item h
20024Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
20025@end table
20026
20027The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
20028
20029@table @code
20030@item +
20031Breakpoint is enabled.
20032
20033@item -
20034Breakpoint is disabled.
20035@end table
20036
20037The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
20038thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
20039changes.
20040
20041These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
20042window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
20043layouts:
20044
20045@itemize @bullet
20046@item
20047source only,
20048
20049@item
20050assembly only,
20051
20052@item
20053source and assembly,
20054
20055@item
20056source and registers, or
20057
20058@item
20059assembly and registers.
20060@end itemize
20061
20062A status line above the command window shows the following information:
20063
20064@table @emph
20065@item target
20066Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
20067(@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
20068
20069@item process
20070Gives the current process or thread number.
20071When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
20072
20073@item function
20074Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
20075The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
20076When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
20077the string @code{??} is displayed.
20078
20079@item line
20080Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
20081When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
20082
20083@item pc
20084Indicates the current program counter address.
20085@end table
20086
20087@node TUI Keys
20088@section TUI Key Bindings
20089@cindex TUI key bindings
20090
20091The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
20092(@pxref{Command Line Editing}). The following key bindings
20093are installed for both TUI mode and the @value{GDBN} standard mode.
20094
20095@table @kbd
20096@kindex C-x C-a
20097@item C-x C-a
20098@kindex C-x a
20099@itemx C-x a
20100@kindex C-x A
20101@itemx C-x A
20102Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
20103the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
20104its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
20105the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
20106The screen is then refreshed.
20107
20108@kindex C-x 1
20109@item C-x 1
20110Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
20111either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
20112is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
20113
20114Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
20115
20116@kindex C-x 2
20117@item C-x 2
20118Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
20119layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
20120When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
20121previous layout and the new one.
20122
20123Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
20124
20125@kindex C-x o
20126@item C-x o
20127Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
20128(like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
20129gives the focus to the next TUI window.
20130
20131Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
20132
20133@kindex C-x s
20134@item C-x s
20135Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
20136keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
20137@end table
20138
20139The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
20140
20141@table @asis
20142@kindex PgUp
20143@item @key{PgUp}
20144Scroll the active window one page up.
20145
20146@kindex PgDn
20147@item @key{PgDn}
20148Scroll the active window one page down.
20149
20150@kindex Up
20151@item @key{Up}
20152Scroll the active window one line up.
20153
20154@kindex Down
20155@item @key{Down}
20156Scroll the active window one line down.
20157
20158@kindex Left
20159@item @key{Left}
20160Scroll the active window one column left.
20161
20162@kindex Right
20163@item @key{Right}
20164Scroll the active window one column right.
20165
20166@kindex C-L
20167@item @kbd{C-L}
20168Refresh the screen.
20169@end table
20170
20171Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
20172are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
20173window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
20174other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
20175and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
20176
20177@node TUI Single Key Mode
20178@section TUI Single Key Mode
20179@cindex TUI single key mode
20180
20181The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
20182frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
20183switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
20184
20185@table @kbd
20186@kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20187@item c
20188continue
20189
20190@kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20191@item d
20192down
20193
20194@kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20195@item f
20196finish
20197
20198@kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20199@item n
20200next
20201
20202@kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20203@item q
20204exit the SingleKey mode.
20205
20206@kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20207@item r
20208run
20209
20210@kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20211@item s
20212step
20213
20214@kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20215@item u
20216up
20217
20218@kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20219@item v
20220info locals
20221
20222@kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20223@item w
20224where
20225@end table
20226
20227Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
20228The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
20229it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
20230with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
20231SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
20232this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
20233
20234
20235@node TUI Commands
20236@section TUI-specific Commands
20237@cindex TUI commands
20238
20239The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
20240These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
20241the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
20242of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
20243
20244@table @code
20245@item info win
20246@kindex info win
20247List and give the size of all displayed windows.
20248
20249@item layout next
20250@kindex layout
20251Display the next layout.
20252
20253@item layout prev
20254Display the previous layout.
20255
20256@item layout src
20257Display the source window only.
20258
20259@item layout asm
20260Display the assembly window only.
20261
20262@item layout split
20263Display the source and assembly window.
20264
20265@item layout regs
20266Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
20267
20268@item focus next
20269@kindex focus
20270Make the next window active for scrolling.
20271
20272@item focus prev
20273Make the previous window active for scrolling.
20274
20275@item focus src
20276Make the source window active for scrolling.
20277
20278@item focus asm
20279Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
20280
20281@item focus regs
20282Make the register window active for scrolling.
20283
20284@item focus cmd
20285Make the command window active for scrolling.
20286
20287@item refresh
20288@kindex refresh
20289Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
20290
20291@item tui reg float
20292@kindex tui reg
20293Show the floating point registers in the register window.
20294
20295@item tui reg general
20296Show the general registers in the register window.
20297
20298@item tui reg next
20299Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
20300their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
20301following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
20302@code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
20303
20304@item tui reg system
20305Show the system registers in the register window.
20306
20307@item update
20308@kindex update
20309Update the source window and the current execution point.
20310
20311@item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
20312@itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
20313@kindex winheight
20314Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
20315lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
20316decrease it.
20317
20318@item tabset @var{nchars}
20319@kindex tabset
20320Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
20321@end table
20322
20323@node TUI Configuration
20324@section TUI Configuration Variables
20325@cindex TUI configuration variables
20326
20327Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
20328
20329@table @code
20330@item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
20331@kindex set tui border-kind
20332Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
20333The possible values are the following:
20334@table @code
20335@item space
20336Use a space character to draw the border.
20337
20338@item ascii
20339Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
20340
20341@item acs
20342Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
20343drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
20344@end table
20345
20346@item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
20347@kindex set tui border-mode
20348@itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
20349@kindex set tui active-border-mode
20350Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
20351or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
20352@table @code
20353@item normal
20354Use normal attributes to display the border.
20355
20356@item standout
20357Use standout mode.
20358
20359@item reverse
20360Use reverse video mode.
20361
20362@item half
20363Use half bright mode.
20364
20365@item half-standout
20366Use half bright and standout mode.
20367
20368@item bold
20369Use extra bright or bold mode.
20370
20371@item bold-standout
20372Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
20373@end table
20374@end table
20375
20376@node Emacs
20377@chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
20378
20379@cindex Emacs
20380@cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
20381A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
20382edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
20383@value{GDBN}.
20384
20385To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
20386executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
20387@value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
20388created Emacs buffer.
20389@c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
20390
20391Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
20392things:
20393
20394@itemize @bullet
20395@item
20396All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
20397the GUD buffer.
20398
20399This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
20400and output done by the program you are debugging.
20401
20402This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
20403commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
20404in this way.
20405
20406All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
20407with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
20408way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
20409stop.
20410
20411@item
20412@value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
20413
20414Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
20415source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
20416left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
20417source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
20418and the source.
20419
20420Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
20421usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
20422@end itemize
20423
20424We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
20425a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
20426that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
20427@xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
20428
20429If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
20430gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
20431your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
20432sets your current working directory to to the directory associated
20433with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
20434program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
20435some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
20436@value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
20437buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
20438
20439The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
20440line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
20441that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
20442,Commands to Specify Files}.
20443
20444By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
20445need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
20446keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
20447customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
20448one you want.
20449
20450In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
20451addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
20452
20453@table @kbd
20454@item C-h m
20455Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
20456
20457@item C-c C-s
20458Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
20459update the display window to show the current file and location.
20460
20461@item C-c C-n
20462Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
20463calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
20464to show the current file and location.
20465
20466@item C-c C-i
20467Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
20468display window accordingly.
20469
20470@item C-c C-f
20471Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
20472@code{finish} command.
20473
20474@item C-c C-r
20475Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
20476command.
20477
20478@item C-c <
20479Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
20480(@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
20481like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
20482
20483@item C-c >
20484Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
20485@value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
20486@end table
20487
20488In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
20489tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
20490
20491In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
20492separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
20493Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
20494become the current frame and display the associated source in the
20495source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
20496selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
20497speedbar displays watch expressions.
20498
20499If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
20500it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
20501request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
20502the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
20503frame.
20504
20505The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
20506which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
20507the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
20508communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
20509delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
20510to correspond properly with the code.
20511
20512A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
20513given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
20514Emacs Manual}).
20515
20516@c The following dropped because Epoch is nonstandard. Reactivate
20517@c if/when v19 does something similar. ---doc@cygnus.com 19dec1990
20518@ignore
20519@kindex Emacs Epoch environment
20520@kindex Epoch
20521@kindex inspect
20522
20523Version 18 of @sc{gnu} Emacs has a built-in window system
20524called the @code{epoch}
20525environment. Users of this environment can use a new command,
20526@code{inspect} which performs identically to @code{print} except that
20527each value is printed in its own window.
20528@end ignore
20529
20530
20531@node GDB/MI
20532@chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
20533
20534@unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
20535
20536@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
20537@sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
20538@value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
20539@option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
20540is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
20541use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
20542
20543This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
20544in the form of a reference manual.
20545
20546Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
20547features described below are incomplete and subject to change
20548(@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
20549
20550@unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
20551
20552@cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
20553This chapter uses the following notation:
20554
20555@itemize @bullet
20556@item
20557@code{|} separates two alternatives.
20558
20559@item
20560@code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
20561it may or may not be given.
20562
20563@item
20564@code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
20565may repeat zero or more times.
20566
20567@item
20568@code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
20569may repeat one or more times.
20570
20571@item
20572@code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
20573@end itemize
20574
20575@ignore
20576@heading Dependencies
20577@end ignore
20578
20579@menu
20580* GDB/MI General Design::
20581* GDB/MI Command Syntax::
20582* GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
20583* GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
20584* GDB/MI Output Records::
20585* GDB/MI Simple Examples::
20586* GDB/MI Command Description Format::
20587* GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
20588* GDB/MI Program Context::
20589* GDB/MI Thread Commands::
20590* GDB/MI Program Execution::
20591* GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
20592* GDB/MI Variable Objects::
20593* GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
20594* GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
20595* GDB/MI Symbol Query::
20596* GDB/MI File Commands::
20597@ignore
20598* GDB/MI Kod Commands::
20599* GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
20600* GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
20601@end ignore
20602* GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
20603* GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
20604* GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
20605@end menu
20606
20607@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
20608@node GDB/MI General Design
20609@section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
20610@cindex GDB/MI General Design
20611
20612Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
20613parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
20614and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
20615indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
20616For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
20617requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
20618response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
20619Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
20620target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
20621a command and reported as part of that command response.
20622
20623The important examples of notifications are:
20624@itemize @bullet
20625
20626@item
20627Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
20628target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
20629be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
20630commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
20631different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
20632happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
20633command itself was successfully executed.
20634
20635@item
20636Console output, and status notifications. Console output
20637notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
20638diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
20639report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
20640this information in command response would mean no output is produced
20641until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
20642
20643@item
20644General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
20645the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
20646a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
20647be included in command response, using notification allows for more
20648orthogonal frontend design.
20649
20650@end itemize
20651
20652There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
20653@value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
20654the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
20655processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
20656we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
20657the user interface.
20658
20659
20660@menu
20661* Context management::
20662* Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
20663* Thread groups::
20664@end menu
20665
20666@node Context management
20667@subsection Context management
20668
20669In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
20670done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
20671Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
20672be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
20673and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
20674because a command line user would not want to specify that information
20675explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
20676@value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
20677to what thread and frame are the current ones.
20678
20679In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
20680useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
20681itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
20682each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
20683want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
20684increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
20685frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
20686should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
20687make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
20688@samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
20689for thread and frame to operate on.
20690
20691Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
20692a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
20693operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
20694current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
20695it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
20696another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
20697the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
20698one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
20699change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
20700No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
20701
20702Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
20703frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
20704right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
20705simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
20706before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
20707to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
20708if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
20709thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
20710optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
20711sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
20712selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
20713change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
20714problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
20715all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
20716right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
20717@samp{--frame} options.
20718
20719@node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
20720@subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
20721
20722On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
20723even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
20724command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
20725specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
20726@code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
20727either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
20728frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
20729find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
20730@code{-list-target-features} command.
20731
20732Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
20733many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
20734running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
20735when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
20736it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
20737are running.
20738
20739When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
20740target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
20741some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
20742stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
20743modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
20744that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
20745@code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
20746context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
20747stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
20748@samp{--thread} option).
20749
20750Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
20751highly target dependent. However, the two commands
20752@code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
20753to find the state of a thread, will always work.
20754
20755@node Thread groups
20756@subsection Thread groups
20757@value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
20758On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
20759hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
20760processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
20761mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
20762
20763The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
20764target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
20765accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
20766thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
20767neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
20768current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
20769that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
20770into processes.
20771
20772To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
20773hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
20774@dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
20775thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
20776and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
20777command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
20778thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
20779debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
20780to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
20781the members of specific thread group.
20782
20783To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
20784wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
20785introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
20786@value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
20787@code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
20788groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
20789In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
20790after attaching to that thread group.
20791
20792@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
20793@node GDB/MI Command Syntax
20794@section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
20795
20796@menu
20797* GDB/MI Input Syntax::
20798* GDB/MI Output Syntax::
20799@end menu
20800
20801@node GDB/MI Input Syntax
20802@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
20803
20804@cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
20805@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
20806@table @code
20807@item @var{command} @expansion{}
20808@code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
20809
20810@item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
20811@code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
20812@var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
20813
20814@item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
20815@code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
20816@code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
20817
20818@item @var{token} @expansion{}
20819"any sequence of digits"
20820
20821@item @var{option} @expansion{}
20822@code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
20823
20824@item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
20825@code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
20826
20827@item @var{operation} @expansion{}
20828@emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
20829
20830@item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
20831@emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
20832"-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
20833
20834@item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
20835@code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
20836
20837@item @var{nl} @expansion{}
20838@code{CR | CR-LF}
20839@end table
20840
20841@noindent
20842Notes:
20843
20844@itemize @bullet
20845@item
20846The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
20847output is described below.
20848
20849@item
20850The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
20851finishes.
20852
20853@item
20854Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
20855list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
20856followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
20857parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
20858@samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
20859@end itemize
20860
20861Pragmatics:
20862
20863@itemize @bullet
20864@item
20865We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
20866
20867@item
20868We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
20869@end itemize
20870
20871@node GDB/MI Output Syntax
20872@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
20873
20874@cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
20875@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
20876The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
20877followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
20878is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
20879terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
20880
20881If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
20882corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
20883@var{token}.
20884
20885@table @code
20886@item @var{output} @expansion{}
20887@code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
20888
20889@item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
20890@code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
20891
20892@item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
20893@code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
20894
20895@item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
20896@code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
20897
20898@item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
20899@code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
20900
20901@item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
20902@code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
20903
20904@item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
20905@code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
20906
20907@item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
20908@code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
20909
20910@item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
20911@code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
20912
20913@item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
20914@code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
20915depending on the needs---this is still in development).
20916
20917@item @var{result} @expansion{}
20918@code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
20919
20920@item @var{variable} @expansion{}
20921@code{ @var{string} }
20922
20923@item @var{value} @expansion{}
20924@code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
20925
20926@item @var{const} @expansion{}
20927@code{@var{c-string}}
20928
20929@item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
20930@code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
20931
20932@item @var{list} @expansion{}
20933@code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
20934@var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
20935
20936@item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
20937@code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
20938
20939@item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
20940@code{"~" @var{c-string}}
20941
20942@item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
20943@code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
20944
20945@item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
20946@code{"&" @var{c-string}}
20947
20948@item @var{nl} @expansion{}
20949@code{CR | CR-LF}
20950
20951@item @var{token} @expansion{}
20952@emph{any sequence of digits}.
20953@end table
20954
20955@noindent
20956Notes:
20957
20958@itemize @bullet
20959@item
20960All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
20961
20962@item
20963The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
20964for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
20965may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
20966output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
20967all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
20968target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
20969prior command.
20970
20971@item
20972@cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
20973@var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
20974progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
20975prefixed by @samp{+}.
20976
20977@item
20978@cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
20979@var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
20980(stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
20981@samp{*}.
20982
20983@item
20984@cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
20985@var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
20986client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
20987output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
20988
20989@item
20990@cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
20991@var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
20992console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
20993output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
20994
20995@item
20996@cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
20997@var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
20998All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
20999
21000@item
21001@cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
21002@var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
21003instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
21004the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
21005
21006@item
21007@cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
21008New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
21009@var{values}.
21010
21011
21012@end itemize
21013
21014@xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
21015details about the various output records.
21016
21017@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21018@node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
21019@section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
21020
21021@cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
21022@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
21023
21024For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
21025but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
21026that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
21027command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
21028@code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
21029@samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
21030
21031This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
21032recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
21033(@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
21034
21035@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21036@node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
21037@section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
21038@cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
21039
21040The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
21041program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
21042
21043Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
21044by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
21045to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
21046section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
21047might change.
21048
21049Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
21050for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
21051list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
21052parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
21053
21054@itemize @bullet
21055@item
21056New MI commands may be added.
21057
21058@item
21059New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
21060
21061@item
21062The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
21063@code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
21064
21065@c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
21066@c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
21067
21068@c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
21069@c resolve inconsistencies.
21070@end itemize
21071
21072If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
21073will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
21074output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
21075@value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
21076responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
21077
21078@c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
21079@c version?
21080
21081The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
21082end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
21083follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
21084@email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
21085@cindex mailing lists
21086
21087@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21088@node GDB/MI Output Records
21089@section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
21090
21091@menu
21092* GDB/MI Result Records::
21093* GDB/MI Stream Records::
21094* GDB/MI Async Records::
21095* GDB/MI Frame Information::
21096@end menu
21097
21098@node GDB/MI Result Records
21099@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
21100
21101@cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
21102@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
21103In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
21104@sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
21105
21106@table @code
21107@findex ^done
21108@item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
21109The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
21110values.
21111
21112@item "^running"
21113@findex ^running
21114@c Is this one correct? Should it be an out-of-band notification?
21115The asynchronous operation was successfully started. The target is
21116running.
21117
21118@item "^connected"
21119@findex ^connected
21120@value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
21121
21122@item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
21123@findex ^error
21124The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
21125error message.
21126
21127@item "^exit"
21128@findex ^exit
21129@value{GDBN} has terminated.
21130
21131@end table
21132
21133@node GDB/MI Stream Records
21134@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
21135
21136@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
21137@cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
21138@value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
21139target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
21140funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
21141
21142Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
21143identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
21144Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
21145@code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
21146line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
21147
21148@table @code
21149@item "~" @var{string-output}
21150The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
21151CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
21152
21153@item "@@" @var{string-output}
21154The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
21155target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
21156asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
21157
21158@item "&" @var{string-output}
21159The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
21160internals.
21161@end table
21162
21163@node GDB/MI Async Records
21164@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
21165
21166@cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
21167@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
21168@dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
21169additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
21170consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
21171target activity (e.g., target stopped).
21172
21173The following is the list of possible async records:
21174
21175@table @code
21176
21177@item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
21178The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
21179specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
21180are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
21181running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
21182The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
21183only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
21184several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
21185all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
21186be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
21187
21188@item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}"
21189The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
21190following values:
21191
21192@table @code
21193@item breakpoint-hit
21194A breakpoint was reached.
21195@item watchpoint-trigger
21196A watchpoint was triggered.
21197@item read-watchpoint-trigger
21198A read watchpoint was triggered.
21199@item access-watchpoint-trigger
21200An access watchpoint was triggered.
21201@item function-finished
21202An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
21203@item location-reached
21204An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
21205@item watchpoint-scope
21206A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
21207@item end-stepping-range
21208An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
21209similar CLI command was accomplished.
21210@item exited-signalled
21211The inferior exited because of a signal.
21212@item exited
21213The inferior exited.
21214@item exited-normally
21215The inferior exited normally.
21216@item signal-received
21217A signal was received by the inferior.
21218@end table
21219
21220The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
21221-- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
21222mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
21223stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
21224If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
21225value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
21226field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
21227always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
21228several threads in the list.
21229
21230@item =thread-group-created,id="@var{id}"
21231@itemx =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"
21232A thread thread group either was attached to, or has exited/detached
21233from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
21234thread group.
21235
21236@item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
21237@itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
21238A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
21239contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
21240field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
21241
21242@item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
21243Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
21244command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
21245command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
21246to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
21247invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
21248@code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
21249
21250We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
21251highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
21252that thread.
21253
21254@item =library-loaded,...
21255Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
21256notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
21257@var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
21258opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
21259@var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
21260library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
21261debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
21262@var{symbols-loaded} field reports if the debug symbols for this
21263library are loaded.
21264
21265@item =library-unloaded,...
21266Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
21267has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
21268the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification
21269
21270@end table
21271
21272@node GDB/MI Frame Information
21273@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
21274
21275Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
21276frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
21277fields:
21278
21279@table @code
21280@item level
21281The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
21282zero. This field is always present.
21283
21284@item func
21285The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
21286be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
21287
21288@item addr
21289The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
21290
21291@item file
21292The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
21293address. This field may be absent.
21294
21295@item line
21296The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
21297may be absent.
21298
21299@item from
21300The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
21301corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
21302
21303@end table
21304
21305
21306@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21307@node GDB/MI Simple Examples
21308@section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
21309@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
21310
21311This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
21312the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
21313following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
21314the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
21315
21316Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
21317readability, they don't appear in the real output.
21318
21319@subheading Setting a Breakpoint
21320
21321Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
21322information of the breakpoint.
21323
21324@smallexample
21325-> -break-insert main
21326<- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
21327 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
21328 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",times="0"@}
21329<- (gdb)
21330@end smallexample
21331
21332@subheading Program Execution
21333
21334Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
21335reason that execution stopped.
21336
21337@smallexample
21338-> -exec-run
21339<- ^running
21340<- (gdb)
21341<- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
21342 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
21343 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
21344 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
21345<- (gdb)
21346-> -exec-continue
21347<- ^running
21348<- (gdb)
21349<- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
21350<- (gdb)
21351@end smallexample
21352
21353@subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
21354
21355Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
21356
21357@smallexample
21358-> (gdb)
21359<- -gdb-exit
21360<- ^exit
21361@end smallexample
21362
21363@subheading A Bad Command
21364
21365Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
21366
21367@smallexample
21368-> -rubbish
21369<- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
21370<- (gdb)
21371@end smallexample
21372
21373
21374@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21375@node GDB/MI Command Description Format
21376@section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
21377
21378The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
21379commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
21380
21381@subheading Motivation
21382
21383The motivation for this collection of commands.
21384
21385@subheading Introduction
21386
21387A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
21388
21389@subheading Commands
21390
21391For each command in the block, the following is described:
21392
21393@subsubheading Synopsis
21394
21395@smallexample
21396 -command @var{args}@dots{}
21397@end smallexample
21398
21399@subsubheading Result
21400
21401@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21402
21403The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
21404
21405@subsubheading Example
21406
21407Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
21408not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
21409
21410
21411@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21412@node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
21413@section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
21414
21415@cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
21416@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
21417This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
21418breakpoints.
21419
21420@subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
21421@findex -break-after
21422
21423@subsubheading Synopsis
21424
21425@smallexample
21426 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
21427@end smallexample
21428
21429The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
21430hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
21431the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
21432@samp{-break-list} command below.
