btrace, linux: add perf event buffer abstraction
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / gdb / doc / gdb.texinfo
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1\input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2@c Copyright (C) 1988-2015 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
3@c
4@c %**start of header
5@c makeinfo ignores cmds prev to setfilename, so its arg cannot make use
6@c of @set vars. However, you can override filename with makeinfo -o.
7@setfilename gdb.info
8@c
9@c man begin INCLUDE
10@include gdb-cfg.texi
11@c man end
12@c
13@settitle Debugging with @value{GDBN}
14@setchapternewpage odd
15@c %**end of header
16
17@iftex
18@c @smallbook
19@c @cropmarks
20@end iftex
21
22@finalout
23@c To avoid file-name clashes between index.html and Index.html, when
24@c the manual is produced on a Posix host and then moved to a
25@c case-insensitive filesystem (e.g., MS-Windows), we separate the
26@c indices into two: Concept Index and all the rest.
27@syncodeindex ky fn
28@syncodeindex tp fn
29
30@c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
31@c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
32@syncodeindex vr fn
33
34@c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
35@c This is updated by GNU Press.
36@set EDITION Tenth
37
38@c !!set GDB edit command default editor
39@set EDITOR /bin/ex
40
41@c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
42
43@c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
44@c manuals to an info tree.
45@dircategory Software development
46@direntry
47* Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
48* gdbserver: (gdb) Server. The GNU debugging server.
49@end direntry
50
51@copying
52@c man begin COPYRIGHT
53Copyright @copyright{} 1988-2015 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
54
55Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
56under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
57any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
58Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
59Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
60and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
61
62(a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
63this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
64developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
65@c man end
66@end copying
67
68@ifnottex
69This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
70
71This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
72@value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
73@ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
74@value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
75@end ifset
76Version @value{GDBVN}.
77
78@insertcopying
79@end ifnottex
80
81@titlepage
82@title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
83@subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
84@sp 1
85@subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
86@ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
87@sp 1
88@subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
89@end ifset
90@author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
91@page
92@tex
93{\parskip=0pt
94\hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
95\hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
96\hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
97}
98@end tex
99
100@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
101Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
10251 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
103Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
104ISBN 978-0-9831592-3-0 @*
105
106@insertcopying
107@end titlepage
108@page
109
110@ifnottex
111@node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
112
113@top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
114
115This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
116
117This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN}
118@ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
119@value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
120@end ifset
121Version @value{GDBVN}.
122
123Copyright (C) 1988-2015 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
124
125This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
126Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
127software in general. We will miss him.
128
129@menu
130* Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
131* Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
132
133* Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
134* Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
135* Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
136* Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
137* Reverse Execution:: Running programs backward
138* Process Record and Replay:: Recording inferior's execution and replaying it
139* Stack:: Examining the stack
140* Source:: Examining source files
141* Data:: Examining data
142* Optimized Code:: Debugging optimized code
143* Macros:: Preprocessor Macros
144* Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
145* Overlays:: Debugging programs that use overlays
146
147* Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
148
149* Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
150* Altering:: Altering execution
151* GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
152* Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
153* Remote Debugging:: Debugging remote programs
154* Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
155* Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
156* Extending GDB:: Extending @value{GDBN}
157* Interpreters:: Command Interpreters
158* TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
159* Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
160* GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
161* Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
162* JIT Interface:: Using the JIT debugging interface.
163* In-Process Agent:: In-Process Agent
164
165* GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
166
167@ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
168* Command Line Editing: (rluserman). Command Line Editing
169* Using History Interactively: (history). Using History Interactively
170@end ifset
171@ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
172* Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
173* Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
174@end ifclear
175* In Memoriam:: In Memoriam
176* Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
177* Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
178* Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
179* Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
180* Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
181* Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
182 @value{GDBN}
183* Operating System Information:: Getting additional information from
184 the operating system
185* Trace File Format:: GDB trace file format
186* Index Section Format:: .gdb_index section format
187* Man Pages:: Manual pages
188* Copying:: GNU General Public License says
189 how you can copy and share GDB
190* GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
191* Concept Index:: Index of @value{GDBN} concepts
192* Command and Variable Index:: Index of @value{GDBN} commands, variables,
193 functions, and Python data types
194@end menu
195
196@end ifnottex
197
198@contents
199
200@node Summary
201@unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
202
203The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
204going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
205program was doing at the moment it crashed.
206
207@value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
208these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
209
210@itemize @bullet
211@item
212Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
213
214@item
215Make your program stop on specified conditions.
216
217@item
218Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
219
220@item
221Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
222effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
223@end itemize
224
225You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
226For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
227For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
228
229Support for D is partial. For information on D, see
230@ref{D,,D}.
231
232@cindex Modula-2
233Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
234@ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
235
236Support for OpenCL C is partial. For information on OpenCL C, see
237@ref{OpenCL C,,OpenCL C}.
238
239@cindex Pascal
240Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
241nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
242entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
243syntax.
244
245@cindex Fortran
246@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
247it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
248underscore.
249
250@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
251using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
252
253@menu
254* Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
255* Free Documentation:: Free Software Needs Free Documentation
256* Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
257@end menu
258
259@node Free Software
260@unnumberedsec Free Software
261
262@value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
263General Public License
264(GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
265program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
266freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
267the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
268Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
269Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
270
271Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
272you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
273from anyone else.
274
275@node Free Documentation
276@unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
277
278The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
279the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
280include with the free software. Many of our most important
281programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
282texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
283when an important free software package does not come with a free
284manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
285gaps today.
286
287Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
288normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
289authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
290copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
291them from the free software world.
292
293That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
294from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
295manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
296only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
297contract to make it non-free.
298
299Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
300price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
301charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
302Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
303problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
304are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
305modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
306
307The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
308free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
309commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
310accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
311
312Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
313When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
314are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
315provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
316manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
317a changed version of the program is not really available to our
318community.
319
320Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
321acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
322author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
323authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
324to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
325may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
326with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
327are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
328of the manual.
329
330However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
331content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
332media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
333obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
334manual to replace it.
335
336Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
337lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
338free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
339the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
340realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
341the free software community.
342
343If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
344the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
345license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
346don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
347will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
348option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
349what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
350try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
351is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
352
353You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
354manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
355copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
356improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
357at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
358and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
359Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
360have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
361
362The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
363published by other publishers, at
364@url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
365
366@node Contributors
367@unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
368
369Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
370other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
371development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
372of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
373to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
374file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
375blow-by-blow account.
376
377Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
378
379@quotation
380@emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
381or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
382omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
383@end quotation
384
385So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
386particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
387releases:
388Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
389Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
390Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
391Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
392Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
393Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
394John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
395Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
396and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
397
398Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
399Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
400
401Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
402in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
403Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
404demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
405much general update work leading to release 3.0).
406
407@value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
408object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
409Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
410
411David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
412the original support for encapsulated COFF.
413
414Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
415
416Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
417Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
418support.
419Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
420Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
421Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
422David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
423Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
424Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
425Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
426Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
427Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
428Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
429Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
430Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
431Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
432Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
433Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
434Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
435
436Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
437
438Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
439libraries.
440
441Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
442about several machine instruction sets.
443
444Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
445remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
446contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
447and RDI targets, respectively.
448
449Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
450command-line editing and command history.
451
452Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
453Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
454
455Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
456He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
457symbols.
458
459Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
460H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
461
462NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
463
464Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
465processors.
466
467Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
468
469Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
470
471Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
472
473Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
474watchpoints.
475
476Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
477
478Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
479
480Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
481nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
482
483The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
484support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
485(narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
486compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
487Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
488Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
489provided HP-specific information in this manual.
490
491DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
492Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
493
494Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
495development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
496fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
497Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
498Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
499Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
500Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
501addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
502JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
503Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
504Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
505Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
506Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
507Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
508Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
509
510Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
511Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
512
513Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
514Hat.
515
516Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
517people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
518Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
519Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
520Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
521with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
522
523Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
524unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
525frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
526Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
527libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
528trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
529complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
530Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
531Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
532Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
533Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
534Weigand.
535
536Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
537Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
538who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
539Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
540
541Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
542Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
543
544@node Sample Session
545@chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
546
547You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
548However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
549debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
550
551@iftex
552In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
553to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
554@end iftex
555
556@c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
557@c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
558
559One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
560processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
561quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
562definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
563session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
564then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
565same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
566@code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
567procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
568
569@smallexample
570$ @b{cd gnu/m4}
571$ @b{./m4}
572@b{define(foo,0000)}
573
574@b{foo}
5750000
576@b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
577
578@b{bar}
5790000
580@b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
581
582@b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
583@b{baz}
584@b{Ctrl-d}
585m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
586@end smallexample
587
588@noindent
589Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
590
591@smallexample
592$ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
593@c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
594@c FIXME... format to come out better.
595@value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
596 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
597 the conditions.
598There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
599 for details.
600
601@value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
602(@value{GDBP})
603@end smallexample
604
605@noindent
606@value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
607rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
608We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
609that examples fit in this manual.
610
611@smallexample
612(@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
613@end smallexample
614
615@noindent
616We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
617Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
618@code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
619@code{break} command.
620
621@smallexample
622(@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
623Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
624@end smallexample
625
626@noindent
627Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
628control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
629subroutine, the program runs as usual:
630
631@smallexample
632(@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
633Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
634@b{define(foo,0000)}
635
636@b{foo}
6370000
638@end smallexample
639
640@noindent
641To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
642suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
643context where it stops.
644
645@smallexample
646@b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
647
648Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
649 at builtin.c:879
650879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
651@end smallexample
652
653@noindent
654Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
655the next line of the current function.
656
657@smallexample
658(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
659882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
660 : nil,
661@end smallexample
662
663@noindent
664@code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
665by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
666@code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
667subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
668
669@smallexample
670(@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
671set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
672 at input.c:530
673530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
674@end smallexample
675
676@noindent
677The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
678suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
679shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
680command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
681in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
682stack frame for each active subroutine.
683
684@smallexample
685(@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
686#0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
687 at input.c:530
688#1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
689 at builtin.c:882
690#2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
691#3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
692 at macro.c:71
693#4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
694#5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
695@end smallexample
696
697@noindent
698We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
699times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
700falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
701
702@smallexample
703(@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
7040x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
705(@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
7060x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
707def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
708(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
709536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
710 : xstrdup(rq);
711(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
712538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
713@end smallexample
714
715@noindent
716The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
717@code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
718and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
719(@code{print}) to see their values.
720
721@smallexample
722(@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
723$1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
724(@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
725$2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
726@end smallexample
727
728@noindent
729@code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
730To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
731surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
732
733@smallexample
734(@value{GDBP}) @b{l}
735533 xfree(rquote);
736534
737535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
738 : xstrdup (lq);
739536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
740 : xstrdup (rq);
741537
742538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
743539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
744540 @}
745541
746542 void
747@end smallexample
748
749@noindent
750Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
751@code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
752
753@smallexample
754(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
755539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
756(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
757540 @}
758(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
759$3 = 9
760(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
761$4 = 7
762@end smallexample
763
764@noindent
765That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
766@code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
767@code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
768the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
769any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
770assignments.
771
772@smallexample
773(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
774$5 = 7
775(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
776$6 = 9
777@end smallexample
778
779@noindent
780Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
781@code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
782executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
783example that caused trouble initially:
784
785@smallexample
786(@value{GDBP}) @b{c}
787Continuing.
788
789@b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
790
791baz
7920000
793@end smallexample
794
795@noindent
796Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
797problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
798lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
799
800@smallexample
801@b{Ctrl-d}
802Program exited normally.
803@end smallexample
804
805@noindent
806The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
807indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
808session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
809
810@smallexample
811(@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
812@end smallexample
813
814@node Invocation
815@chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
816
817This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
818The essentials are:
819@itemize @bullet
820@item
821type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
822@item
823type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
824@end itemize
825
826@menu
827* Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
828* Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
829* Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
830* Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
831@end menu
832
833@node Invoking GDB
834@section Invoking @value{GDBN}
835
836Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
837@value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
838
839You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
840to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
841
842The command-line options described here are designed
843to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
844options may effectively be unavailable.
845
846The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
847specifying an executable program:
848
849@smallexample
850@value{GDBP} @var{program}
851@end smallexample
852
853@noindent
854You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
855specified:
856
857@smallexample
858@value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
859@end smallexample
860
861You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
862to debug a running process:
863
864@smallexample
865@value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
866@end smallexample
867
868@noindent
869would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
870named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
871
872Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
873complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
874debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
875``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
876will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
877
878You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
879executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
880option processing.
881@smallexample
882@value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
883@end smallexample
884This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
885@code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
886
887You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
888@value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{--silent}
889(or @code{-q}/@code{--quiet}):
890
891@smallexample
892@value{GDBP} --silent
893@end smallexample
894
895@noindent
896You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
897options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
898
899@noindent
900Type
901
902@smallexample
903@value{GDBP} -help
904@end smallexample
905
906@noindent
907to display all available options and briefly describe their use
908(@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
909
910All options and command line arguments you give are processed
911in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
912@samp{-x} option is used.
913
914
915@menu
916* File Options:: Choosing files
917* Mode Options:: Choosing modes
918* Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
919@end menu
920
921@node File Options
922@subsection Choosing Files
923
924When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
925specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
926the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
927@samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
928first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
929equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
930second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
931equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
932If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
933first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
934to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
935a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
936prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
937
938If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
939such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
940argument and ignore it.
941
942Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
943following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
944them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
945(If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
946than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
947
948@c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
949@c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
950@c it.
951
952@table @code
953@item -symbols @var{file}
954@itemx -s @var{file}
955@cindex @code{--symbols}
956@cindex @code{-s}
957Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
958
959@item -exec @var{file}
960@itemx -e @var{file}
961@cindex @code{--exec}
962@cindex @code{-e}
963Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
964and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
965
966@item -se @var{file}
967@cindex @code{--se}
968Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
969file.
970
971@item -core @var{file}
972@itemx -c @var{file}
973@cindex @code{--core}
974@cindex @code{-c}
975Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
976
977@item -pid @var{number}
978@itemx -p @var{number}
979@cindex @code{--pid}
980@cindex @code{-p}
981Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
982
983@item -command @var{file}
984@itemx -x @var{file}
985@cindex @code{--command}
986@cindex @code{-x}
987Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
988evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
989@xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
990
991@item -eval-command @var{command}
992@itemx -ex @var{command}
993@cindex @code{--eval-command}
994@cindex @code{-ex}
995Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
996
997This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
998also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
999
1000@smallexample
1001@value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
1002 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
1003@end smallexample
1004
1005@item -init-command @var{file}
1006@itemx -ix @var{file}
1007@cindex @code{--init-command}
1008@cindex @code{-ix}
1009Execute commands from file @var{file} before loading the inferior (but
1010after loading gdbinit files).
1011@xref{Startup}.
1012
1013@item -init-eval-command @var{command}
1014@itemx -iex @var{command}
1015@cindex @code{--init-eval-command}
1016@cindex @code{-iex}
1017Execute a single @value{GDBN} command before loading the inferior (but
1018after loading gdbinit files).
1019@xref{Startup}.
1020
1021@item -directory @var{directory}
1022@itemx -d @var{directory}
1023@cindex @code{--directory}
1024@cindex @code{-d}
1025Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
1026
1027@item -r
1028@itemx -readnow
1029@cindex @code{--readnow}
1030@cindex @code{-r}
1031Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
1032the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
1033This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
1034
1035@end table
1036
1037@node Mode Options
1038@subsection Choosing Modes
1039
1040You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1041batch mode or quiet mode.
1042
1043@table @code
1044@anchor{-nx}
1045@item -nx
1046@itemx -n
1047@cindex @code{--nx}
1048@cindex @code{-n}
1049Do not execute commands found in any initialization file.
1050There are three init files, loaded in the following order:
1051
1052@table @code
1053@item @file{system.gdbinit}
1054This is the system-wide init file.
1055Its location is specified with the @code{--with-system-gdbinit}
1056configure option (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
1057It is loaded first when @value{GDBN} starts, before command line options
1058have been processed.
1059@item @file{~/.gdbinit}
1060This is the init file in your home directory.
1061It is loaded next, after @file{system.gdbinit}, and before
1062command options have been processed.
1063@item @file{./.gdbinit}
1064This is the init file in the current directory.
1065It is loaded last, after command line options other than @code{-x} and
1066@code{-ex} have been processed. Command line options @code{-x} and
1067@code{-ex} are processed last, after @file{./.gdbinit} has been loaded.
1068@end table
1069
1070For further documentation on startup processing, @xref{Startup}.
1071For documentation on how to write command files,
1072@xref{Command Files,,Command Files}.
1073
1074@anchor{-nh}
1075@item -nh
1076@cindex @code{--nh}
1077Do not execute commands found in @file{~/.gdbinit}, the init file
1078in your home directory.
1079@xref{Startup}.
1080
1081@item -quiet
1082@itemx -silent
1083@itemx -q
1084@cindex @code{--quiet}
1085@cindex @code{--silent}
1086@cindex @code{-q}
1087``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1088messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1089
1090@item -batch
1091@cindex @code{--batch}
1092Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1093command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1094initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1095nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1096in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination, sets unlimited
1097terminal width and height @pxref{Screen Size}, and acts as if @kbd{set confirm
1098off} were in effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1099
1100Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1101example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1102make this more useful, the message
1103
1104@smallexample
1105Program exited normally.
1106@end smallexample
1107
1108@noindent
1109(which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1110@value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1111mode.
1112
1113@item -batch-silent
1114@cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1115Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1116@value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1117unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1118for an interactive session.
1119
1120This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1121messages, for example.
1122
1123Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1124writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1125
1126@item -return-child-result
1127@cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1128The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1129process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1130
1131@itemize @bullet
1132@item
1133@value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1134internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1135without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1136@item
1137The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1138@item
1139The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1140the exit code will be -1.
1141@end itemize
1142
1143This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1144when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1145interface.
1146
1147@item -nowindows
1148@itemx -nw
1149@cindex @code{--nowindows}
1150@cindex @code{-nw}
1151``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1152(GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1153interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1154
1155@item -windows
1156@itemx -w
1157@cindex @code{--windows}
1158@cindex @code{-w}
1159If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1160used if possible.
1161
1162@item -cd @var{directory}
1163@cindex @code{--cd}
1164Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1165instead of the current directory.
1166
1167@item -data-directory @var{directory}
1168@itemx -D @var{directory}
1169@cindex @code{--data-directory}
1170@cindex @code{-D}
1171Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its data directory.
1172The data directory is where @value{GDBN} searches for its
1173auxiliary files. @xref{Data Files}.
1174
1175@item -fullname
1176@itemx -f
1177@cindex @code{--fullname}
1178@cindex @code{-f}
1179@sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1180subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1181number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1182displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1183recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1184the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1185and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1186@samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1187frame.
1188
1189@item -annotate @var{level}
1190@cindex @code{--annotate}
1191This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1192effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1193(@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1194information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1195expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1196normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1197@sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1198that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1199
1200The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1201(@pxref{GDB/MI}).
1202
1203@item --args
1204@cindex @code{--args}
1205Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1206executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1207This option stops option processing.
1208
1209@item -baud @var{bps}
1210@itemx -b @var{bps}
1211@cindex @code{--baud}
1212@cindex @code{-b}
1213Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1214interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1215
1216@item -l @var{timeout}
1217@cindex @code{-l}
1218Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1219for remote debugging.
1220
1221@item -tty @var{device}
1222@itemx -t @var{device}
1223@cindex @code{--tty}
1224@cindex @code{-t}
1225Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1226@c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1227
1228@c resolve the situation of these eventually
1229@item -tui
1230@cindex @code{--tui}
1231Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1232Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1233source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1234(@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Do not use this
1235option if you run @value{GDBN} from Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,
1236Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1237
1238@c @item -xdb
1239@c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1240@c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1241@c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1242@c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1243@c systems.
1244
1245@item -interpreter @var{interp}
1246@cindex @code{--interpreter}
1247Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1248program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1249communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1250@xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1251
1252@samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1253@value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1254The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1255previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1256selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1257@sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1258
1259@item -write
1260@cindex @code{--write}
1261Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1262is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1263(@pxref{Patching}).
1264
1265@item -statistics
1266@cindex @code{--statistics}
1267This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1268memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1269
1270@item -version
1271@cindex @code{--version}
1272This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1273no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1274
1275@item -configuration
1276@cindex @code{--configuration}
1277This option causes @value{GDBN} to print details about its build-time
1278configuration parameters, and then exit. These details can be
1279important when reporting @value{GDBN} bugs (@pxref{GDB Bugs}).
1280
1281@end table
1282
1283@node Startup
1284@subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1285@cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1286
1287Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1288
1289@enumerate
1290@item
1291Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1292(@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1293
1294@item
1295@cindex init file
1296Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1297used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1298 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1299that file.
1300
1301@anchor{Home Directory Init File}
1302@item
1303Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1304DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1305@code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1306that file.
1307
1308@anchor{Option -init-eval-command}
1309@item
1310Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-iex} and
1311@samp{-ix} options in their specified order. Usually you should use the
1312@samp{-ex} and @samp{-x} options instead, but this way you can apply
1313settings before @value{GDBN} init files get executed and before inferior
1314gets loaded.
1315
1316@item
1317Processes command line options and operands.
1318
1319@anchor{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}
1320@item
1321Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1322working directory as long as @samp{set auto-load local-gdbinit} is set to
1323@samp{on} (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory}).
1324This is only done if the current directory is
1325different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1326init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1327to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1328@value{GDBN}.
1329
1330@item
1331If the command line specified a program to debug, or a process to
1332attach to, or a core file, @value{GDBN} loads any auto-loaded
1333scripts provided for the program or for its loaded shared libraries.
1334@xref{Auto-loading}.
1335
1336If you wish to disable the auto-loading during startup,
1337you must do something like the following:
1338
1339@smallexample
1340$ gdb -iex "set auto-load python-scripts off" myprogram
1341@end smallexample
1342
1343Option @samp{-ex} does not work because the auto-loading is then turned
1344off too late.
1345
1346@item
1347Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-ex} and
1348@samp{-x} options in their specified order. @xref{Command Files}, for
1349more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1350
1351@item
1352Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1353@xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1354files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1355@end enumerate
1356
1357Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1358Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1359file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1360complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1361and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1362option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1363
1364To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1365can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1366
1367@cindex init file name
1368@cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1369@cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1370The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1371The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1372the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1373port of @value{GDBN} uses the standard name, but if it finds a
1374@file{gdb.ini} file in your home directory, it warns you about that
1375and suggests to rename the file to the standard name.
1376
1377
1378@node Quitting GDB
1379@section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1380@cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1381@cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1382
1383@table @code
1384@kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1385@kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1386@item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1387@itemx q
1388To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1389@code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1390do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1391otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1392error code.
1393@end table
1394
1395@cindex interrupt
1396An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1397terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1398returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1399character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1400until a time when it is safe.
1401
1402If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1403device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1404(@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1405
1406@node Shell Commands
1407@section Shell Commands
1408
1409If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1410debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1411just use the @code{shell} command.
1412
1413@table @code
1414@kindex shell
1415@kindex !
1416@cindex shell escape
1417@item shell @var{command-string}
1418@itemx !@var{command-string}
1419Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command-string}.
1420Note that no space is needed between @code{!} and @var{command-string}.
1421If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1422shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1423(@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1424@end table
1425
1426The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1427You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1428@value{GDBN}:
1429
1430@table @code
1431@kindex make
1432@cindex calling make
1433@item make @var{make-args}
1434Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1435arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1436@end table
1437
1438@node Logging Output
1439@section Logging Output
1440@cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1441@cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1442
1443You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1444There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1445
1446@table @code
1447@kindex set logging
1448@item set logging on
1449Enable logging.
1450@item set logging off
1451Disable logging.
1452@cindex logging file name
1453@item set logging file @var{file}
1454Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1455@item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1456By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1457you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1458@item set logging redirect [on|off]
1459By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1460Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1461@kindex show logging
1462@item show logging
1463Show the current values of the logging settings.
1464@end table
1465
1466@node Commands
1467@chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1468
1469You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1470name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1471@value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1472key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1473show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1474
1475@menu
1476* Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1477* Completion:: Command completion
1478* Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1479@end menu
1480
1481@node Command Syntax
1482@section Command Syntax
1483
1484A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1485how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1486arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1487command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1488step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1489with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1490
1491@cindex abbreviation
1492@value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1493unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1494documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1495abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1496equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1497names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1498arguments to the @code{help} command.
1499
1500@cindex repeating commands
1501@kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1502A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1503repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1504will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1505repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1506repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1507@ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1508
1509The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1510@key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1511exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1512
1513@value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1514output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1515(@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1516@key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1517repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1518
1519@kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1520@cindex comment
1521Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1522nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1523Files,,Command Files}).
1524
1525@cindex repeating command sequences
1526@kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1527The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1528commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1529then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1530for editing.
1531
1532@node Completion
1533@section Command Completion
1534
1535@cindex completion
1536@cindex word completion
1537@value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1538only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1539are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1540commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1541
1542Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1543of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1544word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1545enter it). For example, if you type
1546
1547@c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1548@c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1549@c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1550@c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1551@smallexample
1552(@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1553@end smallexample
1554
1555@noindent
1556@value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1557the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1558
1559@smallexample
1560(@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1561@end smallexample
1562
1563@noindent
1564You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1565breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1566@samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1567were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1568might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1569to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1570
1571If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1572@key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1573characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1574@value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1575example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1576begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1577just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1578function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1579example:
1580
1581@smallexample
1582(@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1583@exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1584make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1585make_abs_section make_function_type
1586make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1587make_cleanup make_reference_type
1588make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1589(@value{GDBP}) b make_
1590@end smallexample
1591
1592@noindent
1593After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1594partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1595command.
1596
1597If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1598can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1599means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1600key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1601one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1602
1603If the number of possible completions is large, @value{GDBN} will
1604print as much of the list as it has collected, as well as a message
1605indicating that the list may be truncated.
1606
1607@smallexample
1608(@value{GDBP}) b m@key{TAB}@key{TAB}
1609main
1610<... the rest of the possible completions ...>
1611*** List may be truncated, max-completions reached. ***
1612(@value{GDBP}) b m
1613@end smallexample
1614
1615@noindent
1616This behavior can be controlled with the following commands:
1617
1618@table @code
1619@kindex set max-completions
1620@item set max-completions @var{limit}
1621@itemx set max-completions unlimited
1622Set the maximum number of completion candidates. @value{GDBN} will
1623stop looking for more completions once it collects this many candidates.
1624This is useful when completing on things like function names as collecting
1625all the possible candidates can be time consuming.
1626The default value is 200. A value of zero disables tab-completion.
1627Note that setting either no limit or a very large limit can make
1628completion slow.
1629@kindex show max-completions
1630@item show max-completions
1631Show the maximum number of candidates that @value{GDBN} will collect and show
1632during completion.
1633@end table
1634
1635@cindex quotes in commands
1636@cindex completion of quoted strings
1637Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1638parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1639its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1640situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1641@value{GDBN} commands.
1642
1643The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1644name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1645overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1646by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1647may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1648that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1649that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1650word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1651@code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1652@value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1653when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1654
1655@smallexample
1656(@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1657bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1658(@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1659@end smallexample
1660
1661In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1662quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1663completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1664place:
1665
1666@smallexample
1667(@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1668@exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1669(@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1670@end smallexample
1671
1672@noindent
1673In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1674you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1675completion on an overloaded symbol.
1676
1677For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1678Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1679overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1680see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1681
1682@cindex completion of structure field names
1683@cindex structure field name completion
1684@cindex completion of union field names
1685@cindex union field name completion
1686When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1687structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1688confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1689examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1690limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1691left-hand-side:
1692
1693@smallexample
1694(@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1695magic to_fputs to_rewind
1696to_data to_isatty to_write
1697to_delete to_put to_write_async_safe
1698to_flush to_read
1699@end smallexample
1700
1701@noindent
1702This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1703@code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1704follows:
1705
1706@smallexample
1707struct ui_file
1708@{
1709 int *magic;
1710 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1711 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1712 ui_file_write_async_safe_ftype *to_write_async_safe;
1713 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1714 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1715 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1716 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1717 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1718 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1719 void *to_data;
1720@}
1721@end smallexample
1722
1723
1724@node Help
1725@section Getting Help
1726@cindex online documentation
1727@kindex help
1728
1729You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1730using the command @code{help}.
1731
1732@table @code
1733@kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1734@item help
1735@itemx h
1736You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1737display a short list of named classes of commands:
1738
1739@smallexample
1740(@value{GDBP}) help
1741List of classes of commands:
1742
1743aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1744breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1745data -- Examining data
1746files -- Specifying and examining files
1747internals -- Maintenance commands
1748obscure -- Obscure features
1749running -- Running the program
1750stack -- Examining the stack
1751status -- Status inquiries
1752support -- Support facilities
1753tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1754 stopping the program
1755user-defined -- User-defined commands
1756
1757Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1758commands in that class.
1759Type "help" followed by command name for full
1760documentation.
1761Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1762(@value{GDBP})
1763@end smallexample
1764@c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1765
1766@item help @var{class}
1767Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1768list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1769help display for the class @code{status}:
1770
1771@smallexample
1772(@value{GDBP}) help status
1773Status inquiries.
1774
1775List of commands:
1776
1777@c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1778@c to fit in smallbook page size.
1779info -- Generic command for showing things
1780 about the program being debugged
1781show -- Generic command for showing things
1782 about the debugger
1783
1784Type "help" followed by command name for full
1785documentation.
1786Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1787(@value{GDBP})
1788@end smallexample
1789
1790@item help @var{command}
1791With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1792short paragraph on how to use that command.
1793
1794@kindex apropos
1795@item apropos @var{args}
1796The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1797commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1798@var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1799
1800@smallexample
1801apropos alias
1802@end smallexample
1803
1804@noindent
1805results in:
1806
1807@smallexample
1808@c @group
1809alias -- Define a new command that is an alias of an existing command
1810aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1811d -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1812del -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1813delete -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1814@c @end group
1815@end smallexample
1816
1817@kindex complete
1818@item complete @var{args}
1819The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1820for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1821command you want completed. For example:
1822
1823@smallexample
1824complete i
1825@end smallexample
1826
1827@noindent results in:
1828
1829@smallexample
1830@group
1831if
1832ignore
1833info
1834inspect
1835@end group
1836@end smallexample
1837
1838@noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1839@end table
1840
1841In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1842and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1843of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1844manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1845under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Command, Variable, and
1846Function Index point to all the sub-commands. @xref{Command and Variable
1847Index}.
1848
1849@c @group
1850@table @code
1851@kindex info
1852@kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1853@item info
1854This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1855program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1856with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1857registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1858You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1859@w{@code{help info}}.
1860
1861@kindex set
1862@item set
1863You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1864@code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1865@code{set prompt $}.
1866
1867@kindex show
1868@item show
1869In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1870@value{GDBN} itself.
1871You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1872related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1873system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1874which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1875
1876@kindex info set
1877To display all the settable parameters and their current
1878values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1879@code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1880@c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1881@c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1882@c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1883@end table
1884@c @end group
1885
1886Here are several miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1887exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1888
1889@table @code
1890@kindex show version
1891@cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1892@item show version
1893Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1894information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1895@value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1896version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1897commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1898system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1899variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1900The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1901@value{GDBN}.
1902
1903@kindex show copying
1904@kindex info copying
1905@cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1906@item show copying
1907@itemx info copying
1908Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1909
1910@kindex show warranty
1911@kindex info warranty
1912@item show warranty
1913@itemx info warranty
1914Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1915if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1916
1917@kindex show configuration
1918@item show configuration
1919Display detailed information about the way @value{GDBN} was configured
1920when it was built. This displays the optional arguments passed to the
1921@file{configure} script and also configuration parameters detected
1922automatically by @command{configure}. When reporting a @value{GDBN}
1923bug (@pxref{GDB Bugs}), it is important to include this information in
1924your report.
1925
1926@end table
1927
1928@node Running
1929@chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1930
1931When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1932debugging information when you compile it.
1933
1934You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1935of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1936your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1937kill a child process.
1938
1939@menu
1940* Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1941* Starting:: Starting your program
1942* Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1943* Environment:: Your program's environment
1944
1945* Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1946* Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1947* Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1948* Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1949
1950* Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1951* Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1952* Forks:: Debugging forks
1953* Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1954@end menu
1955
1956@node Compilation
1957@section Compiling for Debugging
1958
1959In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1960debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1961is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1962variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1963and addresses in the executable code.
1964
1965To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1966the compiler.
1967
1968Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1969optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1970compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1971together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1972executables containing debugging information.
1973
1974@value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1975without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1976recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1977program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1978in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1979
1980Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1981@w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1982format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1983
1984@value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1985expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1986about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1987the @option{-g} flag alone. Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC},
1988the @sc{gnu} C compiler, provides macro information if you are using
1989the DWARF debugging format, and specify the option @option{-g3}.
1990
1991@xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
1992gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}, for more
1993information on @value{NGCC} options affecting debug information.
1994
1995You will have the best debugging experience if you use the latest
1996version of the DWARF debugging format that your compiler supports.
1997DWARF is currently the most expressive and best supported debugging
1998format in @value{GDBN}.
1999
2000@need 2000
2001@node Starting
2002@section Starting your Program
2003@cindex starting
2004@cindex running
2005
2006@table @code
2007@kindex run
2008@kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
2009@item run
2010@itemx r
2011Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
2012You must first specify the program name with an argument to
2013@value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
2014@value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file}
2015command (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
2016
2017@end table
2018
2019If you are running your program in an execution environment that
2020supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
2021that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
2022@code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
2023like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
2024message like this one:
2025
2026@smallexample
2027The "remote" target does not support "run".
2028Try "help target" or "continue".
2029@end smallexample
2030
2031@noindent
2032then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
2033first (@pxref{load}).
2034
2035The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
2036receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
2037information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
2038can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
2039your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
2040divided into four categories:
2041
2042@table @asis
2043@item The @emph{arguments.}
2044Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
2045@code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
2046is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
2047(such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
2048the arguments.
2049In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
2050@code{SHELL} environment variable. If you do not define @code{SHELL},
2051@value{GDBN} uses the default shell (@file{/bin/sh}). You can disable
2052use of any shell with the @code{set startup-with-shell} command (see
2053below for details).
2054
2055@item The @emph{environment.}
2056Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
2057use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
2058environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
2059your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
2060
2061@item The @emph{working directory.}
2062Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
2063the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
2064@xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
2065
2066@item The @emph{standard input and output.}
2067Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
2068standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
2069in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
2070set a different device for your program.
2071@xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
2072
2073@cindex pipes
2074@emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
2075pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
2076program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
2077wrong program.
2078@end table
2079
2080When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
2081immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
2082of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
2083stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
2084or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
2085
2086If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
2087time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
2088table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
2089your current breakpoints.
2090
2091@table @code
2092@kindex start
2093@item start
2094@cindex run to main procedure
2095The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
2096With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
2097other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
2098main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
2099execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
2100procedure, depending on the language used.
2101
2102The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
2103breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
2104the @samp{run} command.
2105
2106@cindex elaboration phase
2107Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
2108executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
2109languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
2110constructors for static and global objects are executed before
2111@code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
2112before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
2113will remain to halt execution.
2114
2115Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
2116@samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
2117underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
2118reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
2119@samp{start} or @samp{run}.
2120
2121It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
2122these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
2123your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
2124elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
2125elaboration code before running your program.
2126
2127@anchor{set exec-wrapper}
2128@kindex set exec-wrapper
2129@item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
2130@itemx show exec-wrapper
2131@itemx unset exec-wrapper
2132When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
2133launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
2134with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
2135@var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
2136arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
2137appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
2138your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
2139
2140You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
2141its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
2142this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
2143with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
2144
2145For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
2146the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
2147environment:
2148
2149@smallexample
2150(@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
2151(@value{GDBP}) run
2152@end smallexample
2153
2154This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2155@sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2156
2157@kindex set startup-with-shell
2158@item set startup-with-shell
2159@itemx set startup-with-shell on
2160@itemx set startup-with-shell off
2161@itemx show set startup-with-shell
2162On Unix systems, by default, if a shell is available on your target,
2163@value{GDBN}) uses it to start your program. Arguments of the
2164@code{run} command are passed to the shell, which does variable
2165substitution, expands wildcard characters and performs redirection of
2166I/O. In some circumstances, it may be useful to disable such use of a
2167shell, for example, when debugging the shell itself or diagnosing
2168startup failures such as:
2169
2170@smallexample
2171(@value{GDBP}) run
2172Starting program: ./a.out
2173During startup program terminated with signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
2174@end smallexample
2175
2176@noindent
2177which indicates the shell or the wrapper specified with
2178@samp{exec-wrapper} crashed, not your program. Most often, this is
2179caused by something odd in your shell's non-interactive mode
2180initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell,
2181$@file{.zshenv} for the Z shell, or the file specified in the
2182@samp{BASH_ENV} environment variable for BASH.
2183
2184@anchor{set auto-connect-native-target}
2185@kindex set auto-connect-native-target
2186@item set auto-connect-native-target
2187@itemx set auto-connect-native-target on
2188@itemx set auto-connect-native-target off
2189@itemx show auto-connect-native-target
2190
2191By default, if not connected to any target yet (e.g., with
2192@code{target remote}), the @code{run} command starts your program as a
2193native process under @value{GDBN}, on your local machine. If you're
2194sure you don't want to debug programs on your local machine, you can
2195tell @value{GDBN} to not connect to the native target automatically
2196with the @code{set auto-connect-native-target off} command.
2197
2198If @code{on}, which is the default, and if @value{GDBN} is not
2199connected to a target already, the @code{run} command automaticaly
2200connects to the native target, if one is available.
2201
2202If @code{off}, and if @value{GDBN} is not connected to a target
2203already, the @code{run} command fails with an error:
2204
2205@smallexample
2206(@value{GDBP}) run
2207Don't know how to run. Try "help target".
2208@end smallexample
2209
2210If @value{GDBN} is already connected to a target, @value{GDBN} always
2211uses it with the @code{run} command.
2212
2213In any case, you can explicitly connect to the native target with the
2214@code{target native} command. For example,
2215
2216@smallexample
2217(@value{GDBP}) set auto-connect-native-target off
2218(@value{GDBP}) run
2219Don't know how to run. Try "help target".
2220(@value{GDBP}) target native
2221(@value{GDBP}) run
2222Starting program: ./a.out
2223[Inferior 1 (process 10421) exited normally]
2224@end smallexample
2225
2226In case you connected explicitly to the @code{native} target,
2227@value{GDBN} remains connected even if all inferiors exit, ready for
2228the next @code{run} command. Use the @code{disconnect} command to
2229disconnect.
2230
2231Examples of other commands that likewise respect the
2232@code{auto-connect-native-target} setting: @code{attach}, @code{info
2233proc}, @code{info os}.
2234
2235@kindex set disable-randomization
2236@item set disable-randomization
2237@itemx set disable-randomization on
2238This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2239randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2240is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2241reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2242
2243This feature is implemented only on certain targets, including @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2244On @sc{gnu}/Linux you can get the same behavior using
2245
2246@smallexample
2247(@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2248@end smallexample
2249
2250@item set disable-randomization off
2251Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2252ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2253disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2254@value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2255as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2256disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2257
2258On targets where it is available, virtual address space randomization
2259protects the programs against certain kinds of security attacks. In these
2260cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2261code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2262a code at its expected addresses.
2263
2264Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2265makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2266having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2267library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2268misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2269random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2270startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2271a randomly chosen address.
2272
2273Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2274similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2275a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2276already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2277executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2278
2279Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2280(as long as the randomization is enabled).
2281
2282@item show disable-randomization
2283Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2284the virtual address space of the started program.
2285
2286@end table
2287
2288@node Arguments
2289@section Your Program's Arguments
2290
2291@cindex arguments (to your program)
2292The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2293@code{run} command.
2294They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2295performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2296@code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2297@value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2298the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2299
2300On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2301@value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2302calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2303the program, not by the shell.
2304
2305@code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2306@code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2307
2308@table @code
2309@kindex set args
2310@item set args
2311Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2312@code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2313with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2314using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2315it again without arguments.
2316
2317@kindex show args
2318@item show args
2319Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2320@end table
2321
2322@node Environment
2323@section Your Program's Environment
2324
2325@cindex environment (of your program)
2326The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2327their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2328your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2329path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2330the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2331debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2332environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2333
2334@table @code
2335@kindex path
2336@item path @var{directory}
2337Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2338(the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2339The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2340You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2341system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2342MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2343is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2344
2345You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2346working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2347use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2348@code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2349@var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2350@var{directory} to the search path.
2351@c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2352@c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2353
2354@kindex show paths
2355@item show paths
2356Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2357environment variable).
2358
2359@kindex show environment
2360@item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2361Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2362your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2363print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2364your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2365
2366@kindex set environment
2367@item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2368Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2369changes for your program (and the shell @value{GDBN} uses to launch
2370it), not for @value{GDBN} itself. The @var{value} may be any string; the
2371values of environment variables are just strings, and any
2372interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2373parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2374null value.
2375@c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2376@c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2377
2378For example, this command:
2379
2380@smallexample
2381set env USER = foo
2382@end smallexample
2383
2384@noindent
2385tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2386@samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2387are not actually required.)
2388
2389Note that on Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program via a shell,
2390which also inherits the environment set with @code{set environment}.
2391If necessary, you can avoid that by using the @samp{env} program as a
2392wrapper instead of using @code{set environment}. @xref{set
2393exec-wrapper}, for an example doing just that.
2394
2395@kindex unset environment
2396@item unset environment @var{varname}
2397Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2398program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2399@code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2400rather than assigning it an empty value.
2401@end table
2402
2403@emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2404the shell indicated by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it
2405exists (or @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable
2406names a shell that runs an initialization file when started
2407non-interactively---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, $@file{.zshenv}
2408for the Z shell, or the file specified in the @samp{BASH_ENV}
2409environment variable for BASH---any variables you set in that file
2410affect your program. You may wish to move setting of environment
2411variables to files that are only run when you sign on, such as
2412@file{.login} or @file{.profile}.
2413
2414@node Working Directory
2415@section Your Program's Working Directory
2416
2417@cindex working directory (of your program)
2418Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2419working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2420The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2421from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2422working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2423
2424The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2425that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2426Specify Files}.
2427
2428@table @code
2429@kindex cd
2430@cindex change working directory
2431@item cd @r{[}@var{directory}@r{]}
2432Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}. If not
2433given, @var{directory} uses @file{'~'}.
2434
2435@kindex pwd
2436@item pwd
2437Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2438@end table
2439
2440It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2441the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2442during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2443configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2444proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2445current working directory of the debuggee.
2446
2447@node Input/Output
2448@section Your Program's Input and Output
2449
2450@cindex redirection
2451@cindex i/o
2452@cindex terminal
2453By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2454the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2455to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2456modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2457running your program.
2458
2459@table @code
2460@kindex info terminal
2461@item info terminal
2462Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2463program is using.
2464@end table
2465
2466You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2467redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2468
2469@smallexample
2470run > outfile
2471@end smallexample
2472
2473@noindent
2474starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2475
2476@kindex tty
2477@cindex controlling terminal
2478Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2479with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2480argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2481commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2482process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2483
2484@smallexample
2485tty /dev/ttyb
2486@end smallexample
2487
2488@noindent
2489directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2490default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2491that as their controlling terminal.
2492
2493An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2494effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2495terminal.
2496
2497When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2498command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2499for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2500for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2501
2502@cindex inferior tty
2503@cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2504You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2505display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2506program.
2507
2508@table @code
2509@item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2510@kindex set inferior-tty
2511Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2512
2513@item show inferior-tty
2514@kindex show inferior-tty
2515Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2516@end table
2517
2518@node Attach
2519@section Debugging an Already-running Process
2520@kindex attach
2521@cindex attach
2522
2523@table @code
2524@item attach @var{process-id}
2525This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2526outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2527targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2528find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2529or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2530
2531@code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2532executing the command.
2533@end table
2534
2535To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2536which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2537programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2538also have permission to send the process a signal.
2539
2540When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2541the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2542the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2543(@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2544the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2545Specify Files}.
2546
2547The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2548process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2549with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2550you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2551can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2552process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2553attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2554
2555@table @code
2556@kindex detach
2557@item detach
2558When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2559@code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2560the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2561that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2562are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2563@code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2564executing the command.
2565@end table
2566
2567If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2568that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2569By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2570things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2571@code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2572Messages}).
2573
2574@node Kill Process
2575@section Killing the Child Process
2576
2577@table @code
2578@kindex kill
2579@item kill
2580Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2581@end table
2582
2583This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2584running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2585is running.
2586
2587On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2588while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2589@code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2590outside the debugger.
2591
2592The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2593relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2594executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2595next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2596reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2597breakpoint settings).
2598
2599@node Inferiors and Programs
2600@section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2601
2602@value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2603session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2604several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2605before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2606multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2607from multiple executables.
2608
2609@cindex inferior
2610@value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2611object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2612a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2613have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2614may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2615identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2616inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2617embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2618of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2619threads running in it.
2620
2621To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2622inferiors}}:
2623
2624@table @code
2625@kindex info inferiors
2626@item info inferiors
2627Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2628
2629@value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2630
2631@enumerate
2632@item
2633the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2634
2635@item
2636the target system's inferior identifier
2637
2638@item
2639the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2640
2641@end enumerate
2642
2643@noindent
2644An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2645indicates the current inferior.
2646
2647For example,
2648@end table
2649@c end table here to get a little more width for example
2650
2651@smallexample
2652(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2653 Num Description Executable
2654 2 process 2307 hello
2655* 1 process 3401 goodbye
2656@end smallexample
2657
2658To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2659
2660@table @code
2661@kindex inferior @var{infno}
2662@item inferior @var{infno}
2663Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2664@var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2665in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2666@end table
2667
2668
2669You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2670@code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2671systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2672automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2673remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2674@w{@code{remove-inferiors}} command.
2675
2676@table @code
2677@kindex add-inferior
2678@item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2679Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2680executable; @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2681the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2682change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2683@code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2684
2685@kindex clone-inferior
2686@item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2687Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2688@var{infno}; @var{n} defaults to 1, and @var{infno} defaults to the
2689number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2690want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2691
2692@smallexample
2693(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2694 Num Description Executable
2695* 1 process 29964 helloworld
2696(@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2697Added inferior 2.
26981 inferiors added.
2699(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2700 Num Description Executable
2701 2 <null> helloworld
2702* 1 process 29964 helloworld
2703@end smallexample
2704
2705You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2706
2707@kindex remove-inferiors
2708@item remove-inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2709Removes the inferior or inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}. It is not
2710possible to remove an inferior that is running with this command. For
2711those, use the @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2712
2713@end table
2714
2715To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2716inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2717inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2718using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}} command:
2719
2720@table @code
2721@kindex detach inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2722@item detach inferior @var{infno}@dots{}
2723Detach from the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN}
2724inferior number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry
2725still stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors},
2726but its Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2727
2728@kindex kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2729@item kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2730Kill the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN} inferior
2731number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry still
2732stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its
2733Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2734@end table
2735
2736After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2737@code{detach inferiors}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferiors}, or after
2738a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2739@code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2740
2741
2742To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2743control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2744
2745@table @code
2746@kindex set print inferior-events
2747@cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2748@item set print inferior-events
2749@itemx set print inferior-events on
2750@itemx set print inferior-events off
2751The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2752disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2753inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2754detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2755
2756@kindex show print inferior-events
2757@item show print inferior-events
2758Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2759inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2760@end table
2761
2762Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2763single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2764value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2765
2766
2767Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2768get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2769spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2770info program-spaces}} command.
2771
2772@table @code
2773@kindex maint info program-spaces
2774@item maint info program-spaces
2775Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2776@value{GDBN}.
2777
2778@value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2779
2780@enumerate
2781@item
2782the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2783
2784@item
2785the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2786the @code{file} command.
2787
2788@end enumerate
2789
2790@noindent
2791An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2792indicates the current program space.
2793
2794In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2795information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2796example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2797
2798@smallexample
2799(@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2800 Id Executable
2801 2 goodbye
2802 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2803* 1 hello
2804@end smallexample
2805
2806Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2807while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2808some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2809same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2810the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2811
2812@smallexample
2813(@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2814 Id Executable
2815* 1 vfork-test
2816 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2817@end smallexample
2818
2819Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2820space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2821@end table
2822
2823@node Threads
2824@section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2825
2826@cindex threads of execution
2827@cindex multiple threads
2828@cindex switching threads
2829In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2830may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2831of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2832the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2833that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2834modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2835registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2836
2837@value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2838programs:
2839
2840@itemize @bullet
2841@item automatic notification of new threads
2842@item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2843@item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2844@item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2845a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2846@item thread-specific breakpoints
2847@item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2848messages on thread start and exit.
2849@item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2850the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2851isn't compatible with the program.
2852@end itemize
2853
2854@quotation
2855@emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2856@value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2857If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2858effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2859from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2860like this:
2861
2862@smallexample
2863(@value{GDBP}) info threads
2864(@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2865Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2866see the IDs of currently known threads.
2867@end smallexample
2868@c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2869@c doesn't support threads"?
2870@end quotation
2871
2872@cindex focus of debugging
2873@cindex current thread
2874The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2875threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2876control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2877This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2878program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2879
2880@cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2881@cindex thread identifier (system)
2882@c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2883@c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2884@c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2885Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2886the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2887form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}, where @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2888whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2889@sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2890
2891@smallexample
2892[New Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 25582)]
2893@end smallexample
2894
2895@noindent
2896when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2897the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2898further qualifier.
2899
2900@c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2901@c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2902@c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2903@c program?
2904@c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2905@c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2906@c threads ab initio?
2907
2908@cindex thread number
2909@cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2910For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2911number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2912
2913@table @code
2914@kindex info threads
2915@item info threads @r{[}@var{id}@dots{}@r{]}
2916Display a summary of all threads currently in your program. Optional
2917argument @var{id}@dots{} is one or more thread ids separated by spaces, and
2918means to print information only about the specified thread or threads.
2919@value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2920
2921@enumerate
2922@item
2923the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2924
2925@item
2926the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2927
2928@item
2929the thread's name, if one is known. A thread can either be named by
2930the user (see @code{thread name}, below), or, in some cases, by the
2931program itself.
2932
2933@item
2934the current stack frame summary for that thread
2935@end enumerate
2936
2937@noindent
2938An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2939indicates the current thread.
2940
2941For example,
2942@end table
2943@c end table here to get a little more width for example
2944
2945@smallexample
2946(@value{GDBP}) info threads
2947 Id Target Id Frame
2948 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2949 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2950* 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2951 at threadtest.c:68
2952@end smallexample
2953
2954On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2955Solaris-specific command:
2956
2957@table @code
2958@item maint info sol-threads
2959@kindex maint info sol-threads
2960@cindex thread info (Solaris)
2961Display info on Solaris user threads.
2962@end table
2963
2964@table @code
2965@kindex thread @var{threadno}
2966@item thread @var{threadno}
2967Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2968argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2969shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2970@value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2971you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2972
2973@smallexample
2974(@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2975[Switching to thread 2 (Thread 0xb7fdab70 (LWP 12747))]
2976#0 some_function (ignore=0x0) at example.c:8
29778 printf ("hello\n");
2978@end smallexample
2979
2980@noindent
2981As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2982@samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2983threads.
2984
2985@vindex $_thread@r{, convenience variable}
2986The debugger convenience variable @samp{$_thread} contains the number
2987of the current thread. You may find this useful in writing breakpoint
2988conditional expressions, command scripts, and so forth. See
2989@xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for general
2990information on convenience variables.
2991
2992@kindex thread apply
2993@cindex apply command to several threads
2994@item thread apply [@var{threadno} | all [-ascending]] @var{command}
2995The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2996@var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2997threads that you want affected with the command argument
2998@var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2999shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
3000could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply
3001a command to all threads in descending order, type @kbd{thread apply all
3002@var{command}}. To apply a command to all threads in ascending order,
3003type @kbd{thread apply all -ascending @var{command}}.
3004
3005
3006@kindex thread name
3007@cindex name a thread
3008@item thread name [@var{name}]
3009This command assigns a name to the current thread. If no argument is
3010given, any existing user-specified name is removed. The thread name
3011appears in the @samp{info threads} display.
3012
3013On some systems, such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, @value{GDBN} is able to
3014determine the name of the thread as given by the OS. On these
3015systems, a name specified with @samp{thread name} will override the
3016system-give name, and removing the user-specified name will cause
3017@value{GDBN} to once again display the system-specified name.
3018
3019@kindex thread find
3020@cindex search for a thread
3021@item thread find [@var{regexp}]
3022Search for and display thread ids whose name or @var{systag}
3023matches the supplied regular expression.
3024
3025As well as being the complement to the @samp{thread name} command,
3026this command also allows you to identify a thread by its target
3027@var{systag}. For instance, on @sc{gnu}/Linux, the target @var{systag}
3028is the LWP id.
3029
3030@smallexample
3031(@value{GDBN}) thread find 26688
3032Thread 4 has target id 'Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688)'
3033(@value{GDBN}) info thread 4
3034 Id Target Id Frame
3035 4 Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688) 0x00000031ca6cd372 in select ()
3036@end smallexample
3037
3038@kindex set print thread-events
3039@cindex print messages on thread start and exit
3040@item set print thread-events
3041@itemx set print thread-events on
3042@itemx set print thread-events off
3043The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
3044disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
3045started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
3046be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
3047Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
3048
3049@kindex show print thread-events
3050@item show print thread-events
3051Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
3052have started and exited.
3053@end table
3054
3055@xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
3056more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
3057programs with multiple threads.
3058
3059@xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
3060watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
3061
3062@anchor{set libthread-db-search-path}
3063@table @code
3064@kindex set libthread-db-search-path
3065@cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
3066@item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
3067If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
3068directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
3069If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
3070its default value (@code{$sdir:$pdir} on @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems).
3071Internally, the default value comes from the @code{LIBTHREAD_DB_SEARCH_PATH}
3072macro.
3073
3074On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
3075@code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
3076inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
3077to find @code{libthread_db}. @value{GDBN} also consults first if inferior
3078specific thread debugging library loading is enabled
3079by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
3080
3081A special entry @samp{$sdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
3082refers to the default system directories that are
3083normally searched for loading shared libraries. The @samp{$sdir} entry
3084is the only kind not needing to be enabled by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db}
3085(@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
3086
3087A special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
3088refers to the directory from which @code{libpthread}
3089was loaded in the inferior process.
3090
3091For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
3092@value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
3093If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
3094mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
3095will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
3096If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
3097@value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
3098
3099Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
3100only on some platforms.
3101
3102@kindex show libthread-db-search-path
3103@item show libthread-db-search-path
3104Display current libthread_db search path.
3105
3106@kindex set debug libthread-db
3107@kindex show debug libthread-db
3108@cindex debugging @code{libthread_db}
3109@item set debug libthread-db
3110@itemx show debug libthread-db
3111Turns on or off display of @code{libthread_db}-related events.
3112Use @code{1} to enable, @code{0} to disable.
3113@end table
3114
3115@node Forks
3116@section Debugging Forks
3117
3118@cindex fork, debugging programs which call
3119@cindex multiple processes
3120@cindex processes, multiple
3121On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
3122programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
3123function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
3124parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
3125set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
3126will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
3127will cause it to terminate.
3128
3129However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
3130which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
3131the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
3132only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
3133so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
3134on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
3135get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
3136@value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
3137the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
3138the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
3139
3140On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
3141create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
3142Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
3143only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
3144
3145By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
3146the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
3147
3148If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
3149use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
3150
3151@table @code
3152@kindex set follow-fork-mode
3153@item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
3154Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
3155@code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
3156process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
3157
3158@table @code
3159@item parent
3160The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
3161unimpeded. This is the default.
3162
3163@item child
3164The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
3165unimpeded.
3166
3167@end table
3168
3169@kindex show follow-fork-mode
3170@item show follow-fork-mode
3171Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
3172@end table
3173
3174@cindex debugging multiple processes
3175On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
3176command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
3177
3178@table @code
3179@kindex set detach-on-fork
3180@item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
3181Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
3182retain debugger control over them both.
3183
3184@table @code
3185@item on
3186The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
3187@code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
3188independently. This is the default.
3189
3190@item off
3191Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
3192One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
3193@code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
3194is held suspended.
3195
3196@end table
3197
3198@kindex show detach-on-fork
3199@item show detach-on-fork
3200Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
3201@end table
3202
3203If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
3204will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
3205You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
3206using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
3207to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
3208Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
3209
3210To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
3211from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferiors}} command (allowing it
3212to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}}
3213command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
3214and Programs}.
3215
3216If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
3217@code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
3218breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
3219@code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
3220the child process's @code{main}.
3221
3222On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
3223cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
3224
3225If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
3226call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
3227process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
3228as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
3229@value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
3230You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
3231command.
3232
3233@table @code
3234@kindex set follow-exec-mode
3235@item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
3236
3237Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
3238@code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
3239
3240@code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
3241
3242@table @code
3243@item new
3244@value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
3245new inferior. The program the process was running before the
3246@code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
3247original inferior.
3248
3249For example:
3250
3251@smallexample
3252(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3253(gdb) info inferior
3254 Id Description Executable
3255* 1 <null> prog1
3256(@value{GDBP}) run
3257process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3258Program exited normally.
3259(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3260 Id Description Executable
3261* 2 <null> prog2
3262 1 <null> prog1
3263@end smallexample
3264
3265@item same
3266@value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3267executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3268inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3269e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3270running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3271
3272For example:
3273
3274@smallexample
3275(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3276 Id Description Executable
3277* 1 <null> prog1
3278(@value{GDBP}) run
3279process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3280Program exited normally.
3281(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3282 Id Description Executable
3283* 1 <null> prog2
3284@end smallexample
3285
3286@end table
3287@end table
3288
3289You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3290a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3291Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3292
3293@node Checkpoint/Restart
3294@section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3295
3296@cindex checkpoint
3297@cindex restart
3298@cindex bookmark
3299@cindex snapshot of a process
3300@cindex rewind program state
3301
3302On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3303@sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3304program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3305later.
3306
3307Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3308happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3309includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3310system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3311moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3312
3313Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3314getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3315a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3316the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3317from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3318start again from there.
3319
3320This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3321steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3322
3323To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3324
3325@table @code
3326@kindex checkpoint
3327@item checkpoint
3328Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3329The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3330is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3331
3332@kindex info checkpoints
3333@item info checkpoints
3334List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3335session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3336listed:
3337
3338@table @code
3339@item Checkpoint ID
3340@item Process ID
3341@item Code Address
3342@item Source line, or label
3343@end table
3344
3345@kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3346@item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3347Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3348@var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3349etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3350was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3351in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3352
3353Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3354are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3355only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3356the debugger.
3357
3358@kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3359@item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3360Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3361
3362@end table
3363
3364Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3365of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3366(OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3367a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3368so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3369opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3370previously read data can be read again.
3371
3372Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3373external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3374from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3375but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3376be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3377been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3378
3379However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3380program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3381again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3382different execution path this time.
3383
3384@cindex checkpoints and process id
3385Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3386different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3387id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3388and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3389If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3390potentially pose a problem.
3391
3392@subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3393
3394On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3395is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3396difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3397absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3398absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3399next.
3400
3401A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3402Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3403and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3404process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3405your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3406
3407@node Stopping
3408@chapter Stopping and Continuing
3409
3410The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3411program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3412trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3413
3414Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3415such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3416@value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3417change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3418continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3419ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3420explicitly request this information at any time.
3421
3422@table @code
3423@kindex info program
3424@item info program
3425Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3426running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3427@end table
3428
3429@menu
3430* Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3431* Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3432* Skipping Over Functions and Files::
3433 Skipping over functions and files
3434* Signals:: Signals
3435* Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3436@end menu
3437
3438@node Breakpoints
3439@section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3440
3441@cindex breakpoints
3442A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3443the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3444control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3445breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3446Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3447should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3448program.
3449
3450On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3451the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3452you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3453in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3454(for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3455call).
3456
3457@cindex watchpoints
3458@cindex data breakpoints
3459@cindex memory tracing
3460@cindex breakpoint on memory address
3461@cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3462A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3463when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3464of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3465combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3466@dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3467watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3468from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3469enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3470same commands.
3471
3472You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3473whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3474Automatic Display}.
3475
3476@cindex catchpoints
3477@cindex breakpoint on events
3478A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3479when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3480exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3481different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3482Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3483other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3484@code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3485
3486@cindex breakpoint numbers
3487@cindex numbers for breakpoints
3488@value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3489catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3490starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3491features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3492breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3493@dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3494enable it again.
3495
3496@cindex breakpoint ranges
3497@cindex ranges of breakpoints
3498Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3499operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3500@samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3501hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3502all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3503
3504@menu
3505* Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3506* Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3507* Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3508* Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3509* Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3510* Conditions:: Break conditions
3511* Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3512* Dynamic Printf:: Dynamic printf
3513* Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3514* Static Probe Points:: Listing static probe points
3515* Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3516* Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3517@end menu
3518
3519@node Set Breaks
3520@subsection Setting Breakpoints
3521
3522@c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3523@c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3524@c
3525@c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3526
3527@kindex break
3528@kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3529@vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3530@cindex latest breakpoint
3531Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3532@code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3533number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3534Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3535convenience variables.
3536
3537@table @code
3538@item break @var{location}
3539Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3540function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3541(@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3542specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3543before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3544
3545When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3546C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3547@xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3548that situation.
3549
3550It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3551only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3552or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3553
3554@item break
3555When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3556the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3557(@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3558innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3559returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3560@code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3561that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3562@code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3563the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3564inside loops.