21433
21434@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21435
21436The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
21437
21438@subsubheading Example
21439
21440@smallexample
21441(gdb)
21442-break-insert main
21443^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
21444enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
21445fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
21446(gdb)
21447-break-after 1 3
21448~
21449^done
21450(gdb)
21451-break-list
21452^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
21453hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
21454@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
21455@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
21456@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
21457@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
21458@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
21459body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
21460addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
21461line="5",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
21462(gdb)
21463@end smallexample
21464
21465@ignore
21466@subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
21467@findex -break-catch
21468
21469@subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
21470@findex -break-commands
21471@end ignore
21472
21473
21474@subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
21475@findex -break-condition
21476
21477@subsubheading Synopsis
21478
21479@smallexample
21480 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
21481@end smallexample
21482
21483Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
21484@var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
21485@samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
21486command below).
21487
21488@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21489
21490The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
21491
21492@subsubheading Example
21493
21494@smallexample
21495(gdb)
21496-break-condition 1 1
21497^done
21498(gdb)
21499-break-list
21500^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
21501hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
21502@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
21503@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
21504@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
21505@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
21506@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
21507body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
21508addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
21509line="5",cond="1",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
21510(gdb)
21511@end smallexample
21512
21513@subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
21514@findex -break-delete
21515
21516@subsubheading Synopsis
21517
21518@smallexample
21519 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
21520@end smallexample
21521
21522Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
21523list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
21524
21525@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21526
21527The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
21528
21529@subsubheading Example
21530
21531@smallexample
21532(gdb)
21533-break-delete 1
21534^done
21535(gdb)
21536-break-list
21537^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
21538hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
21539@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
21540@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
21541@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
21542@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
21543@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
21544body=[]@}
21545(gdb)
21546@end smallexample
21547
21548@subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
21549@findex -break-disable
21550
21551@subsubheading Synopsis
21552
21553@smallexample
21554 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
21555@end smallexample
21556
21557Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
21558break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
21559
21560@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21561
21562The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
21563
21564@subsubheading Example
21565
21566@smallexample
21567(gdb)
21568-break-disable 2
21569^done
21570(gdb)
21571-break-list
21572^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
21573hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
21574@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
21575@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
21576@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
21577@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
21578@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
21579body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
21580addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
21581line="5",times="0"@}]@}
21582(gdb)
21583@end smallexample
21584
21585@subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
21586@findex -break-enable
21587
21588@subsubheading Synopsis
21589
21590@smallexample
21591 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
21592@end smallexample
21593
21594Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
21595
21596@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21597
21598The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
21599
21600@subsubheading Example
21601
21602@smallexample
21603(gdb)
21604-break-enable 2
21605^done
21606(gdb)
21607-break-list
21608^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
21609hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
21610@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
21611@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
21612@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
21613@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
21614@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
21615body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
21616addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
21617line="5",times="0"@}]@}
21618(gdb)
21619@end smallexample
21620
21621@subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
21622@findex -break-info
21623
21624@subsubheading Synopsis
21625
21626@smallexample
21627 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
21628@end smallexample
21629
21630@c REDUNDANT???
21631Get information about a single breakpoint.
21632
21633@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21634
21635The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
21636
21637@subsubheading Example
21638N.A.
21639
21640@subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
21641@findex -break-insert
21642
21643@subsubheading Synopsis
21644
21645@smallexample
21646 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ]
21647 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
21648 [ -p @var{thread} ] [ @var{location} ]
21649@end smallexample
21650
21651@noindent
21652If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
21653
21654@itemize @bullet
21655@item function
21656@c @item +offset
21657@c @item -offset
21658@c @item linenum
21659@item filename:linenum
21660@item filename:function
21661@item *address
21662@end itemize
21663
21664The possible optional parameters of this command are:
21665
21666@table @samp
21667@item -t
21668Insert a temporary breakpoint.
21669@item -h
21670Insert a hardware breakpoint.
21671@item -c @var{condition}
21672Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
21673@item -i @var{ignore-count}
21674Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
21675@item -f
21676If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
21677refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
21678breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
21679an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
21680cannot be parsed.
21681@item -d
21682Create a disabled breakpoint.
21683@end table
21684
21685@subsubheading Result
21686
21687The result is in the form:
21688
21689@smallexample
21690^done,bkpt=@{number="@var{number}",type="@var{type}",disp="del"|"keep",
21691enabled="y"|"n",addr="@var{hex}",func="@var{funcname}",file="@var{filename}",
21692fullname="@var{full_filename}",line="@var{lineno}",[thread="@var{threadno},]
21693times="@var{times}"@}
21694@end smallexample
21695
21696@noindent
21697where @var{number} is the @value{GDBN} number for this breakpoint,
21698@var{funcname} is the name of the function where the breakpoint was
21699inserted, @var{filename} is the name of the source file which contains
21700this function, @var{lineno} is the source line number within that file
21701and @var{times} the number of times that the breakpoint has been hit
21702(always 0 for -break-insert but may be greater for -break-info or -break-list
21703which use the same output).
21704
21705Note: this format is open to change.
21706@c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
21707
21708@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21709
21710The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
21711@samp{hbreak}, @samp{thbreak}, and @samp{rbreak}.
21712
21713@subsubheading Example
21714
21715@smallexample
21716(gdb)
21717-break-insert main
21718^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
21719fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",times="0"@}
21720(gdb)
21721-break-insert -t foo
21722^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
21723fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",times="0"@}
21724(gdb)
21725-break-list
21726^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
21727hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
21728@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
21729@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
21730@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
21731@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
21732@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
21733body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
21734addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
21735fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",times="0"@},
21736bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
21737addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
21738fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}]@}
21739(gdb)
21740-break-insert -r foo.*
21741~int foo(int, int);
21742^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
21743"fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}
21744(gdb)
21745@end smallexample
21746
21747@subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
21748@findex -break-list
21749
21750@subsubheading Synopsis
21751
21752@smallexample
21753 -break-list
21754@end smallexample
21755
21756Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
21757
21758@table @samp
21759@item Number
21760number of the breakpoint
21761@item Type
21762type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
21763@item Disposition
21764should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
21765or @samp{nokeep}
21766@item Enabled
21767is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
21768@item Address
21769memory location at which the breakpoint is set
21770@item What
21771logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
21772name, line number
21773@item Times
21774number of times the breakpoint has been hit
21775@end table
21776
21777If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
21778@code{body} field is an empty list.
21779
21780@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21781
21782The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
21783
21784@subsubheading Example
21785
21786@smallexample
21787(gdb)
21788-break-list
21789^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
21790hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
21791@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
21792@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
21793@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
21794@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
21795@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
21796body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
21797addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",times="0"@},
21798bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
21799addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
21800line="13",times="0"@}]@}
21801(gdb)
21802@end smallexample
21803
21804Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
21805
21806@smallexample
21807(gdb)
21808-break-list
21809^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
21810hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
21811@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
21812@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
21813@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
21814@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
21815@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
21816body=[]@}
21817(gdb)
21818@end smallexample
21819
21820@subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
21821@findex -break-watch
21822
21823@subsubheading Synopsis
21824
21825@smallexample
21826 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
21827@end smallexample
21828
21829Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
21830@dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
21831read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
21832option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
21833trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
21834either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
21835i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
21836@xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
21837
21838Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
21839breakpoints inserted.
21840
21841@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21842
21843The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
21844@samp{rwatch}.
21845
21846@subsubheading Example
21847
21848Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
21849
21850@smallexample
21851(gdb)
21852-break-watch x
21853^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
21854(gdb)
21855-exec-continue
21856^running
21857(gdb)
21858*stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
21859value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
21860frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
21861fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
21862(gdb)
21863@end smallexample
21864
21865Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
21866the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
21867for the watchpoint going out of scope.
21868
21869@smallexample
21870(gdb)
21871-break-watch C
21872^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
21873(gdb)
21874-exec-continue
21875^running
21876(gdb)
21877*stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
21878wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
21879frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
21880file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
21881fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
21882(gdb)
21883-exec-continue
21884^running
21885(gdb)
21886*stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
21887frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
21888value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
21889file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
21890fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
21891(gdb)
21892@end smallexample
21893
21894Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
21895execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
21896deleted.
21897
21898@smallexample
21899(gdb)
21900-break-watch C
21901^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
21902(gdb)
21903-break-list
21904^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
21905hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
21906@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
21907@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
21908@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
21909@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
21910@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
21911body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
21912addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
21913file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
21914fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",times="1"@},
21915bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
21916enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="0"@}]@}
21917(gdb)
21918-exec-continue
21919^running
21920(gdb)
21921*stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
21922value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
21923frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
21924file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
21925fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
21926(gdb)
21927-break-list
21928^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
21929hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
21930@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
21931@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
21932@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
21933@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
21934@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
21935body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
21936addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
21937file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
21938fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",times="1"@},
21939bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
21940enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="-5"@}]@}
21941(gdb)
21942-exec-continue
21943^running
21944^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
21945frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
21946value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
21947file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
21948fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
21949(gdb)
21950-break-list
21951^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
21952hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
21953@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
21954@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
21955@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
21956@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
21957@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
21958body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
21959addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
21960file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
21961fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
21962times="1"@}]@}
21963(gdb)
21964@end smallexample
21965
21966@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21967@node GDB/MI Program Context
21968@section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
21969
21970@subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
21971@findex -exec-arguments
21972
21973
21974@subsubheading Synopsis
21975
21976@smallexample
21977 -exec-arguments @var{args}
21978@end smallexample
21979
21980Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
21981@samp{-exec-run}.
21982
21983@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21984
21985The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
21986
21987@subsubheading Example
21988
21989@smallexample
21990(gdb)
21991-exec-arguments -v word
21992^done
21993(gdb)
21994@end smallexample
21995
21996
21997@ignore
21998@subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
21999@findex -exec-show-arguments
22000
22001@subsubheading Synopsis
22002
22003@smallexample
22004 -exec-show-arguments
22005@end smallexample
22006
22007Print the arguments of the program.
22008
22009@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22010
22011The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
22012
22013@subsubheading Example
22014N.A.
22015@end ignore
22016
22017
22018@subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
22019@findex -environment-cd
22020
22021@subsubheading Synopsis
22022
22023@smallexample
22024 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
22025@end smallexample
22026
22027Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
22028
22029@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22030
22031The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
22032
22033@subsubheading Example
22034
22035@smallexample
22036(gdb)
22037-environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
22038^done
22039(gdb)
22040@end smallexample
22041
22042
22043@subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
22044@findex -environment-directory
22045
22046@subsubheading Synopsis
22047
22048@smallexample
22049 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
22050@end smallexample
22051
22052Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
22053If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
22054search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
22055@samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
22056occurs as normal.
22057Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
22058multiple directories in a single command
22059results in the directories added to the beginning of the
22060search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
22061If blanks are needed as
22062part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
22063the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
22064by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
22065character must not be used
22066in any directory name.
22067If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
22068
22069@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22070
22071The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
22072
22073@subsubheading Example
22074
22075@smallexample
22076(gdb)
22077-environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
22078^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
22079(gdb)
22080-environment-directory ""
22081^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
22082(gdb)
22083-environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
22084^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
22085(gdb)
22086-environment-directory -r
22087^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
22088(gdb)
22089@end smallexample
22090
22091
22092@subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
22093@findex -environment-path
22094
22095@subsubheading Synopsis
22096
22097@smallexample
22098 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
22099@end smallexample
22100
22101Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
22102If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
22103search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
22104supplied in addition to the
22105@samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
22106occurs as normal.
22107Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
22108multiple directories in a single command
22109results in the directories added to the beginning of the
22110search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
22111If blanks are needed as
22112part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
22113the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
22114by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
22115character must not be used
22116in any directory name.
22117If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
22118
22119
22120@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22121
22122The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
22123
22124@subsubheading Example
22125
22126@smallexample
22127(gdb)
22128-environment-path
22129^done,path="/usr/bin"
22130(gdb)
22131-environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
22132^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
22133(gdb)
22134-environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
22135^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
22136(gdb)
22137@end smallexample
22138
22139
22140@subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
22141@findex -environment-pwd
22142
22143@subsubheading Synopsis
22144
22145@smallexample
22146 -environment-pwd
22147@end smallexample
22148
22149Show the current working directory.
22150
22151@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22152
22153The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
22154
22155@subsubheading Example
22156
22157@smallexample
22158(gdb)
22159-environment-pwd
22160^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
22161(gdb)
22162@end smallexample
22163
22164@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
22165@node GDB/MI Thread Commands
22166@section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
22167
22168
22169@subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
22170@findex -thread-info
22171
22172@subsubheading Synopsis
22173
22174@smallexample
22175 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
22176@end smallexample
22177
22178Reports information about either a specific thread, if
22179the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
22180threads. When printing information about all threads,
22181also reports the current thread.
22182
22183@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22184
22185The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
22186about all threads.
22187
22188@subsubheading Example
22189
22190@smallexample
22191-thread-info
22192^done,threads=[
22193@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
22194 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
22195@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
22196 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
22197 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}],
22198current-thread-id="1"
22199(gdb)
22200@end smallexample
22201
22202The @samp{state} field may have the following values:
22203
22204@table @code
22205@item stopped
22206The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
22207threads.
22208
22209@item running
22210The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
22211threads.
22212
22213@end table
22214
22215@subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
22216@findex -thread-list-ids
22217
22218@subsubheading Synopsis
22219
22220@smallexample
22221 -thread-list-ids
22222@end smallexample
22223
22224Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
22225end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
22226
22227This command is retained for historical reasons, the
22228@code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
22229
22230@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22231
22232Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
22233
22234@subsubheading Example
22235
22236@smallexample
22237(gdb)
22238-thread-list-ids
22239^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
22240current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
22241(gdb)
22242@end smallexample
22243
22244
22245@subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
22246@findex -thread-select
22247
22248@subsubheading Synopsis
22249
22250@smallexample
22251 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
22252@end smallexample
22253
22254Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
22255current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
22256
22257This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
22258@samp{--thread} option to each command.
22259
22260@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22261
22262The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
22263
22264@subsubheading Example
22265
22266@smallexample
22267(gdb)
22268-exec-next
22269^running
22270(gdb)
22271*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
22272file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
22273(gdb)
22274-thread-list-ids
22275^done,
22276thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
22277number-of-threads="3"
22278(gdb)
22279-thread-select 3
22280^done,new-thread-id="3",
22281frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
22282args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
22283@{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
22284(gdb)
22285@end smallexample
22286
22287@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
22288@node GDB/MI Program Execution
22289@section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
22290
22291These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
22292record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
22293asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
22294other cases.
22295
22296@subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
22297@findex -exec-continue
22298
22299@subsubheading Synopsis
22300
22301@smallexample
22302 -exec-continue [--all|--thread-group N]
22303@end smallexample
22304
22305Resumes the execution of the inferior program until a breakpoint is
22306encountered, or until the inferior exits. In all-stop mode
22307(@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads,
22308depending on the value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. In
22309non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), if the @samp{--all} is not
22310specified, only the thread specified with the @samp{--thread} option
22311(or current thread, if no @samp{--thread} is provided) is resumed. If
22312@samp{--all} is specified, all threads will be resumed. The
22313@samp{--all} option is ignored in all-stop mode. If the
22314@samp{--thread-group} options is specified, then all threads in that
22315thread group are resumed.
22316
22317@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22318
22319The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
22320
22321@subsubheading Example
22322
22323@smallexample
22324-exec-continue
22325^running
22326(gdb)
22327@@Hello world
22328*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
22329func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
22330line="13"@}
22331(gdb)
22332@end smallexample
22333
22334
22335@subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
22336@findex -exec-finish
22337
22338@subsubheading Synopsis
22339
22340@smallexample
22341 -exec-finish
22342@end smallexample
22343
22344Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
22345function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
22346
22347@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22348
22349The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
22350
22351@subsubheading Example
22352
22353Function returning @code{void}.
22354
22355@smallexample
22356-exec-finish
22357^running
22358(gdb)
22359@@hello from foo
22360*stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
22361file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
22362(gdb)
22363@end smallexample
22364
22365Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
22366@value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
22367value itself.
22368
22369@smallexample
22370-exec-finish
22371^running
22372(gdb)
22373*stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
22374args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
22375file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
22376gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
22377(gdb)
22378@end smallexample
22379
22380
22381@subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
22382@findex -exec-interrupt
22383
22384@subsubheading Synopsis
22385
22386@smallexample
22387 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
22388@end smallexample
22389
22390Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
22391associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
22392that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
22393appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
22394interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
22395
22396Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
22397asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
22398@samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
22399reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
22400
22401In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
22402All threads will be interrupted if the @samp{--all} option is
22403specified. If the @samp{--thread-group} option is specified, all
22404threads in that group will be interrupted.
22405
22406@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22407
22408The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
22409
22410@subsubheading Example
22411
22412@smallexample
22413(gdb)
22414111-exec-continue
22415111^running
22416
22417(gdb)
22418222-exec-interrupt
22419222^done
22420(gdb)
22421111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
22422frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
22423fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
22424(gdb)
22425
22426(gdb)
22427-exec-interrupt
22428^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
22429(gdb)
22430@end smallexample
22431
22432@subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
22433@findex -exec-jump
22434
22435@subsubheading Synopsis
22436
22437@smallexample
22438 -exec-jump @var{location}
22439@end smallexample
22440
22441Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
22442parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
22443different forms of @var{location}.
22444
22445@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22446
22447The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
22448
22449@subsubheading Example
22450
22451@smallexample
22452-exec-jump foo.c:10
22453*running,thread-id="all"
22454^running
22455@end smallexample
22456
22457
22458@subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
22459@findex -exec-next
22460
22461@subsubheading Synopsis
22462
22463@smallexample
22464 -exec-next
22465@end smallexample
22466
22467Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
22468of the next source line is reached.
22469
22470@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22471
22472The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
22473
22474@subsubheading Example
22475
22476@smallexample
22477-exec-next
22478^running
22479(gdb)
22480*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
22481(gdb)
22482@end smallexample
22483
22484
22485@subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
22486@findex -exec-next-instruction
22487
22488@subsubheading Synopsis
22489
22490@smallexample
22491 -exec-next-instruction
22492@end smallexample
22493
22494Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
22495call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
22496instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
22497printed as well.
22498
22499@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22500
22501The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
22502
22503@subsubheading Example
22504
22505@smallexample
22506(gdb)
22507-exec-next-instruction
22508^running
22509
22510(gdb)
22511*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
22512addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
22513(gdb)
22514@end smallexample
22515
22516
22517@subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
22518@findex -exec-return
22519
22520@subsubheading Synopsis
22521
22522@smallexample
22523 -exec-return
22524@end smallexample
22525
22526Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
22527Displays the new current frame.
22528
22529@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22530
22531The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
22532
22533@subsubheading Example
22534
22535@smallexample
22536(gdb)
22537200-break-insert callee4
22538200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
22539file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
22540(gdb)
22541000-exec-run
22542000^running
22543(gdb)
22544000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
22545frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
22546file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
22547fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
22548(gdb)
22549205-break-delete
22550205^done
22551(gdb)
22552111-exec-return
22553111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
22554args=[@{name="strarg",
22555value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
22556file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
22557fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
22558(gdb)
22559@end smallexample
22560
22561
22562@subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
22563@findex -exec-run
22564
22565@subsubheading Synopsis
22566
22567@smallexample
22568 -exec-run
22569@end smallexample
22570
22571Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
22572executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
22573exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
22574the program has exited exceptionally.
22575
22576@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22577
22578The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
22579
22580@subsubheading Examples
22581
22582@smallexample
22583(gdb)
22584-break-insert main
22585^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
22586(gdb)
22587-exec-run
22588^running
22589(gdb)
22590*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
22591frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
22592fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
22593(gdb)
22594@end smallexample
22595
22596@noindent
22597Program exited normally:
22598
22599@smallexample
22600(gdb)
22601-exec-run
22602^running
22603(gdb)
22604x = 55
22605*stopped,reason="exited-normally"
22606(gdb)
22607@end smallexample
22608
22609@noindent
22610Program exited exceptionally:
22611
22612@smallexample
22613(gdb)
22614-exec-run
22615^running
22616(gdb)
22617x = 55
22618*stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
22619(gdb)
22620@end smallexample
22621
22622Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
22623@code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
22624
22625@smallexample
22626(gdb)
22627*stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
22628signal-meaning="Interrupt"
22629@end smallexample
22630
22631
22632@c @subheading -exec-signal
22633
22634
22635@subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
22636@findex -exec-step
22637
22638@subsubheading Synopsis
22639
22640@smallexample
22641 -exec-step
22642@end smallexample
22643
22644Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
22645of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
22646function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
22647function.
22648
22649@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22650
22651The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
22652
22653@subsubheading Example
22654
22655Stepping into a function:
22656
22657@smallexample
22658-exec-step
22659^running
22660(gdb)
22661*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
22662frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
22663@{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
22664fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
22665(gdb)
22666@end smallexample
22667
22668Regular stepping:
22669
22670@smallexample
22671-exec-step
22672^running
22673(gdb)
22674*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
22675(gdb)
22676@end smallexample
22677
22678
22679@subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
22680@findex -exec-step-instruction
22681
22682@subsubheading Synopsis
22683
22684@smallexample
22685 -exec-step-instruction
22686@end smallexample
22687
22688Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. The
22689output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on whether
22690we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the former
22691case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed as
22692well.
22693
22694@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22695
22696The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
22697
22698@subsubheading Example
22699
22700@smallexample
22701(gdb)
22702-exec-step-instruction
22703^running
22704
22705(gdb)
22706*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
22707frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
22708fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
22709(gdb)
22710-exec-step-instruction
22711^running
22712
22713(gdb)
22714*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
22715frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
22716fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
22717(gdb)
22718@end smallexample
22719
22720
22721@subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
22722@findex -exec-until
22723
22724@subsubheading Synopsis
22725
22726@smallexample
22727 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
22728@end smallexample
22729
22730Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
22731argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
22732until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
22733reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
22734
22735@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22736
22737The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
22738
22739@subsubheading Example
22740
22741@smallexample
22742(gdb)
22743-exec-until recursive2.c:6
22744^running
22745(gdb)
22746x = 55
22747*stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
22748file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
22749(gdb)
22750@end smallexample
22751
22752@ignore
22753@subheading -file-clear
22754Is this going away????
22755@end ignore
22756
22757@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
22758@node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
22759@section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
22760
22761
22762@subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
22763@findex -stack-info-frame
22764
22765@subsubheading Synopsis
22766
22767@smallexample
22768 -stack-info-frame
22769@end smallexample
22770
22771Get info on the selected frame.
22772
22773@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22774
22775The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
22776(without arguments).
22777
22778@subsubheading Example
22779
22780@smallexample
22781(gdb)
22782-stack-info-frame
22783^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
22784file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
22785fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
22786(gdb)
22787@end smallexample
22788
22789@subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
22790@findex -stack-info-depth
22791
22792@subsubheading Synopsis
22793
22794@smallexample
22795 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
22796@end smallexample
22797
22798Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
22799is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
22800
22801@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22802
22803There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
22804
22805@subsubheading Example
22806
22807For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
22808
22809@smallexample
22810(gdb)
22811-stack-info-depth
22812^done,depth="12"
22813(gdb)
22814-stack-info-depth 4
22815^done,depth="4"
22816(gdb)
22817-stack-info-depth 12
22818^done,depth="12"
22819(gdb)
22820-stack-info-depth 11
22821^done,depth="11"
22822(gdb)
22823-stack-info-depth 13
22824^done,depth="12"
22825(gdb)
22826@end smallexample
22827
22828@subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
22829@findex -stack-list-arguments
22830
22831@subsubheading Synopsis
22832
22833@smallexample
22834 -stack-list-arguments @var{show-values}
22835 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
22836@end smallexample
22837
22838Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
22839and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
22840@var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
22841call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
22842at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
22843larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
22844@var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
22845which case only existing frames will be returned.