3565
3566@value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3567least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3568would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3569breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3570existed when your program stopped.
3571
3572@item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3573Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3574@var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3575value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3576@samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3577above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3578,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3579
3580@kindex tbreak
3581@item tbreak @var{args}
3582Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. The @var{args} are the
3583same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3584way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3585program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3586
3587@kindex hbreak
3588@cindex hardware breakpoints
3589@item hbreak @var{args}
3590Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. The @var{args} are the same as for the
3591@code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3592breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3593have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3594debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3595changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3596provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3597will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3598address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3599breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3600example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3601@value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3602or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3603(@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3604@xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3605For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3606breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3607hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3608
3609@kindex thbreak
3610@item thbreak @var{args}
3611Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. The @var{args}
3612are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3613the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3614the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3615first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3616command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3617may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3618See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3619
3620@kindex rbreak
3621@cindex regular expression
3622@cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3623@cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3624@item rbreak @var{regex}
3625Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3626@var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3627matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3628breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3629the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3630them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3631
3632The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3633like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3634shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3635an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3636@code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3637match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3638
3639@cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3640When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3641breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3642classes.
3643
3644@cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3645The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3646@strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3647
3648@smallexample
3649(@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3650@end smallexample
3651
3652@item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3653If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3654the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3655specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3656every function in a given file:
3657
3658@smallexample
3659(@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3660@end smallexample
3661
3662The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3663optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3664
3665@kindex info breakpoints
3666@cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3667@item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3668@itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3669Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3670not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3671about the specified breakpoint(s) (or watchpoint(s) or catchpoint(s)).
3672For each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3673
3674@table @emph
3675@item Breakpoint Numbers
3676@item Type
3677Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3678@item Disposition
3679Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3680@item Enabled or Disabled
3681Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3682that are not enabled.
3683@item Address
3684Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3685pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3686contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3687library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3688See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3689have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3690@item What
3691Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3692line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3693the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3694the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3695@end table
3696
3697@noindent
3698If a breakpoint is conditional, there are two evaluation modes: ``host'' and
3699``target''. If mode is ``host'', breakpoint condition evaluation is done by
3700@value{GDBN} on the host's side. If it is ``target'', then the condition
3701is evaluated by the target. The @code{info break} command shows
3702the condition on the line following the affected breakpoint, together with
3703its condition evaluation mode in between parentheses.
3704
3705Breakpoint commands, if any, are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is
3706allowed to have a condition specified for it. The condition is not parsed for
3707validity until a shared library is loaded that allows the pending
3708breakpoint to resolve to a valid location.
3709
3710@noindent
3711@code{info break} with a breakpoint
3712number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3713convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3714the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3715listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3716
3717@noindent
3718@code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3719has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3720@code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3721hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3722was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3723will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3724
3725@noindent
3726For a breakpoints with an enable count (xref) greater than 1,
3727@code{info break} also displays that count.
3728
3729@end table
3730
3731@value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3732your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3733the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3734(@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3735
3736@cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3737@cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3738It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3739in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3740
3741@itemize @bullet
3742@item
3743Multiple functions in the program may have the same name.
3744
3745@item
3746For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3747instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3748
3749@item
3750For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3751correspond to any number of instantiations.
3752
3753@item
3754For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3755several places where that function is inlined.
3756@end itemize
3757
3758In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3759the relevant locations.
3760
3761A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3762table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3763each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3764address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3765addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3766locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3767@var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3768
3769For example:
3770
3771@smallexample
3772Num Type Disp Enb Address What
37731 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3774 stop only if i==1
3775 breakpoint already hit 1 time
37761.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
37771.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3778@end smallexample
3779
3780Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3781@var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3782@code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3783delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3784entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3785the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3786the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3787the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3788that belong to that breakpoint.
3789
3790@cindex pending breakpoints
3791It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3792Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3793and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3794this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3795any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3796set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3797debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3798symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3799breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3800a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3801is not yet resolved.
3802
3803After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3804@value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3805shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3806pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3807ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3808that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3809
3810This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3811example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3812a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3813a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3814
3815Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3816differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3817enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3818
3819@value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3820happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3821address specification to an address:
3822
3823@kindex set breakpoint pending
3824@kindex show breakpoint pending
3825@table @code
3826@item set breakpoint pending auto
3827This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3828location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3829
3830@item set breakpoint pending on
3831This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3832result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3833
3834@item set breakpoint pending off
3835This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3836unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3837not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3838
3839@item show breakpoint pending
3840Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3841@end table
3842
3843The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3844variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3845as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3846
3847@cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3848For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3849software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3850breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3851breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3852breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3853breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3854breakpoints.
3855
3856You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3857
3858@kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3859@kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3860@table @code
3861@item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3862This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3863will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3864breakpoint must be used.
3865
3866@item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3867This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3868type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3869trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3870@end table
3871
3872@value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3873at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3874executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3875code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3876the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3877behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3878target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3879targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3880This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3881
3882@kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3883@kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3884@table @code
3885@item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3886All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3887the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3888removed from the target when it stops. This is the default mode.
3889
3890@item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3891Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3892the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3893breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3894removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is deleted.
3895@end table
3896
3897@value{GDBN} handles conditional breakpoints by evaluating these conditions
3898when a breakpoint breaks. If the condition is true, then the process being
3899debugged stops, otherwise the process is resumed.
3900
3901If the target supports evaluating conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} may
3902download the breakpoint, together with its conditions, to it.
3903
3904This feature can be controlled via the following commands:
3905
3906@kindex set breakpoint condition-evaluation
3907@kindex show breakpoint condition-evaluation
3908@table @code
3909@item set breakpoint condition-evaluation host
3910This option commands @value{GDBN} to evaluate the breakpoint
3911conditions on the host's side. Unconditional breakpoints are sent to
3912the target which in turn receives the triggers and reports them back to GDB
3913for condition evaluation. This is the standard evaluation mode.
3914
3915@item set breakpoint condition-evaluation target
3916This option commands @value{GDBN} to download breakpoint conditions
3917to the target at the moment of their insertion. The target
3918is responsible for evaluating the conditional expression and reporting
3919breakpoint stop events back to @value{GDBN} whenever the condition
3920is true. Due to limitations of target-side evaluation, some conditions
3921cannot be evaluated there, e.g., conditions that depend on local data
3922that is only known to the host. Examples include
3923conditional expressions involving convenience variables, complex types
3924that cannot be handled by the agent expression parser and expressions
3925that are too long to be sent over to the target, specially when the
3926target is a remote system. In these cases, the conditions will be
3927evaluated by @value{GDBN}.
3928
3929@item set breakpoint condition-evaluation auto
3930This is the default mode. If the target supports evaluating breakpoint
3931conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} will download breakpoint conditions to
3932the target (limitations mentioned previously apply). If the target does
3933not support breakpoint condition evaluation, then @value{GDBN} will fallback
3934to evaluating all these conditions on the host's side.
3935@end table
3936
3937
3938@cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3939@cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3940@value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3941special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3942programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3943starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3944You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3945@samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3946
3947
3948@node Set Watchpoints
3949@subsection Setting Watchpoints
3950
3951@cindex setting watchpoints
3952You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3953expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3954this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3955The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3956as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3957
3958@itemize @bullet
3959@item
3960A reference to the value of a single variable.
3961
3962@item
3963An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3964@samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3965address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3966
3967@item
3968An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3969expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3970language (@pxref{Languages}).
3971@end itemize
3972
3973You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3974not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3975@samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3976@value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3977the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3978valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3979pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3980@code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3981the expression changes.
3982
3983@cindex software watchpoints
3984@cindex hardware watchpoints
3985Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3986hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3987program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3988times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3989catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3990culprit.)
3991
3992On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3993x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3994watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3995
3996@table @code
3997@kindex watch
3998@item watch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3999Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
4000expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
4001changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
4002to watch the value of a single variable:
4003
4004@smallexample
4005(@value{GDBP}) watch foo
4006@end smallexample
4007
4008If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
4009argument, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
4010@var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
4011change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
4012that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
4013with Hardware Watchpoints.
4014
4015Ordinarily a watchpoint respects the scope of variables in @var{expr}
4016(see below). The @code{-location} argument tells @value{GDBN} to
4017instead watch the memory referred to by @var{expr}. In this case,
4018@value{GDBN} will evaluate @var{expr}, take the address of the result,
4019and watch the memory at that address. The type of the result is used
4020to determine the size of the watched memory. If the expression's
4021result does not have an address, then @value{GDBN} will print an
4022error.
4023
4024The @code{@r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}} argument allows creation
4025of masked watchpoints, if the current architecture supports this
4026feature (e.g., PowerPC Embedded architecture, see @ref{PowerPC
4027Embedded}.) A @dfn{masked watchpoint} specifies a mask in addition
4028to an address to watch. The mask specifies that some bits of an address
4029(the bits which are reset in the mask) should be ignored when matching
4030the address accessed by the inferior against the watchpoint address.
4031Thus, a masked watchpoint watches many addresses simultaneously---those
4032addresses whose unmasked bits are identical to the unmasked bits in the
4033watchpoint address. The @code{mask} argument implies @code{-location}.
4034Examples:
4035
4036@smallexample
4037(@value{GDBP}) watch foo mask 0xffff00ff
4038(@value{GDBP}) watch *0xdeadbeef mask 0xffffff00
4039@end smallexample
4040
4041@kindex rwatch
4042@item rwatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
4043Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
4044by the program.
4045
4046@kindex awatch
4047@item awatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
4048Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
4049or written into by the program.
4050
4051@kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
4052@item info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
4053This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
4054@code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
4055@end table
4056
4057If you watch for a change in a numerically entered address you need to
4058dereference it, as the address itself is just a constant number which will
4059never change. @value{GDBN} refuses to create a watchpoint that watches
4060a never-changing value:
4061
4062@smallexample
4063(@value{GDBP}) watch 0x600850
4064Cannot watch constant value 0x600850.
4065(@value{GDBP}) watch *(int *) 0x600850
4066Watchpoint 1: *(int *) 6293584
4067@end smallexample
4068
4069@value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
4070watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
4071value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
4072cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
4073executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
4074@emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
4075
4076@cindex use only software watchpoints
4077You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
4078@kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
4079zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
4080the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
4081watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
4082@code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
4083mechanism of watching expression values.)
4084
4085@table @code
4086@item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
4087@kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
4088Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
4089
4090@item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
4091@kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
4092Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
4093@end table
4094
4095For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
4096watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
4097hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
4098
4099When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
4100
4101@smallexample
4102Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
4103@end smallexample
4104
4105@noindent
4106if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
4107
4108Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
4109hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
4110value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
4111every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
4112that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
4113hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
4114will print a message like this:
4115
4116@smallexample
4117Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
4118@end smallexample
4119
4120Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
4121data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
4122watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
4123can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
4124cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
4125double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
4126wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
4127into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
4128
4129If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
4130to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
4131Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
4132time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
4133able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
4134warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
4135
4136@smallexample
4137Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
4138@end smallexample
4139
4140@noindent
4141If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
4142
4143Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
4144exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
4145That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
4146expression with separately allocated resources.
4147
4148If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
4149any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
4150kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
4151
4152@value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
4153(automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
4154they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
4155which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
4156being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
4157and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
4158rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
4159way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
4160@code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
4161
4162@cindex watchpoints and threads
4163@cindex threads and watchpoints
4164In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
4165watched expression from every thread.
4166
4167@quotation
4168@emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
4169have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
4170watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
4171single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
4172change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
4173confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
4174software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
4175when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
4176watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
4177@end quotation
4178
4179@xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
4180
4181@node Set Catchpoints
4182@subsection Setting Catchpoints
4183@cindex catchpoints, setting
4184@cindex exception handlers
4185@cindex event handling
4186
4187You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
4188kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
4189shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
4190
4191@table @code
4192@kindex catch
4193@item catch @var{event}
4194Stop when @var{event} occurs. The @var{event} can be any of the following:
4195
4196@table @code
4197@item throw @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4198@itemx rethrow @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4199@itemx catch @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4200@kindex catch throw
4201@kindex catch rethrow
4202@kindex catch catch
4203@cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
4204The throwing, re-throwing, or catching of a C@t{++} exception.
4205
4206If @var{regexp} is given, then only exceptions whose type matches the
4207regular expression will be caught.
4208
4209@vindex $_exception@r{, convenience variable}
4210The convenience variable @code{$_exception} is available at an
4211exception-related catchpoint, on some systems. This holds the
4212exception being thrown.
4213
4214There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling in
4215@value{GDBN}:
4216
4217@itemize @bullet
4218@item
4219The support for these commands is system-dependent. Currently, only
4220systems using the @samp{gnu-v3} C@t{++} ABI (@pxref{ABI}) are
4221supported.
4222
4223@item
4224The regular expression feature and the @code{$_exception} convenience
4225variable rely on the presence of some SDT probes in @code{libstdc++}.
4226If these probes are not present, then these features cannot be used.
4227These probes were first available in the GCC 4.8 release, but whether
4228or not they are available in your GCC also depends on how it was
4229built.
4230
4231@item
4232The @code{$_exception} convenience variable is only valid at the
4233instruction at which an exception-related catchpoint is set.
4234
4235@item
4236When an exception-related catchpoint is hit, @value{GDBN} stops at a
4237location in the system library which implements runtime exception
4238support for C@t{++}, usually @code{libstdc++}. You can use @code{up}
4239(@pxref{Selection}) to get to your code.
4240
4241@item
4242If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4243control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4244raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4245returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4246simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4247that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4248you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4249disabled within interactive calls. @xref{Calling}, for information on
4250controlling this with @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception}.
4251
4252@item
4253You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4254
4255@item
4256You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4257@end itemize
4258
4259@item exception
4260@kindex catch exception
4261@cindex Ada exception catching
4262@cindex catch Ada exceptions
4263An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
4264at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
4265the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
4266Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
4267
4268When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
4269name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
4270fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
4271@value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
4272rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
4273called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
4274the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
4275Pck.Constraint_Error}.
4276
4277@item exception unhandled
4278@kindex catch exception unhandled
4279An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
4280
4281@item assert
4282@kindex catch assert
4283A failed Ada assertion.
4284
4285@item exec
4286@kindex catch exec
4287@cindex break on fork/exec
4288A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4289and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4290
4291@item syscall
4292@itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
4293@kindex catch syscall
4294@cindex break on a system call.
4295A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
4296syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
4297from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
4298@value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
4299debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
4300argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
4301will be caught.
4302
4303@var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
4304underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
4305GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
4306names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
4307
4308@c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
4309@c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
4310@c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
4311@c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
4312
4313Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
4314each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
4315facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
4316available choices.
4317
4318You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
4319number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
4320identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
4321name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
4322into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
4323may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
4324list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
4325behind the OS upgrades).
4326
4327The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
4328arguments to it:
4329
4330@smallexample
4331(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4332Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4333(@value{GDBP}) r
4334Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4335
4336Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
4337 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4338(@value{GDBP}) c
4339Continuing.
4340
4341Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
4342 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4343(@value{GDBP})
4344@end smallexample
4345
4346Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
4347
4348@smallexample
4349(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
4350Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
4351(@value{GDBP}) r
4352Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4353
4354Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
4355 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4356(@value{GDBP}) c
4357Continuing.
4358
4359Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
4360 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4361(@value{GDBP})
4362@end smallexample
4363
4364An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
4365below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
4366file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
4367
4368@smallexample
4369(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4370Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
4371(@value{GDBP}) r
4372Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4373
4374Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
4375 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4376(@value{GDBP}) c
4377Continuing.
4378
4379Program exited normally.
4380(@value{GDBP})
4381@end smallexample
4382
4383However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
4384in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
4385a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
4386but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
4387
4388@smallexample
4389(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
4390warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
4391Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
4392(@value{GDBP})
4393@end smallexample
4394
4395If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
4396it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
4397architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
4398you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
4399notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
4400name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
4401
4402@smallexample
4403(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4404warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4405warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4406GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4407Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4408(@value{GDBP})
4409@end smallexample
4410
4411Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4412
4413Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4414number. In this case, you would see something like:
4415
4416@smallexample
4417(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4418Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4419@end smallexample
4420
4421Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4422
4423@item fork
4424@kindex catch fork
4425A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4426and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4427
4428@item vfork
4429@kindex catch vfork
4430A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4431and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4432
4433@item load @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4434@itemx unload @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4435@kindex catch load
4436@kindex catch unload
4437The loading or unloading of a shared library. If @var{regexp} is
4438given, then the catchpoint will stop only if the regular expression
4439matches one of the affected libraries.
4440
4441@item signal @r{[}@var{signal}@dots{} @r{|} @samp{all}@r{]}
4442@kindex catch signal
4443The delivery of a signal.
4444
4445With no arguments, this catchpoint will catch any signal that is not
4446used internally by @value{GDBN}, specifically, all signals except
4447@samp{SIGTRAP} and @samp{SIGINT}.
4448
4449With the argument @samp{all}, all signals, including those used by
4450@value{GDBN}, will be caught. This argument cannot be used with other
4451signal names.
4452
4453Otherwise, the arguments are a list of signal names as given to
4454@code{handle} (@pxref{Signals}). Only signals specified in this list
4455will be caught.
4456
4457One reason that @code{catch signal} can be more useful than
4458@code{handle} is that you can attach commands and conditions to the
4459catchpoint.
4460
4461When a signal is caught by a catchpoint, the signal's @code{stop} and
4462@code{print} settings, as specified by @code{handle}, are ignored.
4463However, whether the signal is still delivered to the inferior depends
4464on the @code{pass} setting; this can be changed in the catchpoint's
4465commands.
4466
4467@end table
4468
4469@item tcatch @var{event}
4470@kindex tcatch
4471Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4472automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4473
4474@end table
4475
4476Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4477
4478
4479@node Delete Breaks
4480@subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4481
4482@cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4483@cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4484It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4485catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4486to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4487breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4488
4489With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4490where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4491delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4492their breakpoint numbers.
4493
4494It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4495automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4496when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4497
4498@table @code
4499@kindex clear
4500@item clear
4501Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4502selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4503the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4504breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4505
4506@item clear @var{location}
4507Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4508@xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4509most useful ones are listed below:
4510
4511@table @code
4512@item clear @var{function}
4513@itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4514Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4515
4516@item clear @var{linenum}
4517@itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4518Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4519@var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4520@end table
4521
4522@cindex delete breakpoints
4523@kindex delete
4524@kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4525@item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4526Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4527ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4528breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4529confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4530@end table
4531
4532@node Disabling
4533@subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4534
4535@cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4536Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4537prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4538it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4539that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4540
4541You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4542the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4543one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4544print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4545do not know which numbers to use.
4546
4547Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4548affects all of its locations.
4549
4550A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of several
4551different states of enablement:
4552
4553@itemize @bullet
4554@item
4555Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4556with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4557@item
4558Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4559@item
4560Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4561disabled.
4562@item
4563Enabled for a count. The breakpoint stops your program for the next
4564N times, then becomes disabled.
4565@item
4566Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4567immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4568set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4569@end itemize
4570
4571You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4572watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4573
4574@table @code
4575@kindex disable
4576@kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4577@item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4578Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4579listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4580options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4581case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4582@code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4583
4584@kindex enable
4585@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4586Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4587become effective once again in stopping your program.
4588
4589@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4590Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4591of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4592
4593@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} count @var{count} @var{range}@dots{}
4594Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} records
4595@var{count} with each of the specified breakpoints, and decrements a
4596breakpoint's count when it is hit. When any count reaches 0,
4597@value{GDBN} disables that breakpoint. If a breakpoint has an ignore
4598count (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}), that will be
4599decremented to 0 before @var{count} is affected.
4600
4601@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4602Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4603deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4604Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4605@end table
4606
4607@c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4608@c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4609Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4610,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4611subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4612the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4613breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4614breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4615Stepping}.)
4616
4617@node Conditions
4618@subsection Break Conditions
4619@cindex conditional breakpoints
4620@cindex breakpoint conditions
4621
4622@c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4623@c in particular for a watchpoint?
4624The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4625specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4626breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4627programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4628a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4629and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4630
4631This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4632situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4633when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4634by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4635@samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4636
4637Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4638since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4639it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4640and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4641one.
4642
4643Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4644your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4645that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4646format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4647unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4648that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4649program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4650breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4651conditions for the
4652purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4653(@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4654
4655Breakpoint conditions can also be evaluated on the target's side if
4656the target supports it. Instead of evaluating the conditions locally,
4657@value{GDBN} encodes the expression into an agent expression
4658(@pxref{Agent Expressions}) suitable for execution on the target,
4659independently of @value{GDBN}. Global variables become raw memory
4660locations, locals become stack accesses, and so forth.
4661
4662In this case, @value{GDBN} will only be notified of a breakpoint trigger
4663when its condition evaluates to true. This mechanism may provide faster
4664response times depending on the performance characteristics of the target
4665since it does not need to keep @value{GDBN} informed about
4666every breakpoint trigger, even those with false conditions.
4667
4668Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4669@samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4670Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4671with the @code{condition} command.
4672
4673You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4674The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4675@code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4676catchpoint.
4677
4678@table @code
4679@kindex condition
4680@item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4681Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4682watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4683breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4684@var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4685@code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4686syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4687referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4688symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4689prints an error message:
4690
4691@smallexample
4692No symbol "foo" in current context.
4693@end smallexample
4694
4695@noindent
4696@value{GDBN} does
4697not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4698command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4699@code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4700
4701@item condition @var{bnum}
4702Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4703an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4704@end table
4705
4706@cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4707A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4708breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4709useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4710count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4711is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4712therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4713ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4714the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4715value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4716your program reaches it.
4717
4718@table @code
4719@kindex ignore
4720@item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4721Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4722The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4723execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4724takes no action.
4725
4726To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4727a count of zero.
4728
4729When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4730breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4731@code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4732Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4733
4734If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4735condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4736@value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4737
4738You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4739as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4740is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4741Variables}.
4742@end table
4743
4744Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4745
4746
4747@node Break Commands
4748@subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4749
4750@cindex breakpoint commands
4751You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4752commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4753example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4754enable other breakpoints.
4755
4756@table @code
4757@kindex commands
4758@kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4759@item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4760@itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4761@itemx end
4762Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4763themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4764@code{end} to terminate the commands.
4765
4766To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4767follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4768
4769With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4770watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4771encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4772command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4773set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4774@code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4775creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4776Expressions}).
4777@end table
4778
4779Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4780disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4781
4782You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4783use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4784that resumes execution.
4785
4786Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4787execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4788(even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4789another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4790ambiguities about which list to execute.
4791
4792@kindex silent
4793If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4794usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4795be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4796then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4797see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4798meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4799
4800The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4801print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4802breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4803
4804For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4805value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4806
4807@smallexample
4808break foo if x>0
4809commands
4810silent
4811printf "x is %d\n",x
4812cont
4813end
4814@end smallexample
4815
4816One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4817you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4818of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4819erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4820to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4821so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4822command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4823
4824@smallexample
4825break 403
4826commands
4827silent
4828set x = y + 4
4829cont
4830end
4831@end smallexample
4832
4833@node Dynamic Printf
4834@subsection Dynamic Printf
4835
4836@cindex dynamic printf
4837@cindex dprintf
4838The dynamic printf command @code{dprintf} combines a breakpoint with
4839formatted printing of your program's data to give you the effect of
4840inserting @code{printf} calls into your program on-the-fly, without
4841having to recompile it.
4842
4843In its most basic form, the output goes to the GDB console. However,
4844you can set the variable @code{dprintf-style} for alternate handling.
4845For instance, you can ask to format the output by calling your
4846program's @code{printf} function. This has the advantage that the
4847characters go to the program's output device, so they can recorded in
4848redirects to files and so forth.
4849
4850If you are doing remote debugging with a stub or agent, you can also
4851ask to have the printf handled by the remote agent. In addition to
4852ensuring that the output goes to the remote program's device along
4853with any other output the program might produce, you can also ask that
4854the dprintf remain active even after disconnecting from the remote
4855target. Using the stub/agent is also more efficient, as it can do
4856everything without needing to communicate with @value{GDBN}.
4857
4858@table @code
4859@kindex dprintf
4860@item dprintf @var{location},@var{template},@var{expression}[,@var{expression}@dots{}]
4861Whenever execution reaches @var{location}, print the values of one or
4862more @var{expressions} under the control of the string @var{template}.
4863To print several values, separate them with commas.
4864
4865@item set dprintf-style @var{style}
4866Set the dprintf output to be handled in one of several different
4867styles enumerated below. A change of style affects all existing
4868dynamic printfs immediately. (If you need individual control over the
4869print commands, simply define normal breakpoints with
4870explicitly-supplied command lists.)
4871
4872@item gdb
4873@kindex dprintf-style gdb
4874Handle the output using the @value{GDBN} @code{printf} command.
4875
4876@item call
4877@kindex dprintf-style call
4878Handle the output by calling a function in your program (normally
4879@code{printf}).
4880
4881@item agent
4882@kindex dprintf-style agent
4883Have the remote debugging agent (such as @code{gdbserver}) handle
4884the output itself. This style is only available for agents that
4885support running commands on the target.
4886
4887@item set dprintf-function @var{function}
4888Set the function to call if the dprintf style is @code{call}. By
4889default its value is @code{printf}. You may set it to any expression.
4890that @value{GDBN} can evaluate to a function, as per the @code{call}
4891command.
4892
4893@item set dprintf-channel @var{channel}
4894Set a ``channel'' for dprintf. If set to a non-empty value,
4895@value{GDBN} will evaluate it as an expression and pass the result as
4896a first argument to the @code{dprintf-function}, in the manner of
4897@code{fprintf} and similar functions. Otherwise, the dprintf format
4898string will be the first argument, in the manner of @code{printf}.
4899
4900As an example, if you wanted @code{dprintf} output to go to a logfile
4901that is a standard I/O stream assigned to the variable @code{mylog},
4902you could do the following:
4903
4904@example
4905(gdb) set dprintf-style call
4906(gdb) set dprintf-function fprintf
4907(gdb) set dprintf-channel mylog
4908(gdb) dprintf 25,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob
4909Dprintf 1 at 0x123456: file main.c, line 25.
4910(gdb) info break
49111 dprintf keep y 0x00123456 in main at main.c:25
4912 call (void) fprintf (mylog,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob)
4913 continue
4914(gdb)
4915@end example
4916
4917Note that the @code{info break} displays the dynamic printf commands
4918as normal breakpoint commands; you can thus easily see the effect of
4919the variable settings.
4920
4921@item set disconnected-dprintf on
4922@itemx set disconnected-dprintf off
4923@kindex set disconnected-dprintf
4924Choose whether @code{dprintf} commands should continue to run if
4925@value{GDBN} has disconnected from the target. This only applies
4926if the @code{dprintf-style} is @code{agent}.
4927
4928@item show disconnected-dprintf off
4929@kindex show disconnected-dprintf
4930Show the current choice for disconnected @code{dprintf}.
4931
4932@end table
4933
4934@value{GDBN} does not check the validity of function and channel,
4935relying on you to supply values that are meaningful for the contexts
4936in which they are being used. For instance, the function and channel
4937may be the values of local variables, but if that is the case, then
4938all enabled dynamic prints must be at locations within the scope of
4939those locals. If evaluation fails, @value{GDBN} will report an error.
4940
4941@node Save Breakpoints
4942@subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
4943
4944To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
4945breakpoints}} command.
4946
4947@table @code
4948@kindex save breakpoints
4949@cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
4950@item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
4951This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
4952their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
4953suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
4954types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
4955tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
4956@code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
4957with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
4958because it may not be possible to access the context where the
4959watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
4960are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
4961breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
4962and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
4963that can no longer be recreated.
4964@end table
4965
4966@node Static Probe Points
4967@subsection Static Probe Points
4968
4969@cindex static probe point, SystemTap
4970@value{GDBN} supports @dfn{SDT} probes in the code. @acronym{SDT} stands
4971for Statically Defined Tracing, and the probes are designed to have a tiny
4972runtime code and data footprint, and no dynamic relocations. They are
4973usable from assembly, C and C@t{++} languages. See
4974@uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/UserSpaceProbeImplementation}
4975for a good reference on how the @acronym{SDT} probes are implemented.
4976
4977Currently, @code{SystemTap} (@uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/})
4978@acronym{SDT} probes are supported on ELF-compatible systems. See
4979@uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/AddingUserSpaceProbingToApps}
4980for more information on how to add @code{SystemTap} @acronym{SDT} probes
4981in your applications.
4982
4983@cindex semaphores on static probe points
4984Some probes have an associated semaphore variable; for instance, this
4985happens automatically if you defined your probe using a DTrace-style
4986@file{.d} file. If your probe has a semaphore, @value{GDBN} will
4987automatically enable it when you specify a breakpoint using the
4988@samp{-probe-stap} notation. But, if you put a breakpoint at a probe's
4989location by some other method (e.g., @code{break file:line}), then
4990@value{GDBN} will not automatically set the semaphore.
4991
4992You can examine the available static static probes using @code{info
4993probes}, with optional arguments:
4994
4995@table @code
4996@kindex info probes
4997@item info probes stap @r{[}@var{provider} @r{[}@var{name} @r{[}@var{objfile}@r{]}@r{]}@r{]}
4998If given, @var{provider} is a regular expression used to match against provider
4999names when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probes by all
5000probes from all providers are listed.
5001
5002If given, @var{name} is a regular expression to match against probe names
5003when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probe names are not
5004considered when deciding whether to display them.
5005
5006If given, @var{objfile} is a regular expression used to select which
5007object files (executable or shared libraries) to examine. If not
5008given, all object files are considered.
5009
5010@item info probes all
5011List the available static probes, from all types.
5012@end table
5013
5014@vindex $_probe_arg@r{, convenience variable}
5015A probe may specify up to twelve arguments. These are available at the
5016point at which the probe is defined---that is, when the current PC is
5017at the probe's location. The arguments are available using the
5018convenience variables (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
5019@code{$_probe_arg0}@dots{}@code{$_probe_arg11}. Each probe argument is
5020an integer of the appropriate size; types are not preserved. The
5021convenience variable @code{$_probe_argc} holds the number of arguments
5022at the current probe point.
5023
5024These variables are always available, but attempts to access them at
5025any location other than a probe point will cause @value{GDBN} to give
5026an error message.
5027
5028
5029@c @ifclear BARETARGET
5030@node Error in Breakpoints
5031@subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
5032
5033If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
5034watchpoints, you will see this error message:
5035
5036@c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
5037@c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
5038@smallexample
5039Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
5040You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
5041@end smallexample
5042
5043@noindent
5044This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
5045only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
5046watchpoints it needs to insert.