22846
22847The @var{show-values} argument must have a value of 0 or 1. A value of
228480 means that only the names of the arguments are listed, a value of 1
22849means that both names and values of the arguments are printed.
22850
22851@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22852
22853@value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
22854@samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
22855functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
22856
22857@subsubheading Example
22858
22859@smallexample
22860(gdb)
22861-stack-list-frames
22862^done,
22863stack=[
22864frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
22865file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
22866fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
22867frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
22868file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
22869fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
22870frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
22871file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
22872fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
22873frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
22874file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
22875fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
22876frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
22877file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
22878fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
22879(gdb)
22880-stack-list-arguments 0
22881^done,
22882stack-args=[
22883frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
22884frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
22885frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
22886frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
22887frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
22888(gdb)
22889-stack-list-arguments 1
22890^done,
22891stack-args=[
22892frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
22893frame=@{level="1",
22894 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
22895frame=@{level="2",args=[
22896@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
22897@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
22898@{frame=@{level="3",args=[
22899@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
22900@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
22901@{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
22902frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
22903(gdb)
22904-stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
22905^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
22906(gdb)
22907-stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
22908^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
22909args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
22910@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
22911(gdb)
22912@end smallexample
22913
22914@c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
22915
22916
22917@subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
22918@findex -stack-list-frames
22919
22920@subsubheading Synopsis
22921
22922@smallexample
22923 -stack-list-frames [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
22924@end smallexample
22925
22926List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
22927following info:
22928
22929@table @samp
22930@item @var{level}
22931The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
22932@item @var{addr}
22933The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
22934@item @var{func}
22935Function name.
22936@item @var{file}
22937File name of the source file where the function lives.
22938@item @var{line}
22939Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
22940@end table
22941
22942If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
22943whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
22944levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
22945are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
22946an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
22947frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
22948actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be returned.
22949
22950@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22951
22952The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
22953
22954@subsubheading Example
22955
22956Full stack backtrace:
22957
22958@smallexample
22959(gdb)
22960-stack-list-frames
22961^done,stack=
22962[frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
22963 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
22964frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
22965 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
22966frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
22967 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
22968frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
22969 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
22970frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
22971 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
22972frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
22973 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
22974frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
22975 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
22976frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
22977 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
22978frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
22979 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
22980frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
22981 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
22982frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
22983 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
22984frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
22985 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
22986(gdb)
22987@end smallexample
22988
22989Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
22990
22991@smallexample
22992(gdb)
22993-stack-list-frames 3 5
22994^done,stack=
22995[frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
22996 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
22997frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
22998 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
22999frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23000 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
23001(gdb)
23002@end smallexample
23003
23004Show a single frame:
23005
23006@smallexample
23007(gdb)
23008-stack-list-frames 3 3
23009^done,stack=
23010[frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23011 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
23012(gdb)
23013@end smallexample
23014
23015
23016@subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
23017@findex -stack-list-locals
23018
23019@subsubheading Synopsis
23020
23021@smallexample
23022 -stack-list-locals @var{print-values}
23023@end smallexample
23024
23025Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
23026@var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
23027the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
23028values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
23029type and value for simple data types and the name and type for arrays,
23030structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
23031display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
23032other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
23033more detail.
23034
23035@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23036
23037@samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
23038
23039@subsubheading Example
23040
23041@smallexample
23042(gdb)
23043-stack-list-locals 0
23044^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
23045(gdb)
23046-stack-list-locals --all-values
23047^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
23048 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
23049-stack-list-locals --simple-values
23050^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
23051 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
23052(gdb)
23053@end smallexample
23054
23055
23056@subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
23057@findex -stack-select-frame
23058
23059@subsubheading Synopsis
23060
23061@smallexample
23062 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
23063@end smallexample
23064
23065Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
23066the stack.
23067
23068This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
23069option to every command.
23070
23071@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23072
23073The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
23074@samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
23075
23076@subsubheading Example
23077
23078@smallexample
23079(gdb)
23080-stack-select-frame 2
23081^done
23082(gdb)
23083@end smallexample
23084
23085@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23086@node GDB/MI Variable Objects
23087@section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
23088
23089@ignore
23090
23091@subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
23092
23093For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
23094expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
23095used by @code{Insight}.
23096
23097The two main reasons for that are:
23098
23099@enumerate 1
23100@item
23101It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
23102
23103@item
23104It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
23105now).
23106@end enumerate
23107
23108The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
23109slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
23110describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
23111hints about their use.
23112
23113@emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
23114expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
23115least, the following operations:
23116
23117@itemize @bullet
23118@item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
23119@item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
23120@item @code{-stack-list-locals}
23121@item @code{-stack-select-frame}
23122@end itemize
23123
23124@end ignore
23125
23126@subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
23127
23128@cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
23129
23130Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
23131changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
23132work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
23133simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
23134is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
23135frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
23136expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
23137expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
23138variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
23139operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
23140object, or to change display format.
23141
23142Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
23143that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
23144a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
23145element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
23146children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
23147leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
23148objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
23149is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
23150child will be created.
23151
23152For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
23153string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
23154obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
23155that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
23156contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
23157
23158A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
23159the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
23160variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
23161operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
23162be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
23163objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
23164real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
23165variables that frontend has created.
23166
23167The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
23168might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
23169and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
23170relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
23171to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
23172visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
23173called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
23174implicitly updated.
23175
23176Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
23177fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
23178object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
23179variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
23180variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
23181expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
23182frame. Consider this example:
23183
23184@smallexample
23185void do_work(...)
23186@{
23187 struct work_state state;
23188
23189 if (...)
23190 do_work(...);
23191@}
23192@end smallexample
23193
23194If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
23195this function, and we enter the recursive call, the the variable
23196object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
23197@code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
23198object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
23199
23200If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
23201refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
23202thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
23203variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
23204thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
23205and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
23206
23207The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
23208access this functionality:
23209
23210@multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
23211@item @strong{Operation}
23212@tab @strong{Description}
23213
23214@item @code{-var-create}
23215@tab create a variable object
23216@item @code{-var-delete}
23217@tab delete the variable object and/or its children
23218@item @code{-var-set-format}
23219@tab set the display format of this variable
23220@item @code{-var-show-format}
23221@tab show the display format of this variable
23222@item @code{-var-info-num-children}
23223@tab tells how many children this object has
23224@item @code{-var-list-children}
23225@tab return a list of the object's children
23226@item @code{-var-info-type}
23227@tab show the type of this variable object
23228@item @code{-var-info-expression}
23229@tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
23230@item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
23231@tab print full expression that this variable object represents
23232@item @code{-var-show-attributes}
23233@tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
23234@item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
23235@tab get the value of this variable
23236@item @code{-var-assign}
23237@tab set the value of this variable
23238@item @code{-var-update}
23239@tab update the variable and its children
23240@item @code{-var-set-frozen}
23241@tab set frozeness attribute
23242@end multitable
23243
23244In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
23245how it can be used.
23246
23247@subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
23248
23249@subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
23250@findex -var-create
23251
23252@subsubheading Synopsis
23253
23254@smallexample
23255 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
23256 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
23257@end smallexample
23258
23259This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
23260a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
23261register.
23262
23263The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
23264referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
23265system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
23266unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
23267The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
23268
23269The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
23270specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
23271frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
23272object must be created.
23273
23274@var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
23275begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
23276
23277@itemize @bullet
23278@item
23279@samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
23280
23281@item
23282@samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
23283
23284@item
23285@samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
23286@end itemize
23287
23288@subsubheading Result
23289
23290This operation returns the name, number of children and the type of the
23291object created. Type is returned as a string as the ones generated by
23292the @value{GDBN} CLI. If a fixed variable object is bound to a
23293specific thread, the thread is is also printed:
23294
23295@smallexample
23296 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}"
23297@end smallexample
23298
23299
23300@subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
23301@findex -var-delete
23302
23303@subsubheading Synopsis
23304
23305@smallexample
23306 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
23307@end smallexample
23308
23309Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
23310With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
23311
23312Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
23313
23314
23315@subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
23316@findex -var-set-format
23317
23318@subsubheading Synopsis
23319
23320@smallexample
23321 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
23322@end smallexample
23323
23324Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
23325@var{format-spec}.
23326
23327@anchor{-var-set-format}
23328The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
23329
23330@smallexample
23331 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
23332 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
23333@end smallexample
23334
23335The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
23336based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
23337for pointers, etc.).
23338
23339For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
23340variable itself, and the children are not affected.
23341
23342@subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
23343@findex -var-show-format
23344
23345@subsubheading Synopsis
23346
23347@smallexample
23348 -var-show-format @var{name}
23349@end smallexample
23350
23351Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
23352
23353@smallexample
23354 @var{format} @expansion{}
23355 @var{format-spec}
23356@end smallexample
23357
23358
23359@subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
23360@findex -var-info-num-children
23361
23362@subsubheading Synopsis
23363
23364@smallexample
23365 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
23366@end smallexample
23367
23368Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
23369
23370@smallexample
23371 numchild=@var{n}
23372@end smallexample
23373
23374
23375@subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
23376@findex -var-list-children
23377
23378@subsubheading Synopsis
23379
23380@smallexample
23381 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name}
23382@end smallexample
23383@anchor{-var-list-children}
23384
23385Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
23386create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
23387a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value for of 0 or
23388@code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
23389@var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
23390values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
23391value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
23392and unions.
23393
23394For each child the following results are returned:
23395
23396@table @var
23397
23398@item name
23399Name of the variable object created for this child.
23400
23401@item exp
23402The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
23403For example this may be the name of a structure member.
23404
23405For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
23406designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
23407@samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
23408type and value are not present.
23409
23410@item numchild
23411Number of children this child has.
23412
23413@item type
23414The type of the child.
23415
23416@item value
23417If values were requested, this is the value.
23418
23419@item thread-id
23420If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
23421Otherwise this result is not present.
23422
23423@item frozen
23424If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
23425@end table
23426
23427@subsubheading Example
23428
23429@smallexample
23430(gdb)
23431 -var-list-children n
23432 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
23433 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
23434(gdb)
23435 -var-list-children --all-values n
23436 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
23437 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
23438@end smallexample
23439
23440
23441@subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
23442@findex -var-info-type
23443
23444@subsubheading Synopsis
23445
23446@smallexample
23447 -var-info-type @var{name}
23448@end smallexample
23449
23450Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
23451returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
23452@value{GDBN} CLI:
23453
23454@smallexample
23455 type=@var{typename}
23456@end smallexample
23457
23458
23459@subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
23460@findex -var-info-expression
23461
23462@subsubheading Synopsis
23463
23464@smallexample
23465 -var-info-expression @var{name}
23466@end smallexample
23467
23468Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
23469variable object in user interface. The string is generally
23470not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
23471
23472For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
23473@code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
23474
23475@smallexample
23476(gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
23477^done,lang="C",exp="1"
23478@end smallexample
23479
23480@noindent
23481Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
23482
23483Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
23484includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
23485is of limited use.
23486
23487@subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
23488@findex -var-info-path-expression
23489
23490@subsubheading Synopsis
23491
23492@smallexample
23493 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
23494@end smallexample
23495
23496Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
23497context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
23498Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
23499result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
23500the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
23501watchpoint from a variable object.
23502
23503For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
23504@code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
23505@code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
23506@code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
23507@code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
23508@smallexample
23509(gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
23510^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
23511@end smallexample
23512
23513@subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
23514@findex -var-show-attributes
23515
23516@subsubheading Synopsis
23517
23518@smallexample
23519 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
23520@end smallexample
23521
23522List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
23523
23524@smallexample
23525 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
23526@end smallexample
23527
23528@noindent
23529where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
23530
23531@subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
23532@findex -var-evaluate-expression
23533
23534@subsubheading Synopsis
23535
23536@smallexample
23537 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
23538@end smallexample
23539
23540Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
23541object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
23542can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
23543this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
23544(@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
23545the current display format will be used. The current display format
23546can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
23547
23548@smallexample
23549 value=@var{value}
23550@end smallexample
23551
23552Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
23553before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
23554
23555@subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
23556@findex -var-assign
23557
23558@subsubheading Synopsis
23559
23560@smallexample
23561 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
23562@end smallexample
23563
23564Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
23565by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
23566value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
23567subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
23568
23569@subsubheading Example
23570
23571@smallexample
23572(gdb)
23573-var-assign var1 3
23574^done,value="3"
23575(gdb)
23576-var-update *
23577^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
23578(gdb)
23579@end smallexample
23580
23581@subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
23582@findex -var-update
23583
23584@subsubheading Synopsis
23585
23586@smallexample
23587 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
23588@end smallexample
23589
23590Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
23591@var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
23592list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
23593be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
23594@code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
23595@code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
23596object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
23597for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
23598@var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
23599names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
23600as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
23601recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
23602number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
23603
23604With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
23605currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
23606diagnostic.
23607
23608@subsubheading Example
23609
23610@smallexample
23611(gdb)
23612-var-assign var1 3
23613^done,value="3"
23614(gdb)
23615-var-update --all-values var1
23616^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
23617type_changed="false"@}]
23618(gdb)
23619@end smallexample
23620
23621@anchor{-var-update}
23622The field in_scope may take three values:
23623
23624@table @code
23625@item "true"
23626The variable object's current value is valid.
23627
23628@item "false"
23629The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
23630hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
23631scope.
23632
23633@item "invalid"
23634The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
23635This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
23636either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
23637command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
23638objects.
23639@end table
23640
23641In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
23642be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
23643
23644@subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
23645@findex -var-set-frozen
23646@anchor{-var-set-frozen}
23647
23648@subsubheading Synopsis
23649
23650@smallexample
23651 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
23652@end smallexample
23653
23654Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
23655@var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
23656frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
23657frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
23658implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
23659a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
23660@code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
23661values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
23662implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
23663Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
23664@code{-var-update} does.
23665
23666@subsubheading Example
23667
23668@smallexample
23669(gdb)
23670-var-set-frozen V 1
23671^done
23672(gdb)
23673@end smallexample
23674
23675@subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
23676@findex -var-set-visualizer
23677@anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
23678
23679@subsubheading Synopsis
23680
23681@smallexample
23682 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
23683@end smallexample
23684
23685Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
23686
23687@var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
23688@samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
23689
23690If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
23691This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
23692single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
23693the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
23694Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
23695When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
23696pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
23697
23698The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
23699select a visualizer by following the built-in process
23700(@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
23701a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
23702
23703This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
23704command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands})
23705can be used to check this.
23706
23707@subsubheading Example
23708
23709Resetting the visualizer:
23710
23711@smallexample
23712(gdb)
23713-var-set-visualizer V None
23714^done
23715@end smallexample
23716
23717Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
23718
23719@smallexample
23720(gdb)
23721-var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
23722^done
23723@end smallexample
23724
23725Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
23726can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
23727
23728@smallexample
23729(gdb)
23730-var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
23731^done
23732@end smallexample
23733
23734@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23735@node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
23736@section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
23737
23738@cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
23739@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
23740This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
23741examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
23742
23743@c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
23744@c @subheading -data-assign
23745@c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
23746@c @subsubheading GDB Command
23747@c set variable
23748@c @subsubheading Example
23749@c N.A.
23750
23751@subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
23752@findex -data-disassemble
23753
23754@subsubheading Synopsis
23755
23756@smallexample
23757 -data-disassemble
23758 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
23759 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
23760 -- @var{mode}
23761@end smallexample
23762
23763@noindent
23764Where:
23765
23766@table @samp
23767@item @var{start-addr}
23768is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
23769@item @var{end-addr}
23770is the end address
23771@item @var{filename}
23772is the name of the file to disassemble
23773@item @var{linenum}
23774is the line number to disassemble around
23775@item @var{lines}
23776is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
23777the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
23778specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
23779@var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
23780@var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
23781displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
23782@var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
23783are displayed.
23784@item @var{mode}
23785is either 0 (meaning only disassembly) or 1 (meaning mixed source and
23786disassembly).
23787@end table
23788
23789@subsubheading Result
23790
23791The output for each instruction is composed of four fields:
23792
23793@itemize @bullet
23794@item Address
23795@item Func-name
23796@item Offset
23797@item Instruction
23798@end itemize
23799
23800Note that whatever included in the instruction field, is not manipulated
23801directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to adjust its format.
23802
23803@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23804
23805There's no direct mapping from this command to the CLI.
23806
23807@subsubheading Example
23808
23809Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
23810
23811@smallexample
23812(gdb)
23813-data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
23814^done,
23815asm_insns=[
23816@{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
23817inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
23818@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
23819inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
23820@{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
23821inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
23822@{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
23823inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
23824@{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
23825inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
23826(gdb)
23827@end smallexample
23828
23829Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
23830@code{main}.
23831
23832@smallexample
23833-data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
23834^done,asm_insns=[
23835@{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
23836inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
23837@{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
23838inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
23839@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
23840inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
23841[@dots{}]
23842@{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
23843@{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
23844(gdb)
23845@end smallexample
23846
23847Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
23848
23849@smallexample
23850(gdb)
23851-data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
23852^done,asm_insns=[
23853@{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
23854inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
23855@{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
23856inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
23857@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
23858inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
23859(gdb)
23860@end smallexample
23861
23862Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
23863
23864@smallexample
23865(gdb)
23866-data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
23867^done,asm_insns=[
23868src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
23869file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
23870 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
23871@{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
23872inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
23873src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
23874file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
23875 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
23876@{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
23877inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
23878@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
23879inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
23880(gdb)
23881@end smallexample
23882
23883
23884@subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
23885@findex -data-evaluate-expression
23886
23887@subsubheading Synopsis
23888
23889@smallexample
23890 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
23891@end smallexample
23892
23893Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
23894inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
23895If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
23896
23897@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23898
23899The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
23900@samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
23901@samp{gdb_eval} command.
23902
23903@subsubheading Example
23904
23905In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
23906@dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
23907Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
23908output.
23909
23910@smallexample
23911211-data-evaluate-expression A
23912211^done,value="1"
23913(gdb)
23914311-data-evaluate-expression &A
23915311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
23916(gdb)
23917411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
23918411^done,value="4"
23919(gdb)
23920511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
23921511^done,value="4"
23922(gdb)
23923@end smallexample
23924
23925
23926@subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
23927@findex -data-list-changed-registers
23928
23929@subsubheading Synopsis
23930
23931@smallexample
23932 -data-list-changed-registers
23933@end smallexample
23934
23935Display a list of the registers that have changed.
23936
23937@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23938
23939@value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
23940has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
23941
23942@subsubheading Example
23943
23944On a PPC MBX board:
23945
23946@smallexample
23947(gdb)
23948-exec-continue
23949^running
23950
23951(gdb)
23952*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
23953func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
23954line="5"@}
23955(gdb)
23956-data-list-changed-registers
23957^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
23958"10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
23959"24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
23960(gdb)
23961@end smallexample
23962
23963
23964@subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
23965@findex -data-list-register-names
23966
23967@subsubheading Synopsis
23968
23969@smallexample
23970 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
23971@end smallexample
23972
23973Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
23974are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
23975integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
23976names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
23977consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
23978include empty register names.
23979
23980@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23981
23982@value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
23983@samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
23984corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
23985
23986@subsubheading Example
23987
23988For the PPC MBX board:
23989@smallexample
23990(gdb)
23991-data-list-register-names
23992^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
23993"r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
23994"r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
23995"r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
23996"f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
23997"f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
23998"", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
23999(gdb)
24000-data-list-register-names 1 2 3
24001^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
24002(gdb)
24003@end smallexample
24004
24005@subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
24006@findex -data-list-register-values
24007
24008@subsubheading Synopsis
24009
24010@smallexample
24011 -data-list-register-values @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
24012@end smallexample
24013
24014Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
24015which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
24016list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
24017numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be returned.
24018
24019Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
24020
24021@table @code
24022@item x
24023Hexadecimal
24024@item o
24025Octal
24026@item t
24027Binary
24028@item d
24029Decimal
24030@item r
24031Raw
24032@item N
24033Natural
24034@end table
24035
24036@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24037
24038The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
24039all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
24040
24041@subsubheading Example
24042
24043For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
24044don't appear in the actual output):
24045
24046@smallexample
24047(gdb)
24048-data-list-register-values r 64 65
24049^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
24050@{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
24051(gdb)
24052-data-list-register-values x
24053^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
24054@{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
24055@{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
24056@{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
24057@{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
24058@{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
24059@{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
24060@{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
24061@{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
24062@{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
24063@{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
24064@{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
24065@{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
24066@{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
24067@{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
24068@{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
24069@{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
24070@{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
24071@{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
24072@{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
24073@{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
24074@{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
24075@{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
24076@{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
24077@{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
24078@{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
24079@{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
24080@{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
24081@{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
24082@{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
24083@{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
24084@{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
24085@{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
24086@{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
24087@{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
24088@{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
24089(gdb)
24090@end smallexample
24091
24092
24093@subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
24094@findex -data-read-memory
24095
24096@subsubheading Synopsis
24097
24098@smallexample
24099 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
24100 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
24101 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
24102@end smallexample
24103
24104@noindent
24105where:
24106
24107@table @samp
24108@item @var{address}
24109An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
24110read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
24111quoted using the C convention.
24112
24113@item @var{word-format}
24114The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
24115same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
24116,Output Formats}).
24117
24118@item @var{word-size}
24119The size of each memory word in bytes.
24120
24121@item @var{nr-rows}
24122The number of rows in the output table.
24123
24124@item @var{nr-cols}
24125The number of columns in the output table.
24126
24127@item @var{aschar}
24128If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
24129value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
24130member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
24131characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
24132
24133@item @var{byte-offset}
24134An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
24135@end table
24136
24137This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
24138@var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
24139@code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
24140(returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
24141of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
24142using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
24143in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
24144@samp{addr}.
24145
24146The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
24147@samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
24148@samp{prev-page}.
24149
24150@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24151
24152The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
24153@samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
24154
24155@subsubheading Example
24156
24157Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
24158@code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
24159word. Display each word in hex.
24160
24161@smallexample
24162(gdb)
241639-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
241649^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
24165next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
24166prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
24167@{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
24168@{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
24169@{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
24170(gdb)
24171@end smallexample
24172
24173Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
24174display as a single word formatted in decimal.
24175
24176@smallexample
24177(gdb)
241785-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
241795^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
24180next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
24181next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
24182@{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
24183(gdb)
24184@end smallexample
24185
24186Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
24187as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
24188used as the non-printable character.
24189
24190@smallexample
24191(gdb)
241924-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
241934^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
24194next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
24195next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
24196@{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
24197@{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
24198@{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
24199@{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
24200@{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
24201@{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
24202@{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
24203@{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
24204(gdb)
24205@end smallexample
24206
24207@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24208@node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
24209@section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
24210
24211The tracepoint commands are not yet implemented.
24212
24213@c @subheading -trace-actions
24214
24215@c @subheading -trace-delete
24216
24217@c @subheading -trace-disable
24218
24219@c @subheading -trace-dump
24220
24221@c @subheading -trace-enable
24222
24223@c @subheading -trace-exists
24224
24225@c @subheading -trace-find
24226
24227@c @subheading -trace-frame-number
24228
24229@c @subheading -trace-info
24230
24231@c @subheading -trace-insert
24232
24233@c @subheading -trace-list
24234
24235@c @subheading -trace-pass-count
24236
24237@c @subheading -trace-save
24238
24239@c @subheading -trace-start
24240
24241@c @subheading -trace-stop
24242
24243
24244@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24245@node GDB/MI Symbol Query
24246@section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
24247
24248
24249@ignore
24250@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
24251@findex -symbol-info-address
24252
24253@subsubheading Synopsis
24254
24255@smallexample
24256 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
24257@end smallexample
24258
24259Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
24260
24261@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24262
24263The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
24264
24265@subsubheading Example
24266N.A.
24267
24268
24269@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
24270@findex -symbol-info-file
24271
24272@subsubheading Synopsis
24273
24274@smallexample
24275 -symbol-info-file
24276@end smallexample
24277
24278Show the file for the symbol.
24279
24280@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24281
24282There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
24283@samp{gdb_find_file}.
24284
24285@subsubheading Example
24286N.A.
24287
24288
24289@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
24290@findex -symbol-info-function
24291
24292@subsubheading Synopsis
24293
24294@smallexample
24295 -symbol-info-function
24296@end smallexample
24297
24298Show which function the symbol lives in.
24299
24300@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24301
24302@samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
24303
24304@subsubheading Example
24305N.A.
24306
24307
24308@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
24309@findex -symbol-info-line
24310
24311@subsubheading Synopsis
24312
24313@smallexample
24314 -symbol-info-line
24315@end smallexample
24316
24317Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
24318
24319@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24320
24321The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
24322@code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
24323
24324@subsubheading Example
24325N.A.
24326
24327
24328@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
24329@findex -symbol-info-symbol
24330
24331@subsubheading Synopsis
24332
24333@smallexample
24334 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
24335@end smallexample
24336
24337Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
24338
24339@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24340
24341The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
24342
24343@subsubheading Example
24344N.A.
24345
24346
24347@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
24348@findex -symbol-list-functions
24349
24350@subsubheading Synopsis
24351
24352@smallexample
24353 -symbol-list-functions
24354@end smallexample
24355
24356List the functions in the executable.
24357
24358@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24359
24360@samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
24361@samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
24362
24363@subsubheading Example
24364N.A.
24365@end ignore
24366
24367
24368@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
24369@findex -symbol-list-lines
24370
24371@subsubheading Synopsis
24372
24373@smallexample
24374 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
24375@end smallexample
24376
24377Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
24378addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
24379ascending PC order.
24380
24381@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24382
24383There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
24384
24385@subsubheading Example
24386@smallexample
24387(gdb)
24388-symbol-list-lines basics.c
24389^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
24390(gdb)
24391@end smallexample
24392
24393
24394@ignore
24395@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
24396@findex -symbol-list-types
24397
24398@subsubheading Synopsis
24399
24400@smallexample
24401 -symbol-list-types
24402@end smallexample
24403
24404List all the type names.
24405
24406@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24407
24408The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
24409@samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
24410
24411@subsubheading Example
24412N.A.
24413
24414
24415@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
24416@findex -symbol-list-variables
24417
24418@subsubheading Synopsis
24419
24420@smallexample
24421 -symbol-list-variables
24422@end smallexample
24423
24424List all the global and static variable names.
24425
24426@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24427
24428@samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
24429
24430@subsubheading Example
24431N.A.
24432
24433
24434@subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
24435@findex -symbol-locate
24436
24437@subsubheading Synopsis
24438
24439@smallexample
24440 -symbol-locate
24441@end smallexample
24442
24443@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24444
24445@samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
24446
24447@subsubheading Example
24448N.A.
24449
24450
24451@subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
24452@findex -symbol-type
24453
24454@subsubheading Synopsis
24455
24456@smallexample
24457 -symbol-type @var{variable}
24458@end smallexample
24459
24460Show type of @var{variable}.
24461
24462@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24463
24464The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
24465@samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
24466
24467@subsubheading Example
24468N.A.
24469@end ignore
24470
24471
24472@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24473@node GDB/MI File Commands
24474@section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
24475
24476This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
24477and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
24478
24479@subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
24480@findex -file-exec-and-symbols
24481
24482@subsubheading Synopsis
24483
24484@smallexample
24485 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
24486@end smallexample
24487
24488Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
24489which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
24490command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
24491are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
24492error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
24493notification.
24494
24495@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24496
24497The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
24498
24499@subsubheading Example
24500
24501@smallexample
24502(gdb)
24503-file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
24504^done
24505(gdb)
24506@end smallexample
24507
24508
24509@subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
24510@findex -file-exec-file
24511
24512@subsubheading Synopsis
24513
24514@smallexample
24515 -file-exec-file @var{file}
24516@end smallexample
24517
24518Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
24519@samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
24520from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
24521about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
24522notification.
24523
24524@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24525
24526The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
24527
24528@subsubheading Example
24529
24530@smallexample
24531(gdb)
24532-file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
24533^done
24534(gdb)
24535@end smallexample
24536
24537
24538@ignore
24539@subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
24540@findex -file-list-exec-sections
24541
24542@subsubheading Synopsis
24543
24544@smallexample
24545 -file-list-exec-sections
24546@end smallexample
24547
24548List the sections of the current executable file.
24549
24550@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24551
24552The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
24553information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
24554@samp{gdb_load_info}.
24555
24556@subsubheading Example
24557N.A.
24558@end ignore
24559
24560
24561@subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
24562@findex -file-list-exec-source-file
24563
24564@subsubheading Synopsis
24565
24566@smallexample
24567 -file-list-exec-source-file
24568@end smallexample
24569
24570List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
24571to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
24572information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
24573whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
24574
24575@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24576
24577The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
24578
24579@subsubheading Example
24580
24581@smallexample
24582(gdb)
24583123-file-list-exec-source-file
24584123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
24585(gdb)
24586@end smallexample
24587
24588
24589@subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
24590@findex -file-list-exec-source-files
24591
24592@subsubheading Synopsis
24593
24594@smallexample
24595 -file-list-exec-source-files
24596@end smallexample
24597
24598List the source files for the current executable.
24599
24600It will always output the filename, but only when @value{GDBN} can find
24601the absolute file name of a source file, will it output the fullname.
24602
24603@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24604
24605The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
24606@code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
24607
24608@subsubheading Example
24609@smallexample
24610(gdb)
24611-file-list-exec-source-files
24612^done,files=[
24613@{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
24614@{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
24615@{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
24616(gdb)
24617@end smallexample
24618
24619@ignore
24620@subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
24621@findex -file-list-shared-libraries
24622
24623@subsubheading Synopsis
24624
24625@smallexample
24626 -file-list-shared-libraries
24627@end smallexample
24628
24629List the shared libraries in the program.
24630
24631@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24632
24633The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
24634
24635@subsubheading Example
24636N.A.
24637
24638
24639@subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
24640@findex -file-list-symbol-files
24641
24642@subsubheading Synopsis
24643
24644@smallexample
24645 -file-list-symbol-files
24646@end smallexample
24647
24648List symbol files.
24649
24650@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24651
24652The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
24653
24654@subsubheading Example
24655N.A.
24656@end ignore
24657
24658
24659@subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
24660@findex -file-symbol-file
24661
24662@subsubheading Synopsis
24663
24664@smallexample
24665 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
24666@end smallexample
24667
24668Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
24669used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
24670produced, except for a completion notification.
24671
24672@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24673
24674The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
24675
24676@subsubheading Example
24677
24678@smallexample
24679(gdb)
24680-file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
24681^done
24682(gdb)
24683@end smallexample
24684
24685@ignore
24686@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24687@node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
24688@section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
24689
24690The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
24691
24692@c @subheading -overlay-auto
24693
24694@c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
24695
24696@c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
24697
24698@c @subheading -overlay-map
24699
24700@c @subheading -overlay-off
24701
24702@c @subheading -overlay-on
24703
24704@c @subheading -overlay-unmap
24705
24706@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24707@node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
24708@section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
24709
24710Signal handling commands are not implemented.
24711
24712@c @subheading -signal-handle
24713
24714@c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
24715
24716@c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
24717@end ignore
24718
24719
24720@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24721@node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
24722@section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
24723
24724
24725@subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
24726@findex -target-attach
24727
24728@subsubheading Synopsis
24729
24730@smallexample
24731 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
24732@end smallexample
24733
24734Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
24735@value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
24736group, the id previously returned by
24737@samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
24738
24739@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24740
24741The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
24742
24743@subsubheading Example
24744@smallexample
24745(gdb)
24746-target-attach 34
24747=thread-created,id="1"
24748*stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
24749^done
24750(gdb)
24751@end smallexample
24752
24753@ignore
24754@subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
24755@findex -target-compare-sections
24756
24757@subsubheading Synopsis
24758
24759@smallexample
24760 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
24761@end smallexample
24762
24763Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
24764Without the argument, all sections are compared.
24765
24766@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24767
24768The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
24769
24770@subsubheading Example
24771N.A.
24772@end ignore
24773
24774
24775@subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
24776@findex -target-detach
24777
24778@subsubheading Synopsis
24779
24780@smallexample
24781 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
24782@end smallexample
24783
24784Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
24785If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
24786the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
24787
24788@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24789
24790The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
24791
24792@subsubheading Example
24793
24794@smallexample
24795(gdb)
24796-target-detach
24797^done
24798(gdb)
24799@end smallexample
24800
24801
24802@subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
24803@findex -target-disconnect
24804
24805@subsubheading Synopsis
24806
24807@smallexample
24808 -target-disconnect
24809@end smallexample
24810
24811Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
24812generally not resumed.
24813
24814@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24815
24816The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
24817
24818@subsubheading Example
24819
24820@smallexample
24821(gdb)
24822-target-disconnect
24823^done
24824(gdb)
24825@end smallexample
24826
24827
24828@subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
24829@findex -target-download
24830
24831@subsubheading Synopsis
24832
24833@smallexample
24834 -target-download
24835@end smallexample
24836
24837Loads the executable onto the remote target.
24838It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
24839
24840@table @samp
24841@item section
24842The name of the section.
24843@item section-sent
24844The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
24845@item section-size
24846The size of the section.
24847@item total-sent
24848The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
24849@item total-size
24850The size of the overall executable to download.
24851@end table
24852
24853@noindent
24854Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
24855@sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
24856
24857In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
24858downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
24859
24860@table @samp
24861@item section
24862The name of the section.
24863@item section-size
24864The size of the section.
24865@item total-size
24866The size of the overall executable to download.
24867@end table
24868
24869@noindent
24870At the end, a summary is printed.
24871
24872@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24873
24874The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
24875
24876@subsubheading Example
24877
24878Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
24879have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
24880
24881@smallexample
24882(gdb)
24883-target-download
24884+download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
24885+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
24886total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
24887+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
24888total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
24889+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
24890total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
24891+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
24892total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
24893+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
24894total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
24895+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
24896total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
24897+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
24898total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
24899+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
24900total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
24901+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
24902total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
24903+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
24904total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
24905+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
24906total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
24907+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
24908total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
24909+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
24910total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
24911+download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
24912+download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
24913+download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
24914+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
24915total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
24916+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
24917total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
24918+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
24919total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
24920+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
24921total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
24922+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
24923total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
24924+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
24925total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
24926^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
24927write-rate="429"
24928(gdb)
24929@end smallexample
24930
24931
24932@ignore
24933@subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
24934@findex -target-exec-status
24935
24936@subsubheading Synopsis
24937
24938@smallexample
24939 -target-exec-status
24940@end smallexample
24941
24942Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
24943not, for instance).
24944
24945@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24946
24947There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
24948
24949@subsubheading Example
24950N.A.
24951
24952
24953@subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
24954@findex -target-list-available-targets
24955
24956@subsubheading Synopsis
24957
24958@smallexample
24959 -target-list-available-targets
24960@end smallexample
24961
24962List the possible targets to connect to.
24963
24964@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24965
24966The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
24967
24968@subsubheading Example
24969N.A.
24970
24971
24972@subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
24973@findex -target-list-current-targets
24974
24975@subsubheading Synopsis
24976
24977@smallexample
24978 -target-list-current-targets
24979@end smallexample
24980
24981Describe the current target.
24982
24983@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24984
24985The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
24986other things).
24987
24988@subsubheading Example
24989N.A.
24990
24991
24992@subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
24993@findex -target-list-parameters
24994
24995@subsubheading Synopsis
24996
24997@smallexample
24998 -target-list-parameters
24999@end smallexample
25000
25001@c ????
25002@end ignore
25003
25004@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25005
25006No equivalent.
25007
25008@subsubheading Example
25009N.A.
25010
25011
25012@subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
25013@findex -target-select
25014
25015@subsubheading Synopsis
25016
25017@smallexample
25018 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
25019@end smallexample
25020
25021Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
25022
25023@table @samp
25024@item @var{type}
25025The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
25026@item @var{parameters}
25027Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
25028Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
25029@end table
25030
25031The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
25032which the target program is, in the following form:
25033
25034@smallexample
25035^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
25036 args=[@var{arg list}]
25037@end smallexample
25038
25039@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25040
25041The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
25042
25043@subsubheading Example
25044
25045@smallexample
25046(gdb)
25047-target-select remote /dev/ttya
25048^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
25049(gdb)
25050@end smallexample
25051
25052@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25053@node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
25054@section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
25055
25056
25057@subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
25058@findex -target-file-put
25059
25060@subsubheading Synopsis
25061
25062@smallexample
25063 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
25064@end smallexample
25065
25066Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
25067@value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
25068
25069@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25070
25071The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
25072
25073@subsubheading Example
25074
25075@smallexample
25076(gdb)
25077-target-file-put localfile remotefile
25078^done
25079(gdb)
25080@end smallexample
25081
25082
25083@subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
25084@findex -target-file-get
25085
25086@subsubheading Synopsis
25087
25088@smallexample
25089 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
25090@end smallexample
25091
25092Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
25093on the host system.
25094
25095@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25096
25097The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
25098
25099@subsubheading Example
25100
25101@smallexample
25102(gdb)
25103-target-file-get remotefile localfile
25104^done
25105(gdb)
25106@end smallexample
25107
25108
25109@subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
25110@findex -target-file-delete
25111
25112@subsubheading Synopsis
25113
25114@smallexample
25115 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
25116@end smallexample
25117
25118Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
25119
25120@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25121
25122The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
25123
25124@subsubheading Example
25125
25126@smallexample
25127(gdb)
25128-target-file-delete remotefile
25129^done
25130(gdb)
25131@end smallexample
25132
25133
25134@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25135@node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
25136@section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
25137
25138@c @subheading -gdb-complete
25139
25140@subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
25141@findex -gdb-exit
25142
25143@subsubheading Synopsis
25144
25145@smallexample
25146 -gdb-exit
25147@end smallexample
25148
25149Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
25150
25151@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25152
25153Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
25154
25155@subsubheading Example
25156
25157@smallexample
25158(gdb)
25159-gdb-exit
25160^exit
25161@end smallexample
25162
25163
25164@ignore
25165@subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
25166@findex -exec-abort
25167
25168@subsubheading Synopsis
25169
25170@smallexample
25171 -exec-abort
25172@end smallexample
25173
25174Kill the inferior running program.
25175
25176@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25177
25178The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
25179
25180@subsubheading Example
25181N.A.
25182@end ignore
25183
25184
25185@subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
25186@findex -gdb-set
25187
25188@subsubheading Synopsis
25189
25190@smallexample
25191 -gdb-set
25192@end smallexample
25193
25194Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
25195@c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
25196
25197@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25198
25199The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
25200
25201@subsubheading Example
25202
25203@smallexample
25204(gdb)
25205-gdb-set $foo=3
25206^done
25207(gdb)
25208@end smallexample
25209
25210
25211@subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
25212@findex -gdb-show
25213
25214@subsubheading Synopsis
25215
25216@smallexample
25217 -gdb-show
25218@end smallexample
25219
25220Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
25221
25222@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25223
25224The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
25225
25226@subsubheading Example
25227
25228@smallexample
25229(gdb)
25230-gdb-show annotate
25231^done,value="0"
25232(gdb)
25233@end smallexample
25234
25235@c @subheading -gdb-source
25236
25237
25238@subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
25239@findex -gdb-version
25240
25241@subsubheading Synopsis
25242
25243@smallexample
25244 -gdb-version
25245@end smallexample
25246
25247Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
25248
25249@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25250
25251The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
25252default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
25253
25254@subsubheading Example
25255
25256@c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
25257@c box in TeX.
25258@smallexample
25259(gdb)
25260-gdb-version
25261~GNU gdb 5.2.1
25262~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
25263~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
25264~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
25265~ certain conditions.
25266~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
25267~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
25268~ details.
25269~This GDB was configured as
25270 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
25271^done
25272(gdb)
25273@end smallexample
25274
25275@subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
25276@findex -list-features
25277
25278Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
25279this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
25280or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
25281important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
25282of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
25283startup.
25284
25285The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
25286available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
25287have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
25288is given below.
25289
25290Example output:
25291
25292@smallexample
25293(gdb) -list-features
25294^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
25295@end smallexample
25296
25297The current list of features is:
25298
25299@table @samp
25300@item frozen-varobjs
25301Indicates presence of the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
25302as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
25303of @code{-varobj-create}.
25304@item pending-breakpoints
25305Indicates presence of the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert} command.
25306@item python
25307Indicates presence of Python scripting support, Python-based
25308pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
25309@samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
25310@item thread-info
25311Indicates presence of the @code{-thread-info} command.
25312
25313@end table
25314
25315@subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
25316@findex -list-target-features
25317
25318Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
25319target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
25320unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
25321features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
25322a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
25323@code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
25324may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
25325Example output:
25326
25327@smallexample
25328(gdb) -list-features
25329^done,result=["async"]
25330@end smallexample
25331
25332The current list of features is:
25333
25334@table @samp
25335@item async
25336Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
25337execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
25338while the target is running.
25339
25340@end table
25341
25342@subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
25343@findex -list-thread-groups
25344
25345@subheading Synopsis
25346
25347@smallexample
25348-list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ @var{group} ]
25349@end smallexample
25350
25351When used without the @var{group} parameter, lists top-level thread
25352groups that are being debugged. When used with the @var{group}
25353parameter, the children of the specified group are listed. The
25354children can be either threads, or other groups. At present,
25355@value{GDBN} will not report both threads and groups as children at
25356the same time, but it may change in future.
25357
25358With the @samp{--available} option, instead of reporting groups that
25359are been debugged, GDB will report all thread groups available on the
25360target. Using the @samp{--available} option together with @var{group}
25361is not allowed.
25362
25363@subheading Example
25364
25365@smallexample
25366@value{GDBP}
25367-list-thread-groups
25368^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
25369-list-thread-groups 17
25370^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
25371 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
25372@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
25373 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
25374 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
25375@end smallexample
25376
25377@subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
25378@findex -interpreter-exec
25379
25380@subheading Synopsis
25381
25382@smallexample
25383-interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
25384@end smallexample
25385@anchor{-interpreter-exec}
25386
25387Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
25388
25389@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
25390
25391The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
25392
25393@subheading Example
25394
25395@smallexample
25396(gdb)
25397-interpreter-exec console "break main"
25398&"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
25399&"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
25400~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
25401^done
25402(gdb)
25403@end smallexample
25404
25405@subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
25406@findex -inferior-tty-set
25407
25408@subheading Synopsis
25409
25410@smallexample
25411-inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
25412@end smallexample
25413
25414Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
25415
25416@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
25417
25418The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
25419
25420@subheading Example
25421
25422@smallexample
25423(gdb)
25424-inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
25425^done
25426(gdb)
25427@end smallexample
25428
25429@subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
25430@findex -inferior-tty-show
25431
25432@subheading Synopsis
25433
25434@smallexample
25435-inferior-tty-show
25436@end smallexample
25437
25438Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
25439
25440@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
25441
25442The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
25443
25444@subheading Example
25445
25446@smallexample
25447(gdb)
25448-inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
25449^done
25450(gdb)
25451-inferior-tty-show
25452^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
25453(gdb)
25454@end smallexample
25455
25456@subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
25457@findex -enable-timings
25458
25459@subheading Synopsis
25460
25461@smallexample
25462-enable-timings [yes | no]
25463@end smallexample
25464
25465Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
25466command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
25467developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
25468equivalent to @samp{yes}.
25469
25470@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
25471
25472No equivalent.
25473
25474@subheading Example
25475
25476@smallexample
25477(gdb)
25478-enable-timings
25479^done
25480(gdb)
25481-break-insert main
25482^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
25483addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
25484fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",times="0"@},
25485time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
25486(gdb)
25487-enable-timings no
25488^done
25489(gdb)
25490-exec-run
25491^running
25492(gdb)
25493*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
25494frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
25495@{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
25496fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
25497(gdb)
25498@end smallexample
25499
25500@node Annotations
25501@chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
25502
25503This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
25504designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
25505similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
25506relatively high level.
25507
25508The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
25509(@pxref{GDB/MI}).
25510
25511@ignore
25512This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
25513@end ignore
25514
25515@menu
25516* Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
25517* Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
25518* Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
25519* Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
25520* Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
25521* Annotations for Running::
25522 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
25523* Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
25524@end menu
25525
25526@node Annotations Overview
25527@section What is an Annotation?
25528@cindex annotations
25529
25530Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
25531characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
25532information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
25533is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
25534information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
25535additional information, and a newline. The additional information
25536cannot contain newline characters.
25537
25538Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
25539characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
25540no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
25541@samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
25542annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
25543means those three characters as output.
25544
25545The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
25546@option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
25547how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
25548values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
25549is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
25550subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
25551for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
25552been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
25553Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
25554
25555@table @code
25556@kindex set annotate
25557@item set annotate @var{level}
25558The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
25559annotations to the specified @var{level}.
25560
25561@item show annotate
25562@kindex show annotate
25563Show the current annotation level.
25564@end table
25565
25566This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
25567
25568A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
25569
25570@smallexample
25571$ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
25572GNU gdb 6.0
25573Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
25574GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
25575and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
25576under certain conditions.
25577Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
25578There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
25579for details.
25580This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
25581
25582^Z^Zpre-prompt
25583(@value{GDBP})
25584^Z^Zprompt
25585@kbd{quit}
25586
25587^Z^Zpost-prompt
25588$
25589@end smallexample
25590
25591Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
25592@value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
25593denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
25594output from @value{GDBN}.
25595
25596@node Server Prefix
25597@section The Server Prefix
25598@cindex server prefix
25599
25600If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
25601the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
25602command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
25603means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
25604a transparent manner.
25605
25606The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
25607history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
25608use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
25609
25610@node Prompting
25611@section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
25612
25613@cindex annotations for prompts
25614When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
25615to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
25616over, etc.
25617
25618Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
25619input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
25620denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
25621annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
25622annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
25623associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
25624features the following annotations:
25625
25626@smallexample
25627^Z^Zpre-prompt
25628^Z^Zprompt
25629^Z^Zpost-prompt
25630@end smallexample
25631
25632The input types are
25633
25634@table @code
25635@findex pre-prompt annotation
25636@findex prompt annotation
25637@findex post-prompt annotation
25638@item prompt
25639When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
25640
25641@findex pre-commands annotation
25642@findex commands annotation
25643@findex post-commands annotation
25644@item commands
25645When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
25646command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
25647
25648@findex pre-overload-choice annotation
25649@findex overload-choice annotation
25650@findex post-overload-choice annotation
25651@item overload-choice
25652When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
25653
25654@findex pre-query annotation
25655@findex query annotation
25656@findex post-query annotation
25657@item query
25658When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
25659
25660@findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
25661@findex prompt-for-continue annotation
25662@findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
25663@item prompt-for-continue
25664When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
25665expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
25666prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
25667presence of annotations.