5047
5048When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
5049hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
5050
5051@node Breakpoint-related Warnings
5052@subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
5053@cindex breakpoint address adjusted
5054
5055Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
5056which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
5057@value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
5058with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
5059
5060One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
5061a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
5062bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
5063constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
5064bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
5065honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
5066first in the bundle.
5067
5068It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
5069instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
5070a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
5071another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
5072breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
5073printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
5074is hit.
5075
5076A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
5077that's been subject to address adjustment:
5078
5079@smallexample
5080warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
5081@end smallexample
5082
5083Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
5084internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
5085verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
5086desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
5087other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
5088E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
5089instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
5090cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
5091
5092@value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
5093adjusted breakpoints:
5094
5095@smallexample
5096warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
5097to 0x00010410.
5098@end smallexample
5099
5100When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
5101action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
5102frequently than expected.
5103
5104@node Continuing and Stepping
5105@section Continuing and Stepping
5106
5107@cindex stepping
5108@cindex continuing
5109@cindex resuming execution
5110@dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
5111completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
5112one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
5113line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
5114particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
5115your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
5116it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
5117@samp{signal 0} to resume execution (@pxref{Signals, ,Signals}),
5118or you may step into the signal's handler (@pxref{stepping and signal
5119handlers}).)
5120
5121@table @code
5122@kindex continue
5123@kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
5124@kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
5125@item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5126@itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5127@itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5128Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
5129any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
5130@var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
5131ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
5132@code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
5133
5134The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
5135stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
5136@code{continue} is ignored.
5137
5138The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
5139debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
5140purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
5141@code{continue}.
5142@end table
5143
5144To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
5145(@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
5146calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
5147Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
5148
5149A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
5150(@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
5151beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
5152is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
5153and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
5154interesting, until you see the problem happen.
5155
5156@table @code
5157@kindex step
5158@kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
5159@item step
5160Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
5161line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
5162abbreviated @code{s}.
5163
5164@quotation
5165@c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
5166@c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
5167@c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
5168@c distinction here.
5169@emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
5170within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
5171execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
5172debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
5173is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
5174without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
5175below.
5176@end quotation
5177
5178The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
5179line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5180@code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
5181to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
5182the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
5183called within the line.
5184
5185Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
5186number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
5187@code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
5188on @acronym{MIPS} machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
5189was any debugging information about the routine.
5190
5191@item step @var{count}
5192Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
5193breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
5194@var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
5195
5196@kindex next
5197@kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
5198@item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5199Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
5200This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
5201the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
5202control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
5203that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
5204is abbreviated @code{n}.
5205
5206An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
5207
5208
5209@c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
5210@c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
5211@c
5212@c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
5213@c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
5214@c function are executed without stopping.
5215
5216The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
5217source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5218@code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
5219
5220@kindex set step-mode
5221@item set step-mode
5222@cindex functions without line info, and stepping
5223@cindex stepping into functions with no line info
5224@itemx set step-mode on
5225The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
5226stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
5227information rather than stepping over it.
5228
5229This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
5230machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
5231want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
5232
5233@item set step-mode off
5234Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
5235debug information. This is the default.
5236
5237@item show step-mode
5238Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
5239source line debug information.
5240
5241@kindex finish
5242@kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
5243@item finish
5244Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
5245returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
5246abbreviated as @code{fin}.
5247
5248Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
5249,Returning from a Function}).
5250
5251@kindex until
5252@kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
5253@cindex run until specified location
5254@item until
5255@itemx u
5256Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
5257current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
5258stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
5259command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
5260automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
5261than the address of the jump.
5262
5263This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
5264though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
5265exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
5266simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
5267through the next iteration.
5268
5269@code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
5270stack frame.
5271
5272@code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
5273of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
5274example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
5275(@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
5276@code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
5277
5278@smallexample
5279(@value{GDBP}) f
5280#0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
5281206 expand_input();
5282(@value{GDBP}) until
5283195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
5284@end smallexample
5285
5286This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
5287generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
5288start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
5289written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
5290to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
5291expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
5292statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
5293
5294@code{until} with no argument works by means of single
5295instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
5296argument.
5297
5298@item until @var{location}
5299@itemx u @var{location}
5300Continue running your program until either the specified @var{location} is
5301reached, or the current stack frame returns. The location is any of
5302the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
5303This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
5304hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
5305location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
5306implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
5307invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
5308line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
5309line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
5310invocations have returned.
5311
5312@smallexample
531394 int factorial (int value)
531495 @{
531596 if (value > 1) @{
531697 value *= factorial (value - 1);
531798 @}
531899 return (value);
5319100 @}
5320@end smallexample
5321
5322
5323@kindex advance @var{location}
5324@item advance @var{location}
5325Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
5326required, which should be of one of the forms described in
5327@ref{Specify Location}.
5328Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
5329frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
5330not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
5331have to be in the same frame as the current one.
5332
5333
5334@kindex stepi
5335@kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
5336@item stepi
5337@itemx stepi @var{arg}
5338@itemx si
5339Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
5340
5341It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
5342instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
5343instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
5344Display,, Automatic Display}.
5345
5346An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
5347
5348@need 750
5349@kindex nexti
5350@kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
5351@item nexti
5352@itemx nexti @var{arg}
5353@itemx ni
5354Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
5355proceed until the function returns.
5356
5357An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
5358
5359@end table
5360
5361@anchor{range stepping}
5362@cindex range stepping
5363@cindex target-assisted range stepping
5364By default, and if available, @value{GDBN} makes use of
5365target-assisted @dfn{range stepping}. In other words, whenever you
5366use a stepping command (e.g., @code{step}, @code{next}), @value{GDBN}
5367tells the target to step the corresponding range of instruction
5368addresses instead of issuing multiple single-steps. This speeds up
5369line stepping, particularly for remote targets. Ideally, there should
5370be no reason you would want to turn range stepping off. However, it's
5371possible that a bug in the debug info, a bug in the remote stub (for
5372remote targets), or even a bug in @value{GDBN} could make line
5373stepping behave incorrectly when target-assisted range stepping is
5374enabled. You can use the following command to turn off range stepping
5375if necessary:
5376
5377@table @code
5378@kindex set range-stepping
5379@kindex show range-stepping
5380@item set range-stepping
5381@itemx show range-stepping
5382Control whether range stepping is enabled.
5383
5384If @code{on}, and the target supports it, @value{GDBN} tells the
5385target to step a range of addresses itself, instead of issuing
5386multiple single-steps. If @code{off}, @value{GDBN} always issues
5387single-steps, even if range stepping is supported by the target. The
5388default is @code{on}.
5389
5390@end table
5391
5392@node Skipping Over Functions and Files
5393@section Skipping Over Functions and Files
5394@cindex skipping over functions and files
5395
5396The program you are debugging may contain some functions which are
5397uninteresting to debug. The @code{skip} comand lets you tell @value{GDBN} to
5398skip a function or all functions in a file when stepping.
5399
5400For example, consider the following C function:
5401
5402@smallexample
5403101 int func()
5404102 @{
5405103 foo(boring());
5406104 bar(boring());
5407105 @}
5408@end smallexample
5409
5410@noindent
5411Suppose you wish to step into the functions @code{foo} and @code{bar}, but you
5412are not interested in stepping through @code{boring}. If you run @code{step}
5413at line 103, you'll enter @code{boring()}, but if you run @code{next}, you'll
5414step over both @code{foo} and @code{boring}!
5415
5416One solution is to @code{step} into @code{boring} and use the @code{finish}
5417command to immediately exit it. But this can become tedious if @code{boring}
5418is called from many places.
5419
5420A more flexible solution is to execute @kbd{skip boring}. This instructs
5421@value{GDBN} never to step into @code{boring}. Now when you execute
5422@code{step} at line 103, you'll step over @code{boring} and directly into
5423@code{foo}.
5424
5425You can also instruct @value{GDBN} to skip all functions in a file, with, for
5426example, @code{skip file boring.c}.
5427
5428@table @code
5429@kindex skip function
5430@item skip @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5431@itemx skip function @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5432After running this command, the function named by @var{linespec} or the
5433function containing the line named by @var{linespec} will be skipped over when
5434stepping. @xref{Specify Location}.
5435
5436If you do not specify @var{linespec}, the function you're currently debugging
5437will be skipped.
5438
5439(If you have a function called @code{file} that you want to skip, use
5440@kbd{skip function file}.)
5441
5442@kindex skip file
5443@item skip file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
5444After running this command, any function whose source lives in @var{filename}
5445will be skipped over when stepping.
5446
5447If you do not specify @var{filename}, functions whose source lives in the file
5448you're currently debugging will be skipped.
5449@end table
5450
5451Skips can be listed, deleted, disabled, and enabled, much like breakpoints.
5452These are the commands for managing your list of skips:
5453
5454@table @code
5455@kindex info skip
5456@item info skip @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5457Print details about the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified,
5458print a table with details about all functions and files marked for skipping.
5459@code{info skip} prints the following information about each skip:
5460
5461@table @emph
5462@item Identifier
5463A number identifying this skip.
5464@item Type
5465The type of this skip, either @samp{function} or @samp{file}.
5466@item Enabled or Disabled
5467Enabled skips are marked with @samp{y}. Disabled skips are marked with @samp{n}.
5468@item Address
5469For function skips, this column indicates the address in memory of the function
5470being skipped. If you've set a function skip on a function which has not yet
5471been loaded, this field will contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Once a shared library
5472which has the function is loaded, @code{info skip} will show the function's
5473address here.
5474@item What
5475For file skips, this field contains the filename being skipped. For functions
5476skips, this field contains the function name and its line number in the file
5477where it is defined.
5478@end table
5479
5480@kindex skip delete
5481@item skip delete @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5482Delete the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, delete all
5483skips.
5484
5485@kindex skip enable
5486@item skip enable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5487Enable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, enable all
5488skips.
5489
5490@kindex skip disable
5491@item skip disable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5492Disable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, disable all
5493skips.
5494
5495@end table
5496
5497@node Signals
5498@section Signals
5499@cindex signals
5500
5501A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
5502operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
5503kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
5504signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
5505@code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
5506memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
5507the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
5508requested an alarm).
5509
5510@cindex fatal signals
5511Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
5512functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
5513errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
5514program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
5515@code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
5516fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
5517
5518@value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
5519program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
5520signal.
5521
5522@cindex handling signals
5523Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
5524@code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
5525(so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
5526but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
5527You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
5528
5529@table @code
5530@kindex info signals
5531@kindex info handle
5532@item info signals
5533@itemx info handle
5534Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
5535handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
5536the defined types of signals.
5537
5538@item info signals @var{sig}
5539Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
5540
5541@code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
5542
5543@item catch signal @r{[}@var{signal}@dots{} @r{|} @samp{all}@r{]}
5544Set a catchpoint for the indicated signals. @xref{Set Catchpoints},
5545for details about this command.
5546
5547@kindex handle
5548@item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
5549Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. The @var{signal}
5550can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
5551@samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
5552@samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
5553known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
5554say what change to make.
5555@end table
5556
5557@c @group
5558The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
5559Their full names are:
5560
5561@table @code
5562@item nostop
5563@value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
5564still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
5565
5566@item stop
5567@value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
5568the @code{print} keyword as well.
5569
5570@item print
5571@value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
5572
5573@item noprint
5574@value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
5575implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
5576
5577@item pass
5578@itemx noignore
5579@value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
5580can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
5581and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
5582
5583@item nopass
5584@itemx ignore
5585@value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
5586@code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
5587@end table
5588@c @end group
5589
5590When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
5591program until you
5592continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
5593effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
5594after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
5595command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
5596program sees that signal when you continue.
5597
5598The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
5599non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
5600@code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
5601erroneous signals.
5602
5603You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
5604seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
5605or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
5606due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
5607values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
5608execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
5609a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
5610you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
5611Program a Signal}.
5612
5613@cindex stepping and signal handlers
5614@anchor{stepping and signal handlers}
5615
5616@value{GDBN} optimizes for stepping the mainline code. If a signal
5617that has @code{handle nostop} and @code{handle pass} set arrives while
5618a stepping command (e.g., @code{stepi}, @code{step}, @code{next}) is
5619in progress, @value{GDBN} lets the signal handler run and then resumes
5620stepping the mainline code once the signal handler returns. In other
5621words, @value{GDBN} steps over the signal handler. This prevents
5622signals that you've specified as not interesting (with @code{handle
5623nostop}) from changing the focus of debugging unexpectedly. Note that
5624the signal handler itself may still hit a breakpoint, stop for another
5625signal that has @code{handle stop} in effect, or for any other event
5626that normally results in stopping the stepping command sooner. Also
5627note that @value{GDBN} still informs you that the program received a
5628signal if @code{handle print} is set.
5629
5630@anchor{stepping into signal handlers}
5631
5632If you set @code{handle pass} for a signal, and your program sets up a
5633handler for it, then issuing a stepping command, such as @code{step}
5634or @code{stepi}, when your program is stopped due to the signal will
5635step @emph{into} the signal handler (if the target supports that).
5636
5637Likewise, if you use the @code{queue-signal} command to queue a signal
5638to be delivered to the current thread when execution of the thread
5639resumes (@pxref{Signaling, ,Giving your Program a Signal}), then a
5640stepping command will step into the signal handler.
5641
5642Here's an example, using @code{stepi} to step to the first instruction
5643of @code{SIGUSR1}'s handler:
5644
5645@smallexample
5646(@value{GDBP}) handle SIGUSR1
5647Signal Stop Print Pass to program Description
5648SIGUSR1 Yes Yes Yes User defined signal 1
5649(@value{GDBP}) c
5650Continuing.
5651
5652Program received signal SIGUSR1, User defined signal 1.
5653main () sigusr1.c:28
565428 p = 0;
5655(@value{GDBP}) si
5656sigusr1_handler () at sigusr1.c:9
56579 @{
5658@end smallexample
5659
5660The same, but using @code{queue-signal} instead of waiting for the
5661program to receive the signal first:
5662
5663@smallexample
5664(@value{GDBP}) n
566528 p = 0;
5666(@value{GDBP}) queue-signal SIGUSR1
5667(@value{GDBP}) si
5668sigusr1_handler () at sigusr1.c:9
56699 @{
5670(@value{GDBP})
5671@end smallexample
5672
5673@cindex extra signal information
5674@anchor{extra signal information}
5675
5676On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
5677associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
5678delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
5679by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
5680that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
5681receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
5682target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
5683$_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
5684standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
5685system header.
5686
5687Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
5688referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
5689
5690@smallexample
5691@group
5692(@value{GDBP}) continue
5693Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
56940x0000000000400766 in main ()
569569 *(int *)p = 0;
5696(@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
5697type = struct @{
5698 int si_signo;
5699 int si_errno;
5700 int si_code;
5701 union @{
5702 int _pad[28];
5703 struct @{...@} _kill;
5704 struct @{...@} _timer;
5705 struct @{...@} _rt;
5706 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
5707 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
5708 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
5709 @} _sifields;
5710@}
5711(@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
5712type = struct @{
5713 void *si_addr;
5714@}
5715(@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
5716$1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
5717@end group
5718@end smallexample
5719
5720Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
5721
5722@node Thread Stops
5723@section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
5724
5725@cindex stopped threads
5726@cindex threads, stopped
5727
5728@cindex continuing threads
5729@cindex threads, continuing
5730
5731@value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
5732(@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
5733are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
5734debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
5735when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
5736or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
5737@value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
5738@dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
5739you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
5740
5741@menu
5742* All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
5743* Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
5744* Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
5745* Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
5746* Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
5747* Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
5748@end menu
5749
5750@node All-Stop Mode
5751@subsection All-Stop Mode
5752
5753@cindex all-stop mode
5754
5755In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
5756@emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
5757allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
5758switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
5759underfoot.
5760
5761Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
5762executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
5763like @code{step} or @code{next}.
5764
5765In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
5766Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
5767system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
5768execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
5769single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
5770statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
5771stops.
5772
5773You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
5774continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
5775thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
5776first thread completes whatever you requested.
5777
5778@cindex automatic thread selection
5779@cindex switching threads automatically
5780@cindex threads, automatic switching
5781Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
5782signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
5783signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
5784message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
5785thread.
5786
5787On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
5788locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
5789
5790@table @code
5791@item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
5792@cindex scheduler locking mode
5793@cindex lock scheduler
5794Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
5795locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
5796current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
5797mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
5798from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
5799the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
5800Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
5801when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
5802function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
5803like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
5804thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
5805the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
5806
5807@item show scheduler-locking
5808Display the current scheduler locking mode.
5809@end table
5810
5811@cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
5812By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
5813@code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
5814threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
5815is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
5816@code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
5817inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
5818forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
5819it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
5820situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
5821of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
5822to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
5823you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
5824inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
5825
5826@table @code
5827@kindex set schedule-multiple
5828@item set schedule-multiple
5829Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
5830when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
5831all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
5832of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
5833@code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
5834or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
5835
5836@item show schedule-multiple
5837Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5838multiple processes.
5839@end table
5840
5841@node Non-Stop Mode
5842@subsection Non-Stop Mode
5843
5844@cindex non-stop mode
5845
5846@c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5847@c with more details.
5848
5849For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5850mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5851the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5852minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5853where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5854respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5855
5856In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5857@emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5858threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5859execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5860only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5861in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5862ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5863one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5864one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5865independently and simultaneously.
5866
5867To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5868or attach to your program:
5869
5870@smallexample
5871# If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5872set pagination off
5873
5874# Finally, turn it on!
5875set non-stop on
5876@end smallexample
5877
5878You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5879
5880@table @code
5881@kindex set non-stop
5882@item set non-stop on
5883Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5884@item set non-stop off
5885Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5886@kindex show non-stop
5887@item show non-stop
5888Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5889@end table
5890
5891Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5892not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5893In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5894@value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5895not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5896since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5897non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5898default.
5899
5900In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5901by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5902To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5903
5904You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5905(@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5906while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5907The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5908always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5909
5910Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5911running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5912In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5913but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5914To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5915
5916Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5917
5918In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5919that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5920thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5921command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5922changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5923previously current thread.
5924
5925@node Background Execution
5926@subsection Background Execution
5927
5928@cindex foreground execution
5929@cindex background execution
5930@cindex asynchronous execution
5931@cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5932
5933@value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5934foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5935(asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5936the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5937another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5938a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5939
5940If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5941message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5942
5943To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5944the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5945just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5946are:
5947
5948@table @code
5949@kindex run&
5950@item run
5951@xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5952
5953@item attach
5954@kindex attach&
5955@xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5956
5957@item step
5958@kindex step&
5959@xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5960
5961@item stepi
5962@kindex stepi&
5963@xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5964
5965@item next
5966@kindex next&
5967@xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5968
5969@item nexti
5970@kindex nexti&
5971@xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5972
5973@item continue
5974@kindex continue&
5975@xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5976
5977@item finish
5978@kindex finish&
5979@xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5980
5981@item until
5982@kindex until&
5983@xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5984
5985@end table
5986
5987Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5988mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5989However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5990the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5991previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5992mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5993
5994You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5995using the @code{interrupt} command.
5996
5997@table @code
5998@kindex interrupt
5999@item interrupt
6000@itemx interrupt -a
6001
6002Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
6003@code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
6004only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
6005use @code{interrupt -a}.
6006@end table
6007
6008@node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
6009@subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
6010
6011When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
6012Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
6013breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
6014
6015@table @code
6016@cindex breakpoints and threads
6017@cindex thread breakpoints
6018@kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
6019@item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
6020@itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
6021@var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
6022writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
6023specify some source line.
6024
6025Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
6026to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
6027particular thread reaches this breakpoint. The @var{threadno} specifier
6028is one of the numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown
6029in the first column of the @samp{info threads} display.
6030
6031If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
6032breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
6033program.
6034
6035You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
6036well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before or
6037after the breakpoint condition, like this:
6038
6039@smallexample
6040(@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
6041@end smallexample
6042
6043@end table
6044
6045Thread-specific breakpoints are automatically deleted when
6046@value{GDBN} detects the corresponding thread is no longer in the
6047thread list. For example:
6048
6049@smallexample
6050(@value{GDBP}) c
6051Thread-specific breakpoint 3 deleted - thread 28 no longer in the thread list.
6052@end smallexample
6053
6054There are several ways for a thread to disappear, such as a regular
6055thread exit, but also when you detach from the process with the
6056@code{detach} command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running
6057Process}), or if @value{GDBN} loses the remote connection
6058(@pxref{Remote Debugging}), etc. Note that with some targets,
6059@value{GDBN} is only able to detect a thread has exited when the user
6060explictly asks for the thread list with the @code{info threads}
6061command.
6062
6063@node Interrupted System Calls
6064@subsection Interrupted System Calls
6065
6066@cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
6067@cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
6068@cindex premature return from system calls
6069There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
6070multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
6071breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
6072system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
6073consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
6074that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
6075stop execution.
6076
6077To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
6078each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
6079style anyways.
6080
6081For example, do not write code like this:
6082
6083@smallexample
6084 sleep (10);
6085@end smallexample
6086
6087The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
6088at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
6089
6090Instead, write this:
6091
6092@smallexample
6093 int unslept = 10;
6094 while (unslept > 0)
6095 unslept = sleep (unslept);
6096@end smallexample
6097
6098A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
6099conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
6100multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
6101@value{GDBN}.
6102
6103Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
6104monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
6105When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
6106prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
6107
6108@node Observer Mode
6109@subsection Observer Mode
6110
6111If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
6112without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
6113variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
6114whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
6115at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
6116
6117When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
6118be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
6119@code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
6120mode.
6121
6122Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
6123combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
6124@code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
6125then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
6126stream will still not be able to be placed.
6127
6128@table @code
6129
6130@kindex observer
6131@item set observer on
6132@itemx set observer off
6133When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
6134below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
6135non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
6136normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
6137
6138@item show observer
6139Show whether observer mode is on or off.
6140
6141@kindex may-write-registers
6142@item set may-write-registers on
6143@itemx set may-write-registers off
6144This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
6145registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
6146@code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
6147
6148@item show may-write-registers
6149Show the current permission to write registers.
6150
6151@kindex may-write-memory
6152@item set may-write-memory on
6153@itemx set may-write-memory off
6154This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
6155of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
6156defaults to @code{on}.
6157
6158@item show may-write-memory
6159Show the current permission to write memory.
6160
6161@kindex may-insert-breakpoints
6162@item set may-insert-breakpoints on
6163@itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
6164This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
6165This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
6166by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6167
6168@item show may-insert-breakpoints
6169Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
6170
6171@kindex may-insert-tracepoints
6172@item set may-insert-tracepoints on
6173@itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
6174This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
6175tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
6176non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
6177@code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6178
6179@item show may-insert-tracepoints
6180Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
6181
6182@kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
6183@item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
6184@itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
6185This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
6186tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
6187fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
6188control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6189
6190@item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
6191Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
6192
6193@kindex may-interrupt
6194@item set may-interrupt on
6195@itemx set may-interrupt off
6196This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
6197program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
6198@code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
6199@kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6200
6201@item show may-interrupt
6202Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
6203
6204@end table
6205
6206@node Reverse Execution
6207@chapter Running programs backward
6208@cindex reverse execution
6209@cindex running programs backward
6210
6211When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
6212you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
6213If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
6214``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
6215
6216A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
6217to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
6218program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
6219revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
6220deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
6221all target environments can support reverse execution.
6222
6223When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
6224have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
6225order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
6226thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
6227the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
6228instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
6229a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
6230should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
6231prior values@footnote{
6232Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
6233memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
6234targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
6235
6236The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
6237requires only that the target do something reasonable when
6238@value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
6239results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
6240@value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
6241assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
6242consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
6243}.
6244
6245If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
6246reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
6247
6248@table @code
6249@kindex reverse-continue
6250@kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
6251@item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6252@itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6253Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
6254in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
6255exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
6256asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
6257
6258@kindex reverse-step
6259@kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
6260@item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6261Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
6262different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
6263
6264Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
6265at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
6266executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
6267debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
6268the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
6269statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
6270
6271Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
6272called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
6273
6274@kindex reverse-stepi
6275@kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
6276@item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6277Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
6278to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
6279counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
6280if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
6281back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
6282
6283@kindex reverse-next
6284@kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
6285@item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6286Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
6287the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
6288calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
6289the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
6290to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
6291just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
6292line of a function back to its return to its caller
6293@footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
6294
6295@kindex reverse-nexti
6296@kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
6297@item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6298Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
6299in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
6300That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
6301another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
6302in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
6303frame) is reached.
6304
6305@kindex reverse-finish
6306@item reverse-finish
6307Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
6308current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
6309where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
6310function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
6311
6312@kindex set exec-direction
6313@item set exec-direction
6314Set the direction of target execution.
6315@item set exec-direction reverse
6316@cindex execute forward or backward in time
6317@value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
6318exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
6319@code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
6320command cannot be used in reverse mode.
6321@item set exec-direction forward
6322@value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
6323This is the default.
6324@end table
6325
6326
6327@node Process Record and Replay
6328@chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
6329@cindex process record and replay
6330@cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
6331
6332On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
6333and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
6334replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
6335
6336@cindex replay mode
6337When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
6338for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
6339mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
6340instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
6341code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
6342really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
6343program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
6344changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
6345execution log.
6346
6347@cindex record mode
6348If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
6349@value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
6350inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
6351for future replay.
6352
6353The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
6354(@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
6355inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
6356this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
6357log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
6358support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
6359
6360When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
6361replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
6362previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
6363platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
6364
6365For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
6366@value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
6367
6368@table @code
6369@kindex target record
6370@kindex target record-full
6371@kindex target record-btrace
6372@kindex record
6373@kindex record full
6374@kindex record btrace
6375@kindex rec
6376@kindex rec full
6377@kindex rec btrace
6378@item record @var{method}
6379This command starts the process record and replay target. The
6380recording method can be specified as parameter. Without a parameter
6381the command uses the @code{full} recording method. The following
6382recording methods are available:
6383
6384@table @code
6385@item full
6386Full record/replay recording using @value{GDBN}'s software record and
6387replay implementation. This method allows replaying and reverse
6388execution.
6389
6390@item btrace
6391Hardware-supported instruction recording. This method does not record
6392data. Further, the data is collected in a ring buffer so old data will
6393be overwritten when the buffer is full. It allows limited replay and
6394reverse execution.
6395
6396This recording method may not be available on all processors.
6397@end table
6398
6399The process record and replay target can only debug a process that is
6400already running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with
6401the @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording
6402with the @kbd{record @var{method}} command.
6403
6404Both @code{record @var{method}} and @code{rec @var{method}} are
6405aliases of @code{target record-@var{method}}.
6406
6407@cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
6408Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
6409will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
6410is started. That's because the process record and replay target
6411doesn't support displaced stepping.
6412
6413@cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
6414@cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
6415If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
6416the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), not
6417all recording methods are available. The @code{full} recording method
6418does not support these two modes.
6419
6420@kindex record stop
6421@kindex rec s
6422@item record stop
6423Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
6424replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
6425inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
6426
6427When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
6428the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
6429next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
6430you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
6431will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
6432
6433On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
6434while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
6435but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
6436at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
6437usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
6438
6439When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
6440process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
6441
6442@kindex record goto
6443@item record goto
6444Go to a specific location in the execution log. There are several
6445ways to specify the location to go to:
6446
6447@table @code
6448@item record goto begin
6449@itemx record goto start
6450Go to the beginning of the execution log.
6451
6452@item record goto end
6453Go to the end of the execution log.
6454
6455@item record goto @var{n}
6456Go to instruction number @var{n} in the execution log.
6457@end table
6458
6459@kindex record save
6460@item record save @var{filename}
6461Save the execution log to a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6462Default filename is @file{gdb_record.@var{process_id}}, where
6463@var{process_id} is the process ID of the inferior.
6464
6465This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6466
6467@kindex record restore
6468@item record restore @var{filename}
6469Restore the execution log from a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6470File must have been created with @code{record save}.
6471
6472@kindex set record full
6473@item set record full insn-number-max @var{limit}
6474@itemx set record full insn-number-max unlimited
6475Set the limit of instructions to be recorded for the @code{full}
6476recording method. Default value is 200000.
6477
6478If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
6479deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
6480instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
6481instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
6482instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
6483(Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
6484lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
6485the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
6486
6487If @var{limit} is @code{unlimited} or zero, @value{GDBN} will never
6488delete recorded instructions from the execution log. The number of
6489recorded instructions is limited only by the available memory.
6490
6491@kindex show record full
6492@item show record full insn-number-max
6493Show the limit of instructions to be recorded with the @code{full}
6494recording method.
6495
6496@item set record full stop-at-limit
6497Control the behavior of the @code{full} recording method when the
6498number of recorded instructions reaches the limit. If ON (the
6499default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit is reached for the
6500first time and ask you whether you want to stop the inferior or
6501continue running it and recording the execution log. If you decide
6502to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will cause the
6503oldest one to be deleted.
6504
6505If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
6506oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
6507
6508@item show record full stop-at-limit
6509Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
6510
6511@item set record full memory-query
6512Control the behavior when @value{GDBN} is unable to record memory
6513changes caused by an instruction for the @code{full} recording method.
6514If ON, @value{GDBN} will query whether to stop the inferior in that
6515case.
6516
6517If this option is OFF (the default), @value{GDBN} will automatically
6518ignore the effect of such instructions on memory. Later, when
6519@value{GDBN} replays this execution log, it will mark the log of this
6520instruction as not accessible, and it will not affect the replay
6521results.
6522
6523@item show record full memory-query
6524Show the current setting of @code{memory-query}.
6525
6526@kindex set record btrace
6527The @code{btrace} record target does not trace data. As a
6528convenience, when replaying, @value{GDBN} reads read-only memory off
6529the live program directly, assuming that the addresses of the
6530read-only areas don't change. This for example makes it possible to
6531disassemble code while replaying, but not to print variables.
6532In some cases, being able to inspect variables might be useful.
6533You can use the following command for that:
6534
6535@item set record btrace replay-memory-access
6536Control the behavior of the @code{btrace} recording method when
6537accessing memory during replay. If @code{read-only} (the default),
6538@value{GDBN} will only allow accesses to read-only memory.
6539If @code{read-write}, @value{GDBN} will allow accesses to read-only
6540and to read-write memory. Beware that the accessed memory corresponds
6541to the live target and not necessarily to the current replay
6542position.
6543
6544@kindex show record btrace
6545@item show record btrace replay-memory-access
6546Show the current setting of @code{replay-memory-access}.
6547
6548@kindex info record
6549@item info record
6550Show various statistics about the recording depending on the recording
6551method:
6552
6553@table @code
6554@item full
6555For the @code{full} recording method, it shows the state of process
6556record and its in-memory execution log buffer, including:
6557
6558@itemize @bullet
6559@item
6560Whether in record mode or replay mode.