25668@end table
25669
25670@node Errors
25671@section Errors
25672@cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
25673
25674@findex quit annotation
25675@smallexample
25676^Z^Zquit
25677@end smallexample
25678
25679This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
25680
25681@findex error annotation
25682@smallexample
25683^Z^Zerror
25684@end smallexample
25685
25686This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
25687
25688Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
25689in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
25690@code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
25691cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
25692cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
25693does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
25694to the top level.
25695
25696@findex error-begin annotation
25697A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
25698
25699@smallexample
25700^Z^Zerror-begin
25701@end smallexample
25702
25703Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
25704message.
25705
25706Warning messages are not yet annotated.
25707@c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
25708@c range_error(), and possibly other places.
25709
25710@node Invalidation
25711@section Invalidation Notices
25712
25713@cindex annotations for invalidation messages
25714The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
25715changed.
25716
25717@table @code
25718@findex frames-invalid annotation
25719@item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
25720
25721The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
25722have changed.
25723
25724@findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
25725@item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
25726
25727The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
25728deleted a breakpoint.
25729@end table
25730
25731@node Annotations for Running
25732@section Running the Program
25733@cindex annotations for running programs
25734
25735@findex starting annotation
25736@findex stopping annotation
25737When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
25738@code{step} or @code{continue},
25739
25740@smallexample
25741^Z^Zstarting
25742@end smallexample
25743
25744is output. When the program stops,
25745
25746@smallexample
25747^Z^Zstopped
25748@end smallexample
25749
25750is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
25751annotations describe how the program stopped.
25752
25753@table @code
25754@findex exited annotation
25755@item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
25756The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
25757successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
25758
25759@findex signalled annotation
25760@findex signal-name annotation
25761@findex signal-name-end annotation
25762@findex signal-string annotation
25763@findex signal-string-end annotation
25764@item ^Z^Zsignalled
25765The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
25766annotation continues:
25767
25768@smallexample
25769@var{intro-text}
25770^Z^Zsignal-name
25771@var{name}
25772^Z^Zsignal-name-end
25773@var{middle-text}
25774^Z^Zsignal-string
25775@var{string}
25776^Z^Zsignal-string-end
25777@var{end-text}
25778@end smallexample
25779
25780@noindent
25781where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
25782@code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
25783as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
25784@var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
25785user's benefit and have no particular format.
25786
25787@findex signal annotation
25788@item ^Z^Zsignal
25789The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
25790just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
25791terminated with it.
25792
25793@findex breakpoint annotation
25794@item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
25795The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
25796
25797@findex watchpoint annotation
25798@item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
25799The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
25800@end table
25801
25802@node Source Annotations
25803@section Displaying Source
25804@cindex annotations for source display
25805
25806@findex source annotation
25807The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
25808
25809@smallexample
25810^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
25811@end smallexample
25812
25813where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
25814file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
25815first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
25816within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
25817debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
25818@var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
25819line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
25820@var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
25821source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
25822followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
25823depend on the language).
25824
25825@node GDB Bugs
25826@chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
25827@cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
25828@cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
25829
25830Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
25831
25832Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
25833may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
25834the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
25835reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
25836
25837In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
25838information that enables us to fix the bug.
25839
25840@menu
25841* Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
25842* Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
25843@end menu
25844
25845@node Bug Criteria
25846@section Have You Found a Bug?
25847@cindex bug criteria
25848
25849If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
25850
25851@itemize @bullet
25852@cindex fatal signal
25853@cindex debugger crash
25854@cindex crash of debugger
25855@item
25856If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
25857@value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
25858
25859@cindex error on valid input
25860@item
25861If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
25862bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
25863somewhere in the connection to the target.)
25864
25865@cindex invalid input
25866@item
25867If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
25868that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
25869``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
25870for traditional practice''.
25871
25872@item
25873If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
25874for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
25875@end itemize
25876
25877@node Bug Reporting
25878@section How to Report Bugs
25879@cindex bug reports
25880@cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
25881
25882A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
25883If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
25884contact that organization first.
25885
25886You can find contact information for many support companies and
25887individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
25888distribution.
25889@c should add a web page ref...
25890
25891@ifset BUGURL
25892@ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
25893In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
25894@value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
25895@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
25896page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
25897be used.
25898
25899@strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
25900@samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
25901not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
25902@samp{bug-gdb}.
25903
25904The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
25905serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
25906the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
25907newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
25908problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
25909path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
25910we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
25911bug reports to the mailing list.
25912@end ifset
25913@ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
25914In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
25915@value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
25916@end ifclear
25917@end ifset
25918
25919The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
25920@strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
25921fact or leave it out, state it!
25922
25923Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
25924problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
25925assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
25926Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
25927stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
25928name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
25929of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
25930the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
25931easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
25932
25933Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
25934bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
25935you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
25936self-contained.
25937
25938Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
25939bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
25940@emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
25941bugs properly.
25942
25943To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
25944
25945@itemize @bullet
25946@item
25947The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
25948with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
25949version}.
25950
25951Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
25952the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
25953
25954@item
25955The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
25956version number.
25957
25958@item
25959What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
25960``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
25961
25962@item
25963What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
25964debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
25965C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
25966to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
25967those compilers.
25968
25969@item
25970The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
25971observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
25972you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
25973Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
25974
25975If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
25976and then we might not encounter the bug.
25977
25978@item
25979A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
25980reproduce the bug.
25981
25982@item
25983A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
25984incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
25985
25986Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
25987will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
25988not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
25989a chance to make a mistake.
25990
25991Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
25992say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
25993copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
25994the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
25995crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
25996ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
25997us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
25998to draw any conclusion from our observations.
25999
26000@pindex script
26001@cindex recording a session script
26002To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
26003such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
26004Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
26005include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
26006
26007Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
26008inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
26009
26010@item
26011If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
26012diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
26013it by context, not by line number.
26014
26015The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
26016sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
26017
26018@end itemize
26019
26020Here are some things that are not necessary:
26021
26022@itemize @bullet
26023@item
26024A description of the envelope of the bug.
26025
26026Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
26027which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
26028changes will not affect it.
26029
26030This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
26031will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
26032with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
26033We recommend that you save your time for something else.
26034
26035Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
26036of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
26037output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
26038less time, and so on.
26039
26040However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
26041report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
26042
26043@item
26044A patch for the bug.
26045
26046A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
26047the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
26048a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
26049to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
26050
26051Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
26052construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
26053through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
26054to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
26055
26056And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
26057patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
26058help us to understand.
26059
26060@item
26061A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
26062
26063Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
26064things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
26065@end itemize
26066
26067@c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
26068@c and consists of the two following files:
26069@c rluser.texinfo
26070@c inc-hist.texinfo
26071@c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
26072@c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
26073@include rluser.texi
26074@include inc-hist.texinfo
26075
26076
26077@node Formatting Documentation
26078@appendix Formatting Documentation
26079
26080@cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
26081@cindex reference card
26082The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
26083for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
26084subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
26085@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
26086release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
26087you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
26088
26089The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
26090can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
26091
26092@smallexample
26093make refcard.dvi
26094@end smallexample
26095
26096The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
26097mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
26098that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
26099high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
26100your @sc{dvi} output program.
26101
26102@cindex documentation
26103
26104All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
26105distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
26106a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
26107on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
26108formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
26109and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
26110
26111@value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
26112version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
26113file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
26114subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
26115necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
26116but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
26117Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
26118@sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
26119
26120If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
26121Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
26122@code{makeinfo}.
26123
26124If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
26125@value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
26126version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
26127
26128@smallexample
26129cd gdb
26130make gdb.info
26131@end smallexample
26132
26133If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
26134a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
26135Texinfo definitions file.
26136
26137@TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
26138produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
26139document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
26140has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
26141command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
26142(for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
26143require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
26144
26145@TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
26146@file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
26147written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
26148typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
26149and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
26150directory.
26151
26152If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
26153typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
26154subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
26155@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
26156
26157@smallexample
26158make gdb.dvi
26159@end smallexample
26160
26161Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
26162
26163@node Installing GDB
26164@appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
26165@cindex installation
26166
26167@menu
26168* Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
26169* Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
26170* Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
26171* Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
26172* Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
26173* System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
26174@end menu
26175
26176@node Requirements
26177@section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
26178@cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
26179
26180Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
26181Other packages will be used only if they are found.
26182
26183@heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
26184@table @asis
26185@item ISO C90 compiler
26186@value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
26187working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
26188
26189@end table
26190
26191@heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
26192@table @asis
26193@item Expat
26194@anchor{Expat}
26195@value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
26196included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
26197can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
26198The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
26199standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
26200use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
26201
26202Expat is used for:
26203
26204@itemize @bullet
26205@item
26206Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
26207@item
26208Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
26209@item
26210Remote shared library lists (@pxref{Library List Format})
26211@item
26212MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
26213@end itemize
26214
26215@item zlib
26216@cindex compressed debug sections
26217@value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
26218compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
26219of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
26220is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
26221information in such binaries.
26222
26223The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
26224distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
26225@url{http://zlib.net}.
26226
26227@item iconv
26228@value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
26229Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
26230on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
26231other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
26232
26233On systems with @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
26234have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
26235@option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
26236
26237@value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
26238arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
26239in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
26240if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
26241implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
26242by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
26243Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
26244Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
26245@end table
26246
26247@node Running Configure
26248@section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
26249@cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
26250@value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
26251of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
26252build the @code{gdb} program.
26253@iftex
26254@c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
26255@footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
26256look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
26257installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
26258@end iftex
26259
26260The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
26261@value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
26262appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
26263
26264For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
26265@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
26266
26267@table @code
26268@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
26269script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
26270
26271@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
26272the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
26273
26274@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
26275source for the Binary File Descriptor library
26276
26277@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
26278@sc{gnu} include files
26279
26280@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
26281source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
26282
26283@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
26284source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
26285
26286@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
26287source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
26288
26289@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
26290source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
26291
26292@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
26293source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
26294@end table
26295
26296The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
26297from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
26298this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
26299
26300First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
26301if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
26302identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
26303argument.
26304
26305For example:
26306
26307@smallexample
26308cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
26309./configure @var{host}
26310make
26311@end smallexample
26312
26313@noindent
26314where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
26315@samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
26316(You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
26317correct value by examining your system.)
26318
26319Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
26320@file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
26321libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
26322binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
26323
26324@need 750
26325@file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
26326system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
26327shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
26328
26329@smallexample
26330sh configure @var{host}
26331@end smallexample
26332
26333If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
26334directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
26335@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
26336@file{configure}
26337creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
26338you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
26339
26340You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
26341source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
26342@file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
26343that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
26344if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
26345of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
26346configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
26347directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
26348about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
26349
26350You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
26351However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
26352the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
26353that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
26354let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
26355
26356@node Separate Objdir
26357@section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
26358
26359If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
26360you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
26361host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
26362allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
26363rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
26364handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
26365@code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
26366program specified there.
26367
26368To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
26369with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
26370(You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
26371itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
26372would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
26373the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
26374
26375For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
26376separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
26377
26378@smallexample
26379@group
26380cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
26381mkdir ../gdb-sun4
26382cd ../gdb-sun4
26383../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
26384make
26385@end group
26386@end smallexample
26387
26388When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
26389directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
26390(and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
26391the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
26392directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
26393@file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
26394
26395Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
26396instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
26397like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
26398one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
26399build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
26400
26401One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
26402directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
26403@value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
26404programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
26405You specify a cross-debugging target by
26406giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
26407
26408When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
26409it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
26410called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
26411
26412The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
26413directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
26414directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
26415directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
26416will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
26417
26418When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
26419directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
26420if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
26421with each other.
26422
26423@node Config Names
26424@section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
26425
26426The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
26427script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
26428aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
26429of information in the following pattern:
26430
26431@smallexample
26432@var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
26433@end smallexample
26434
26435For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
26436or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
26437option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
26438
26439The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
26440any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
26441aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
26442@code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
26443script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
26444abbreviations---for example:
26445
26446@smallexample
26447% sh config.sub i386-linux
26448i386-pc-linux-gnu
26449% sh config.sub alpha-linux
26450alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
26451% sh config.sub hp9k700
26452hppa1.1-hp-hpux
26453% sh config.sub sun4
26454sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
26455% sh config.sub sun3
26456m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
26457% sh config.sub i986v
26458Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
26459@end smallexample
26460
26461@noindent
26462@code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
26463directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
26464
26465@node Configure Options
26466@section @file{configure} Options
26467
26468Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
26469are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
26470several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
26471Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
26472
26473@smallexample
26474configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
26475 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
26476 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
26477 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
26478 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
26479 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
26480 @var{host}
26481@end smallexample
26482
26483@noindent
26484You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
26485@samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
26486@samp{--}.
26487
26488@table @code
26489@item --help
26490Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
26491
26492@item --prefix=@var{dir}
26493Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
26494@file{@var{dir}}.
26495
26496@item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
26497Configure the source to install programs under directory
26498@file{@var{dir}}.
26499
26500@c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
26501@need 2000
26502@item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
26503@strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
26504@code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
26505Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
26506@value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
26507build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
26508directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
26509the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
26510directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
26511the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
26512@var{dirname}.
26513
26514@item --norecursion
26515Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
26516propagate configuration to subdirectories.
26517
26518@item --target=@var{target}
26519Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
26520@var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
26521programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
26522
26523There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
26524
26525@item @var{host} @dots{}
26526Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
26527
26528There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
26529@end table
26530
26531There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
26532needed for special purposes only.
26533
26534@node System-wide configuration
26535@section System-wide configuration and settings
26536@cindex system-wide init file
26537
26538@value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
26539this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
26540@value{GDBN} does during startup}).
26541
26542Here is the corresponding configure option:
26543
26544@table @code
26545@item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
26546Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
26547@var{file}.
26548@end table
26549
26550If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
26551it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
26552
26553@itemize @bullet
26554@item
26555If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
26556it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
26557are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
26558if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
26559init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
26560@file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
26561
26562@item
26563By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
26564it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
26565@option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
26566then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
26567wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
26568@end itemize
26569
26570@node Maintenance Commands
26571@appendix Maintenance Commands
26572@cindex maintenance commands
26573@cindex internal commands
26574
26575In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
26576includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
26577that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
26578provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
26579messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
26580
26581@table @code
26582@kindex maint agent
26583@kindex maint agent-eval
26584@item maint agent @var{expression}
26585@itemx maint agent-eval @var{expression}
26586Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
26587This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
26588(@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
26589expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
26590@samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
26591to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
26592globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
26593of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
26594the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
26595addition and return the sum.
26596
26597@kindex maint info breakpoints
26598@item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
26599Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
26600breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
26601internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
26602breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
26603is shown:
26604
26605@table @code
26606@item breakpoint
26607Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
26608
26609@item watchpoint
26610Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
26611
26612@item longjmp
26613Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
26614@code{longjmp} calls.
26615
26616@item longjmp resume
26617Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
26618
26619@item until
26620Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
26621
26622@item finish
26623Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
26624
26625@item shlib events
26626Shared library events.
26627
26628@end table
26629
26630@kindex set displaced-stepping
26631@kindex show displaced-stepping
26632@cindex displaced stepping support
26633@cindex out-of-line single-stepping
26634@item set displaced-stepping
26635@itemx show displaced-stepping
26636Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
26637if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
26638over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
26639an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
26640breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
26641
26642@table @code
26643@item set displaced-stepping on
26644If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
26645displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
26646
26647@item set displaced-stepping off
26648@value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
26649even if such is supported by the target architecture.
26650
26651@cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
26652@item set displaced-stepping auto
26653This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
26654only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
26655architecture supports displaced stepping.
26656@end table
26657
26658@kindex maint check-symtabs
26659@item maint check-symtabs
26660Check the consistency of psymtabs and symtabs.
26661
26662@kindex maint cplus first_component
26663@item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
26664Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
26665
26666@kindex maint cplus namespace
26667@item maint cplus namespace
26668Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
26669
26670@kindex maint demangle
26671@item maint demangle @var{name}
26672Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
26673
26674@kindex maint deprecate
26675@kindex maint undeprecate
26676@cindex deprecated commands
26677@item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
26678@itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
26679Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
26680cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
26681argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
26682favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
26683the replacement as part of the warning.
26684
26685@kindex maint dump-me
26686@item maint dump-me
26687@cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
26688Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
26689This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
26690with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
26691
26692@kindex maint internal-error
26693@kindex maint internal-warning
26694@item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
26695@itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
26696Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
26697or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
26698or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
26699internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
26700either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
26701@value{GDBN} session.
26702
26703These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
26704used as the text of the error or warning message.
26705
26706Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
26707
26708@smallexample
26709(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
26710@dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
26711A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
26712debugging may prove unreliable.
26713Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
26714Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
26715(@value{GDBP})
26716@end smallexample
26717
26718@cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
26719@cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
26720
26721@kindex maint set internal-error
26722@kindex maint show internal-error
26723@kindex maint set internal-warning
26724@kindex maint show internal-warning
26725@item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
26726@itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
26727@itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
26728@itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
26729When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
26730gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
26731core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
26732override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
26733described in the table below.
26734
26735@table @samp
26736@item quit
26737You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
26738quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
26739
26740@item corefile
26741You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
26742create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
26743@end table
26744
26745@kindex maint packet
26746@item maint packet @var{text}
26747If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
26748then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
26749displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
26750@samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
26751checksum.
26752
26753@kindex maint print architecture
26754@item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
26755Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
26756@var{file} names the file where the output goes.
26757
26758@kindex maint print c-tdesc
26759@item maint print c-tdesc
26760Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
26761a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
26762when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
26763
26764@kindex maint print dummy-frames
26765@item maint print dummy-frames
26766Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
26767
26768@smallexample
26769(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
26770@dots{}
26771(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
26772Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
2677358 return (a + b);
26774The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
26775@dots{}
26776(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
267770x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
26778 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
26779 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
26780(@value{GDBP})
26781@end smallexample
26782
26783Takes an optional file parameter.
26784
26785@kindex maint print registers
26786@kindex maint print raw-registers
26787@kindex maint print cooked-registers
26788@kindex maint print register-groups
26789@item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
26790@itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
26791@itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
26792@itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
26793Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
26794
26795The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
26796the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print cooked-registers}
26797includes the (cooked) value of all registers; and the command
26798@code{maint print register-groups} includes the groups that each
26799register is a member of. @xref{Registers,, Registers, gdbint,
26800@value{GDBN} Internals}.
26801
26802These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
26803write the information.
26804
26805@kindex maint print reggroups
26806@item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
26807Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
26808optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
26809information.
26810
26811The register groups info looks like this:
26812
26813@smallexample
26814(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
26815 Group Type
26816 general user
26817 float user
26818 all user
26819 vector user
26820 system user
26821 save internal
26822 restore internal
26823@end smallexample
26824
26825@kindex flushregs
26826@item flushregs
26827This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
26828
26829@kindex maint print objfiles
26830@cindex info for known object files
26831@item maint print objfiles
26832Print a dump of all known object files. For each object file, this
26833command prints its name, address in memory, and all of its psymtabs
26834and symtabs.
26835
26836@kindex maint print statistics
26837@cindex bcache statistics
26838@item maint print statistics
26839This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
26840about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
26841statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
26842of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
26843defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
26844the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
26845used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
26846sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
26847average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
26848savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
26849lengths.
26850
26851@kindex maint print target-stack
26852@cindex target stack description
26853@item maint print target-stack
26854A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
26855kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
26856so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
26857In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
26858until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
26859address.
26860
26861This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
26862the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
26863
26864@kindex maint print type
26865@cindex type chain of a data type
26866@item maint print type @var{expr}
26867Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
26868can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
26869that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
26870a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
26871data structures, including its flags and contained types.
26872
26873@kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
26874@kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
26875@item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
26876@itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
26877Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
26878
26879@cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
26880In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
26881produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
26882reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
26883This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
26884cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
26885compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
26886memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
26887slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
26888
26889@kindex maint set profile
26890@kindex maint show profile
26891@cindex profiling GDB
26892@item maint set profile
26893@itemx maint show profile
26894Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
26895
26896Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
26897command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
26898collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
26899exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
26900if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
26901(often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
26902data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
26903
26904Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
26905compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
26906
26907@kindex maint set show-debug-regs
26908@kindex maint show show-debug-regs
26909@cindex hardware debug registers
26910@item maint set show-debug-regs
26911@itemx maint show show-debug-regs
26912Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
26913registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
26914enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
26915removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
26916triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
26917
26918@kindex maint space
26919@cindex memory used by commands
26920@item maint space
26921Control whether to display memory usage for each command. If set to a
26922nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
26923took, following the command's own output. This can also be requested
26924by invoking @value{GDBN} with the @option{--statistics} command-line
26925switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
26926
26927@kindex maint time
26928@cindex time of command execution
26929@item maint time
26930Control whether to display the execution time for each command. If
26931set to a nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
26932took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
26933The time is not printed for the commands that run the target, since
26934there's no mechanism currently to compute how much time was spend
26935by @value{GDBN} and how much time was spend by the program been debugged.
26936it's not possibly currently
26937This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
26938@option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
26939
26940@kindex maint translate-address
26941@item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
26942Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
26943@var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
26944@value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
26945the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
26946the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
26947command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
26948
26949If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
26950is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
26951executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
26952
26953@end table
26954
26955The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
26956@value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
26957
26958@table @code
26959@item set watchdog @var{nsec}
26960@kindex set watchdog
26961@cindex watchdog timer
26962@cindex timeout for commands
26963Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
26964target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
26965reports and error and the command is aborted.
26966
26967@item show watchdog
26968Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
26969@end table
26970
26971@node Remote Protocol
26972@appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
26973
26974@menu
26975* Overview::
26976* Packets::
26977* Stop Reply Packets::
26978* General Query Packets::
26979* Register Packet Format::
26980* Tracepoint Packets::
26981* Host I/O Packets::
26982* Interrupts::
26983* Notification Packets::
26984* Remote Non-Stop::
26985* Packet Acknowledgment::
26986* Examples::
26987* File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
26988* Library List Format::
26989* Memory Map Format::
26990@end menu
26991
26992@node Overview
26993@section Overview
26994
26995There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
26996protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
26997machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
26998recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
26999
27000In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
27001transmitted and received data, respectively.
27002
27003@cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
27004@cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
27005@cindex remote serial protocol
27006All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
27007and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
27008@var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
27009@samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
27010@samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
27011
27012@smallexample
27013@code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
27014@end smallexample
27015@noindent
27016
27017@cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
27018@noindent
27019The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
27020characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
27021eight bit unsigned checksum).
27022
27023Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
27024specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
27025
27026@smallexample
27027@code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
27028@end smallexample
27029
27030@cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
27031@noindent
27032That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
27033has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
27034since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
27035
27036When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
27037response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
27038the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
27039retransmission):
27040
27041@smallexample
27042-> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
27043<- @code{+}
27044@end smallexample
27045@noindent
27046
27047The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
27048once a connection is established.
27049@xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
27050
27051The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
27052debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
27053the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
27054when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
27055threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
27056behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
27057execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
27058
27059@var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
27060exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
27061exceptions).
27062
27063@cindex remote protocol, field separator
27064Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
27065@samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
27066@sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
27067
27068Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
27069@samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
27070would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
27071
27072@cindex remote protocol, binary data
27073@anchor{Binary Data}
27074Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
27075digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
27076protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
27077Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
27078connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
27079binary data.