6561@item
6562Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
6563@item
6564Highest recorded instruction number.
6565@item
6566Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
6567@item
6568Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
6569@item
6570Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
6571@end itemize
6572
6573@item btrace
6574For the @code{btrace} recording method, it shows the number of
6575instructions that have been recorded and the number of blocks of
6576sequential control-flow that is formed by the recorded instructions.
6577@end table
6578
6579@kindex record delete
6580@kindex rec del
6581@item record delete
6582When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
6583subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
6584from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
6585recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
6586
6587@kindex record instruction-history
6588@kindex rec instruction-history
6589@item record instruction-history
6590Disassembles instructions from the recorded execution log. By
6591default, ten instructions are disassembled. This can be changed using
6592the @code{set record instruction-history-size} command. Instructions
6593are printed in execution order. There are several ways to specify
6594what part of the execution log to disassemble:
6595
6596@table @code
6597@item record instruction-history @var{insn}
6598Disassembles ten instructions starting from instruction number
6599@var{insn}.
6600
6601@item record instruction-history @var{insn}, +/-@var{n}
6602Disassembles @var{n} instructions around instruction number
6603@var{insn}. If @var{n} is preceded with @code{+}, disassembles
6604@var{n} instructions after instruction number @var{insn}. If
6605@var{n} is preceded with @code{-}, disassembles @var{n}
6606instructions before instruction number @var{insn}.
6607
6608@item record instruction-history
6609Disassembles ten more instructions after the last disassembly.
6610
6611@item record instruction-history -
6612Disassembles ten more instructions before the last disassembly.
6613
6614@item record instruction-history @var{begin} @var{end}
6615Disassembles instructions beginning with instruction number
6616@var{begin} until instruction number @var{end}. The instruction
6617number @var{end} is included.
6618@end table
6619
6620This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6621
6622@kindex set record
6623@item set record instruction-history-size @var{size}
6624@itemx set record instruction-history-size unlimited
6625Define how many instructions to disassemble in the @code{record
6626instruction-history} command. The default value is 10.
6627A @var{size} of @code{unlimited} means unlimited instructions.
6628
6629@kindex show record
6630@item show record instruction-history-size
6631Show how many instructions to disassemble in the @code{record
6632instruction-history} command.
6633
6634@kindex record function-call-history
6635@kindex rec function-call-history
6636@item record function-call-history
6637Prints the execution history at function granularity. It prints one
6638line for each sequence of instructions that belong to the same
6639function giving the name of that function, the source lines
6640for this instruction sequence (if the @code{/l} modifier is
6641specified), and the instructions numbers that form the sequence (if
6642the @code{/i} modifier is specified). The function names are indented
6643to reflect the call stack depth if the @code{/c} modifier is
6644specified. The @code{/l}, @code{/i}, and @code{/c} modifiers can be
6645given together.
6646
6647@smallexample
6648(@value{GDBP}) @b{list 1, 10}
66491 void foo (void)
66502 @{
66513 @}
66524
66535 void bar (void)
66546 @{
66557 ...
66568 foo ();
66579 ...
665810 @}
6659(@value{GDBP}) @b{record function-call-history /ilc}
66601 bar inst 1,4 at foo.c:6,8
66612 foo inst 5,10 at foo.c:2,3
66623 bar inst 11,13 at foo.c:9,10
6663@end smallexample
6664
6665By default, ten lines are printed. This can be changed using the
6666@code{set record function-call-history-size} command. Functions are
6667printed in execution order. There are several ways to specify what
6668to print:
6669
6670@table @code
6671@item record function-call-history @var{func}
6672Prints ten functions starting from function number @var{func}.
6673
6674@item record function-call-history @var{func}, +/-@var{n}
6675Prints @var{n} functions around function number @var{func}. If
6676@var{n} is preceded with @code{+}, prints @var{n} functions after
6677function number @var{func}. If @var{n} is preceded with @code{-},
6678prints @var{n} functions before function number @var{func}.
6679
6680@item record function-call-history
6681Prints ten more functions after the last ten-line print.
6682
6683@item record function-call-history -
6684Prints ten more functions before the last ten-line print.
6685
6686@item record function-call-history @var{begin} @var{end}
6687Prints functions beginning with function number @var{begin} until
6688function number @var{end}. The function number @var{end} is included.
6689@end table
6690
6691This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6692
6693@item set record function-call-history-size @var{size}
6694@itemx set record function-call-history-size unlimited
6695Define how many lines to print in the
6696@code{record function-call-history} command. The default value is 10.
6697A size of @code{unlimited} means unlimited lines.
6698
6699@item show record function-call-history-size
6700Show how many lines to print in the
6701@code{record function-call-history} command.
6702@end table
6703
6704
6705@node Stack
6706@chapter Examining the Stack
6707
6708When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
6709stopped and how it got there.
6710
6711@cindex call stack
6712Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
6713is generated.
6714That information includes the location of the call in your program,
6715the arguments of the call,
6716and the local variables of the function being called.
6717The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
6718The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
6719stack}.
6720
6721When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
6722stack allow you to see all of this information.
6723
6724@cindex selected frame
6725One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
6726@value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
6727particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
6728your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
6729special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
6730interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6731
6732When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
6733currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
6734@code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
6735
6736@menu
6737* Frames:: Stack frames
6738* Backtrace:: Backtraces
6739* Frame Filter Management:: Managing frame filters
6740* Selection:: Selecting a frame
6741* Frame Info:: Information on a frame
6742
6743@end menu
6744
6745@node Frames
6746@section Stack Frames
6747
6748@cindex frame, definition
6749@cindex stack frame
6750The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
6751frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
6752with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
6753to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
6754which the function is executing.
6755
6756@cindex initial frame
6757@cindex outermost frame
6758@cindex innermost frame
6759When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
6760function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
6761@dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
6762made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
6763is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
6764the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
6765actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
6766recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
6767
6768@cindex frame pointer
6769Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
6770stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
6771kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
6772address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
6773in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
6774(@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
6775
6776@cindex frame number
6777@value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
6778zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
6779and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
6780they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
6781frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
6782
6783@c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
6784@c underflow problems.
6785@cindex frameless execution
6786Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
6787without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
6788@smallexample
6789@samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
6790@end smallexample
6791generates functions without a frame.)
6792This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
6793the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
6794with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
6795has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
6796it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
6797correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
6798no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
6799
6800@table @code
6801@kindex frame@r{, command}
6802@cindex current stack frame
6803@item frame @r{[}@var{framespec}@r{]}
6804The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
6805and to print the stack frame you select. The @var{framespec} may be either the
6806address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
6807@code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
6808
6809@kindex select-frame
6810@cindex selecting frame silently
6811@item select-frame
6812The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
6813to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
6814@code{frame}.
6815@end table
6816
6817@node Backtrace
6818@section Backtraces
6819
6820@cindex traceback
6821@cindex call stack traces
6822A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
6823line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
6824frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
6825stack.
6826
6827@anchor{backtrace-command}
6828@table @code
6829@kindex backtrace
6830@kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
6831@item backtrace
6832@itemx bt
6833Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
6834frames in the stack.
6835
6836You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
6837character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
6838
6839@item backtrace @var{n}
6840@itemx bt @var{n}
6841Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
6842
6843@item backtrace -@var{n}
6844@itemx bt -@var{n}
6845Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
6846
6847@item backtrace full
6848@itemx bt full
6849@itemx bt full @var{n}
6850@itemx bt full -@var{n}
6851Print the values of the local variables also. As described above,
6852@var{n} specifies the number of frames to print.
6853
6854@item backtrace no-filters
6855@itemx bt no-filters
6856@itemx bt no-filters @var{n}
6857@itemx bt no-filters -@var{n}
6858@itemx bt no-filters full
6859@itemx bt no-filters full @var{n}
6860@itemx bt no-filters full -@var{n}
6861Do not run Python frame filters on this backtrace. @xref{Frame
6862Filter API}, for more information. Additionally use @ref{disable
6863frame-filter all} to turn off all frame filters. This is only
6864relevant when @value{GDBN} has been configured with @code{Python}
6865support.
6866@end table
6867
6868@kindex where
6869@kindex info stack
6870The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
6871are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
6872
6873@cindex multiple threads, backtrace
6874In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
6875backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
6876several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
6877(@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
6878apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
6879the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
6880multi-threaded program.
6881
6882Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
6883The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
6884print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
6885line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
6886counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
6887line number.
6888
6889Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
6890@samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
6891
6892@smallexample
6893@group
6894#0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6895 at builtin.c:993
6896#1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
6897#2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
6898 at macro.c:71
6899(More stack frames follow...)
6900@end group
6901@end smallexample
6902
6903@noindent
6904The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
6905value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
6906code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
6907
6908@noindent
6909The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
6910@code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
6911only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
6912@kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
6913on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
6914
6915@cindex optimized out, in backtrace
6916@cindex function call arguments, optimized out
6917If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
6918optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
6919never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
6920passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
6921in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
6922arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
6923such a backtrace might look like:
6924
6925@smallexample
6926@group
6927#0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6928 at builtin.c:993
6929#1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<optimized out>) at macro.c:242
6930#2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
6931 at macro.c:71
6932(More stack frames follow...)
6933@end group
6934@end smallexample
6935
6936@noindent
6937The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
6938shown as @samp{<optimized out>}.
6939
6940If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
6941either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
6942you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
6943
6944@cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
6945@cindex program entry point
6946@cindex startup code, and backtrace
6947Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
6948libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
6949@code{main}@footnote{
6950Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
6951environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
6952entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
6953When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
6954it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
6955system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
6956
6957If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
6958in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
6959
6960@table @code
6961@item set backtrace past-main
6962@itemx set backtrace past-main on
6963@kindex set backtrace
6964Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
6965
6966@item set backtrace past-main off
6967Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
6968default.
6969
6970@item show backtrace past-main
6971@kindex show backtrace
6972Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
6973
6974@item set backtrace past-entry
6975@itemx set backtrace past-entry on
6976Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
6977This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
6978and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
6979
6980@item set backtrace past-entry off
6981Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
6982application. This is the default.
6983
6984@item show backtrace past-entry
6985Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
6986
6987@item set backtrace limit @var{n}
6988@itemx set backtrace limit 0
6989@itemx set backtrace limit unlimited
6990@cindex backtrace limit
6991Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of @code{unlimited}
6992or zero means unlimited levels.
6993
6994@item show backtrace limit
6995Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
6996@end table
6997
6998You can control how file names are displayed.
6999
7000@table @code
7001@item set filename-display
7002@itemx set filename-display relative
7003@cindex filename-display
7004Display file names relative to the compilation directory. This is the default.
7005
7006@item set filename-display basename
7007Display only basename of a filename.
7008
7009@item set filename-display absolute
7010Display an absolute filename.
7011
7012@item show filename-display
7013Show the current way to display filenames.
7014@end table
7015
7016@node Frame Filter Management
7017@section Management of Frame Filters.
7018@cindex managing frame filters
7019
7020Frame filters are Python based utilities to manage and decorate the
7021output of frames. @xref{Frame Filter API}, for further information.
7022
7023Managing frame filters is performed by several commands available
7024within @value{GDBN}, detailed here.
7025
7026@table @code
7027@kindex info frame-filter
7028@item info frame-filter
7029Print a list of installed frame filters from all dictionaries, showing
7030their name, priority and enabled status.
7031
7032@kindex disable frame-filter
7033@anchor{disable frame-filter all}
7034@item disable frame-filter @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
7035Disable a frame filter in the dictionary matching
7036@var{filter-dictionary} and @var{filter-name}. The
7037@var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{all}, @code{global},
7038@code{progspace}, or the name of the object file where the frame filter
7039dictionary resides. When @code{all} is specified, all frame filters
7040across all dictionaries are disabled. The @var{filter-name} is the name
7041of the frame filter and is used when @code{all} is not the option for
7042@var{filter-dictionary}. A disabled frame-filter is not deleted, it
7043may be enabled again later.
7044
7045@kindex enable frame-filter
7046@item enable frame-filter @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
7047Enable a frame filter in the dictionary matching
7048@var{filter-dictionary} and @var{filter-name}. The
7049@var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{all}, @code{global},
7050@code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
7051dictionary resides. When @code{all} is specified, all frame filters across
7052all dictionaries are enabled. The @var{filter-name} is the name of the frame
7053filter and is used when @code{all} is not the option for
7054@var{filter-dictionary}.
7055
7056Example:
7057
7058@smallexample
7059(gdb) info frame-filter
7060
7061global frame-filters:
7062 Priority Enabled Name
7063 1000 No PrimaryFunctionFilter
7064 100 Yes Reverse
7065
7066progspace /build/test frame-filters:
7067 Priority Enabled Name
7068 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
7069
7070objfile /build/test frame-filters:
7071 Priority Enabled Name
7072 999 Yes BuildProgra Filter
7073
7074(gdb) disable frame-filter /build/test BuildProgramFilter
7075(gdb) info frame-filter
7076
7077global frame-filters:
7078 Priority Enabled Name
7079 1000 No PrimaryFunctionFilter
7080 100 Yes Reverse
7081
7082progspace /build/test frame-filters:
7083 Priority Enabled Name
7084 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
7085
7086objfile /build/test frame-filters:
7087 Priority Enabled Name
7088 999 No BuildProgramFilter
7089
7090(gdb) enable frame-filter global PrimaryFunctionFilter
7091(gdb) info frame-filter
7092
7093global frame-filters:
7094 Priority Enabled Name
7095 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
7096 100 Yes Reverse
7097
7098progspace /build/test frame-filters:
7099 Priority Enabled Name
7100 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
7101
7102objfile /build/test frame-filters:
7103 Priority Enabled Name
7104 999 No BuildProgramFilter
7105@end smallexample
7106
7107@kindex set frame-filter priority
7108@item set frame-filter priority @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name} @var{priority}
7109Set the @var{priority} of a frame filter in the dictionary matching
7110@var{filter-dictionary}, and the frame filter name matching
7111@var{filter-name}. The @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{global},
7112@code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
7113dictionary resides. The @var{priority} is an integer.
7114
7115@kindex show frame-filter priority
7116@item show frame-filter priority @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
7117Show the @var{priority} of a frame filter in the dictionary matching
7118@var{filter-dictionary}, and the frame filter name matching
7119@var{filter-name}. The @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{global},
7120@code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
7121dictionary resides.
7122
7123Example:
7124
7125@smallexample
7126(gdb) info frame-filter
7127
7128global frame-filters:
7129 Priority Enabled Name
7130 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
7131 100 Yes Reverse
7132
7133progspace /build/test frame-filters:
7134 Priority Enabled Name
7135 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
7136
7137objfile /build/test frame-filters:
7138 Priority Enabled Name
7139 999 No BuildProgramFilter
7140
7141(gdb) set frame-filter priority global Reverse 50
7142(gdb) info frame-filter
7143
7144global frame-filters:
7145 Priority Enabled Name
7146 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
7147 50 Yes Reverse
7148
7149progspace /build/test frame-filters:
7150 Priority Enabled Name
7151 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
7152
7153objfile /build/test frame-filters:
7154 Priority Enabled Name
7155 999 No BuildProgramFilter
7156@end smallexample
7157@end table
7158
7159@node Selection
7160@section Selecting a Frame
7161
7162Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
7163whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
7164selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
7165of the stack frame just selected.
7166
7167@table @code
7168@kindex frame@r{, selecting}
7169@kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
7170@item frame @var{n}
7171@itemx f @var{n}
7172Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
7173(currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
7174innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
7175@code{main}.
7176
7177@item frame @var{addr}
7178@itemx f @var{addr}
7179Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
7180chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
7181impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
7182addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
7183switches between them.
7184
7185On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
7186select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
7187
7188On the @acronym{MIPS} and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
7189pointer and a program counter.
7190
7191On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
7192pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
7193
7194@kindex up
7195@item up @var{n}
7196Move @var{n} frames up the stack; @var{n} defaults to 1. For positive
7197numbers @var{n}, this advances toward the outermost frame, to higher
7198frame numbers, to frames that have existed longer.
7199
7200@kindex down
7201@kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
7202@item down @var{n}
7203Move @var{n} frames down the stack; @var{n} defaults to 1. For
7204positive numbers @var{n}, this advances toward the innermost frame, to
7205lower frame numbers, to frames that were created more recently.
7206You may abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
7207@end table
7208
7209All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
7210frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
7211arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
7212frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
7213
7214@need 1000
7215For example:
7216
7217@smallexample
7218@group
7219(@value{GDBP}) up
7220#1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
7221 at env.c:10
722210 read_input_file (argv[i]);
7223@end group
7224@end smallexample
7225
7226After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
7227prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
7228You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
7229editing program by typing @code{edit}.
7230@xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
7231for details.
7232
7233@table @code
7234@kindex down-silently
7235@kindex up-silently
7236@item up-silently @var{n}
7237@itemx down-silently @var{n}
7238These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
7239respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
7240causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
7241in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
7242distracting.
7243@end table
7244
7245@node Frame Info
7246@section Information About a Frame
7247
7248There are several other commands to print information about the selected
7249stack frame.
7250
7251@table @code
7252@item frame
7253@itemx f
7254When used without any argument, this command does not change which
7255frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
7256selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
7257argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
7258@xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
7259
7260@kindex info frame
7261@kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
7262@item info frame
7263@itemx info f
7264This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
7265including:
7266
7267@itemize @bullet
7268@item
7269the address of the frame
7270@item
7271the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
7272@item
7273the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
7274@item
7275the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
7276@item
7277the address of the frame's arguments
7278@item
7279the address of the frame's local variables
7280@item
7281the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
7282@item
7283which registers were saved in the frame
7284@end itemize
7285
7286@noindent The verbose description is useful when
7287something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
7288the usual conventions.
7289
7290@item info frame @var{addr}
7291@itemx info f @var{addr}
7292Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
7293selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
7294command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
7295architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
7296@xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
7297
7298@kindex info args
7299@item info args
7300Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
7301
7302@item info locals
7303@kindex info locals
7304Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
7305line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
7306accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
7307
7308@end table
7309
7310
7311@node Source
7312@chapter Examining Source Files
7313
7314@value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
7315information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
7316used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
7317the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
7318(@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
7319execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
7320source files by explicit command.
7321
7322If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
7323prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
7324@value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
7325
7326@menu
7327* List:: Printing source lines
7328* Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
7329* Edit:: Editing source files
7330* Search:: Searching source files
7331* Source Path:: Specifying source directories
7332* Machine Code:: Source and machine code
7333@end menu
7334
7335@node List
7336@section Printing Source Lines
7337
7338@kindex list
7339@kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
7340To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
7341(abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
7342There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
7343print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
7344
7345Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
7346
7347@table @code
7348@item list @var{linenum}
7349Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
7350current source file.
7351
7352@item list @var{function}
7353Print lines centered around the beginning of function
7354@var{function}.
7355
7356@item list
7357Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
7358@code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
7359printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
7360as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
7361Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
7362
7363@item list -
7364Print lines just before the lines last printed.
7365@end table
7366
7367@cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
7368By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
7369the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
7370
7371@table @code
7372@kindex set listsize
7373@item set listsize @var{count}
7374@itemx set listsize unlimited
7375Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
7376the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
7377Setting @var{count} to @code{unlimited} or 0 means there's no limit.
7378
7379@kindex show listsize
7380@item show listsize
7381Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
7382@end table
7383
7384Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
7385so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
7386than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
7387argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
7388each repetition moves up in the source file.
7389
7390In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
7391@dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
7392of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
7393to specify some source line.
7394
7395Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
7396
7397@table @code
7398@item list @var{linespec}
7399Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
7400
7401@item list @var{first},@var{last}
7402Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
7403linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
7404source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
7405the same source file as the first linespec.
7406
7407@item list ,@var{last}
7408Print lines ending with @var{last}.
7409
7410@item list @var{first},
7411Print lines starting with @var{first}.
7412
7413@item list +
7414Print lines just after the lines last printed.
7415
7416@item list -
7417Print lines just before the lines last printed.
7418
7419@item list
7420As described in the preceding table.
7421@end table
7422
7423@node Specify Location
7424@section Specifying a Location
7425@cindex specifying location
7426@cindex linespec
7427
7428Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
7429of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
7430debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
7431for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
7432
7433Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
7434@value{GDBN} understands:
7435
7436@table @code
7437@item @var{linenum}
7438Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
7439
7440@item -@var{offset}
7441@itemx +@var{offset}
7442Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
7443line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
7444printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
7445execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
7446(@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
7447used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
7448this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
7449linespec.
7450
7451@item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
7452Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
7453If @var{filename} is a relative file name, then it will match any
7454source file name with the same trailing components. For example, if
7455@var{filename} is @samp{gcc/expr.c}, then it will match source file
7456name of @file{/build/trunk/gcc/expr.c}, but not
7457@file{/build/trunk/libcpp/expr.c} or @file{/build/trunk/gcc/x-expr.c}.
7458
7459@item @var{function}
7460Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
7461For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
7462
7463@item @var{function}:@var{label}
7464Specifies the line where @var{label} appears in @var{function}.
7465
7466@item @var{filename}:@var{function}
7467Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
7468in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
7469function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
7470functions in different source files.
7471
7472@item @var{label}
7473Specifies the line at which the label named @var{label} appears.
7474@value{GDBN} searches for the label in the function corresponding to
7475the currently selected stack frame. If there is no current selected
7476stack frame (for instance, if the inferior is not running), then
7477@value{GDBN} will not search for a label.
7478
7479@item *@var{address}
7480Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
7481commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
7482line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
7483breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
7484parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
7485source files.
7486
7487Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
7488language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
7489address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
7490semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
7491that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
7492of @var{address}:
7493
7494@table @code
7495@item @var{expression}
7496Any expression valid in the current working language.
7497
7498@item @var{funcaddr}
7499An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
7500C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
7501simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
7502of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
7503@code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
7504(although the Pascal form also works).
7505
7506This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
7507before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
7508
7509@item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
7510Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
7511file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
7512specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
7513functions with identical names in different source files.
7514@end table
7515
7516@cindex breakpoint at static probe point
7517@item -pstap|-probe-stap @r{[}@var{objfile}:@r{[}@var{provider}:@r{]}@r{]}@var{name}
7518The @sc{gnu}/Linux tool @code{SystemTap} provides a way for
7519applications to embed static probes. @xref{Static Probe Points}, for more
7520information on finding and using static probes. This form of linespec
7521specifies the location of such a static probe.
7522
7523If @var{objfile} is given, only probes coming from that shared library
7524or executable matching @var{objfile} as a regular expression are considered.
7525If @var{provider} is given, then only probes from that provider are considered.
7526If several probes match the spec, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at
7527each one of those probes.
7528
7529@end table
7530
7531
7532@node Edit
7533@section Editing Source Files
7534@cindex editing source files
7535
7536@kindex edit
7537@kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
7538To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
7539The editing program of your choice
7540is invoked with the current line set to
7541the active line in the program.
7542Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
7543want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
7544
7545@table @code
7546@item edit @var{location}
7547Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
7548that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
7549specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
7550of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
7551command most commonly used:
7552
7553@table @code
7554@item edit @var{number}
7555Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
7556
7557@item edit @var{function}
7558Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
7559@end table
7560
7561@end table
7562
7563@subsection Choosing your Editor
7564You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
7565@footnote{
7566The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
7567following command-line syntax:
7568@smallexample
7569ex +@var{number} file
7570@end smallexample
7571The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
7572the file where to start editing.}.
7573By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
7574by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
7575@value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
7576@code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
7577@smallexample
7578EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi
7579export EDITOR
7580gdb @dots{}
7581@end smallexample
7582or in the @code{csh} shell,
7583@smallexample
7584setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
7585gdb @dots{}
7586@end smallexample
7587
7588@node Search
7589@section Searching Source Files
7590@cindex searching source files
7591
7592There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
7593regular expression.
7594
7595@table @code
7596@kindex search
7597@kindex forward-search
7598@kindex fo @r{(@code{forward-search})}
7599@item forward-search @var{regexp}
7600@itemx search @var{regexp}
7601The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
7602starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
7603@var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
7604synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
7605@code{fo}.
7606
7607@kindex reverse-search
7608@item reverse-search @var{regexp}
7609The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
7610with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
7611for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
7612this command as @code{rev}.
7613@end table
7614
7615@node Source Path
7616@section Specifying Source Directories
7617
7618@cindex source path
7619@cindex directories for source files
7620Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
7621files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
7622the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
7623session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
7624this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
7625it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
7626in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
7627
7628For example, suppose an executable references the file
7629@file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
7630@file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
7631fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
7632fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
7633message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
7634source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
7635Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
7636the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
7637@file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
7638@file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
7639
7640Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
7641names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
7642instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
7643is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
7644@file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
7645that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
7646
7647Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
7648source files.
7649
7650Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
7651any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
7652each line is in the file.
7653
7654@kindex directory
7655@kindex dir
7656When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
7657and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
7658To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
7659
7660The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
7661script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
7662
7663In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
7664that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
7665rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
7666debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
7667directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
7668two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
7669the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
7670In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
7671@var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
7672of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
7673source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
7674name to look up the sources.
7675
7676Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
7677moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
7678@value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
7679@file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
7680@file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
7681of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
7682substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
7683(@pxref{set substitute-path}).
7684
7685To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
7686@var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
7687For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
7688@file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
7689not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
7690is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
7691not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
7692
7693In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
7694command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
7695the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
7696subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
7697subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
7698preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
7699allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
7700command.
7701
7702@code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
7703The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
7704longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
7705the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
7706for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
7707located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
7708method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
7709
7710@cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
7711@cindex default source path substitution
7712You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
7713configuring @value{GDBN} with the
7714@samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
7715should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
7716prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
7717directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
7718automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
7719location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
7720with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
7721together.
7722
7723@table @code
7724@item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
7725@item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
7726Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
7727directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
7728(@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
7729part of absolute file names) or
7730whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
7731path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
7732
7733@kindex cdir
7734@kindex cwd
7735@vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
7736@vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
7737@cindex compilation directory
7738@cindex current directory
7739@cindex working directory
7740@cindex directory, current
7741@cindex directory, compilation
7742You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
7743directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
7744working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
7745tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
7746session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
7747directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
7748
7749@item directory
7750Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
7751
7752@c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
7753@c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
7754
7755@item set directories @var{path-list}
7756@kindex set directories
7757Set the source path to @var{path-list}.
7758@samp{$cdir:$cwd} are added if missing.
7759
7760@item show directories
7761@kindex show directories
7762Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
7763
7764@anchor{set substitute-path}
7765@item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
7766@kindex set substitute-path
7767Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
7768current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
7769@var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
7770
7771For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
7772@file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
7773
7774@smallexample
7775(@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
7776@end smallexample
7777
7778@noindent
7779will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
7780@samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
7781@file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
7782
7783In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
7784the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
7785defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
7786the substitution.
7787
7788For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
7789
7790@smallexample
7791(@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
7792(@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
7793@end smallexample
7794
7795@noindent
7796@value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
7797@file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
7798use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
7799@file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
7800
7801
7802@item unset substitute-path [path]
7803@kindex unset substitute-path
7804If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
7805for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
7806A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
7807
7808If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
7809
7810@item show substitute-path [path]
7811@kindex show substitute-path
7812If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
7813which would rewrite that path, if any.
7814
7815If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
7816rules.
7817
7818@end table
7819
7820If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
7821interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
7822versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
7823
7824@enumerate
7825@item
7826Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
7827
7828@item
7829Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
7830directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
7831directories in one command.
7832@end enumerate
7833
7834@node Machine Code
7835@section Source and Machine Code
7836@cindex source line and its code address
7837
7838You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
7839addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
7840a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
7841@code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
7842source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
7843mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
7844line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
7845well as hex.
7846
7847@table @code
7848@kindex info line
7849@item info line @var{linespec}
7850Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
7851source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
7852the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
7853@end table
7854
7855For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
7856the object code for the first line of function
7857@code{m4_changequote}:
7858
7859@c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
7860@c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
7861@smallexample
7862(@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
7863Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
7864@end smallexample
7865
7866@noindent
7867@cindex code address and its source line
7868We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
7869@var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
7870@smallexample
7871(@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
7872Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
7873@end smallexample
7874
7875@cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
7876@cindex @code{x} command, default address
7877@kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
7878After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
7879is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
7880sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
7881,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
7882convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7883Variables}).
7884
7885@table @code
7886@kindex disassemble
7887@cindex assembly instructions
7888@cindex instructions, assembly
7889@cindex machine instructions
7890@cindex listing machine instructions
7891@item disassemble
7892@itemx disassemble /m
7893@itemx disassemble /r
7894This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
7895instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
7896the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
7897in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
7898The default memory range is the function surrounding the
7899program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
7900command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
7901surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
7902be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
7903arguments specify a range of addresses to dump, in one of two forms:
7904
7905@table @code
7906@item @var{start},@var{end}
7907the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to @var{end} (exclusive)
7908@item @var{start},+@var{length}
7909the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to
7910@code{@var{start}+@var{length}} (exclusive).
7911@end table
7912
7913@noindent
7914When 2 arguments are specified, the name of the function is also
7915printed (since there could be several functions in the given range).
7916
7917The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
7918@samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
7919
7920If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
7921the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
7922@end table
7923
7924The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
7925HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
7926
7927@smallexample
7928(@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
7929Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
7930 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
7931 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
7932 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7933 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
7934 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
7935 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
7936 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
7937 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7938End of assembler dump.
7939@end smallexample
7940
7941Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
7942program is stopped just after function prologue:
7943
7944@smallexample
7945(@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
7946Dump of assembler code for function main:
79475 @{
7948 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
7949 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
7950 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
7951 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
7952 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
7953
79546 printf ("Hello.\n");
7955=> 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
7956 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
7957
79587 return 0;
79598 @}
7960 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
7961 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
7962 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
7963
7964End of assembler dump.
7965@end smallexample
7966
7967Here is another example showing raw instructions in hex for AMD x86-64,
7968
7969@smallexample
7970(gdb) disas /r 0x400281,+10
7971Dump of assembler code from 0x400281 to 0x40028b:
7972 0x0000000000400281: 38 36 cmp %dh,(%rsi)
7973 0x0000000000400283: 2d 36 34 2e 73 sub $0x732e3436,%eax
7974 0x0000000000400288: 6f outsl %ds:(%rsi),(%dx)
7975 0x0000000000400289: 2e 32 00 xor %cs:(%rax),%al
7976End of assembler dump.
7977@end smallexample
7978
7979Addresses cannot be specified as a linespec (@pxref{Specify Location}).
7980So, for example, if you want to disassemble function @code{bar}
7981in file @file{foo.c}, you must type @samp{disassemble 'foo.c'::bar}
7982and not @samp{disassemble foo.c:bar}.
7983
7984Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
7985mnemonics or other syntax.