27080
27081The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
27082as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
27083character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
27084For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
27085bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
27086@code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
27087@samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
27088must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
27089is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
27090(described next).
27091
27092Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
27093Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
27094instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
27095repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
27096binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
27097@code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
27098produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
27099code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
27100encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
27101@samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
27102after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
271033}} more times.
27104
27105The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
27106greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
27107seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
27108five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
27109@samp{0*"00}.
27110
27111The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
27112error number. That number is not well defined.
27113
27114@cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
27115For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
27116(@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
27117protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
27118on that response.
27119
27120A stub is required to support the @samp{g}, @samp{G}, @samp{m}, @samp{M},
27121@samp{c}, and @samp{s} @var{command}s. All other @var{command}s are
27122optional.
27123
27124@node Packets
27125@section Packets
27126
27127The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
27128@var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
27129@xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
27130I/O extension of the remote protocol.
27131
27132Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
27133syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
27134include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
27135part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
27136separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
27137@var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
27138bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
27139@var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
27140@samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
27141@var{baz}.
27142
27143@cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
27144@anchor{thread-id syntax}
27145Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
27146a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
27147interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
27148can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
27149pick any thread.
27150
27151In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
27152which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
27153process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
27154The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
27155format described above: a positive number with target-specific
27156interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
27157to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
27158indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
27159@samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
27160error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
27161@samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
27162for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
27163ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
27164
27165The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
27166@value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
27167feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
27168more information.
27169
27170Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
27171letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
27172
27173Here are the packet descriptions.
27174
27175@table @samp
27176
27177@item !
27178@cindex @samp{!} packet
27179@anchor{extended mode}
27180Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
27181persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
27182debugged.
27183
27184Reply:
27185@table @samp
27186@item OK
27187The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
27188@end table
27189
27190@item ?
27191@cindex @samp{?} packet
27192Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
27193step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
27194target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
27195
27196Reply:
27197@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
27198
27199@item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
27200@cindex @samp{A} packet
27201Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
27202specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
27203@var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
27204
27205Reply:
27206@table @samp
27207@item OK
27208The arguments were set.
27209@item E @var{NN}
27210An error occurred.
27211@end table
27212
27213@item b @var{baud}
27214@cindex @samp{b} packet
27215(Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
27216Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
27217
27218JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
27219received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
27220problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
27221
27222Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
27223it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
27224some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
27225switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
27226of view, nothing actually happened.}
27227
27228@item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
27229@cindex @samp{B} packet
27230Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
27231breakpoint at @var{addr}.
27232
27233Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
27234(@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
27235
27236@item bc
27237@cindex @samp{bc} packet
27238Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
27239@xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
27240
27241Reply:
27242@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
27243
27244@item bs
27245@cindex @samp{bs} packet
27246Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
27247@xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
27248
27249Reply:
27250@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
27251
27252@item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
27253@cindex @samp{c} packet
27254Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
27255resume at current address.
27256
27257Reply:
27258@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
27259
27260@item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
27261@cindex @samp{C} packet
27262Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
27263@samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
27264
27265Reply:
27266@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
27267
27268@item d
27269@cindex @samp{d} packet
27270Toggle debug flag.
27271
27272Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
27273(@pxref{General Query Packets}).
27274
27275@item D
27276@itemx D;@var{pid}
27277@cindex @samp{D} packet
27278The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
27279remote system. It is sent to the remote target
27280before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
27281
27282The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
27283protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
27284detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
27285big-endian hex string.
27286
27287Reply:
27288@table @samp
27289@item OK
27290for success
27291@item E @var{NN}
27292for an error
27293@end table
27294
27295@item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
27296@cindex @samp{F} packet
27297A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
27298This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
27299Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
27300
27301@item g
27302@anchor{read registers packet}
27303@cindex @samp{g} packet
27304Read general registers.
27305
27306Reply:
27307@table @samp
27308@item @var{XX@dots{}}
27309Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
27310with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
27311each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
27312determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
27313@code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
27314specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
27315@item E @var{NN}
27316for an error.
27317@end table
27318
27319@item G @var{XX@dots{}}
27320@cindex @samp{G} packet
27321Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
27322description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
27323
27324Reply:
27325@table @samp
27326@item OK
27327for success
27328@item E @var{NN}
27329for an error
27330@end table
27331
27332@item H @var{c} @var{thread-id}
27333@cindex @samp{H} packet
27334Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
27335@samp{G}, et.al.). @var{c} depends on the operation to be performed: it
27336should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations, @samp{g} for other
27337operations. The thread designator @var{thread-id} has the format and
27338interpretation described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
27339
27340Reply:
27341@table @samp
27342@item OK
27343for success
27344@item E @var{NN}
27345for an error
27346@end table
27347
27348@c FIXME: JTC:
27349@c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
27350@c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
27351@c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
27352@c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
27353@c described. For example:
27354@c
27355@c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
27356@c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
27357@c otherwise returns current registers.
27358@c
27359@c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
27360@c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
27361@c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
27362
27363@item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
27364@anchor{cycle step packet}
27365@cindex @samp{i} packet
27366Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
27367present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
27368step starting at that address.
27369
27370@item I
27371@cindex @samp{I} packet
27372Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
27373step packet}.
27374
27375@item k
27376@cindex @samp{k} packet
27377Kill request.
27378
27379FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
27380thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
27381thread?)}.
27382
27383@item m @var{addr},@var{length}
27384@cindex @samp{m} packet
27385Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
27386Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
27387
27388The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
27389data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
27390and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
27391use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
27392suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
27393@cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
27394@cindex size of remote memory accesses
27395@cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
27396
27397Reply:
27398@table @samp
27399@item @var{XX@dots{}}
27400Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
27401number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
27402server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
27403@item E @var{NN}
27404@var{NN} is errno
27405@end table
27406
27407@item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
27408@cindex @samp{M} packet
27409Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
27410@var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
27411hexadecimal number.
27412
27413Reply:
27414@table @samp
27415@item OK
27416for success
27417@item E @var{NN}
27418for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
27419written).
27420@end table
27421
27422@item p @var{n}
27423@cindex @samp{p} packet
27424Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
27425@xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
27426register value is encoded.
27427
27428Reply:
27429@table @samp
27430@item @var{XX@dots{}}
27431the register's value
27432@item E @var{NN}
27433for an error
27434@item
27435Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
27436@end table
27437
27438@item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
27439@anchor{write register packet}
27440@cindex @samp{P} packet
27441Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
27442number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
27443digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
27444
27445Reply:
27446@table @samp
27447@item OK
27448for success
27449@item E @var{NN}
27450for an error
27451@end table
27452
27453@item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
27454@itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
27455@cindex @samp{q} packet
27456@cindex @samp{Q} packet
27457General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
27458described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
27459
27460@item r
27461@cindex @samp{r} packet
27462Reset the entire system.
27463
27464Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
27465
27466@item R @var{XX}
27467@cindex @samp{R} packet
27468Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
27469This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
27470
27471The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
27472
27473@item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
27474@cindex @samp{s} packet
27475Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
27476@var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
27477
27478Reply:
27479@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
27480
27481@item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
27482@anchor{step with signal packet}
27483@cindex @samp{S} packet
27484Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
27485requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
27486
27487Reply:
27488@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
27489
27490@item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
27491@cindex @samp{t} packet
27492Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
27493@var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
27494@var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
27495
27496@item T @var{thread-id}
27497@cindex @samp{T} packet
27498Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
27499
27500Reply:
27501@table @samp
27502@item OK
27503thread is still alive
27504@item E @var{NN}
27505thread is dead
27506@end table
27507
27508@item v
27509Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
27510up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
27511
27512@item vAttach;@var{pid}
27513@cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
27514Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
27515The process ID is a
27516hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
27517threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
27518attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
27519
27520@c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
27521@c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
27522@c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
27523@c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
27524@c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
27525@c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
27526@c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
27527@c stopping or restarting threads.
27528
27529This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
27530
27531Reply:
27532@table @samp
27533@item E @var{nn}
27534for an error
27535@item @r{Any stop packet}
27536for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
27537@item OK
27538for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
27539@end table
27540
27541@item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
27542@cindex @samp{vCont} packet
27543Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
27544If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
27545threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
27546specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
27547in their current state in non-stop mode.
27548Specifying multiple
27549default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
27550Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
27551
27552Currently supported actions are:
27553
27554@table @samp
27555@item c
27556Continue.
27557@item C @var{sig}
27558Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
27559@item s
27560Step.
27561@item S @var{sig}
27562Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
27563@item t
27564Stop.
27565@item T @var{sig}
27566Stop with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
27567@end table
27568
27569The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
27570@samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
27571not supported in @samp{vCont}.
27572
27573The @samp{t} and @samp{T} actions are only relevant in non-stop mode
27574(@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
27575A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
27576When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
27577the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
27578signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
27579as an implementation detail.
27580
27581Reply:
27582@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
27583
27584@item vCont?
27585@cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
27586Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
27587
27588Reply:
27589@table @samp
27590@item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
27591The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
27592command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
27593@item
27594The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
27595@end table
27596
27597@item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
27598@cindex @samp{vFile} packet
27599Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
27600see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
27601
27602@item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
27603@cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
27604Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
27605@var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
27606its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
27607flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
27608Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
27609together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
27610stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
27611packet is received.
27612
27613The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
27614multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
27615this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
27616in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
27617@var{thread-id}.
27618
27619Reply:
27620@table @samp
27621@item OK
27622for success
27623@item E @var{NN}
27624for an error
27625@end table
27626
27627@item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
27628@cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
27629Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
27630is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
27631packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
27632@samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
27633not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
27634(although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
27635have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
27636@samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
27637neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
27638target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
27639
27640
27641Reply:
27642@table @samp
27643@item OK
27644for success
27645@item E.memtype
27646for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
27647@item E @var{NN}
27648for an error
27649@end table
27650
27651@item vFlashDone
27652@cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
27653Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
27654The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
27655@samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
27656@samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
27657regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
27658request is completed.
27659
27660@item vKill;@var{pid}
27661@cindex @samp{vKill} packet
27662Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
27663hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
27664preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
27665supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
27666
27667Reply:
27668@table @samp
27669@item E @var{nn}
27670for an error
27671@item OK
27672for success
27673@end table
27674
27675@item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
27676@cindex @samp{vRun} packet
27677Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
27678command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
27679@var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
27680(e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
27681state.
27682
27683@c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
27684
27685This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
27686
27687Reply:
27688@table @samp
27689@item E @var{nn}
27690for an error
27691@item @r{Any stop packet}
27692for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
27693@end table
27694
27695@item vStopped
27696@anchor{vStopped packet}
27697@cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
27698
27699In non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}), acknowledge a previous stop
27700reply and prompt for the stub to report another one.
27701
27702Reply:
27703@table @samp
27704@item @r{Any stop packet}
27705if there is another unreported stop event (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
27706@item OK
27707if there are no unreported stop events
27708@end table
27709
27710@item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
27711@anchor{X packet}
27712@cindex @samp{X} packet
27713Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
27714@var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
27715@samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
27716
27717Reply:
27718@table @samp
27719@item OK
27720for success
27721@item E @var{NN}
27722for an error
27723@end table
27724
27725@item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{length}
27726@itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{length}
27727@anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
27728@cindex @samp{z} packet
27729@cindex @samp{Z} packets
27730Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
27731watchpoint starting at address @var{address} and covering the next
27732@var{length} bytes.
27733
27734Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
27735separately.
27736
27737@emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
27738for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
27739remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
27740@samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
27741avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
27742be implemented in an idempotent way.}
27743
27744@item z0,@var{addr},@var{length}
27745@itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{length}
27746@cindex @samp{z0} packet
27747@cindex @samp{Z0} packet
27748Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
27749@var{addr} of size @var{length}.
27750
27751A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
27752@var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
27753@var{length} is used by targets that indicates the size of the
27754breakpoint (in bytes) that should be inserted (e.g., the @sc{arm} and
27755@sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint).
27756
27757@emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
27758code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
27759overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
27760target, is not defined.}
27761
27762Reply:
27763@table @samp
27764@item OK
27765success
27766@item
27767not supported
27768@item E @var{NN}
27769for an error
27770@end table
27771
27772@item z1,@var{addr},@var{length}
27773@itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{length}
27774@cindex @samp{z1} packet
27775@cindex @samp{Z1} packet
27776Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
27777address @var{addr} of size @var{length}.
27778
27779A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
27780dependant on being able to modify the target's memory.
27781
27782@emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
27783movement.}
27784
27785Reply:
27786@table @samp
27787@item OK
27788success
27789@item
27790not supported
27791@item E @var{NN}
27792for an error
27793@end table
27794
27795@item z2,@var{addr},@var{length}
27796@itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{length}
27797@cindex @samp{z2} packet
27798@cindex @samp{Z2} packet
27799Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint.
27800
27801Reply:
27802@table @samp
27803@item OK
27804success
27805@item
27806not supported
27807@item E @var{NN}
27808for an error
27809@end table
27810
27811@item z3,@var{addr},@var{length}
27812@itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{length}
27813@cindex @samp{z3} packet
27814@cindex @samp{Z3} packet
27815Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint.
27816
27817Reply:
27818@table @samp
27819@item OK
27820success
27821@item
27822not supported
27823@item E @var{NN}
27824for an error
27825@end table
27826
27827@item z4,@var{addr},@var{length}
27828@itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{length}
27829@cindex @samp{z4} packet
27830@cindex @samp{Z4} packet
27831Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint.
27832
27833Reply:
27834@table @samp
27835@item OK
27836success
27837@item
27838not supported
27839@item E @var{NN}
27840for an error
27841@end table
27842
27843@end table
27844
27845@node Stop Reply Packets
27846@section Stop Reply Packets
27847@cindex stop reply packets
27848
27849The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
27850@samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
27851receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
27852and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
27853when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
27854number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
27855@value{GDBN} source code.
27856
27857As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
27858reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
27859syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
27860components.
27861
27862@table @samp
27863
27864@item S @var{AA}
27865The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
27866number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
27867@var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
27868
27869@item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
27870@cindex @samp{T} packet reply
27871The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
27872number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
27873@samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
27874and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
27875round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
27876this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
27877
27878@itemize @bullet
27879@item
27880If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
27881corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
27882series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
27883two-digit hex number.
27884
27885@item
27886If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
27887the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
27888
27889@item
27890If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
27891specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
27892reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
27893signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
27894
27895@item
27896Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
27897and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
27898future.
27899@end itemize
27900
27901The currently defined stop reasons are:
27902
27903@table @samp
27904@item watch
27905@itemx rwatch
27906@itemx awatch
27907The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
27908hex.
27909
27910@cindex shared library events, remote reply
27911@item library
27912The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
27913@value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
27914list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
27915
27916@cindex replay log events, remote reply
27917@item replaylog
27918The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
27919logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
27920beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
27921will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
27922for more information.
27923
27924
27925@end table
27926
27927@item W @var{AA}
27928@itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
27929The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
27930applicable to certain targets.
27931
27932The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
27933process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
27934multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
27935The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
27936
27937@item X @var{AA}
27938@itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
27939The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
27940
27941The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
27942terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
27943support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
27944extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
27945
27946@item O @var{XX}@dots{}
27947@samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
27948written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
27949while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
27950for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
27951
27952@item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
27953@var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
27954be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
27955correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
27956@xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
27957system calls.
27958
27959@samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
27960this very system call.
27961
27962The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
27963call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
27964with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
27965reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
27966or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
27967Protocol Extension}, for more details.
27968
27969@end table
27970
27971@node General Query Packets
27972@section General Query Packets
27973@cindex remote query requests
27974
27975Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
27976packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
27977query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
27978sending information to and from the stub.
27979
27980The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
27981indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
27982@value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
27983definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
27984conventions:
27985
27986@itemize @bullet
27987@item
27988The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
27989@item
27990Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
27991letter.
27992@item
27993The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
27994lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
27995the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
27996foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
27997@end itemize
27998
27999The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
28000parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
28001separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
28002full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
28003in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
28004with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
28005packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
28006for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
28007are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
28008existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
28009packet.}.
28010
28011Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
28012has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
28013explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
28014templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
28015@value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
28016
28017Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
28018
28019@table @samp
28020
28021@item qC
28022@cindex current thread, remote request
28023@cindex @samp{qC} packet
28024Return the current thread ID.
28025
28026Reply:
28027@table @samp
28028@item QC @var{thread-id}
28029Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
28030@ref{thread-id syntax}.
28031@item @r{(anything else)}
28032Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
28033@end table
28034
28035@item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
28036@cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
28037@cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
28038Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory.
28039Reply:
28040@table @samp
28041@item E @var{NN}
28042An error (such as memory fault)
28043@item C @var{crc32}
28044The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
28045@end table
28046
28047@item qfThreadInfo
28048@itemx qsThreadInfo
28049@cindex list active threads, remote request
28050@cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
28051@cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
28052Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
28053may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
28054works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
28055obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
28056be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
28057sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
28058
28059NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
28060
28061Reply:
28062@table @samp
28063@item m @var{thread-id}
28064A single thread ID
28065@item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
28066a comma-separated list of thread IDs
28067@item l
28068(lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
28069@end table
28070
28071In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
28072more thread IDs, separated by commas.
28073@value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
28074ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
28075with @samp{l} (lower-case el, for @dfn{last}).
28076Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
28077fields.
28078
28079@item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
28080@cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
28081@cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
28082Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
28083by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
28084
28085@var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
28086thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
28087
28088@var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
28089thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
28090information associated with the variable.)
28091
28092@var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
28093the load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
28094a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
28095object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
28096Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
28097differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
28098
28099Reply:
28100@table @samp
28101@item @var{XX}@dots{}
28102Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
28103local storage requested.
28104
28105@item E @var{nn}
28106An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
28107
28108@item
28109An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
28110@end table
28111
28112@item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
28113Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
28114digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
28115subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
28116number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
28117(eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
28118returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
28119
28120Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
28121
28122Reply:
28123@table @samp
28124@item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
28125Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
28126returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
28127and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
28128digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
28129is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
28130digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
28131@end table
28132
28133@item qOffsets
28134@cindex section offsets, remote request
28135@cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
28136Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
28137image.
28138
28139Reply:
28140@table @samp
28141@item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
28142Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
28143Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
28144If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
28145@samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
28146segments by the supplied offsets.
28147
28148@emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
28149@value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
28150to the @code{Bss} section.}
28151
28152@item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
28153Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
28154contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
28155@samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
28156conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
28157@var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
28158does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
28159as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
28160kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
28161@end table
28162
28163@item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
28164@cindex thread information, remote request
28165@cindex @samp{qP} packet
28166Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
28167encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
28168(@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
28169
28170Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
28171(see below).
28172
28173Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
28174
28175@item QNonStop:1
28176@item QNonStop:0
28177@cindex non-stop mode, remote request
28178@cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
28179@anchor{QNonStop}
28180Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
28181@xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
28182
28183Reply:
28184@table @samp
28185@item OK
28186The request succeeded.
28187
28188@item E @var{nn}
28189An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
28190
28191@item
28192An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
28193the stub.
28194@end table
28195
28196This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
28197by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
28198Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
28199@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
28200
28201@item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
28202@cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
28203@cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
28204@anchor{QPassSignals}
28205Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
28206Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
28207(@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
28208strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
28209the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
28210reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
28211combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
28212new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
28213@var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
28214
28215Reply:
28216@table @samp
28217@item OK
28218The request succeeded.
28219
28220@item E @var{nn}
28221An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
28222
28223@item
28224An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
28225the stub.
28226@end table
28227
28228Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
28229command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
28230This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
28231by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
28232
28233@item qRcmd,@var{command}
28234@cindex execute remote command, remote request
28235@cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
28236@var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
28237execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
28238string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
28239with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
28240packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
28241stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
28242
28243Reply:
28244@table @samp
28245@item OK
28246A command response with no output.
28247@item @var{OUTPUT}
28248A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
28249@item E @var{NN}
28250Indicate a badly formed request.
28251@item
28252An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
28253@end table
28254
28255(Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
28256command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
28257conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
28258packets.)
28259
28260@item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
28261@cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
28262@cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
28263@anchor{qSearch memory}
28264Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
28265@var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
28266@var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
28267
28268Reply:
28269@table @samp
28270@item 0
28271The pattern was not found.
28272@item 1,address
28273The pattern was found at @var{address}.
28274@item E @var{NN}
28275A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
28276@item
28277An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
28278@end table
28279
28280@item QStartNoAckMode
28281@cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
28282@anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
28283Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
28284protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
28285
28286Reply:
28287@table @samp
28288@item OK
28289The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
28290@value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
28291but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
28292@samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
28293@item
28294An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
28295@end table
28296
28297@item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
28298@cindex supported packets, remote query
28299@cindex features of the remote protocol
28300@cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
28301@anchor{qSupported}
28302Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
28303query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
28304@value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
28305features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
28306at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
28307packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
28308high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
28309be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
28310stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
28311automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
28312reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
28313unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
28314helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
28315versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
28316
28317Reply:
28318@table @samp
28319@item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
28320The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
28321depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
28322possible forms).
28323@item
28324An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
28325or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
28326@end table
28327
28328The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
28329@samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
28330are:
28331
28332@table @samp
28333@item @var{name}=@var{value}
28334The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
28335with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
28336on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
28337@item @var{name}+
28338The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
28339need an associated value.
28340@item @var{name}-
28341The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
28342@item @var{name}?
28343The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
28344@value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
28345needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
28346but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
28347@end table
28348
28349Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
28350supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
28351request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
28352state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
28353a different version of @value{GDBN}.
28354
28355The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
28356are defined:
28357
28358@table @samp
28359@item multiprocess
28360This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
28361extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
28362extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
28363including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
28364@xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
28365@end table
28366
28367Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
28368@var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
28369packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
28370versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
28371for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
28372advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
28373improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
28374an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
28375of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
28376describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
28377all the features it supports.
28378
28379Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
28380responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
28381
28382Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
28383should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
28384require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
28385form response.
28386
28387Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
28388@samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
28389in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
28390stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
28391
28392Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
28393mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
28394architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
28395about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
28396stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
28397
28398These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
28399
28400@multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
28401@c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
28402@c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
28403@item Feature Name
28404@tab Value Required
28405@tab Default
28406@tab Probe Allowed
28407
28408@item @samp{PacketSize}
28409@tab Yes
28410@tab @samp{-}
28411@tab No
28412
28413@item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
28414@tab No
28415@tab @samp{-}
28416@tab Yes
28417
28418@item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
28419@tab No
28420@tab @samp{-}
28421@tab Yes
28422
28423@item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
28424@tab No
28425@tab @samp{-}
28426@tab Yes
28427
28428@item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
28429@tab No
28430@tab @samp{-}
28431@tab Yes
28432
28433@item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
28434@tab No
28435@tab @samp{-}
28436@tab Yes
28437
28438@item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
28439@tab No
28440@tab @samp{-}
28441@tab Yes
28442
28443@item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
28444@tab No
28445@tab @samp{-}
28446@tab Yes
28447
28448@item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
28449@tab No
28450@tab @samp{-}
28451@tab Yes
28452
28453@item @samp{QNonStop}
28454@tab No
28455@tab @samp{-}
28456@tab Yes
28457
28458@item @samp{QPassSignals}
28459@tab No
28460@tab @samp{-}
28461@tab Yes
28462
28463@item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
28464@tab No
28465@tab @samp{-}
28466@tab Yes
28467
28468@item @samp{multiprocess}
28469@tab No
28470@tab @samp{-}
28471@tab No
28472
28473@item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
28474@tab No
28475@tab @samp{-}
28476@tab No
28477
28478@end multitable
28479
28480These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
28481
28482@table @samp
28483@cindex packet size, remote protocol
28484@item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
28485The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
28486length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
28487transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
28488data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
28489There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
28490stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
28491byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
28492@value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
28493
28494@item qXfer:auxv:read
28495The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
28496(@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
28497
28498@item qXfer:features:read
28499The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
28500(@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
28501
28502@item qXfer:libraries:read
28503The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
28504(@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
28505
28506@item qXfer:memory-map:read
28507The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
28508(@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
28509
28510@item qXfer:spu:read
28511The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
28512(@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
28513
28514@item qXfer:spu:write
28515The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
28516(@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
28517
28518@item qXfer:siginfo:read
28519The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
28520(@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
28521
28522@item qXfer:siginfo:write
28523The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
28524(@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
28525
28526@item QNonStop
28527The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
28528(@pxref{QNonStop}).
28529
28530@item QPassSignals
28531The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
28532(@pxref{QPassSignals}).
28533
28534@item QStartNoAckMode
28535The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
28536prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
28537
28538@item multiprocess
28539@anchor{multiprocess extensions}
28540@cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
28541The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
28542protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
28543thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
28544add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
28545replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
28546syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
28547debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
28548multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
28549indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
28550
28551@item qXfer:osdata:read
28552The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
28553((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
28554
28555@item ConditionalTracepoints
28556The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
28557for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
28558
28559@end table
28560
28561@item qSymbol::
28562@cindex symbol lookup, remote request
28563@cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
28564Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
28565requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
28566
28567Reply:
28568@table @samp
28569@item OK
28570The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
28571@item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
28572The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
28573@value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
28574@samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
28575below.
28576@end table
28577
28578@item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
28579Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
28580
28581@var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
28582target has previously requested.
28583
28584@var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
28585@value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
28586will be empty.
28587
28588Reply:
28589@table @samp
28590@item OK
28591The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
28592@item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
28593The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
28594encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
28595(if available), until the target ceases to request them.
28596@end table
28597
28598@item QTDP
28599@itemx QTFrame
28600@xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
28601
28602@item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
28603@cindex thread attributes info, remote request
28604@cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
28605Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
28606the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
28607see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
28608string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
28609for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
28610displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
28611examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
28612@samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
28613
28614Reply:
28615@table @samp
28616@item @var{XX}@dots{}
28617Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
28618comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
28619the thread's attributes.
28620@end table
28621
28622(Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
28623the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
28624conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
28625packets.)
28626
28627@item QTStart
28628@itemx QTStop
28629@itemx QTinit
28630@itemx QTro
28631@itemx qTStatus
28632@xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
28633
28634@item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
28635@cindex read special object, remote request
28636@cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
28637@anchor{qXfer read}
28638Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
28639identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
28640starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
28641encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
28642additional details about what data to access.
28643
28644Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
28645@samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
28646formats, listed below.
28647
28648@table @samp
28649@item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
28650@anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
28651Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
28652auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
28653
28654This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
28655by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
28656
28657@item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
28658@anchor{qXfer target description read}
28659Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
28660annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
28661always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
28662
28663This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
28664by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
28665
28666@item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
28667@anchor{qXfer library list read}
28668Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
28669The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
28670(@pxref{qXfer read}).
28671
28672Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
28673not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
28674the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
28675
28676This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
28677by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
28678
28679@item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
28680@anchor{qXfer memory map read}
28681Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
28682annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
28683(@pxref{qXfer read}).
28684
28685This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
28686by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
28687
28688@item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
28689@anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
28690Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
28691system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
28692empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
28693
28694This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
28695by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
28696(@pxref{qSupported}).
28697
28698@item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
28699@anchor{qXfer spu read}
28700Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
28701annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
28702@file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
28703in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
28704in that context to be accessed.
28705
28706This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
28707by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
28708(@pxref{qSupported}).
28709
28710@item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
28711@anchor{qXfer osdata read}
28712Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
28713@xref{Operating System Information}.
28714
28715@end table
28716
28717Reply:
28718@table @samp
28719@item m @var{data}
28720Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
28721target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
28722it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
28723block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
28724@var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
28725request.
28726
28727@item l @var{data}
28728Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
28729There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
28730than the @var{length} in the request.
28731
28732@item l
28733The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
28734There is no more data to be read.
28735
28736@item E00
28737The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
28738
28739@item E @var{nn}
28740The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
28741@var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
28742
28743@item
28744An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
28745the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
28746@end table
28747
28748@item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
28749@cindex write data into object, remote request
28750@anchor{qXfer write}
28751Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
28752identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
28753into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
28754(@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
28755is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
28756to access.
28757
28758Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
28759@samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
28760formats, listed below.
28761
28762@table @samp
28763@item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
28764@anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
28765Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
28766The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
28767empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
28768
28769This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
28770by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
28771(@pxref{qSupported}).
28772
28773@item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
28774@anchor{qXfer spu write}
28775Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
28776annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
28777@file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
28778in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
28779in that context to be accessed.
28780
28781This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
28782by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
28783@end table
28784
28785Reply:
28786@table @samp
28787@item @var{nn}
28788@var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
28789This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
28790
28791@item E00
28792The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
28793
28794@item E @var{nn}
28795The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
28796@var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
28797
28798@item
28799An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
28800recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
28801@end table
28802
28803@item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
28804Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
28805not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
28806@var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
28807must respond with an empty packet.
28808
28809@item qAttached:@var{pid}
28810@cindex query attached, remote request
28811@cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
28812Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
28813existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
28814protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
28815@var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
28816process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
28817the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
28818
28819This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
28820should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
28821the @code{quit} command.
28822
28823Reply:
28824@table @samp
28825@item 1
28826The remote server attached to an existing process.
28827@item 0
28828The remote server created a new process.
28829@item E @var{NN}
28830A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
28831@end table
28832
28833@end table
28834
28835@node Register Packet Format
28836@section Register Packet Format
28837
28838The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
28839In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
28840sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
28841to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
28842byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
28843most-significant - least-significant.
28844
28845@table @r
28846
28847@item MIPS32
28848
28849All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
2885032 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
28851registers; fsr; fir; fp.
28852
28853@item MIPS64
28854
28855All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
28856thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
28857as @code{MIPS32}.
28858
28859@end table
28860
28861@node Tracepoint Packets
28862@section Tracepoint Packets
28863@cindex tracepoint packets
28864@cindex packets, tracepoint
28865
28866Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
28867tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
28868
28869@table @samp
28870
28871@item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
28872Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
28873is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
28874the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
28875count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{X} is present,
28876it introduces a tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal
28877length, followed by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar
28878to action encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is
28879present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this
28880tracepoint's actions.
28881
28882Replies:
28883@table @samp
28884@item OK
28885The packet was understood and carried out.
28886@item
28887The packet was not recognized.
28888@end table
28889
28890@item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
28891Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
28892@var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
28893this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
28894another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
28895trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
28896specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
28897
28898In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
28899can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
28900is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
28901actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
28902taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
28903@samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
28904tracepoint actions.
28905
28906The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
28907actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
28908following forms:
28909
28910@table @samp
28911
28912@item R @var{mask}
28913Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
28914a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
28915@var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
28916zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
28917not fit in a 32-bit word.
28918
28919@item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
28920Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
28921number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
28922@samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
28923address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
28924@var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
28925values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
28926
28927@item X @var{len},@var{expr}
28928Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
28929it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
28930@ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
28931two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
28932in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
28933packet).
28934
28935@end table
28936
28937Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
28938packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
28939length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
28940action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
28941actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
28942must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
28943``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
28944separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
28945
28946Replies:
28947@table @samp
28948@item OK
28949The packet was understood and carried out.
28950@item
28951The packet was not recognized.
28952@end table
28953
28954@item QTFrame:@var{n}
28955Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
28956register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
28957request packets from @value{GDBN}.
28958
28959A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
28960requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
28961without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
28962one of the following forms:
28963
28964@table @samp
28965@item F @var{f}
28966The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
28967@var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
28968was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
28969
28970@item T @var{t}
28971The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
28972@var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
28973
28974@end table
28975
28976@item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
28977Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
28978currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
28979@var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
28980
28981@item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
28982Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
28983currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
28984is a hexadecimal number.
28985
28986@item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
28987Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
28988currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
28989and @var{end} (exclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
28990numbers.
28991
28992@item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
28993Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
28994frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses.
28995
28996@item QTStart
28997Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from tracepoint
28998hits in the trace frame buffer.
28999
29000@item QTStop
29001End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
29002
29003@item QTinit
29004Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
29005
29006@item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
29007Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
29008will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
29009if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
29010
29011@value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
29012containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
29013still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
29014there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
29015
29016@item qTStatus
29017Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
29018
29019Replies:
29020@table @samp
29021@item T0
29022There is no trace experiment running.
29023@item T1
29024There is a trace experiment running.
29025@end table
29026
29027@end table
29028
29029
29030@node Host I/O Packets
29031@section Host I/O Packets
29032@cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
29033@cindex file transfer, remote protocol
29034
29035The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
29036operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
29037used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
29038filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
29039layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
29040Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
29041protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
29042Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
29043target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
29044Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
29045
29046The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
29047its arguments. They have this format:
29048
29049@table @samp
29050
29051@item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
29052@var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
29053should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
29054for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
29055the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
29056numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
29057used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
29058hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
29059buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
29060
29061@end table
29062
29063The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
29064
29065@table @samp
29066
29067@item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
29068@var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
29069non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
29070@var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
29071value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
29072operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
29073binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
29074normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
29075documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
29076@var{attachment}.
29077
29078@item
29079An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
29080
29081@end table
29082
29083These are the supported Host I/O operations:
29084
29085@table @samp
29086@item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
29087Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
29088return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
29089@var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
29090(@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
29091of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
29092@xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
29093
29094@item vFile:close: @var{fd}
29095Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
29096-1 if an error occurs.
29097
29098@item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
29099Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
29100@var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
29101relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
29102common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
29103condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
29104returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
29105@var{count} was zero.
29106
29107The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
29108If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
29109attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
29110number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
29111some characters were escaped.
29112
29113@item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
29114Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
29115to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
29116file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
29117separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
29118packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
29119which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
29120error occurred.
29121
29122@item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
29123Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
29124or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
29125
29126@end table
29127
29128@node Interrupts
29129@section Interrupts
29130@cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
29131
29132When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
29133attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C} or a @code{BREAK},
29134control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{remotebreak}
29135setting (@pxref{set remotebreak}).
29136
29137The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
29138mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
29139currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
29140interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
29141@code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
29142
29143@samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
29144transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
29145@code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
29146the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
29147transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
29148and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
29149(@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
29150@code{0x03} as part of its packet.
29151
29152Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
29153precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
29154implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
29155threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
29156currently-executing threads and processes.
29157If the stub is successful at interrupting the
29158running program, it should send one of the stop
29159reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
29160of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
29161for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
29162Interrupts received while the
29163program is stopped are discarded.
29164
29165@node Notification Packets
29166@section Notification Packets
29167@cindex notification packets
29168@cindex packets, notification
29169
29170The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
29171packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
29172may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
29173present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
29174without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
29175are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
29176is not a problem.
29177
29178A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
29179@var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
29180and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
29181as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
29182never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
29183receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
29184to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
29185
29186Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
29187colon characters, followed by a colon character.
29188
29189Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
29190notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
29191timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
29192not they understand it.
29193
29194Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
29195protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
29196future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
29197new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
29198recipients.
29199
29200(Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
29201the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
29202transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
29203are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
29204assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
29205
29206The following notification packets from the stub to @value{GDBN} are
29207defined:
29208
29209@table @samp
29210@item Stop: @var{reply}
29211Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
29212The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
29213described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
29214for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
29215@value{GDBN}.
29216@end table
29217
29218@node Remote Non-Stop
29219@section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
29220
29221@value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
29222multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
29223supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
29224@samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
29225
29226@value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
29227establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
29228does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
29229must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
29230all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
29231probe the target state after a mode change.
29232
29233In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
29234would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
29235asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
29236inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
29237in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
29238mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
29239when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
29240of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
29241affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
29242to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
29243threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
29244
29245Only one stop reply notification at a time may be pending; if
29246additional stop events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
29247previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
29248synchronous transmission in response to @samp{vStopped} packets from
29249@value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
29250the stub is permitted to resend a stop reply notification
29251if it believes @value{GDBN} may not have received it. @value{GDBN}
29252ignores additional stop reply notifications received before it has
29253finished processing a previous notification and the stub has completed
29254sending any queued stop events.
29255
29256Otherwise, @value{GDBN} must be prepared to receive a stop reply
29257notification at any time. Specifically, they may appear when
29258@value{GDBN} is not otherwise reading input from the stub, or when
29259@value{GDBN} is expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
29260@samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
29261Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
29262the stub so there is no ambiguity.
29263
29264After receiving a stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall
29265acknowledge it by sending a @samp{vStopped} packet (@pxref{vStopped packet})
29266as a regular, synchronous request to the stub. Such acknowledgment
29267is not required to happen immediately, as @value{GDBN} is permitted to
29268send other, unrelated packets to the stub first, which the stub should
29269process normally.
29270
29271Upon receiving a @samp{vStopped} packet, if the stub has other queued
29272stop events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
29273normal stop reply response. @value{GDBN} shall then send another
29274@samp{vStopped} packet to solicit further responses; again, it is
29275permitted to send other, unrelated packets as well which the stub
29276should process normally.
29277
29278If the stub receives a @samp{vStopped} packet and there are no
29279additional stop events to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK}
29280response. At this point, if further stop events occur, the stub shall
29281send a new stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the
29282notification, and the process shall be repeated.
29283
29284In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
29285follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
29286sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
29287sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
29288it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
29289stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
29290subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
29291using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
29292asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
29293If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
29294or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
29295@samp{OK}.
29296
29297@node Packet Acknowledgment
29298@section Packet Acknowledgment
29299
29300@cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
29301@cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
29302By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
29303the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
29304the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
29305This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
29306unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
29307
29308In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
29309TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
29310It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
29311overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
29312@samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
29313
29314When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
29315expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
29316and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
29317@ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
29318
29319If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
29320no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
29321by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
29322@pxref{qSupported}.
29323If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
29324disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
29325(@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
29326@value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
29327Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
29328@value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
29329response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
29330
29331Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
29332between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
29333it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
29334connection.
29335Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
29336new connection is established,
29337there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
29338for the current connection, once disabled.
29339
29340@node Examples
29341@section Examples
29342
29343Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
29344does not get any direct output:
29345
29346@smallexample
29347-> @code{R00}
29348<- @code{+}
29349@emph{target restarts}
29350-> @code{?}
29351<- @code{+}
29352<- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
29353-> @code{+}
29354@end smallexample
29355
29356Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
29357
29358@smallexample
29359-> @code{G1445@dots{}}
29360<- @code{+}
29361-> @code{s}
29362<- @code{+}
29363@emph{time passes}
29364<- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
29365-> @code{+}
29366-> @code{g}
29367<- @code{+}
29368<- @code{1455@dots{}}
29369-> @code{+}
29370@end smallexample
29371
29372@node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
29373@section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
29374@cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
29375
29376@menu
29377* File-I/O Overview::
29378* Protocol Basics::
29379* The F Request Packet::
29380* The F Reply Packet::
29381* The Ctrl-C Message::
29382* Console I/O::
29383* List of Supported Calls::
29384* Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
29385* Constants::
29386* File-I/O Examples::
29387@end menu
29388
29389@node File-I/O Overview
29390@subsection File-I/O Overview
29391@cindex file-i/o overview
29392
29393The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
29394target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
29395system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
29396remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
29397actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
29398This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
29399
29400The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
29401It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
29402@value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
29403translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
29404protocol representations when data is transmitted.
29405
29406The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
29407@value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
29408or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
29409the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
29410memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
29411the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
29412(@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
29413
29414The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
29415the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
29416after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
29417previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
29418request from @value{GDBN} is required.
29419
29420@smallexample
29421(@value{GDBP}) continue
29422 <- target requests 'system call X'
29423 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
29424 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
29425 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
29426 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
29427@end smallexample
29428
29429The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
29430the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
29431named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
29432system are not supported by this protocol.
29433
29434File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
29435
29436@node Protocol Basics
29437@subsection Protocol Basics
29438@cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
29439
29440The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
29441as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
29442@value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
29443the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
29444of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
29445This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
29446to call the appropriate host system call:
29447
29448@itemize @bullet
29449@item
29450A unique identifier for the requested system call.
29451
29452@item
29453All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
29454in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
29455pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
29456Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
29457
29458@end itemize
29459
29460At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
29461
29462@itemize @bullet
29463@item
29464If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
29465system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
29466standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
29467expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
29468packet.
29469
29470@item
29471@value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
29472representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
29473
29474@item
29475@value{GDBN} calls the system call.
29476
29477@item
29478It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
29479
29480@item
29481If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
29482by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
29483target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
29484by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
29485packet.
29486
29487@end itemize
29488
29489Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
29490necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
29491
29492@itemize @bullet
29493@item
29494Return value.
29495
29496@item
29497@code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
29498
29499@item
29500``Ctrl-C'' flag.
29501
29502@end itemize
29503
29504After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
29505the latest continue or step action.
29506
29507@node The F Request Packet
29508@subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
29509@cindex file-i/o request packet
29510@cindex @code{F} request packet
29511
29512The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
29513
29514@table @samp
29515@item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
29516
29517@var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
29518This is just the name of the function.
29519
29520@var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
29521Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
29522of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
29523datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
29524of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
29525comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
29526string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
29527
29528@end table
29529
29530
29531
29532@node The F Reply Packet
29533@subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
29534@cindex file-i/o reply packet
29535@cindex @code{F} reply packet
29536
29537The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
29538
29539@table @samp
29540
29541@item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
29542
29543@var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
29544
29545@var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
29546representation.
29547This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
29548
29549@var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
29550case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
29551The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
29552
29553@smallexample
29554F0,0,C
29555@end smallexample
29556
29557@noindent
29558or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
29559
29560@smallexample
29561F-1,4,C
29562@end smallexample
29563
29564@noindent
29565assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
29566
29567@end table
29568
29569
29570@node The Ctrl-C Message
29571@subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
29572@cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
29573
29574If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
29575reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
29576the target should behave as if it had
29577gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
29578interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
29579(as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
29580packet.
29581
29582It's important for the target to know in which
29583state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
29584
29585@itemize @bullet
29586@item
29587The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
29588
29589@item
29590The system call on the host has been finished.
29591
29592@end itemize
29593
29594These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
29595returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
29596call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
29597on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
29598system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
29599as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
29600
29601@value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
29602yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
29603@code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
29604before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
29605@value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
29606The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
29607or the full action has been completed.
29608
29609@node Console I/O
29610@subsection Console I/O
29611@cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
29612
29613By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
29614descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
29615on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
29616(@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
29617by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
296180 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
29619conditions is met:
29620
29621@itemize @bullet
29622@item
29623The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
29624@code{read}
29625system call is treated as finished.
29626
29627@item
29628The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
29629newline.
29630
29631@item
29632The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
29633character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
29634
29635@end itemize
29636
29637If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
29638the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
29639either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
29640is stopped at the user's request.
29641
29642
29643@node List of Supported Calls
29644@subsection List of Supported Calls
29645@cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
29646
29647@menu
29648* open::
29649* close::
29650* read::
29651* write::
29652* lseek::
29653* rename::
29654* unlink::
29655* stat/fstat::
29656* gettimeofday::
29657* isatty::
29658* system::
29659@end menu
29660
29661@node open
29662@unnumberedsubsubsec open
29663@cindex open, file-i/o system call
29664
29665@table @asis
29666@item Synopsis:
29667@smallexample
29668int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
29669int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
29670@end smallexample
29671
29672@item Request:
29673@samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
29674
29675@noindent
29676@var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
29677
29678@table @code
29679@item O_CREAT
29680If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
29681rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
29682are concerned.
29683
29684@item O_EXCL
29685When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
29686an error and open() fails.
29687
29688@item O_TRUNC
29689If the file already exists and the open mode allows
29690writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
29691truncated to zero length.
29692
29693@item O_APPEND
29694The file is opened in append mode.
29695
29696@item O_RDONLY
29697The file is opened for reading only.
29698
29699@item O_WRONLY
29700The file is opened for writing only.
29701
29702@item O_RDWR
29703The file is opened for reading and writing.
29704@end table
29705
29706@noindent
29707Other bits are silently ignored.
29708
29709
29710@noindent
29711@var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
29712
29713@table @code
29714@item S_IRUSR
29715User has read permission.
29716
29717@item S_IWUSR
29718User has write permission.
29719
29720@item S_IRGRP
29721Group has read permission.
29722
29723@item S_IWGRP
29724Group has write permission.
29725
29726@item S_IROTH
29727Others have read permission.
29728
29729@item S_IWOTH
29730Others have write permission.
29731@end table
29732
29733@noindent
29734Other bits are silently ignored.
29735
29736
29737@item Return value:
29738@code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
29739occurred.
29740
29741@item Errors:
29742
29743@table @code
29744@item EEXIST
29745@var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
29746
29747@item EISDIR
29748@var{pathname} refers to a directory.
29749
29750@item EACCES
29751The requested access is not allowed.
29752
29753@item ENAMETOOLONG
29754@var{pathname} was too long.
29755
29756@item ENOENT
29757A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
29758
29759@item ENODEV
29760@var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
29761
29762@item EROFS
29763@var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
29764write access was requested.
29765
29766@item EFAULT
29767@var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
29768
29769@item ENOSPC
29770No space on device to create the file.
29771
29772@item EMFILE
29773The process already has the maximum number of files open.
29774
29775@item ENFILE
29776The limit on the total number of files open on the system
29777has been reached.
29778
29779@item EINTR
29780The call was interrupted by the user.
29781@end table
29782
29783@end table
29784
29785@node close
29786@unnumberedsubsubsec close
29787@cindex close, file-i/o system call
29788
29789@table @asis
29790@item Synopsis:
29791@smallexample
29792int close(int fd);
29793@end smallexample
29794
29795@item Request:
29796@samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
29797
29798@item Return value:
29799@code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
29800
29801@item Errors:
29802
29803@table @code
29804@item EBADF
29805@var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
29806
29807@item EINTR
29808The call was interrupted by the user.
29809@end table
29810
29811@end table
29812
29813@node read
29814@unnumberedsubsubsec read
29815@cindex read, file-i/o system call
29816
29817@table @asis
29818@item Synopsis:
29819@smallexample
29820int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
29821@end smallexample
29822
29823@item Request:
29824@samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
29825
29826@item Return value:
29827On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
29828Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
29829returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
29830
29831@item Errors:
29832
29833@table @code
29834@item EBADF
29835@var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
29836reading.
29837
29838@item EFAULT
29839@var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
29840
29841@item EINTR
29842The call was interrupted by the user.
29843@end table
29844
29845@end table
29846
29847@node write
29848@unnumberedsubsubsec write
29849@cindex write, file-i/o system call
29850
29851@table @asis
29852@item Synopsis:
29853@smallexample
29854int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
29855@end smallexample
29856
29857@item Request:
29858@samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
29859
29860@item Return value:
29861On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
29862Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
29863is returned.
29864
29865@item Errors:
29866
29867@table @code
29868@item EBADF
29869@var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
29870writing.
29871
29872@item EFAULT
29873@var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
29874
29875@item EFBIG
29876An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
29877host-specific maximum file size allowed.