7986
7987For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
7988instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
7989libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
7990location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
7991might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
7992
7993@table @code
7994@kindex set disassembly-flavor
7995@cindex Intel disassembly flavor
7996@cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
7997@item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
7998Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
7999program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
8000
8001Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
8002can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
8003The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
8004assemblers for x86-based targets.
8005
8006@kindex show disassembly-flavor
8007@item show disassembly-flavor
8008Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
8009@end table
8010
8011@table @code
8012@kindex set disassemble-next-line
8013@kindex show disassemble-next-line
8014@item set disassemble-next-line
8015@itemx show disassemble-next-line
8016Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
8017line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
8018display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
8019program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
8020displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
8021possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
8022(e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
8023info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
8024next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
8025AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
8026if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
8027@value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
8028with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
8029OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
8030instruction.
8031@end table
8032
8033
8034@node Data
8035@chapter Examining Data
8036
8037@cindex printing data
8038@cindex examining data
8039@kindex print
8040@kindex inspect
8041The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
8042command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
8043evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
8044program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
8045Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
8046Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
8047
8048@table @code
8049@item print @var{expr}
8050@itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
8051@var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
8052value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
8053you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
8054@var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
8055Formats}.
8056
8057@item print
8058@itemx print /@var{f}
8059@cindex reprint the last value
8060If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
8061@dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
8062conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
8063@end table
8064
8065A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
8066It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
8067specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
8068
8069If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
8070fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
8071command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
8072Table}.
8073
8074@cindex exploring hierarchical data structures
8075@kindex explore
8076Another way of examining values of expressions and type information is
8077through the Python extension command @code{explore} (available only if
8078the @value{GDBN} build is configured with @code{--with-python}). It
8079offers an interactive way to start at the highest level (or, the most
8080abstract level) of the data type of an expression (or, the data type
8081itself) and explore all the way down to leaf scalar values/fields
8082embedded in the higher level data types.
8083
8084@table @code
8085@item explore @var{arg}
8086@var{arg} is either an expression (in the source language), or a type
8087visible in the current context of the program being debugged.
8088@end table
8089
8090The working of the @code{explore} command can be illustrated with an
8091example. If a data type @code{struct ComplexStruct} is defined in your
8092C program as
8093
8094@smallexample
8095struct SimpleStruct
8096@{
8097 int i;
8098 double d;
8099@};
8100
8101struct ComplexStruct
8102@{
8103 struct SimpleStruct *ss_p;
8104 int arr[10];
8105@};
8106@end smallexample
8107
8108@noindent
8109followed by variable declarations as
8110
8111@smallexample
8112struct SimpleStruct ss = @{ 10, 1.11 @};
8113struct ComplexStruct cs = @{ &ss, @{ 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 @} @};
8114@end smallexample
8115
8116@noindent
8117then, the value of the variable @code{cs} can be explored using the
8118@code{explore} command as follows.
8119
8120@smallexample
8121(gdb) explore cs
8122The value of `cs' is a struct/class of type `struct ComplexStruct' with
8123the following fields:
8124
8125 ss_p = <Enter 0 to explore this field of type `struct SimpleStruct *'>
8126 arr = <Enter 1 to explore this field of type `int [10]'>
8127
8128Enter the field number of choice:
8129@end smallexample
8130
8131@noindent
8132Since the fields of @code{cs} are not scalar values, you are being
8133prompted to chose the field you want to explore. Let's say you choose
8134the field @code{ss_p} by entering @code{0}. Then, since this field is a
8135pointer, you will be asked if it is pointing to a single value. From
8136the declaration of @code{cs} above, it is indeed pointing to a single
8137value, hence you enter @code{y}. If you enter @code{n}, then you will
8138be asked if it were pointing to an array of values, in which case this
8139field will be explored as if it were an array.
8140
8141@smallexample
8142`cs.ss_p' is a pointer to a value of type `struct SimpleStruct'
8143Continue exploring it as a pointer to a single value [y/n]: y
8144The value of `*(cs.ss_p)' is a struct/class of type `struct
8145SimpleStruct' with the following fields:
8146
8147 i = 10 .. (Value of type `int')
8148 d = 1.1100000000000001 .. (Value of type `double')
8149
8150Press enter to return to parent value:
8151@end smallexample
8152
8153@noindent
8154If the field @code{arr} of @code{cs} was chosen for exploration by
8155entering @code{1} earlier, then since it is as array, you will be
8156prompted to enter the index of the element in the array that you want
8157to explore.
8158
8159@smallexample
8160`cs.arr' is an array of `int'.
8161Enter the index of the element you want to explore in `cs.arr': 5
8162
8163`(cs.arr)[5]' is a scalar value of type `int'.
8164
8165(cs.arr)[5] = 4
8166
8167Press enter to return to parent value:
8168@end smallexample
8169
8170In general, at any stage of exploration, you can go deeper towards the
8171leaf values by responding to the prompts appropriately, or hit the
8172return key to return to the enclosing data structure (the @i{higher}
8173level data structure).
8174
8175Similar to exploring values, you can use the @code{explore} command to
8176explore types. Instead of specifying a value (which is typically a
8177variable name or an expression valid in the current context of the
8178program being debugged), you specify a type name. If you consider the
8179same example as above, your can explore the type
8180@code{struct ComplexStruct} by passing the argument
8181@code{struct ComplexStruct} to the @code{explore} command.
8182
8183@smallexample
8184(gdb) explore struct ComplexStruct
8185@end smallexample
8186
8187@noindent
8188By responding to the prompts appropriately in the subsequent interactive
8189session, you can explore the type @code{struct ComplexStruct} in a
8190manner similar to how the value @code{cs} was explored in the above
8191example.
8192
8193The @code{explore} command also has two sub-commands,
8194@code{explore value} and @code{explore type}. The former sub-command is
8195a way to explicitly specify that value exploration of the argument is
8196being invoked, while the latter is a way to explicitly specify that type
8197exploration of the argument is being invoked.
8198
8199@table @code
8200@item explore value @var{expr}
8201@cindex explore value
8202This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the value of the
8203expression @var{expr} (if @var{expr} is an expression valid in the
8204current context of the program being debugged). The behavior of this
8205command is identical to that of the behavior of the @code{explore}
8206command being passed the argument @var{expr}.
8207
8208@item explore type @var{arg}
8209@cindex explore type
8210This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the type of @var{arg} (if
8211@var{arg} is a type visible in the current context of program being
8212debugged), or the type of the value/expression @var{arg} (if @var{arg}
8213is an expression valid in the current context of the program being
8214debugged). If @var{arg} is a type, then the behavior of this command is
8215identical to that of the @code{explore} command being passed the
8216argument @var{arg}. If @var{arg} is an expression, then the behavior of
8217this command will be identical to that of the @code{explore} command
8218being passed the type of @var{arg} as the argument.
8219@end table
8220
8221@menu
8222* Expressions:: Expressions
8223* Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
8224* Variables:: Program variables
8225* Arrays:: Artificial arrays
8226* Output Formats:: Output formats
8227* Memory:: Examining memory
8228* Auto Display:: Automatic display
8229* Print Settings:: Print settings
8230* Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
8231* Value History:: Value history
8232* Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
8233* Convenience Funs:: Convenience functions
8234* Registers:: Registers
8235* Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
8236* Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
8237* OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
8238* Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
8239* Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
8240* Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
8241* Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
8242 character set than GDB does
8243* Caching Target Data:: Data caching for targets
8244* Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
8245@end menu
8246
8247@node Expressions
8248@section Expressions
8249
8250@cindex expressions
8251@code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
8252compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
8253by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
8254@value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
8255casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
8256you compiled your program to include this information; see
8257@ref{Compilation}.
8258
8259@cindex arrays in expressions
8260@value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
8261the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
8262you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
8263of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
8264to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
8265is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
8266
8267Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
8268this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
8269Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
8270languages.
8271
8272In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
8273expressions regardless of your programming language.
8274
8275@cindex casts, in expressions
8276Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
8277useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
8278at that address in memory.
8279@c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
8280
8281@value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
8282to programming languages:
8283
8284@table @code
8285@item @@
8286@samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
8287@xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
8288
8289@item ::
8290@samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
8291function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
8292
8293@cindex @{@var{type}@}
8294@cindex type casting memory
8295@cindex memory, viewing as typed object
8296@cindex casts, to view memory
8297@item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
8298Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
8299memory. The address @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is
8300an integer or pointer (but parentheses are required around binary
8301operators, just as in a cast). This construct is allowed regardless
8302of what kind of data is normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
8303@end table
8304
8305@node Ambiguous Expressions
8306@section Ambiguous Expressions
8307@cindex ambiguous expressions
8308
8309Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
8310some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
8311a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
8312different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
8313involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
8314templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
8315the same function name being defined in different contexts.
8316
8317In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
8318the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
8319can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
8320@kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
8321qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
8322as well.
8323
8324When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
8325has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
8326possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
8327The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
8328aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
8329used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
8330menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
8331choices.
8332
8333For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
8334breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
8335We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
8336
8337@c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
8338@smallexample
8339@group
8340(@value{GDBP}) b String::after
8341[0] cancel
8342[1] all
8343[2] file:String.cc; line number:867
8344[3] file:String.cc; line number:860
8345[4] file:String.cc; line number:875
8346[5] file:String.cc; line number:853
8347[6] file:String.cc; line number:846
8348[7] file:String.cc; line number:735
8349> 2 4 6
8350Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
8351Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
8352Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
8353Multiple breakpoints were set.
8354Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
8355 breakpoints.
8356(@value{GDBP})
8357@end group
8358@end smallexample
8359
8360@table @code
8361@kindex set multiple-symbols
8362@item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
8363@cindex multiple-symbols menu
8364
8365This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
8366is ambiguous.
8367
8368By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
8369the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
8370automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
8371a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
8372inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
8373then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
8374For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
8375in the use of the menu.
8376
8377When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
8378when an ambiguity is detected.
8379
8380Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
8381an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
8382
8383@kindex show multiple-symbols
8384@item show multiple-symbols
8385Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
8386@end table
8387
8388@node Variables
8389@section Program Variables
8390
8391The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
8392in your program.
8393
8394Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
8395(@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
8396
8397@itemize @bullet
8398@item
8399global (or file-static)
8400@end itemize
8401
8402@noindent or
8403
8404@itemize @bullet
8405@item
8406visible according to the scope rules of the
8407programming language from the point of execution in that frame
8408@end itemize
8409
8410@noindent This means that in the function
8411
8412@smallexample
8413foo (a)
8414 int a;
8415@{
8416 bar (a);
8417 @{
8418 int b = test ();
8419 bar (b);
8420 @}
8421@}
8422@end smallexample
8423
8424@noindent
8425you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
8426executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
8427examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
8428the block where @code{b} is declared.
8429
8430@cindex variable name conflict
8431There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
8432scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
8433in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
8434function with the same name (in different source files). If that
8435happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
8436you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file by
8437using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
8438
8439@cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
8440@ifnotinfo
8441@c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
8442@cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
8443@end ifnotinfo
8444@smallexample
8445@var{file}::@var{variable}
8446@var{function}::@var{variable}
8447@end smallexample
8448
8449@noindent
8450Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
8451static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
8452make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
8453to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
8454
8455@smallexample
8456(@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
8457@end smallexample
8458
8459The @code{::} notation is normally used for referring to
8460static variables, since you typically disambiguate uses of local variables
8461in functions by selecting the appropriate frame and using the
8462simple name of the variable. However, you may also use this notation
8463to refer to local variables in frames enclosing the selected frame:
8464
8465@smallexample
8466void
8467foo (int a)
8468@{
8469 if (a < 10)
8470 bar (a);
8471 else
8472 process (a); /* Stop here */
8473@}
8474
8475int
8476bar (int a)
8477@{
8478 foo (a + 5);
8479@}
8480@end smallexample
8481
8482@noindent
8483For example, if there is a breakpoint at the commented line,
8484here is what you might see
8485when the program stops after executing the call @code{bar(0)}:
8486
8487@smallexample
8488(@value{GDBP}) p a
8489$1 = 10
8490(@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
8491$2 = 5
8492(@value{GDBP}) up 2
8493#2 0x080483d0 in foo (a=5) at foobar.c:12
8494(@value{GDBP}) p a
8495$3 = 5
8496(@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
8497$4 = 0
8498@end smallexample
8499
8500@cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
8501These uses of @samp{::} are very rarely in conflict with the very
8502similar use of the same notation in C@t{++}. When they are in
8503conflict, the C@t{++} meaning takes precedence; however, this can be
8504overridden by quoting the file or function name with single quotes.
8505
8506For example, suppose the program is stopped in a method of a class
8507that has a field named @code{includefile}, and there is also an
8508include file named @file{includefile} that defines a variable,
8509@code{some_global}.
8510
8511@smallexample
8512(@value{GDBP}) p includefile
8513$1 = 23
8514(@value{GDBP}) p includefile::some_global
8515A syntax error in expression, near `'.
8516(@value{GDBP}) p 'includefile'::some_global
8517$2 = 27
8518@end smallexample
8519
8520@cindex wrong values
8521@cindex variable values, wrong
8522@cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
8523@cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
8524@quotation
8525@emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
8526wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
8527scope, and just before exit.
8528@end quotation
8529You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
8530This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
8531set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
8532stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
8533values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
8534also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
8535after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
8536variable definitions may be gone.
8537
8538This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
8539To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
8540when compiling.
8541
8542@cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
8543Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
8544unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
8545opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
8546offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
8547might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
8548happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
8549
8550@smallexample
8551No symbol "foo" in current context.
8552@end smallexample
8553
8554To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
8555different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
8556formats. @xref{Compilation}, for more information on choosing compiler
8557options. @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug
8558info formats that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
8559
8560If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
8561@value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
8562by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
8563type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
8564
8565If you append @kbd{@@entry} string to a function parameter name you get its
8566value at the time the function got called. If the value is not available an
8567error message is printed. Entry values are available only with some compilers.
8568Entry values are normally also printed at the function parameter list according
8569to @ref{set print entry-values}.
8570
8571@smallexample
8572Breakpoint 1, d (i=30) at gdb.base/entry-value.c:29
857329 i++;
8574(gdb) next
857530 e (i);
8576(gdb) print i
8577$1 = 31
8578(gdb) print i@@entry
8579$2 = 30
8580@end smallexample
8581
8582Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
8583signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
8584printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
8585@code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
8586defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
8587For program code
8588
8589@smallexample
8590char var0[] = "A";
8591signed char var1[] = "A";
8592@end smallexample
8593
8594You get during debugging
8595@smallexample
8596(gdb) print var0
8597$1 = "A"
8598(gdb) print var1
8599$2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
8600@end smallexample
8601
8602@node Arrays
8603@section Artificial Arrays
8604
8605@cindex artificial array
8606@cindex arrays
8607@kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
8608It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
8609same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
8610dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
8611program.
8612
8613You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
8614@dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
8615operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
8616and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
8617of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
8618the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
8619argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
8620following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
8621example. If a program says
8622
8623@smallexample
8624int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
8625@end smallexample
8626
8627@noindent
8628you can print the contents of @code{array} with
8629
8630@smallexample
8631p *array@@len
8632@end smallexample
8633
8634The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
8635with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
8636subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
8637Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
8638(@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
8639
8640Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
8641This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
8642The value need not be in memory:
8643@smallexample
8644(@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
8645$1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
8646@end smallexample
8647
8648As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
8649@samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
8650the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
8651@smallexample
8652(@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
8653$2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
8654@end smallexample
8655
8656Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
8657moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
8658actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
8659of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
8660to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
8661Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
8662interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
8663instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
8664structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
8665in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
8666
8667@smallexample
8668set $i = 0
8669p dtab[$i++]->fv
8670@key{RET}
8671@key{RET}
8672@dots{}
8673@end smallexample
8674
8675@node Output Formats
8676@section Output Formats
8677
8678@cindex formatted output
8679@cindex output formats
8680By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
8681this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
8682in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
8683at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
8684these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
8685
8686The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
8687already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
8688@code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
8689letters supported are:
8690
8691@table @code
8692@item x
8693Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
8694hexadecimal.
8695
8696@item d
8697Print as integer in signed decimal.
8698
8699@item u
8700Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
8701
8702@item o
8703Print as integer in octal.
8704
8705@item t
8706Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
8707@footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
8708used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
8709see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
8710
8711@item a
8712@cindex unknown address, locating
8713@cindex locate address
8714Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
8715the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
8716where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
8717
8718@smallexample
8719(@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
8720$3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
8721@end smallexample
8722
8723@noindent
8724The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
8725@xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
8726
8727@item c
8728Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
8729prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
8730character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
8731for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
8732
8733Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
8734@w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
8735constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
8736data.
8737
8738@item f
8739Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
8740using typical floating point syntax.
8741
8742@item s
8743@cindex printing strings
8744@cindex printing byte arrays
8745Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
8746data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
8747are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
8748natural types.
8749
8750Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
8751@code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
8752strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
8753array.
8754
8755@item z
8756Like @samp{x} formatting, the value is treated as an integer and
8757printed as hexadecimal, but leading zeros are printed to pad the value
8758to the size of the integer type.
8759
8760@item r
8761@cindex raw printing
8762Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
8763use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
8764Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
8765value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
8766pretty-printer which might exist.
8767@end table
8768
8769For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
8770
8771@smallexample
8772p/x $pc
8773@end smallexample
8774
8775@noindent
8776Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
8777names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
8778
8779To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
8780you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
8781expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
8782
8783@node Memory
8784@section Examining Memory
8785
8786You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
8787any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
8788
8789@cindex examining memory
8790@table @code
8791@kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
8792@item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
8793@itemx x @var{addr}
8794@itemx x
8795Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
8796@end table
8797
8798@var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
8799much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
8800expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
8801If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
8802Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
8803
8804@table @r
8805@item @var{n}, the repeat count
8806The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
8807how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
8808@c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
8809@c 4.1.2.
8810
8811@item @var{f}, the display format
8812The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
8813(@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
8814@samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
8815The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
8816each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
8817
8818@item @var{u}, the unit size
8819The unit size is any of
8820
8821@table @code
8822@item b
8823Bytes.
8824@item h
8825Halfwords (two bytes).
8826@item w
8827Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
8828@item g
8829Giant words (eight bytes).
8830@end table
8831
8832Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
8833default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
8834the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
8835the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
8836Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
883732-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
8838Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
8839current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
8840modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
8841UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
8842be altered.
8843
8844@item @var{addr}, starting display address
8845@var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
8846memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
8847it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
8848@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
8849@var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
8850other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
8851the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
8852starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
8853a value from memory).
8854@end table
8855
8856For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
8857(@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
8858starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
8859words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
8860@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
8861
8862Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
8863letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
8864unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
8865specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
8866(However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
8867
8868Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
8869and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
8870@samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
8871including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
8872the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
8873slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
8874follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
8875@code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
8876instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
8877
8878All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
8879easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
8880you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
8881instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
8882with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
8883the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
8884for successive uses of @code{x}.
8885
8886When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
8887counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
8888
8889@smallexample
8890(@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
8891 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
8892 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
8893 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
8894=> 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
8895 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
8896@end smallexample
8897
8898@cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
8899The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
8900in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
8901would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
8902subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
8903@code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
8904examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
8905@code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
8906the convenience variable @code{$__}.
8907
8908If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
8909are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
8910address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
8911
8912@cindex remote memory comparison
8913@cindex target memory comparison
8914@cindex verify remote memory image
8915@cindex verify target memory image
8916When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
8917(@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image
8918in the remote machine's memory against the executable file you
8919downloaded to the target. Or, on any target, you may want to check
8920whether the program has corrupted its own read-only sections. The
8921@code{compare-sections} command is provided for such situations.
8922
8923@table @code
8924@kindex compare-sections
8925@item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{|}@code{-r}@r{]}
8926Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
8927executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
8928the target machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
8929arguments, compares all loadable sections. With an argument of
8930@code{-r}, compares all loadable read-only sections.
8931
8932Note: for remote targets, this command can be accelerated if the
8933target supports computing the CRC checksum of a block of memory
8934(@pxref{qCRC packet}).
8935@end table
8936
8937@node Auto Display
8938@section Automatic Display
8939@cindex automatic display
8940@cindex display of expressions
8941
8942If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
8943(to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
8944display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
8945Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
8946to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
8947The automatic display looks like this:
8948
8949@smallexample
89502: foo = 38
89513: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
8952@end smallexample
8953
8954@noindent
8955This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
8956displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
8957specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
8958whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
8959specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
8960or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
8961
8962@table @code
8963@kindex display
8964@item display @var{expr}
8965Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
8966each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
8967
8968@code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
8969
8970@item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
8971For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
8972count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
8973arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
8974@xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
8975
8976@item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
8977For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
8978number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
8979be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
8980doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
8981@end table
8982
8983For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
8984instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
8985is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
8986
8987@table @code
8988@kindex delete display
8989@kindex undisplay
8990@item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
8991@itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8992Remove items from the list of expressions to display. Specify the
8993numbers of the displays that you want affected with the command
8994argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one of the
8995numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display} display;
8996or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8997
8998@code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
8999(Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
9000
9001@kindex disable display
9002@item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
9003Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
9004item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
9005enabled again later. Specify the numbers of the displays that you
9006want affected with the command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a
9007single display number, one of the numbers shown in the first field of
9008the @samp{info display} display; or it could be a range of display
9009numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
9010
9011@kindex enable display
9012@item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
9013Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
9014again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
9015Specify the numbers of the displays that you want affected with the
9016command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one
9017of the numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display}
9018display; or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
9019
9020@item display
9021Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
9022done when your program stops.
9023
9024@kindex info display
9025@item info display
9026Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
9027automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
9028values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
9029It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
9030because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
9031@end table
9032
9033@cindex display disabled out of scope
9034If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
9035sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
9036expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
9037variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
9038@code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
9039@code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
9040continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
9041there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
9042automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
9043is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
9044
9045@node Print Settings
9046@section Print Settings
9047
9048@cindex format options
9049@cindex print settings
9050@value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
9051and symbols are printed.
9052
9053@noindent
9054These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
9055
9056@table @code
9057@kindex set print
9058@item set print address
9059@itemx set print address on
9060@cindex print/don't print memory addresses
9061@value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
9062traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
9063even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
9064is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
9065@code{set print address on}:
9066
9067@smallexample
9068@group
9069(@value{GDBP}) f
9070#0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
9071 at input.c:530
9072530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
9073@end group
9074@end smallexample
9075
9076@item set print address off
9077Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
9078this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
9079
9080@smallexample
9081@group
9082(@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
9083(@value{GDBP}) f
9084#0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
9085530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
9086@end group
9087@end smallexample
9088
9089You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
9090dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
9091@code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
9092all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
9093
9094@kindex show print
9095@item show print address
9096Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
9097@end table
9098
9099When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
9100closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
9101identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
9102source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
9103@code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
9104you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
9105it prints a symbolic address:
9106
9107@table @code
9108@item set print symbol-filename on
9109@cindex source file and line of a symbol
9110@cindex symbol, source file and line
9111Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
9112symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
9113
9114@item set print symbol-filename off
9115Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
9116default.
9117
9118@item show print symbol-filename
9119Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
9120line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
9121@end table
9122
9123Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
9124numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
9125number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
9126
9127Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
9128printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
9129
9130@table @code
9131@item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
9132@itemx set print max-symbolic-offset unlimited
9133@cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
9134Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
9135offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
9136@var{max-offset}. The default is @code{unlimited}, which tells @value{GDBN}
9137to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes
9138it. Zero is equivalent to @code{unlimited}.
9139
9140@item show print max-symbolic-offset
9141Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
9142symbolic address.
9143@end table
9144
9145@cindex wild pointer, interpreting
9146@cindex pointer, finding referent
9147If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
9148@samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
9149and source file location of the variable where it points, using
9150@samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
9151For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
9152at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
9153
9154@smallexample
9155(@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
9156(@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
9157$4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
9158@end smallexample
9159
9160@quotation
9161@emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
9162does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
9163the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
9164@end quotation
9165
9166You can also enable @samp{/a}-like formatting all the time using
9167@samp{set print symbol on}:
9168
9169@table @code
9170@item set print symbol on
9171Tell @value{GDBN} to print the symbol corresponding to an address, if
9172one exists.
9173
9174@item set print symbol off
9175Tell @value{GDBN} not to print the symbol corresponding to an
9176address. In this mode, @value{GDBN} will still print the symbol
9177corresponding to pointers to functions. This is the default.
9178
9179@item show print symbol
9180Show whether @value{GDBN} will display the symbol corresponding to an
9181address.
9182@end table
9183
9184Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
9185
9186@table @code
9187@item set print array
9188@itemx set print array on
9189@cindex pretty print arrays
9190Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
9191but uses more space. The default is off.
9192
9193@item set print array off
9194Return to compressed format for arrays.
9195
9196@item show print array
9197Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
9198arrays.
9199
9200@cindex print array indexes
9201@item set print array-indexes
9202@itemx set print array-indexes on
9203Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
9204convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
9205index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
9206
9207@item set print array-indexes off
9208Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
9209
9210@item show print array-indexes
9211Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
9212arrays.
9213
9214@item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
9215@itemx set print elements unlimited
9216@cindex number of array elements to print
9217@cindex limit on number of printed array elements
9218Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
9219If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
9220printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
9221This limit also applies to the display of strings.
9222When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
9223Setting @var{number-of-elements} to @code{unlimited} or zero means
9224that the number of elements to print is unlimited.
9225
9226@item show print elements
9227Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
9228If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
9229
9230@item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
9231@kindex set print frame-arguments
9232@cindex printing frame argument values
9233@cindex print all frame argument values
9234@cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
9235@cindex do not print frame argument values
9236This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
9237when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
9238values are:
9239
9240@table @code
9241@item all
9242The values of all arguments are printed.
9243
9244@item scalars
9245Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
9246complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
9247by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
9248only scalar arguments are shown:
9249
9250@smallexample
9251#1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
9252 at frame-args.c:23
9253@end smallexample
9254
9255@item none
9256None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
9257is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
9258
9259@smallexample
9260#1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
9261 at frame-args.c:23
9262@end smallexample
9263@end table
9264
9265By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
9266to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
9267of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
9268of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
9269information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
9270Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
9271the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
9272especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
9273to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
9274thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
9275
9276@item show print frame-arguments
9277Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
9278
9279@item set print raw frame-arguments on
9280Print frame arguments in raw, non pretty-printed, form.
9281
9282@item set print raw frame-arguments off
9283Print frame arguments in pretty-printed form, if there is a pretty-printer
9284for the value (@pxref{Pretty Printing}),
9285otherwise print the value in raw form.
9286This is the default.
9287
9288@item show print raw frame-arguments
9289Show whether to print frame arguments in raw form.
9290
9291@anchor{set print entry-values}
9292@item set print entry-values @var{value}
9293@kindex set print entry-values
9294Set printing of frame argument values at function entry. In some cases
9295@value{GDBN} can determine the value of function argument which was passed by
9296the function caller, even if the value was modified inside the called function
9297and therefore is different. With optimized code, the current value could be
9298unavailable, but the entry value may still be known.
9299
9300The default value is @code{default} (see below for its description). Older
9301@value{GDBN} behaved as with the setting @code{no}. Compilers not supporting
9302this feature will behave in the @code{default} setting the same way as with the
9303@code{no} setting.
9304
9305This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
9306the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
9307@value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
9308this information.
9309
9310The @var{value} parameter can be one of the following:
9311
9312@table @code
9313@item no
9314Print only actual parameter values, never print values from function entry
9315point.
9316@smallexample
9317#0 equal (val=5)
9318#0 different (val=6)
9319#0 lost (val=<optimized out>)
9320#0 born (val=10)
9321#0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9322@end smallexample
9323
9324@item only
9325Print only parameter values from function entry point. The actual parameter
9326values are never printed.
9327@smallexample
9328#0 equal (val@@entry=5)
9329#0 different (val@@entry=5)
9330#0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9331#0 born (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9332#0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9333@end smallexample
9334
9335@item preferred
9336Print only parameter values from function entry point. If value from function
9337entry point is not known while the actual value is known, print the actual
9338value for such parameter.
9339@smallexample
9340#0 equal (val@@entry=5)
9341#0 different (val@@entry=5)
9342#0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9343#0 born (val=10)
9344#0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9345@end smallexample
9346
9347@item if-needed
9348Print actual parameter values. If actual parameter value is not known while
9349value from function entry point is known, print the entry point value for such
9350parameter.
9351@smallexample
9352#0 equal (val=5)
9353#0 different (val=6)
9354#0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9355#0 born (val=10)
9356#0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9357@end smallexample
9358
9359@item both
9360Always print both the actual parameter value and its value from function entry
9361point, even if values of one or both are not available due to compiler
9362optimizations.
9363@smallexample
9364#0 equal (val=5, val@@entry=5)
9365#0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9366#0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
9367#0 born (val=10, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9368#0 invalid (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9369@end smallexample
9370
9371@item compact
9372Print the actual parameter value if it is known and also its value from
9373function entry point if it is known. If neither is known, print for the actual
9374value @code{<optimized out>}. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and if both
9375values are known and identical, print the shortened
9376@code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
9377@smallexample
9378#0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
9379#0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9380#0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9381#0 born (val=10)
9382#0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9383@end smallexample
9384
9385@item default
9386Always print the actual parameter value. Print also its value from function
9387entry point, but only if it is known. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and
9388if both values are known and identical, print the shortened
9389@code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
9390@smallexample
9391#0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
9392#0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9393#0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
9394#0 born (val=10)
9395#0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9396@end smallexample
9397@end table
9398
9399For analysis messages on possible failures of frame argument values at function
9400entry resolution see @ref{set debug entry-values}.
9401
9402@item show print entry-values
9403Show the method being used for printing of frame argument values at function
9404entry.
9405
9406@item set print repeats @var{number-of-repeats}
9407@itemx set print repeats unlimited
9408@cindex repeated array elements
9409Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
9410elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
9411array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
9412@code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
9413identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
9414themselves. Setting the threshold to @code{unlimited} or zero will
9415cause all elements to be individually printed. The default threshold
9416is 10.
9417
9418@item show print repeats
9419Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
9420elements.
9421
9422@item set print null-stop
9423@cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
9424Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
9425@sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
9426contain only short strings.
9427The default is off.
9428
9429@item show print null-stop
9430Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
9431@sc{null} character.
9432
9433@item set print pretty on
9434@cindex print structures in indented form
9435@cindex indentation in structure display
9436Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
9437per line, like this:
9438
9439@smallexample
9440@group
9441$1 = @{
9442 next = 0x0,
9443 flags = @{
9444 sweet = 1,
9445 sour = 1
9446 @},
9447 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
9448@}
9449@end group
9450@end smallexample
9451
9452@item set print pretty off
9453Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
9454
9455@smallexample
9456@group
9457$1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
9458meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
9459@end group
9460@end smallexample
9461
9462@noindent
9463This is the default format.
9464
9465@item show print pretty
9466Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
9467
9468@item set print sevenbit-strings on
9469@cindex eight-bit characters in strings
9470@cindex octal escapes in strings
9471Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
9472@value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
9473character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
9474best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
9475high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
9476
9477@item set print sevenbit-strings off
9478Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
9479international character sets, and is the default.
9480
9481@item show print sevenbit-strings
9482Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
9483
9484@item set print union on
9485@cindex unions in structures, printing
9486Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
9487and other unions. This is the default setting.
9488
9489@item set print union off
9490Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
9491structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
9492instead.
9493
9494@item show print union
9495Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
9496structures and other unions.
9497
9498For example, given the declarations
9499
9500@smallexample
9501typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
9502typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
9503typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
9504 Bug_forms;
9505
9506struct thing @{
9507 Species it;
9508 union @{
9509 Tree_forms tree;
9510 Bug_forms bug;
9511 @} form;
9512@};
9513
9514struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
9515@end smallexample
9516
9517@noindent
9518with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
9519
9520@smallexample
9521$1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
9522@end smallexample
9523
9524@noindent
9525and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
9526
9527@smallexample
9528$1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
9529@end smallexample
9530
9531@noindent
9532@code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
9533and in Pascal.
9534@end table
9535
9536@need 1000
9537@noindent
9538These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
9539
9540@table @code
9541@cindex demangling C@t{++} names
9542@item set print demangle
9543@itemx set print demangle on
9544Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
9545(``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
9546linkage. The default is on.
9547
9548@item show print demangle
9549Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
9550
9551@item set print asm-demangle
9552@itemx set print asm-demangle on
9553Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
9554in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
9555The default is off.
9556
9557@item show print asm-demangle
9558Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
9559or demangled form.
9560
9561@cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
9562@cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
9563@kindex set demangle-style
9564@item set demangle-style @var{style}
9565Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
9566represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
9567
9568@table @code
9569@item auto
9570Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
9571This is the default.
9572
9573@item gnu
9574Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
9575
9576@item hp
9577Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
9578
9579@item lucid
9580Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
9581
9582@item arm
9583Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
9584@strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
9585debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
9586require further enhancement to permit that.
9587
9588@end table
9589If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
9590
9591@item show demangle-style
9592Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
9593
9594@item set print object
9595@itemx set print object on
9596@cindex derived type of an object, printing
9597@cindex display derived types
9598When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
9599(derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
9600the virtual function table. Note that the virtual function table is
9601required---this feature can only work for objects that have run-time
9602type identification; a single virtual method in the object's declared
9603type is sufficient. Note that this setting is also taken into account when
9604working with variable objects via MI (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
9605
9606@item set print object off
9607Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
9608virtual function table. This is the default setting.
9609
9610@item show print object
9611Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
9612
9613@item set print static-members
9614@itemx set print static-members on
9615@cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
9616Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
9617
9618@item set print static-members off
9619Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
9620
9621@item show print static-members
9622Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
9623
9624@item set print pascal_static-members
9625@itemx set print pascal_static-members on
9626@cindex static members of Pascal objects
9627@cindex Pascal objects, static members display
9628Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
9629
9630@item set print pascal_static-members off
9631Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
9632
9633@item show print pascal_static-members
9634Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
9635
9636@c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
9637@item set print vtbl
9638@itemx set print vtbl on
9639@cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
9640@cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
9641@cindex VTBL display
9642Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
9643(The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
9644ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
9645
9646@item set print vtbl off
9647Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
9648
9649@item show print vtbl
9650Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
9651@end table
9652
9653@node Pretty Printing
9654@section Pretty Printing
9655
9656@value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
9657Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
9658mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
9659
9660@menu
9661* Pretty-Printer Introduction:: Introduction to pretty-printers
9662* Pretty-Printer Example:: An example pretty-printer
9663* Pretty-Printer Commands:: Pretty-printer commands
9664@end menu
9665
9666@node Pretty-Printer Introduction
9667@subsection Pretty-Printer Introduction
9668
9669When @value{GDBN} prints a value, it first sees if there is a pretty-printer
9670registered for the value. If there is then @value{GDBN} invokes the
9671pretty-printer to print the value. Otherwise the value is printed normally.
9672
9673Pretty-printers are normally named. This makes them easy to manage.
9674The @samp{info pretty-printer} command will list all the installed
9675pretty-printers with their names.
9676If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
9677@dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
9678Each such subprinter has its own name.
9679The format of the name is @var{printer-name};@var{subprinter-name}.
9680
9681Pretty-printers are installed by @dfn{registering} them with @value{GDBN}.
9682Typically they are automatically loaded and registered when the corresponding
9683debug information is loaded, thus making them available without having to
9684do anything special.
9685
9686There are three places where a pretty-printer can be registered.
9687
9688@itemize @bullet
9689@item
9690Pretty-printers registered globally are available when debugging
9691all inferiors.
9692
9693@item
9694Pretty-printers registered with a program space are available only
9695when debugging that program.
9696@xref{Progspaces In Python}, for more details on program spaces in Python.
9697
9698@item
9699Pretty-printers registered with an objfile are loaded and unloaded
9700with the corresponding objfile (e.g., shared library).
9701@xref{Objfiles In Python}, for more details on objfiles in Python.
9702@end itemize
9703
9704@xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for further information on how
9705pretty-printers are selected,
9706
9707@xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for implementing pretty printers
9708for new types.
9709
9710@node Pretty-Printer Example
9711@subsection Pretty-Printer Example
9712
9713Here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a pretty-printer:
9714
9715@smallexample
9716(@value{GDBP}) print s
9717$1 = @{
9718 static npos = 4294967295,
9719 _M_dataplus = @{
9720 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
9721 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
9722 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
9723 @},
9724 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
9725 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
9726 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
9727 @}
9728@}
9729@end smallexample
9730
9731With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
9732
9733@smallexample
9734(@value{GDBP}) print s
9735$2 = "abcd"
9736@end smallexample
9737
9738@node Pretty-Printer Commands
9739@subsection Pretty-Printer Commands
9740@cindex pretty-printer commands
9741
9742@table @code
9743@kindex info pretty-printer
9744@item info pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9745Print the list of installed pretty-printers.
9746This includes disabled pretty-printers, which are marked as such.
9747
9748@var{object-regexp} is a regular expression matching the objects
9749whose pretty-printers to list.
9750Objects can be @code{global}, the program space's file
9751(@pxref{Progspaces In Python}),
9752and the object files within that program space (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}).
9753@xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for details on how @value{GDBN}
9754looks up a printer from these three objects.
9755
9756@var{name-regexp} is a regular expression matching the name of the printers
9757to list.
9758
9759@kindex disable pretty-printer
9760@item disable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9761Disable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
9762A disabled pretty-printer is not forgotten, it may be enabled again later.
9763
9764@kindex enable pretty-printer
9765@item enable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9766Enable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
9767@end table
9768
9769Example:
9770
9771Suppose we have three pretty-printers installed: one from library1.so
9772named @code{foo} that prints objects of type @code{foo}, and
9773another from library2.so named @code{bar} that prints two types of objects,
9774@code{bar1} and @code{bar2}.
9775
9776@smallexample
9777(gdb) info pretty-printer
9778library1.so:
9779 foo
9780library2.so:
9781 bar
9782 bar1
9783 bar2
9784(gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9785library2.so:
9786 bar
9787 bar1
9788 bar2
9789(gdb) disable pretty-printer library1
97901 printer disabled
97912 of 3 printers enabled
9792(gdb) info pretty-printer
9793library1.so:
9794 foo [disabled]
9795library2.so:
9796 bar
9797 bar1
9798 bar2
9799(gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar:bar1
98001 printer disabled
98011 of 3 printers enabled
9802(gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9803library1.so:
9804 foo [disabled]
9805library2.so:
9806 bar
9807 bar1 [disabled]
9808 bar2
9809(gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar
98101 printer disabled
98110 of 3 printers enabled
9812(gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9813library1.so:
9814 foo [disabled]
9815library2.so:
9816 bar [disabled]
9817 bar1 [disabled]
9818 bar2
9819@end smallexample
9820
9821Note that for @code{bar} the entire printer can be disabled,
9822as can each individual subprinter.
9823
9824@node Value History
9825@section Value History
9826
9827@cindex value history
9828@cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
9829Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
9830@dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
9831Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
9832(for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
9833When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
9834since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
9835symbol table.
9836
9837@cindex @code{$}
9838@cindex @code{$$}
9839@cindex history number
9840The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
9841refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
9842@code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
9843printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
9844history number.
9845
9846To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
9847history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
9848remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
9849the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
9850@code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
9851is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
9852@code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
9853
9854For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
9855want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
9856
9857@smallexample
9858p *$
9859@end smallexample
9860
9861If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
9862to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
9863
9864@smallexample
9865p *$.next
9866@end smallexample
9867
9868@noindent
9869You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
9870command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
9871
9872Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
9873@code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
9874
9875@smallexample
9876print x
9877set x=5
9878@end smallexample
9879
9880@noindent
9881then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
9882remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
9883
9884@table @code
9885@kindex show values
9886@item show values
9887Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
9888This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
9889values} does not change the history.
9890
9891@item show values @var{n}
9892Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
9893
9894@item show values +
9895Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
9896values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
9897@end table
9898
9899Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
9900same effect as @samp{show values +}.
9901
9902@node Convenience Vars
9903@section Convenience Variables
9904
9905@cindex convenience variables
9906@cindex user-defined variables
9907@value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
9908@value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
9909exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
9910setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
9911of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
9912
9913Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
9914@samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
9915the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
9916(Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
9917by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
9918
9919You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
9920expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
9921For example:
9922
9923@smallexample
9924set $foo = *object_ptr
9925@end smallexample
9926
9927@noindent
9928would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
9929@code{object_ptr}.
9930
9931Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
9932value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
9933value with another assignment at any time.
9934
9935Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
9936variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
9937that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
9938variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
9939
9940@table @code
9941@kindex show convenience
9942@cindex show all user variables and functions
9943@item show convenience
9944Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values,
9945as well as a list of the convenience functions.
9946Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
9947
9948@kindex init-if-undefined
9949@cindex convenience variables, initializing
9950@item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
9951Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
9952for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
9953to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
9954convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
9955override default values used in a command script.
9956
9957If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
9958any side-effects do not occur.
9959@end table
9960
9961One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
9962incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
9963a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
9964
9965@smallexample
9966set $i = 0
9967print bar[$i++]->contents
9968@end smallexample
9969
9970@noindent
9971Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
9972
9973Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
9974values likely to be useful.
9975
9976@table @code
9977@vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
9978@item $_
9979The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
9980the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
9981commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
9982set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
9983and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
9984except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
9985to the type of @code{$__}.
9986
9987@vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
9988@item $__
9989The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
9990to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
9991to match the format in which the data was printed.
9992
9993@item $_exitcode
9994@vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
9995When the program being debugged terminates normally, @value{GDBN}
9996automatically sets this variable to the exit code of the program, and
9997resets @code{$_exitsignal} to @code{void}.
9998
9999@item $_exitsignal
10000@vindex $_exitsignal@r{, convenience variable}
10001When the program being debugged dies due to an uncaught signal,
10002@value{GDBN} automatically sets this variable to that signal's number,
10003and resets @code{$_exitcode} to @code{void}.
10004
10005To distinguish between whether the program being debugged has exited
10006(i.e., @code{$_exitcode} is not @code{void}) or signalled (i.e.,
10007@code{$_exitsignal} is not @code{void}), the convenience function
10008@code{$_isvoid} can be used (@pxref{Convenience Funs,, Convenience
10009Functions}). For example, considering the following source code:
10010
10011@smallexample
10012#include <signal.h>
10013
10014int
10015main (int argc, char *argv[])
10016@{
10017 raise (SIGALRM);
10018 return 0;
10019@}
10020@end smallexample
10021
10022A valid way of telling whether the program being debugged has exited
10023or signalled would be:
10024
10025@smallexample
10026(@value{GDBP}) define has_exited_or_signalled
10027Type commands for definition of ``has_exited_or_signalled''.
10028End with a line saying just ``end''.
10029>if $_isvoid ($_exitsignal)
10030 >echo The program has exited\n
10031 >else
10032 >echo The program has signalled\n
10033 >end
10034>end
10035(@value{GDBP}) run
10036Starting program:
10037
10038Program terminated with signal SIGALRM, Alarm clock.
10039The program no longer exists.
10040(@value{GDBP}) has_exited_or_signalled
10041The program has signalled
10042@end smallexample
10043
10044As can be seen, @value{GDBN} correctly informs that the program being
10045debugged has signalled, since it calls @code{raise} and raises a
10046@code{SIGALRM} signal. If the program being debugged had not called
10047@code{raise}, then @value{GDBN} would report a normal exit:
10048
10049@smallexample
10050(@value{GDBP}) has_exited_or_signalled
10051The program has exited
10052@end smallexample
10053
10054@item $_exception
10055The variable @code{$_exception} is set to the exception object being
10056thrown at an exception-related catchpoint. @xref{Set Catchpoints}.
10057
10058@item $_probe_argc
10059@itemx $_probe_arg0@dots{}$_probe_arg11
10060Arguments to a static probe. @xref{Static Probe Points}.
10061
10062@item $_sdata
10063@vindex $_sdata@r{, inspect, convenience variable}
10064The variable @code{$_sdata} contains extra collected static tracepoint
10065data. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}. Note that
10066@code{$_sdata} could be empty, if not inspecting a trace buffer, or
10067if extra static tracepoint data has not been collected.
10068
10069@item $_siginfo
10070@vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
10071The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
10072(@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
10073could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
10074For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
10075
10076@item $_tlb
10077@vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
10078The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
10079applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
10080gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
10081@xref{General Query Packets}.
10082This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
10083
10084@end table
10085
10086On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
10087begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
10088name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
10089
10090@node Convenience Funs
10091@section Convenience Functions
10092
10093@cindex convenience functions
10094@value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
10095have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
10096function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
10097however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
10098@value{GDBN}.
10099
10100These functions do not require @value{GDBN} to be configured with
10101@code{Python} support, which means that they are always available.
10102
10103@table @code
10104
10105@item $_isvoid (@var{expr})
10106@findex $_isvoid@r{, convenience function}
10107Return one if the expression @var{expr} is @code{void}. Otherwise it
10108returns zero.
10109
10110A @code{void} expression is an expression where the type of the result
10111is @code{void}. For example, you can examine a convenience variable
10112(see @ref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}) to check whether
10113it is @code{void}:
10114
10115@smallexample
10116(@value{GDBP}) print $_exitcode
10117$1 = void
10118(@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid ($_exitcode)
10119$2 = 1
10120(@value{GDBP}) run
10121Starting program: ./a.out
10122[Inferior 1 (process 29572) exited normally]
10123(@value{GDBP}) print $_exitcode
10124$3 = 0
10125(@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid ($_exitcode)
10126$4 = 0
10127@end smallexample
10128
10129In the example above, we used @code{$_isvoid} to check whether
10130@code{$_exitcode} is @code{void} before and after the execution of the
10131program being debugged. Before the execution there is no exit code to
10132be examined, therefore @code{$_exitcode} is @code{void}. After the
10133execution the program being debugged returned zero, therefore
10134@code{$_exitcode} is zero, which means that it is not @code{void}
10135anymore.
10136
10137The @code{void} expression can also be a call of a function from the
10138program being debugged. For example, given the following function:
10139
10140@smallexample
10141void
10142foo (void)
10143@{
10144@}
10145@end smallexample
10146
10147The result of calling it inside @value{GDBN} is @code{void}:
10148
10149@smallexample
10150(@value{GDBP}) print foo ()
10151$1 = void
10152(@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid (foo ())
10153$2 = 1
10154(@value{GDBP}) set $v = foo ()
10155(@value{GDBP}) print $v
10156$3 = void
10157(@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid ($v)
10158$4 = 1
10159@end smallexample
10160
10161@end table
10162
10163These functions require @value{GDBN} to be configured with
10164@code{Python} support.
10165
10166@table @code
10167
10168@item $_memeq(@var{buf1}, @var{buf2}, @var{length})
10169@findex $_memeq@r{, convenience function}
10170Returns one if the @var{length} bytes at the addresses given by
10171@var{buf1} and @var{buf2} are equal.
10172Otherwise it returns zero.
10173
10174@item $_regex(@var{str}, @var{regex})
10175@findex $_regex@r{, convenience function}
10176Returns one if the string @var{str} matches the regular expression
10177@var{regex}. Otherwise it returns zero.
10178The syntax of the regular expression is that specified by @code{Python}'s
10179regular expression support.
10180
10181@item $_streq(@var{str1}, @var{str2})
10182@findex $_streq@r{, convenience function}
10183Returns one if the strings @var{str1} and @var{str2} are equal.
10184Otherwise it returns zero.
10185
10186@item $_strlen(@var{str})
10187@findex $_strlen@r{, convenience function}
10188Returns the length of string @var{str}.
10189
10190@item $_caller_is(@var{name}@r{[}, @var{number_of_frames}@r{]})
10191@findex $_caller_is@r{, convenience function}
10192Returns one if the calling function's name is equal to @var{name}.
10193Otherwise it returns zero.
10194
10195If the optional argument @var{number_of_frames} is provided,
10196it is the number of frames up in the stack to look.
10197The default is 1.
10198
10199Example:
10200
10201@smallexample
10202(gdb) backtrace
10203#0 bottom_func ()
10204 at testsuite/gdb.python/py-caller-is.c:21
10205#1 0x00000000004005a0 in middle_func ()
10206 at testsuite/gdb.python/py-caller-is.c:27
10207#2 0x00000000004005ab in top_func ()
10208 at testsuite/gdb.python/py-caller-is.c:33
10209#3 0x00000000004005b6 in main ()
10210 at testsuite/gdb.python/py-caller-is.c:39
10211(gdb) print $_caller_is ("middle_func")
10212$1 = 1
10213(gdb) print $_caller_is ("top_func", 2)
10214$1 = 1
10215@end smallexample
10216
10217@item $_caller_matches(@var{regexp}@r{[}, @var{number_of_frames}@r{]})
10218@findex $_caller_matches@r{, convenience function}
10219Returns one if the calling function's name matches the regular expression
10220@var{regexp}. Otherwise it returns zero.
10221
10222If the optional argument @var{number_of_frames} is provided,
10223it is the number of frames up in the stack to look.
10224The default is 1.
10225
10226@item $_any_caller_is(@var{name}@r{[}, @var{number_of_frames}@r{]})
10227@findex $_any_caller_is@r{, convenience function}
10228Returns one if any calling function's name is equal to @var{name}.
10229Otherwise it returns zero.
10230
10231If the optional argument @var{number_of_frames} is provided,
10232it is the number of frames up in the stack to look.
10233The default is 1.
10234
10235This function differs from @code{$_caller_is} in that this function
10236checks all stack frames from the immediate caller to the frame specified
10237by @var{number_of_frames}, whereas @code{$_caller_is} only checks the
10238frame specified by @var{number_of_frames}.
10239
10240@item $_any_caller_matches(@var{regexp}@r{[}, @var{number_of_frames}@r{]})
10241@findex $_any_caller_matches@r{, convenience function}
10242Returns one if any calling function's name matches the regular expression
10243@var{regexp}. Otherwise it returns zero.
10244
10245If the optional argument @var{number_of_frames} is provided,
10246it is the number of frames up in the stack to look.
10247The default is 1.
10248
10249This function differs from @code{$_caller_matches} in that this function
10250checks all stack frames from the immediate caller to the frame specified
10251by @var{number_of_frames}, whereas @code{$_caller_matches} only checks the
10252frame specified by @var{number_of_frames}.
10253
10254@end table
10255
10256@value{GDBN} provides the ability to list and get help on
10257convenience functions.
10258
10259@table @code
10260@item help function
10261@kindex help function
10262@cindex show all convenience functions
10263Print a list of all convenience functions.
10264@end table
10265
10266@node Registers
10267@section Registers
10268
10269@cindex registers
10270You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
10271with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
10272for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
10273your machine.
10274
10275@table @code
10276@kindex info registers
10277@item info registers
10278Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
10279and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
10280
10281@kindex info all-registers
10282@cindex floating point registers
10283@item info all-registers
10284Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
10285and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
10286
10287@item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
10288Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
10289As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
10290the selected stack frame. The @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
10291the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
10292@end table
10293
10294@anchor{standard registers}
10295@cindex stack pointer register
10296@cindex program counter register
10297@cindex process status register
10298@cindex frame pointer register
10299@cindex standard registers
10300@value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
10301expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
10302architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
10303@code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
10304the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
10305pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
10306register that contains the processor status. For example,
10307you could print the program counter in hex with
10308
10309@smallexample
10310p/x $pc
10311@end smallexample
10312
10313@noindent
10314or print the instruction to be executed next with
10315
10316@smallexample
10317x/i $pc
10318@end smallexample
10319
10320@noindent
10321or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
10322one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
10323memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
10324stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
10325stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
10326regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
10327see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
10328
10329@smallexample
10330set $sp += 4
10331@end smallexample
10332
10333Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
10334your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
10335so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
10336shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
10337registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
10338can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
10339is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
10340
10341@value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
10342integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
10343special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
10344registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
10345to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
10346(although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
10347@samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
10348
10349Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
10350means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
10351the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
10352sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
10353coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
10354programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
10355cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
10356that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
10357prints the data in both formats.
10358
10359@cindex SSE registers (x86)
10360@cindex MMX registers (x86)
10361Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
10362in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
10363have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
10364together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
10365registers in @code{struct} notation:
10366
10367@smallexample
10368(@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
10369$1 = @{
10370 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
10371 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
10372 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
10373 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
10374 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
10375 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
10376 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
10377@}
10378@end smallexample
10379
10380@noindent
10381To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
10382view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
10383value to a @code{struct} member:
10384
10385@smallexample
10386 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
10387@end smallexample
10388
10389Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
10390(@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
10391value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
10392were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
10393true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
10394frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
10395
10396@cindex caller-saved registers
10397@cindex call-clobbered registers
10398@cindex volatile registers
10399@cindex <not saved> values
10400Usually ABIs reserve some registers as not needed to be saved by the
10401callee (a.k.a.: ``caller-saved'', ``call-clobbered'' or ``volatile''
10402registers). It may therefore not be possible for @value{GDBN} to know
10403the value a register had before the call (in other words, in the outer
10404frame), if the register value has since been changed by the callee.
10405@value{GDBN} tries to deduce where the inner frame saved
10406(``callee-saved'') registers, from the debug info, unwind info, or the
10407machine code generated by your compiler. If some register is not
10408saved, and @value{GDBN} knows the register is ``caller-saved'' (via
10409its own knowledge of the ABI, or because the debug/unwind info
10410explicitly says the register's value is undefined), @value{GDBN}
10411displays @w{@samp{<not saved>}} as the register's value. With targets
10412that @value{GDBN} has no knowledge of the register saving convention,
10413if a register was not saved by the callee, then its value and location
10414in the outer frame are assumed to be the same of the inner frame.
10415This is usually harmless, because if the register is call-clobbered,
10416the caller either does not care what is in the register after the
10417call, or has code to restore the value that it does care about. Note,
10418however, that if you change such a register in the outer frame, you
10419may also be affecting the inner frame. Also, the more ``outer'' the
10420frame is you're looking at, the more likely a call-clobbered
10421register's value is to be wrong, in the sense that it doesn't actually
10422represent the value the register had just before the call.
10423
10424@node Floating Point Hardware
10425@section Floating Point Hardware
10426@cindex floating point
10427
10428Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
10429you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
10430
10431@table @code
10432@kindex info float
10433@item info float
10434Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
10435point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
10436floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
10437the ARM and x86 machines.
10438@end table
10439
10440@node Vector Unit
10441@section Vector Unit
10442@cindex vector unit
10443
10444Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
10445more information about the status of the vector unit.
10446
10447@table @code
10448@kindex info vector
10449@item info vector
10450Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
10451layout vary depending on the hardware.
10452@end table
10453
10454@node OS Information
10455@section Operating System Auxiliary Information
10456@cindex OS information
10457
10458@value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
10459you debug your program.
10460
10461@cindex auxiliary vector
10462@cindex vector, auxiliary
10463Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
10464startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
10465specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
10466binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
10467hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
10468identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
10469Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
10470@value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
10471targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
10472support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
10473@ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
10474
10475@table @code
10476@kindex info auxv
10477@item info auxv
10478Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
10479live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
10480numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
10481tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
10482pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
10483most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
10484an unrecognized tag.
10485@end table
10486
10487On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating system-specific
10488information and show it to you. The types of information available
10489will differ depending on the type of operating system running on the
10490target. The mechanism used to fetch the data is described in
10491@ref{Operating System Information}. For remote targets, this
10492functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
10493@samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
10494
10495@table @code
10496@kindex info os
10497@item info os @var{infotype}
10498
10499Display OS information of the requested type.
10500
10501On @sc{gnu}/Linux, the following values of @var{infotype} are valid:
10502
10503@anchor{linux info os infotypes}
10504@table @code
10505@kindex info os processes
10506@item processes
10507Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
10508@value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, the
10509command corresponding to the process, and the list of processor cores
10510that the process is currently running on. (To understand what these
10511properties mean, for this and the following info types, please consult
10512the general @sc{gnu}/Linux documentation.)
10513
10514@kindex info os procgroups
10515@item procgroups
10516Display the list of process groups on the target. For each process,
10517@value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process group that it belongs
10518to, the command corresponding to the process group leader, the process
10519identifier, and the command line of the process. The list is sorted
10520first by the process group identifier, then by the process identifier,
10521so that processes belonging to the same process group are grouped together
10522and the process group leader is listed first.
10523
10524@kindex info os threads
10525@item threads
10526Display the list of threads running on the target. For each thread,
10527@value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process that the thread
10528belongs to, the command of the process, the thread identifier, and the
10529processor core that it is currently running on. The main thread of a
10530process is not listed.
10531
10532@kindex info os files
10533@item files
10534Display the list of open file descriptors on the target. For each
10535file descriptor, @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process
10536owning the descriptor, the command of the owning process, the value
10537of the descriptor, and the target of the descriptor.
10538
10539@kindex info os sockets
10540@item sockets
10541Display the list of Internet-domain sockets on the target. For each
10542socket, @value{GDBN} prints the address and port of the local and
10543remote endpoints, the current state of the connection, the creator of
10544the socket, the IP address family of the socket, and the type of the
10545connection.
10546
10547@kindex info os shm
10548@item shm
10549Display the list of all System V shared-memory regions on the target.
10550For each shared-memory region, @value{GDBN} prints the region key,
10551the shared-memory identifier, the access permissions, the size of the
10552region, the process that created the region, the process that last
10553attached to or detached from the region, the current number of live
10554attaches to the region, and the times at which the region was last
10555attached to, detach from, and changed.
10556
10557@kindex info os semaphores
10558@item semaphores
10559Display the list of all System V semaphore sets on the target. For each
10560semaphore set, @value{GDBN} prints the semaphore set key, the semaphore
10561set identifier, the access permissions, the number of semaphores in the
10562set, the user and group of the owner and creator of the semaphore set,
10563and the times at which the semaphore set was operated upon and changed.
10564
10565@kindex info os msg
10566@item msg
10567Display the list of all System V message queues on the target. For each
10568message queue, @value{GDBN} prints the message queue key, the message
10569queue identifier, the access permissions, the current number of bytes
10570on the queue, the current number of messages on the queue, the processes
10571that last sent and received a message on the queue, the user and group
10572of the owner and creator of the message queue, the times at which a
10573message was last sent and received on the queue, and the time at which
10574the message queue was last changed.
10575
10576@kindex info os modules
10577@item modules
10578Display the list of all loaded kernel modules on the target. For each
10579module, @value{GDBN} prints the module name, the size of the module in
10580bytes, the number of times the module is used, the dependencies of the
10581module, the status of the module, and the address of the loaded module
10582in memory.
10583@end table
10584
10585@item info os
10586If @var{infotype} is omitted, then list the possible values for
10587@var{infotype} and the kind of OS information available for each
10588@var{infotype}. If the target does not return a list of possible
10589types, this command will report an error.
10590@end table
10591
10592@node Memory Region Attributes
10593@section Memory Region Attributes
10594@cindex memory region attributes
10595
10596@dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
10597required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
10598attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
10599accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
10600target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
10601fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
10602user can override the fetched regions.
10603
10604Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
10605memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
10606accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
10607been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
10608all memory.
10609
10610When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
10611to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
10612
10613@table @code
10614@kindex mem
10615@item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
10616Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
10617attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
10618monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
10619case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
10620(0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
10621
10622@item mem auto
10623Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
10624regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
10625
10626@kindex delete mem
10627@item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
10628Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
10629monitored by @value{GDBN}.
10630
10631@kindex disable mem
10632@item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
10633Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
10634A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
10635It may be enabled again later.
10636
10637@kindex enable mem
10638@item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
10639Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
10640
10641@kindex info mem
10642@item info mem
10643Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
10644for each region:
10645
10646@table @emph
10647@item Memory Region Number
10648@item Enabled or Disabled.
10649Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
10650Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
10651
10652@item Lo Address
10653The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
10654
10655@item Hi Address
10656The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
10657
10658@item Attributes
10659The list of attributes set for this memory region.
10660@end table
10661@end table
10662
10663
10664@subsection Attributes
10665
10666@subsubsection Memory Access Mode
10667The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
10668write accesses to a memory region.
10669
10670While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
10671memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
10672etc.@: from accessing memory.
10673
10674@table @code
10675@item ro
10676Memory is read only.
10677@item wo
10678Memory is write only.
10679@item rw
10680Memory is read/write. This is the default.
10681@end table
10682
10683@subsubsection Memory Access Size
10684The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
10685accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
10686require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
10687specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
10688
10689@table @code
10690@item 8
10691Use 8 bit memory accesses.
10692@item 16
10693Use 16 bit memory accesses.
10694@item 32
10695Use 32 bit memory accesses.
10696@item 64
10697Use 64 bit memory accesses.
10698@end table
10699
10700@c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
10701@c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
10702@c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
10703@c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
10704@c
10705@c @table @code
10706@c @item hwbreak
10707@c Always use hardware breakpoints
10708@c @item swbreak (default)
10709@c @end table
10710
10711@subsubsection Data Cache
10712The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
10713memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
10714protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
10715does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
10716registers.
10717
10718@table @code
10719@item cache
10720Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
10721@item nocache
10722Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
10723@end table
10724
10725@subsection Memory Access Checking
10726@value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
10727not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
10728regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
10729better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
10730
10731@table @code
10732@kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
10733@item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
10734If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
10735explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
10736to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
10737memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
10738treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
10739The default value is @code{on}.