29878
29879@item ENOSPC
29880No space on device to write the data.
29881
29882@item EINTR
29883The call was interrupted by the user.
29884@end table
29885
29886@end table
29887
29888@node lseek
29889@unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
29890@cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
29891
29892@table @asis
29893@item Synopsis:
29894@smallexample
29895long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
29896@end smallexample
29897
29898@item Request:
29899@samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
29900
29901@var{flag} is one of:
29902
29903@table @code
29904@item SEEK_SET
29905The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
29906
29907@item SEEK_CUR
29908The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
29909bytes.
29910
29911@item SEEK_END
29912The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
29913bytes.
29914@end table
29915
29916@item Return value:
29917On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
29918the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
29919value of -1 is returned.
29920
29921@item Errors:
29922
29923@table @code
29924@item EBADF
29925@var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
29926
29927@item ESPIPE
29928@var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
29929
29930@item EINVAL
29931@var{flag} is not a proper value.
29932
29933@item EINTR
29934The call was interrupted by the user.
29935@end table
29936
29937@end table
29938
29939@node rename
29940@unnumberedsubsubsec rename
29941@cindex rename, file-i/o system call
29942
29943@table @asis
29944@item Synopsis:
29945@smallexample
29946int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
29947@end smallexample
29948
29949@item Request:
29950@samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
29951
29952@item Return value:
29953On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
29954
29955@item Errors:
29956
29957@table @code
29958@item EISDIR
29959@var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
29960directory.
29961
29962@item EEXIST
29963@var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
29964
29965@item EBUSY
29966@var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
29967process.
29968
29969@item EINVAL
29970An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
29971of itself.
29972
29973@item ENOTDIR
29974A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
29975path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
29976and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
29977
29978@item EFAULT
29979@var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
29980
29981@item EACCES
29982No access to the file or the path of the file.
29983
29984@item ENAMETOOLONG
29985
29986@var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
29987
29988@item ENOENT
29989A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
29990
29991@item EROFS
29992The file is on a read-only filesystem.
29993
29994@item ENOSPC
29995The device containing the file has no room for the new
29996directory entry.
29997
29998@item EINTR
29999The call was interrupted by the user.
30000@end table
30001
30002@end table
30003
30004@node unlink
30005@unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
30006@cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
30007
30008@table @asis
30009@item Synopsis:
30010@smallexample
30011int unlink(const char *pathname);
30012@end smallexample
30013
30014@item Request:
30015@samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
30016
30017@item Return value:
30018On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
30019
30020@item Errors:
30021
30022@table @code
30023@item EACCES
30024No access to the file or the path of the file.
30025
30026@item EPERM
30027The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
30028
30029@item EBUSY
30030The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
30031being used by another process.
30032
30033@item EFAULT
30034@var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
30035
30036@item ENAMETOOLONG
30037@var{pathname} was too long.
30038
30039@item ENOENT
30040A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
30041
30042@item ENOTDIR
30043A component of the path is not a directory.
30044
30045@item EROFS
30046The file is on a read-only filesystem.
30047
30048@item EINTR
30049The call was interrupted by the user.
30050@end table
30051
30052@end table
30053
30054@node stat/fstat
30055@unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
30056@cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
30057@cindex stat, file-i/o system call
30058
30059@table @asis
30060@item Synopsis:
30061@smallexample
30062int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
30063int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
30064@end smallexample
30065
30066@item Request:
30067@samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
30068@samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
30069
30070@item Return value:
30071On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
30072
30073@item Errors:
30074
30075@table @code
30076@item EBADF
30077@var{fd} is not a valid open file.
30078
30079@item ENOENT
30080A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
30081path is an empty string.
30082
30083@item ENOTDIR
30084A component of the path is not a directory.
30085
30086@item EFAULT
30087@var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
30088
30089@item EACCES
30090No access to the file or the path of the file.
30091
30092@item ENAMETOOLONG
30093@var{pathname} was too long.
30094
30095@item EINTR
30096The call was interrupted by the user.
30097@end table
30098
30099@end table
30100
30101@node gettimeofday
30102@unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
30103@cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
30104
30105@table @asis
30106@item Synopsis:
30107@smallexample
30108int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
30109@end smallexample
30110
30111@item Request:
30112@samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
30113
30114@item Return value:
30115On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
30116
30117@item Errors:
30118
30119@table @code
30120@item EINVAL
30121@var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
30122
30123@item EFAULT
30124@var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
30125@end table
30126
30127@end table
30128
30129@node isatty
30130@unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
30131@cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
30132
30133@table @asis
30134@item Synopsis:
30135@smallexample
30136int isatty(int fd);
30137@end smallexample
30138
30139@item Request:
30140@samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
30141
30142@item Return value:
30143Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
30144
30145@item Errors:
30146
30147@table @code
30148@item EINTR
30149The call was interrupted by the user.
30150@end table
30151
30152@end table
30153
30154Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
301551 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
30156to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
30157would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
30158needed.
30159
30160
30161@node system
30162@unnumberedsubsubsec system
30163@cindex system, file-i/o system call
30164
30165@table @asis
30166@item Synopsis:
30167@smallexample
30168int system(const char *command);
30169@end smallexample
30170
30171@item Request:
30172@samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
30173
30174@item Return value:
30175If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
30176available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
30177For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
30178return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
30179command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
30180return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
30181@file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
30182
30183@item Errors:
30184
30185@table @code
30186@item EINTR
30187The call was interrupted by the user.
30188@end table
30189
30190@end table
30191
30192@value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
30193to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
30194the host is simplified before it's returned
30195to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
30196is discarded, and the return value consists
30197entirely of the exit status of the called command.
30198
30199Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
30200by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
30201@code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
30202
30203@table @code
30204@item set remote system-call-allowed
30205@kindex set remote system-call-allowed
30206Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
30207protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
30208
30209@item show remote system-call-allowed
30210@kindex show remote system-call-allowed
30211Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
30212protocol.
30213@end table
30214
30215@node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
30216@subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
30217@cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
30218
30219@menu
30220* Integral Datatypes::
30221* Pointer Values::
30222* Memory Transfer::
30223* struct stat::
30224* struct timeval::
30225@end menu
30226
30227@node Integral Datatypes
30228@unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
30229@cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
30230
30231The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
30232@code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
30233@code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
30234
30235@code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
30236implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
30237
30238@code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
30239
30240@xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
30241in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
30242
30243@code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
30244
30245All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
30246structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
30247byte order.
30248
30249@node Pointer Values
30250@unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
30251@cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
30252
30253Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
30254is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
30255transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
30256are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
30257
30258@smallexample
30259@code{1aaf/12}
30260@end smallexample
30261
30262@noindent
30263which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
30264The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
30265the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
30266at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
30267
30268@smallexample
30269@code{123456/d}
30270@end smallexample
30271
30272@node Memory Transfer
30273@unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
30274@cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
30275
30276Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
30277example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
30278with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
30279this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
30280packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
30281it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
30282data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
30283
30284
30285@node struct stat
30286@unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
30287@cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
30288
30289The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
30290is defined as follows:
30291
30292@smallexample
30293struct stat @{
30294 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
30295 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
30296 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
30297 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
30298 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
30299 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
30300 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
30301 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
30302 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
30303 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
30304 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
30305 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
30306 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
30307@};
30308@end smallexample
30309
30310The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
30311appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
30312structure is of size 64 bytes.
30313
30314The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
30315range of values.
30316
30317@table @code
30318
30319@item st_dev
30320A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
30321
30322@item st_ino
30323No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
30324
30325@item st_mode
30326Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
30327bits have currently no meaning for the target.
30328
30329@item st_uid
30330@itemx st_gid
30331@itemx st_rdev
30332No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
30333
30334@item st_atime
30335@itemx st_mtime
30336@itemx st_ctime
30337These values have a host and file system dependent
30338accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
30339support exact timing values.
30340@end table
30341
30342The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
30343responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
30344continuing.
30345
30346Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
30347representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
30348get truncated on the target.
30349
30350@node struct timeval
30351@unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
30352@cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
30353
30354The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
30355is defined as follows:
30356
30357@smallexample
30358struct timeval @{
30359 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
30360 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
30361@};
30362@end smallexample
30363
30364The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
30365appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
30366structure is of size 8 bytes.
30367
30368@node Constants
30369@subsection Constants
30370@cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
30371
30372The following values are used for the constants inside of the
30373protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
30374values before and after the call as needed.
30375
30376@menu
30377* Open Flags::
30378* mode_t Values::
30379* Errno Values::
30380* Lseek Flags::
30381* Limits::
30382@end menu
30383
30384@node Open Flags
30385@unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
30386@cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
30387
30388All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
30389
30390@smallexample
30391 O_RDONLY 0x0
30392 O_WRONLY 0x1
30393 O_RDWR 0x2
30394 O_APPEND 0x8
30395 O_CREAT 0x200
30396 O_TRUNC 0x400
30397 O_EXCL 0x800
30398@end smallexample
30399
30400@node mode_t Values
30401@unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
30402@cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
30403
30404All values are given in octal representation.
30405
30406@smallexample
30407 S_IFREG 0100000
30408 S_IFDIR 040000
30409 S_IRUSR 0400
30410 S_IWUSR 0200
30411 S_IXUSR 0100
30412 S_IRGRP 040
30413 S_IWGRP 020
30414 S_IXGRP 010
30415 S_IROTH 04
30416 S_IWOTH 02
30417 S_IXOTH 01
30418@end smallexample
30419
30420@node Errno Values
30421@unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
30422@cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
30423
30424All values are given in decimal representation.
30425
30426@smallexample
30427 EPERM 1
30428 ENOENT 2
30429 EINTR 4
30430 EBADF 9
30431 EACCES 13
30432 EFAULT 14
30433 EBUSY 16
30434 EEXIST 17
30435 ENODEV 19
30436 ENOTDIR 20
30437 EISDIR 21
30438 EINVAL 22
30439 ENFILE 23
30440 EMFILE 24
30441 EFBIG 27
30442 ENOSPC 28
30443 ESPIPE 29
30444 EROFS 30
30445 ENAMETOOLONG 91
30446 EUNKNOWN 9999
30447@end smallexample
30448
30449 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
30450 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
30451
30452@node Lseek Flags
30453@unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
30454@cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
30455
30456@smallexample
30457 SEEK_SET 0
30458 SEEK_CUR 1
30459 SEEK_END 2
30460@end smallexample
30461
30462@node Limits
30463@unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
30464@cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
30465
30466All values are given in decimal representation.
30467
30468@smallexample
30469 INT_MIN -2147483648
30470 INT_MAX 2147483647
30471 UINT_MAX 4294967295
30472 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
30473 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
30474 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
30475@end smallexample
30476
30477@node File-I/O Examples
30478@subsection File-I/O Examples
30479@cindex file-i/o examples
30480
30481Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
30482address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
30483
30484@smallexample
30485<- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
30486@emph{request memory read from target}
30487-> @code{m1234,6}
30488<- XXXXXX
30489@emph{return "6 bytes written"}
30490-> @code{F6}
30491@end smallexample
30492
30493Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
30494address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
30495
30496@smallexample
30497<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
30498@emph{request memory write to target}
30499-> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
30500@emph{return "6 bytes read"}
30501-> @code{F6}
30502@end smallexample
30503
30504Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
30505file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
30506
30507@smallexample
30508<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
30509-> @code{F-1,9}
30510@end smallexample
30511
30512Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
30513host is called:
30514
30515@smallexample
30516<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
30517-> @code{F-1,4,C}
30518<- @code{T02}
30519@end smallexample
30520
30521Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
30522host is called:
30523
30524@smallexample
30525<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
30526-> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
30527<- @code{T02}
30528@end smallexample
30529
30530@node Library List Format
30531@section Library List Format
30532@cindex library list format, remote protocol
30533
30534On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
30535same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
30536@value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
30537operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
30538platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
30539@value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
30540through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
30541packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
30542queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
30543are loaded.
30544
30545The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
30546lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
30547associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
30548which report where the library was loaded in memory.
30549
30550For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
30551library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
30552dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
30553should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
30554section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
30555depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
30556
30557@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
30558library lists. @xref{Expat}.
30559
30560A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
30561offset, looks like this:
30562
30563@smallexample
30564<library-list>
30565 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
30566 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
30567 </library>
30568</library-list>
30569@end smallexample
30570
30571Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
30572allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
30573
30574@smallexample
30575<library-list>
30576 <library name="sharedlib.o">
30577 <section address="0x10000000"/>
30578 <section address="0x20000000"/>
30579 <section address="0x30000000"/>
30580 </library>
30581</library-list>
30582@end smallexample
30583
30584The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
30585
30586@smallexample
30587<!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
30588<!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
30589<!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
30590<!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
30591<!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
30592<!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
30593<!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
30594<!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
30595<!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
30596@end smallexample
30597
30598In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
30599single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
30600section for each library.
30601
30602@node Memory Map Format
30603@section Memory Map Format
30604@cindex memory map format
30605
30606To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
30607memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
30608memory map.
30609
30610The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
30611(@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
30612lists memory regions.
30613
30614@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
30615memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
30616
30617The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
30618
30619@smallexample
30620<?xml version="1.0"?>
30621<!DOCTYPE memory-map
30622 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
30623 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
30624<memory-map>
30625 region...
30626</memory-map>
30627@end smallexample
30628
30629Each region can be either:
30630
30631@itemize
30632
30633@item
30634A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
30635bytes from there:
30636
30637@smallexample
30638<memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
30639@end smallexample
30640
30641
30642@item
30643A region of read-only memory:
30644
30645@smallexample
30646<memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
30647@end smallexample
30648
30649
30650@item
30651A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
30652bytes in length:
30653
30654@smallexample
30655<memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
30656 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
30657</memory>
30658@end smallexample
30659
30660@end itemize
30661
30662Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
30663by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
30664packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
30665
30666The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
30667
30668@smallexample
30669<!-- ................................................... -->
30670<!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
30671<!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
30672<!-- .................................... .............. -->
30673<!-- memory-map.dtd -->
30674<!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
30675<!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
30676<!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
30677<!ELEMENT memory (property)>
30678<!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
30679 and its type, or device. -->
30680<!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
30681 start CDATA #REQUIRED
30682 length CDATA #REQUIRED
30683 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
30684<!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
30685<!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
30686<!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
30687@end smallexample
30688
30689@include agentexpr.texi
30690
30691@node Target Descriptions
30692@appendix Target Descriptions
30693@cindex target descriptions
30694
30695@strong{Warning:} target descriptions are still under active development,
30696and the contents and format may change between @value{GDBN} releases.
30697The format is expected to stabilize in the future.
30698
30699One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
30700is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
30701architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
30702a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or MIPS, for example ---
30703and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
30704architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
30705vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
30706
30707@itemize @bullet
30708@item
30709With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
30710the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
30711@item
30712Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
30713audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
30714variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
30715@item
30716When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
30717at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
30718@command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
30719@end itemize
30720
30721To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
30722target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
30723actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
30724processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
30725descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
30726
30727@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
30728target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
30729
30730@menu
30731* Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
30732* Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
30733* Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
30734 descriptions.
30735* Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
30736@end menu
30737
30738@node Retrieving Descriptions
30739@section Retrieving Descriptions
30740
30741Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
30742specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
30743description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
30744protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
30745qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
30746@samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
30747XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
30748Format}.
30749
30750Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
30751If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
30752specify a file are:
30753
30754@table @code
30755@cindex set tdesc filename
30756@item set tdesc filename @var{path}
30757Read the target description from @var{path}.
30758
30759@cindex unset tdesc filename
30760@item unset tdesc filename
30761Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
30762will use the description supplied by the current target.
30763
30764@cindex show tdesc filename
30765@item show tdesc filename
30766Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
30767@end table
30768
30769
30770@node Target Description Format
30771@section Target Description Format
30772@cindex target descriptions, XML format
30773
30774A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
30775document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
30776the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
30777means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
30778check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
30779However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
30780their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
30781
30782Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
30783and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
30784sets. @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
30785target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
30786
30787Here is a simple target description:
30788
30789@smallexample
30790<target version="1.0">
30791 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
30792</target>
30793@end smallexample
30794
30795@noindent
30796This minimal description only says that the target uses
30797the x86-64 architecture.
30798
30799A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
30800optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
30801are explained further below.
30802
30803@smallexample
30804<?xml version="1.0"?>
30805<!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
30806<target version="1.0">
30807 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
30808 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
30809</target>
30810@end smallexample
30811
30812@noindent
30813The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
30814breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
30815declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
30816(@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
30817useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
30818@samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
30819including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
30820revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
30821the version mismatch.
30822
30823@subsection Inclusion
30824@cindex target descriptions, inclusion
30825@cindex XInclude
30826@ifnotinfo
30827@cindex <xi:include>
30828@end ifnotinfo
30829
30830It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
30831several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
30832share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
30833divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
30834the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
30835
30836@smallexample
30837<xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
30838@end smallexample
30839
30840@noindent
30841When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
30842the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
30843the contents of that document. If the current description was read
30844using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
30845@var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
30846current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
30847@var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
30848original description.
30849
30850@subsection Architecture
30851@cindex <architecture>
30852
30853An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
30854
30855@smallexample
30856 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
30857@end smallexample
30858
30859@var{arch} is an architecture name from the same selection
30860accepted by @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a
30861Debugging Target}).
30862
30863@subsection Features
30864@cindex <feature>
30865
30866Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
30867system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
30868registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
30869has this form:
30870
30871@smallexample
30872<feature name="@var{name}">
30873 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
30874 @var{reg}@dots{}
30875</feature>
30876@end smallexample
30877
30878@noindent
30879Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
30880of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
30881knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
30882should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
30883
30884@subsection Types
30885
30886Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
30887interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
30888but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
30889Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
30890Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
30891
30892Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
30893a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
30894Types must be defined before they are used.
30895
30896@cindex <vector>
30897Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
30898of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
30899specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
30900@var{count}:
30901
30902@smallexample
30903<vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
30904@end smallexample
30905
30906@cindex <union>
30907If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
30908with a union type containing the useful representations. The
30909@samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
30910each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
30911
30912@smallexample
30913<union id="@var{id}">
30914 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
30915 @dots{}
30916</union>
30917@end smallexample
30918
30919@subsection Registers
30920@cindex <reg>
30921
30922Each register is represented as an element with this form:
30923
30924@smallexample
30925<reg name="@var{name}"
30926 bitsize="@var{size}"
30927 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
30928 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
30929 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
30930 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
30931@end smallexample
30932
30933@noindent
30934The components are as follows:
30935
30936@table @var
30937
30938@item name
30939The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
30940
30941@item bitsize
30942The register's size, in bits.
30943
30944@item regnum
30945The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
30946than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
30947a preceeding feature); the first register in the target description
30948defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
30949the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
30950packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
30951in order of increasing register number.
30952
30953@item save-restore
30954Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
30955calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
30956@code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
30957some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
30958ABI.
30959
30960@item type
30961The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
30962defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
30963and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
30964for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
30965architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
30966@var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
30967
30968@item group
30969The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
30970be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
30971@var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
30972in @code{info registers}.
30973
30974@end table
30975
30976@node Predefined Target Types
30977@section Predefined Target Types
30978@cindex target descriptions, predefined types
30979
30980Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
30981from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
30982standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
30983types. The currently supported types are:
30984
30985@table @code
30986
30987@item int8
30988@itemx int16
30989@itemx int32
30990@itemx int64
30991@itemx int128
30992Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
30993
30994@item uint8
30995@itemx uint16
30996@itemx uint32
30997@itemx uint64
30998@itemx uint128
30999Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
31000
31001@item code_ptr
31002@itemx data_ptr
31003Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
31004any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
31005pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
31006address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
31007may be marked as data pointers.
31008
31009@item ieee_single
31010Single precision IEEE floating point.
31011
31012@item ieee_double
31013Double precision IEEE floating point.
31014
31015@item arm_fpa_ext
31016The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
31017
31018@end table
31019
31020@node Standard Target Features
31021@section Standard Target Features
31022@cindex target descriptions, standard features
31023
31024A target description must contain either no registers or all the
31025target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
31026@value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
31027the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
31028default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
31029described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
31030can recognize them.
31031
31032This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
31033which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
31034with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
31035if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
31036feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
31037description. You can add additional registers to any of the
31038standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
31039they were added to an unrecognized feature.
31040
31041This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
31042Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
31043@value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
31044
31045Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
31046company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
31047architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
31048containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
31049
31050The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
31051of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
31052registers using the capitalization used in the description.
31053
31054@menu
31055* ARM Features::
31056* MIPS Features::
31057* M68K Features::
31058* PowerPC Features::
31059@end menu
31060
31061
31062@node ARM Features
31063@subsection ARM Features
31064@cindex target descriptions, ARM features
31065
31066The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for ARM targets.
31067It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
31068@samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
31069
31070The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
31071should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
31072
31073The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
31074it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
31075@samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
31076@samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
31077
31078@node MIPS Features
31079@subsection MIPS Features
31080@cindex target descriptions, MIPS features
31081
31082The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for MIPS targets.
31083It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
31084@samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
31085on the target.
31086
31087The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
31088contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
31089registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
31090
31091The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
31092it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
31093contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
31094@samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
31095
31096The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
31097contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
31098Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
31099
31100@node M68K Features
31101@subsection M68K Features
31102@cindex target descriptions, M68K features
31103
31104@table @code
31105@item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
31106@itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
31107@itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
31108One of those features must be always present.
31109The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
31110used. The feature that is present should contain registers
31111@samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
31112@samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
31113
31114@item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
31115This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
31116@samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
31117@samp{fpiaddr}.
31118@end table
31119
31120@node PowerPC Features
31121@subsection PowerPC Features
31122@cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
31123
31124The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
31125targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
31126@samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
31127@samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
31128
31129The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
31130contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
31131
31132The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
31133contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
31134and @samp{vrsave}.
31135
31136The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
31137contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
31138will combine these registers with the floating point registers
31139(@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
31140through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
31141through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
31142
31143The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
31144contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
31145@samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
31146@samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
31147@samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
31148these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
31149user.
31150
31151@node Operating System Information
31152@appendix Operating System Information
31153@cindex operating system information
31154
31155@menu
31156* Process list::
31157@end menu
31158
31159Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
31160the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
31161processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
31162mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
31163target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
31164on a different aspect of target.
31165
31166Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
31167remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
31168read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
31169the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
31170
31171@node Process list
31172@appendixsection Process list
31173@cindex operating system information, process list
31174
31175When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
31176@samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
31177an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
31178@file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
31179
31180An example document is:
31181
31182@smallexample
31183<?xml version="1.0"?>
31184<!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
31185<osdata type="processes">
31186 <item>
31187 <column name="pid">1</column>
31188 <column name="user">root</column>
31189 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
31190 </item>
31191</osdata>
31192@end smallexample
31193
31194Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
31195of that column should identify the process on the target. The
31196@samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
31197displayed by @value{GDBN}. Target may provide additional columns,
31198which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
31199
31200@include gpl.texi
31201
31202@raisesections
31203@include fdl.texi
31204@lowersections
31205
31206@node Index
31207@unnumbered Index
31208
31209@printindex cp
31210
31211@tex
31212% I think something like @colophon should be in texinfo. In the
31213% meantime:
31214\long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
31215\centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
31216\centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
31217\centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
31218\centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
31219\centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
31220\centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
31221\centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
31222\centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
31223\page\colophon
31224% Blame: doc@cygnus.com, 1991.
31225@end tex
31226
31227@bye
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