10740@kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
10741@item show mem inaccessible-by-default
10742Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
10743@end table
10744
10745
10746@c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
10747@c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
10748@c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
10749@c
10750@c @table @code
10751@c @item verify
10752@c @item noverify (default)
10753@c @end table
10754
10755@node Dump/Restore Files
10756@section Copy Between Memory and a File
10757@cindex dump/restore files
10758@cindex append data to a file
10759@cindex dump data to a file
10760@cindex restore data from a file
10761
10762You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
10763@code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
10764@code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
10765@code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
10766memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
10767Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
10768files.
10769
10770@table @code
10771
10772@kindex dump
10773@item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
10774@itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
10775Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
10776or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
10777
10778The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
10779@table @code
10780@item binary
10781Raw binary form.
10782@item ihex
10783Intel hex format.
10784@item srec
10785Motorola S-record format.
10786@item tekhex
10787Tektronix Hex format.
10788@end table
10789
10790@value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
10791@sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
10792@var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
10793form.
10794
10795@kindex append
10796@item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
10797@itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
10798Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
10799or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
10800(@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
10801
10802@kindex restore
10803@item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
10804Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
10805@code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
10806file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
10807must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
10808
10809If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
10810contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
10811they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
10812a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
10813from that location.
10814
10815If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
10816file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
10817These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
10818the @var{bias} argument is applied.
10819
10820@end table
10821
10822@node Core File Generation
10823@section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
10824@cindex dump core from inferior
10825
10826A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
10827image of a running process and its process status (register values
10828etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
10829crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
10830automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
10831the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
10832the post-mortem debugging mode.
10833
10834Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
10835are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
10836@value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
10837
10838@table @code
10839@kindex gcore
10840@kindex generate-core-file
10841@item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
10842@itemx gcore [@var{file}]
10843Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
10844@var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
10845specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
10846@var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
10847
10848Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
10849this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, and S390).
10850@end table
10851
10852@node Character Sets
10853@section Character Sets
10854@cindex character sets
10855@cindex charset
10856@cindex translating between character sets
10857@cindex host character set
10858@cindex target character set
10859
10860If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
10861represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
10862@value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
10863you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
10864character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
10865@dfn{target character set}.
10866
10867For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
10868uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
10869remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
10870running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
10871then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
10872@sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
10873target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
10874@sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
10875character and string literals in expressions.
10876
10877@value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
10878the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
10879target-charset} command, described below.
10880
10881Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
10882support:
10883
10884@table @code
10885@item set target-charset @var{charset}
10886@kindex set target-charset
10887Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
10888list of supported target character sets, type
10889@kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
10890
10891@item set host-charset @var{charset}
10892@kindex set host-charset
10893Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
10894
10895By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
10896system it is running on; you can override that default using the
10897@code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
10898automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
10899case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
10900
10901@value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
10902set. If you type @kbd{@w{set host-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
10903@value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
10904
10905@item set charset @var{charset}
10906@kindex set charset
10907Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
10908above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
10909@value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
10910for both host and target.
10911
10912@item show charset
10913@kindex show charset
10914Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
10915
10916@item show host-charset
10917@kindex show host-charset
10918Show the name of the current host character set.
10919
10920@item show target-charset
10921@kindex show target-charset
10922Show the name of the current target character set.
10923
10924@item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
10925@kindex set target-wide-charset
10926Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
10927the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
10928display the list of supported wide character sets, type
10929@kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
10930
10931@item show target-wide-charset
10932@kindex show target-wide-charset
10933Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
10934@end table
10935
10936Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
10937Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
10938@file{charset-test.c}:
10939
10940@smallexample
10941#include <stdio.h>
10942
10943char ascii_hello[]
10944 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
10945 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
10946char ibm1047_hello[]
10947 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
10948 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
10949
10950main ()
10951@{
10952 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10953@}
10954@end smallexample
10955
10956In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
10957containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
10958encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
10959
10960We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
10961
10962@smallexample
10963$ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
10964$ gdb -nw charset-test
10965GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
10966Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
10967@dots{}
10968(@value{GDBP})
10969@end smallexample
10970
10971We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
10972@value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
10973strings:
10974
10975@smallexample
10976(@value{GDBP}) show charset
10977The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
10978(@value{GDBP})
10979@end smallexample
10980
10981For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
10982initial character set:
10983@smallexample
10984(@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
10985(@value{GDBP}) show charset
10986The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
10987(@value{GDBP})
10988@end smallexample
10989
10990Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
10991host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
10992characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
10993them properly. Since our current target character set is also
10994@sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
10995
10996@smallexample
10997(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
10998$1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
10999(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
11000$2 = 72 'H'
11001(@value{GDBP})
11002@end smallexample
11003
11004@value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
11005literals you use in expressions:
11006
11007@smallexample
11008(@value{GDBP}) print '+'
11009$3 = 43 '+'
11010(@value{GDBP})
11011@end smallexample
11012
11013The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
11014character.
11015
11016@value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
11017target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
11018character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
11019
11020@smallexample
11021(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
11022$4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
11023(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
11024$5 = 200 '\310'
11025(@value{GDBP})
11026@end smallexample
11027
11028If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
11029@value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
11030
11031@smallexample
11032(@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
11033ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
11034(@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
11035@end smallexample
11036
11037We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
11038program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
11039@value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
11040target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
11041@sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
11042
11043@smallexample
11044(@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
11045(@value{GDBP}) show charset
11046The current host character set is `ASCII'.
11047The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
11048(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
11049$6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
11050(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
11051$7 = 72 '\110'
11052(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
11053$8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
11054(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
11055$9 = 200 'H'
11056(@value{GDBP})
11057@end smallexample
11058
11059As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
11060string literals you use in expressions:
11061
11062@smallexample
11063(@value{GDBP}) print '+'
11064$10 = 78 '+'
11065(@value{GDBP})
11066@end smallexample
11067
11068The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
11069character.
11070
11071@node Caching Target Data
11072@section Caching Data of Targets
11073@cindex caching data of targets
11074
11075@value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a target.
11076Each cache is associated with the address space of the inferior.
11077@xref{Inferiors and Programs}, about inferior and address space.
11078Such caching generally improves performance in remote debugging
11079(@pxref{Remote Debugging}), because it reduces the overhead of the
11080remote protocol by bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks.
11081Unfortunately, simply caching everything would lead to incorrect results,
11082since @value{GDBN} does not necessarily know anything about volatile
11083values, memory-mapped I/O addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode
11084(@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command
11085is executing.
11086Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
11087known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
11088rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
11089in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
11090stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.} or
11091in the code segment.
11092Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
11093cacheable; @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
11094
11095@table @code
11096@kindex set remotecache
11097@item set remotecache on
11098@itemx set remotecache off
11099This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
11100with old scripts.
11101
11102@kindex show remotecache
11103@item show remotecache
11104Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
11105
11106@kindex set stack-cache
11107@item set stack-cache on
11108@itemx set stack-cache off
11109Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{on}, use
11110caching. By default, this option is @code{on}.
11111
11112@kindex show stack-cache
11113@item show stack-cache
11114Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
11115
11116@kindex set code-cache
11117@item set code-cache on
11118@itemx set code-cache off
11119Enable or disable caching of code segment accesses. When @code{on},
11120use caching. By default, this option is @code{on}. This improves
11121performance of disassembly in remote debugging.
11122
11123@kindex show code-cache
11124@item show code-cache
11125Show the current state of target memory cache for code segment
11126accesses.
11127
11128@kindex info dcache
11129@item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
11130Print the information about the performance of data cache of the
11131current inferior's address space. The information displayed
11132includes the dcache width and depth, and for each cache line, its
11133number, address, and how many times it was referenced. This
11134command is useful for debugging the data cache operation.
11135
11136If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
11137printed in hex.
11138
11139@item set dcache size @var{size}
11140@cindex dcache size
11141@kindex set dcache size
11142Set maximum number of entries in dcache (dcache depth above).
11143
11144@item set dcache line-size @var{line-size}
11145@cindex dcache line-size
11146@kindex set dcache line-size
11147Set number of bytes each dcache entry caches (dcache width above).
11148Must be a power of 2.
11149
11150@item show dcache size
11151@kindex show dcache size
11152Show maximum number of dcache entries. @xref{Caching Target Data, info dcache}.
11153
11154@item show dcache line-size
11155@kindex show dcache line-size
11156Show default size of dcache lines.
11157
11158@end table
11159
11160@node Searching Memory
11161@section Search Memory
11162@cindex searching memory
11163
11164Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
11165@code{find} command.
11166
11167@table @code
11168@kindex find
11169@item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
11170@itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
11171Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
11172etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
11173@var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
11174@end table
11175
11176@var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
11177They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
11178
11179@table @r
11180@item @var{s}, search query size
11181The size of each search query value.
11182
11183@table @code
11184@item b
11185bytes
11186@item h
11187halfwords (two bytes)
11188@item w
11189words (four bytes)
11190@item g
11191giant words (eight bytes)
11192@end table
11193
11194All values are interpreted in the current language.
11195This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
11196then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
11197
11198If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
11199value's type in the current language.
11200This is useful when one wants to specify the search
11201pattern as a mixture of types.
11202Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
11203a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
11204which is typically four bytes.
11205
11206@item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
11207The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
11208@end table
11209
11210You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
11211 (@code{"}).
11212The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
11213regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
11214
11215The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
11216number of matches found.
11217
11218The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
11219@samp{$_}.
11220A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
11221
11222For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
11223
11224@smallexample
11225void
11226hello ()
11227@{
11228 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
11229 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
11230 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
11231 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
11232 printf ("%s\n", hello);
11233@}
11234@end smallexample
11235
11236@noindent
11237you get during debugging:
11238
11239@smallexample
11240(gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
112410x804956d <hello.1620+6>
112421 pattern found
11243(gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
112440x8049567 <hello.1620>
112450x804956d <hello.1620+6>
112462 patterns found
11247(gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
112480x8049567 <hello.1620>
112491 pattern found
11250(gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
112510x8049560 <mixed.1625>
112521 pattern found
11253(gdb) print $numfound
11254$1 = 1
11255(gdb) print $_
11256$2 = (void *) 0x8049560
11257@end smallexample
11258
11259@node Optimized Code
11260@chapter Debugging Optimized Code
11261@cindex optimized code, debugging
11262@cindex debugging optimized code
11263
11264Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
11265disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
11266directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
11267applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
11268diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
11269information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
11270the running program back to constructs from your original source.
11271
11272@value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
11273can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
11274progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
11275where you may need to debug an optimized version.
11276
11277When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
11278optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
11279really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
11280exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
11281variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
11282variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
11283
11284Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
11285@samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
11286doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
11287please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
11288@xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
11289
11290@menu
11291* Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
11292* Tail Call Frames:: @value{GDBN} analysis of jumps to functions
11293@end menu
11294
11295@node Inline Functions
11296@section Inline Functions
11297@cindex inline functions, debugging
11298
11299@dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
11300body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
11301routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
11302non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
11303arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
11304them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
11305You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
11306@code{info frame} command.
11307
11308For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
11309record information about inlining in the debug information ---
11310@value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
11311other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
11312when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
11313do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
11314@samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
11315function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
11316displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
11317local variables in the caller.
11318
11319The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
11320unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
11321the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
11322start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
11323the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
11324the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
11325instructions are executed.
11326
11327This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
11328context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
11329a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
11330this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
11331
11332There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
11333function calls are the same as normal calls:
11334
11335@itemize @bullet
11336@item
11337Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
11338work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
11339may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
11340function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
11341version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
11342or inside the inlined function instead.
11343
11344@item
11345@value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
11346using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
11347debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
11348and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
11349
11350@end itemize
11351
11352@node Tail Call Frames
11353@section Tail Call Frames
11354@cindex tail call frames, debugging
11355
11356Function @code{B} can call function @code{C} in its very last statement. In
11357unoptimized compilation the call of @code{C} is immediately followed by return
11358instruction at the end of @code{B} code. Optimizing compiler may replace the
11359call and return in function @code{B} into one jump to function @code{C}
11360instead. Such use of a jump instruction is called @dfn{tail call}.
11361
11362During execution of function @code{C}, there will be no indication in the
11363function call stack frames that it was tail-called from @code{B}. If function
11364@code{A} regularly calls function @code{B} which tail-calls function @code{C},
11365then @value{GDBN} will see @code{A} as the caller of @code{C}. However, in
11366some cases @value{GDBN} can determine that @code{C} was tail-called from
11367@code{B}, and it will then create fictitious call frame for that, with the
11368return address set up as if @code{B} called @code{C} normally.
11369
11370This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
11371the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
11372@value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
11373this information.
11374
11375@kbd{info frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info}) will indicate the tail call frame
11376kind by text @code{tail call frame} such as in this sample @value{GDBN} output:
11377
11378@smallexample
11379(gdb) x/i $pc - 2
11380 0x40066b <b(int, double)+11>: jmp 0x400640 <c(int, double)>
11381(gdb) info frame
11382Stack level 1, frame at 0x7fffffffda30:
11383 rip = 0x40066d in b (amd64-entry-value.cc:59); saved rip 0x4004c5
11384 tail call frame, caller of frame at 0x7fffffffda30
11385 source language c++.
11386 Arglist at unknown address.
11387 Locals at unknown address, Previous frame's sp is 0x7fffffffda30
11388@end smallexample
11389
11390The detection of all the possible code path executions can find them ambiguous.
11391There is no execution history stored (possible @ref{Reverse Execution} is never
11392used for this purpose) and the last known caller could have reached the known
11393callee by multiple different jump sequences. In such case @value{GDBN} still
11394tries to show at least all the unambiguous top tail callers and all the
11395unambiguous bottom tail calees, if any.
11396
11397@table @code
11398@anchor{set debug entry-values}
11399@item set debug entry-values
11400@kindex set debug entry-values
11401When set to on, enables printing of analysis messages for both frame argument
11402values at function entry and tail calls. It will show all the possible valid
11403tail calls code paths it has considered. It will also print the intersection
11404of them with the final unambiguous (possibly partial or even empty) code path
11405result.
11406
11407@item show debug entry-values
11408@kindex show debug entry-values
11409Show the current state of analysis messages printing for both frame argument
11410values at function entry and tail calls.
11411@end table
11412
11413The analysis messages for tail calls can for example show why the virtual tail
11414call frame for function @code{c} has not been recognized (due to the indirect
11415reference by variable @code{x}):
11416
11417@smallexample
11418static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void);
11419void (*x) (void) = c;
11420static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
11421static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ a (); @}
11422int main (void) @{ x (); return 0; @}
11423
11424Breakpoint 1, DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving cannot find
11425DW_TAG_GNU_call_site 0x40039a in main
11426a () at t.c:3
114273 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
11428(gdb) bt
11429#0 a () at t.c:3
11430#1 0x000000000040039a in main () at t.c:5
11431@end smallexample
11432
11433Another possibility is an ambiguous virtual tail call frames resolution:
11434
11435@smallexample
11436int i;
11437static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) f (void) @{ i++; @}
11438static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) e (void) @{ f (); @}
11439static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) d (void) @{ f (); @}
11440static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ d (); @}
11441static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (void)
11442@{ if (i) c (); else e (); @}
11443static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ b (); @}
11444int main (void) @{ a (); return 0; @}
11445
11446tailcall: initial: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004ce(b) 0x4004b2(c) 0x4004a2(d)
11447tailcall: compare: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004cc(b) 0x400492(e)
11448tailcall: reduced: 0x4004d2(a) |
11449(gdb) bt
11450#0 f () at t.c:2
11451#1 0x00000000004004d2 in a () at t.c:8
11452#2 0x0000000000400395 in main () at t.c:9
11453@end smallexample
11454
11455@set CALLSEQ1A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}c@value{ARROW}d@value{ARROW}f}
11456@set CALLSEQ2A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}e@value{ARROW}f}
11457
11458@c Convert CALLSEQ#A to CALLSEQ#B depending on HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK.
11459@ifset HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
11460@set ARROW @click{}
11461@set CALLSEQ1B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ1A}}
11462@set CALLSEQ2B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ2A}}
11463@end ifset
11464@ifclear HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
11465@set ARROW ->
11466@set CALLSEQ1B @value{CALLSEQ1A}
11467@set CALLSEQ2B @value{CALLSEQ2A}
11468@end ifclear
11469
11470Frames #0 and #2 are real, #1 is a virtual tail call frame.
11471The code can have possible execution paths @value{CALLSEQ1B} or
11472@value{CALLSEQ2B}, @value{GDBN} cannot find which one from the inferior state.
11473
11474@code{initial:} state shows some random possible calling sequence @value{GDBN}
11475has found. It then finds another possible calling sequcen - that one is
11476prefixed by @code{compare:}. The non-ambiguous intersection of these two is
11477printed as the @code{reduced:} calling sequence. That one could have many
11478futher @code{compare:} and @code{reduced:} statements as long as there remain
11479any non-ambiguous sequence entries.
11480
11481For the frame of function @code{b} in both cases there are different possible
11482@code{$pc} values (@code{0x4004cc} or @code{0x4004ce}), therefore this frame is
11483also ambigous. The only non-ambiguous frame is the one for function @code{a},
11484therefore this one is displayed to the user while the ambiguous frames are
11485omitted.
11486
11487There can be also reasons why printing of frame argument values at function
11488entry may fail:
11489
11490@smallexample
11491int v;
11492static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (int i) @{ v++; @}
11493static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i);
11494static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (int i) @{ a (i); @}
11495static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i)
11496@{ if (i) b (i - 1); else c (0); @}
11497int main (void) @{ a (5); return 0; @}
11498
11499(gdb) bt
11500#0 c (i=i@@entry=0) at t.c:2
11501#1 0x0000000000400428 in a (DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving has found
11502function "a" at 0x400420 can call itself via tail calls
11503i=<optimized out>) at t.c:6
11504#2 0x000000000040036e in main () at t.c:7
11505@end smallexample
11506
11507@value{GDBN} cannot find out from the inferior state if and how many times did
11508function @code{a} call itself (via function @code{b}) as these calls would be
11509tail calls. Such tail calls would modify thue @code{i} variable, therefore
11510@value{GDBN} cannot be sure the value it knows would be right - @value{GDBN}
11511prints @code{<optimized out>} instead.
11512
11513@node Macros
11514@chapter C Preprocessor Macros
11515
11516Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
11517``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
11518@value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
11519the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
11520where it was defined.
11521
11522You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
11523with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
11524include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
11525with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
11526
11527A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
11528and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
11529points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
11530no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
11531uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
11532@value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
11533see @ref{List}.
11534
11535Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
11536macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
11537the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
11538
11539@table @code
11540
11541@kindex macro expand
11542@cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
11543@cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
11544@cindex expanding preprocessor macros
11545@item macro expand @var{expression}
11546@itemx macro exp @var{expression}
11547Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
11548@var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
11549not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
11550it can be any string of tokens.
11551
11552@kindex macro exp1
11553@item macro expand-once @var{expression}
11554@itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
11555@cindex expand macro once
11556@i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
11557expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
11558@var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
11559left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
11560particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
11561expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
11562parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
11563can be any string of tokens.
11564
11565@kindex info macro
11566@cindex macro definition, showing
11567@cindex definition of a macro, showing
11568@cindex macros, from debug info
11569@item info macro [-a|-all] [--] @var{macro}
11570Show the current definition or all definitions of the named @var{macro},
11571and describe the source location or compiler command-line where that
11572definition was established. The optional double dash is to signify the end of
11573argument processing and the beginning of @var{macro} for non C-like macros where
11574the macro may begin with a hyphen.
11575
11576@kindex info macros
11577@item info macros @var{linespec}
11578Show all macro definitions that are in effect at the location specified
11579by @var{linespec}, and describe the source location or compiler
11580command-line where those definitions were established.
11581
11582@kindex macro define
11583@cindex user-defined macros
11584@cindex defining macros interactively
11585@cindex macros, user-defined
11586@item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
11587@itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
11588Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
11589invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
11590@var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
11591``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
11592defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
11593@var{arglist}.
11594
11595A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
11596expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
11597@code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
11598all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
11599as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
11600
11601@kindex macro undef
11602@item macro undef @var{macro}
11603Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
11604This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
11605define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
11606in the program being debugged.
11607
11608@kindex macro list
11609@item macro list
11610List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
11611@end table
11612
11613@cindex macros, example of debugging with
11614Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
11615show our source files:
11616
11617@smallexample
11618$ cat sample.c
11619#include <stdio.h>
11620#include "sample.h"
11621
11622#define M 42
11623#define ADD(x) (M + x)
11624
11625main ()
11626@{
11627#define N 28
11628 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
11629#undef N
11630 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
11631#define N 1729
11632 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
11633@}
11634$ cat sample.h
11635#define Q <
11636$
11637@end smallexample
11638
11639Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
11640@value{NGCC}. We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2}@footnote{This is the
11641minimum. Recent versions of @value{NGCC} support @option{-gdwarf-3}
11642and @option{-gdwarf-4}; we recommend always choosing the most recent
11643version of DWARF.} @emph{and} @option{-g3} flags to ensure the compiler
11644includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
11645information.
11646
11647@smallexample
11648$ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
11649$
11650@end smallexample
11651
11652Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
11653
11654@smallexample
11655$ gdb -nw sample
11656GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
11657Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
11658GDB is free software, @dots{}
11659(@value{GDBP})
11660@end smallexample
11661
11662We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
11663program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
11664to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
11665
11666@smallexample
11667(@value{GDBP}) list main
116683
116694 #define M 42
116705 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
116716
116727 main ()
116738 @{
116749 #define N 28
1167510 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
1167611 #undef N
1167712 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
11678(@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
11679Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
11680#define ADD(x) (M + x)
11681(@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
11682Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
11683 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
11684#define Q <
11685(@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
11686expands to: (42 + 1)
11687(@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
11688expands to: once (M + 1)
11689(@value{GDBP})
11690@end smallexample
11691
11692In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
11693the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
11694@code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
11695which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
11696
11697Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
11698force at the source line of the current stack frame:
11699
11700@smallexample
11701(@value{GDBP}) break main
11702Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
11703(@value{GDBP}) run
11704Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
11705
11706Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
1170710 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
11708(@value{GDBP})
11709@end smallexample
11710
11711At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
11712
11713@smallexample
11714(@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11715Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
11716#define N 28
11717(@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
11718expands to: 28 < 42
11719(@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
11720$1 = 1
11721(@value{GDBP})
11722@end smallexample
11723
11724As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
11725give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
11726thereof) in force at each point:
11727
11728@smallexample
11729(@value{GDBP}) next
11730Hello, world!
1173112 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
11732(@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11733The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
11734at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
11735(@value{GDBP}) next
11736We're so creative.
1173714 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
11738(@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11739Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
11740#define N 1729
11741(@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
11742expands to: 1729 < 42
11743(@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
11744$2 = 0
11745(@value{GDBP})
11746@end smallexample
11747
11748In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
11749line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
11750such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
11751of the source file submitted to the compiler.
11752
11753@smallexample
11754(@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
11755Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
11756-D__STDC__=1
11757(@value{GDBP})
11758@end smallexample
11759
11760
11761@node Tracepoints
11762@chapter Tracepoints
11763@c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
11764@c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
11765
11766@cindex tracepoints
11767In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
11768the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
11769anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
11770depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
11771might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
11772fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
11773to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
11774
11775Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
11776specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
11777arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
11778Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
11779those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
11780expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
11781for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
11782a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
11783in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
11784values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
11785unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
11786
11787The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
11788targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
11789how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
11790remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
11791support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
11792packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
11793Packets}.
11794
11795It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
11796of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
11797through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
11798
11799This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
11800
11801@menu
11802* Set Tracepoints::
11803* Analyze Collected Data::
11804* Tracepoint Variables::
11805* Trace Files::
11806@end menu
11807
11808@node Set Tracepoints
11809@section Commands to Set Tracepoints
11810
11811Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
11812tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
11813breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
11814standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
11815tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
11816of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
11817as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
11818
11819For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
11820of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
11821it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
11822local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
11823commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
11824tracepoint was hit.
11825
11826Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
11827tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
11828commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
11829either.
11830
11831@cindex fast tracepoints
11832Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
11833a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
11834faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
11835
11836@cindex static tracepoints
11837@cindex markers, static tracepoints
11838@cindex probing markers, static tracepoints
11839Regular and fast tracepoints are dynamic tracing facilities, meaning
11840that they can be used to insert tracepoints at (almost) any location
11841in the target. Some targets may also support controlling @dfn{static
11842tracepoints} from @value{GDBN}. With static tracing, a set of
11843instrumentation points, also known as @dfn{markers}, are embedded in
11844the target program, and can be activated or deactivated by name or
11845address. These are usually placed at locations which facilitate
11846investigating what the target is actually doing. @value{GDBN}'s
11847support for static tracing includes being able to list instrumentation
11848points, and attach them with @value{GDBN} defined high level
11849tracepoints that expose the whole range of convenience of
11850@value{GDBN}'s tracepoints support. Namely, support for collecting
11851registers values and values of global or local (to the instrumentation
11852point) variables; tracepoint conditions and trace state variables.
11853The act of installing a @value{GDBN} static tracepoint on an
11854instrumentation point, or marker, is referred to as @dfn{probing} a
11855static tracepoint marker.
11856
11857@code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
11858@xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
11859
11860This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
11861conditions and actions.
11862
11863@menu
11864* Create and Delete Tracepoints::
11865* Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
11866* Tracepoint Passcounts::
11867* Tracepoint Conditions::
11868* Trace State Variables::
11869* Tracepoint Actions::
11870* Listing Tracepoints::
11871* Listing Static Tracepoint Markers::
11872* Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
11873* Tracepoint Restrictions::
11874@end menu
11875
11876@node Create and Delete Tracepoints
11877@subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
11878
11879@table @code
11880@cindex set tracepoint
11881@kindex trace
11882@item trace @var{location}
11883The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
11884Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
11885an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
11886@code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
11887target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
11888data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
11889changing its actions takes effect immediately if the remote stub
11890supports the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature (@pxref{install tracepoint
11891in tracing}).
11892If remote stub doesn't support the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature, all
11893these changes don't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
11894command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
11895not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts. In addition,
11896@value{GDBN} supports @dfn{pending tracepoints}---tracepoints whose
11897address is not yet resolved. (This is similar to pending breakpoints.)
11898Pending tracepoints are not downloaded to the target and not installed
11899until they are resolved. The resolution of pending tracepoints requires
11900@value{GDBN} support---when debugging with the remote target, and
11901@value{GDBN} disconnects from the remote stub (@pxref{disconnected
11902tracing}), pending tracepoints can not be resolved (and downloaded to
11903the remote stub) while @value{GDBN} is disconnected.
11904
11905Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
11906
11907@smallexample
11908(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
11909
11910(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
11911
11912(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
11913
11914(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
11915
11916(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
11917@end smallexample
11918
11919@noindent
11920You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
11921
11922@item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
11923Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
11924@var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
11925if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
11926@xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
11927information on tracepoint conditions.
11928
11929@item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
11930@cindex set fast tracepoint
11931@cindex fast tracepoints, setting
11932@kindex ftrace
11933The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
11934support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
11935less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
11936instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
11937may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
11938location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
11939message.
11940
11941@value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
11942@code{trace}.
11943
11944On 32-bit x86-architecture systems, fast tracepoints normally need to
11945be placed at an instruction that is 5 bytes or longer, but can be
11946placed at 4-byte instructions if the low 64K of memory of the target
11947program is available to install trampolines. Some Unix-type systems,
11948such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, exclude low addresses from the program's
11949address space; but for instance with the Linux kernel it is possible
11950to let @value{GDBN} use this area by doing a @command{sysctl} command
11951to set the @code{mmap_min_addr} kernel parameter, as in
11952
11953@example
11954sudo sysctl -w vm.mmap_min_addr=32768
11955@end example
11956
11957@noindent
11958which sets the low address to 32K, which leaves plenty of room for
11959trampolines. The minimum address should be set to a page boundary.
11960
11961@item strace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
11962@cindex set static tracepoint
11963@cindex static tracepoints, setting
11964@cindex probe static tracepoint marker
11965@kindex strace
11966The @code{strace} command sets a static tracepoint. For targets that
11967support it, setting a static tracepoint probes a static
11968instrumentation point, or marker, found at @var{location}. It may not
11969be possible to set a static tracepoint at the desired location, in
11970which case the command will exit with an explanatory message.
11971
11972@value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{strace} exactly as for
11973@code{trace}, with the addition that the user can also specify
11974@code{-m @var{marker}} as @var{location}. This probes the marker
11975identified by the @var{marker} string identifier. This identifier
11976depends on the static tracepoint backend library your program is
11977using. You can find all the marker identifiers in the @samp{ID} field
11978of the @code{info static-tracepoint-markers} command output.
11979@xref{Listing Static Tracepoint Markers,,Listing Static Tracepoint
11980Markers}. For example, in the following small program using the UST
11981tracing engine:
11982
11983@smallexample
11984main ()
11985@{
11986 trace_mark(ust, bar33, "str %s", "FOOBAZ");
11987@}
11988@end smallexample
11989
11990@noindent
11991the marker id is composed of joining the first two arguments to the
11992@code{trace_mark} call with a slash, which translates to:
11993
11994@smallexample
11995(@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
11996Cnt Enb ID Address What
119971 n ust/bar33 0x0000000000400ddc in main at stexample.c:22
11998 Data: "str %s"
11999[etc...]
12000@end smallexample
12001
12002@noindent
12003so you may probe the marker above with:
12004
12005@smallexample
12006(@value{GDBP}) strace -m ust/bar33
12007@end smallexample
12008
12009Static tracepoints accept an extra collect action --- @code{collect
12010$_sdata}. This collects arbitrary user data passed in the probe point
12011call to the tracing library. In the UST example above, you'll see
12012that the third argument to @code{trace_mark} is a printf-like format
12013string. The user data is then the result of running that formating
12014string against the following arguments. Note that @code{info
12015static-tracepoint-markers} command output lists that format string in
12016the @samp{Data:} field.
12017
12018You can inspect this data when analyzing the trace buffer, by printing
12019the $_sdata variable like any other variable available to
12020@value{GDBN}. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}.
12021
12022@vindex $tpnum
12023@cindex last tracepoint number
12024@cindex recent tracepoint number
12025@cindex tracepoint number
12026The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
12027of the most recently set tracepoint.
12028
12029@kindex delete tracepoint
12030@cindex tracepoint deletion
12031@item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
12032Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
12033default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
12034@code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
12035
12036Examples:
12037
12038@smallexample
12039(@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
12040
12041(@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
12042@end smallexample
12043
12044@noindent
12045You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
12046@end table
12047
12048@node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
12049@subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
12050
12051These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
12052
12053@table @code
12054@kindex disable tracepoint
12055@item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
12056Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
12057@var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
12058a trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
12059a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
12060If the command is issued during a trace experiment and the debug target
12061has support for disabling tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the
12062change will be effective immediately. Otherwise, it will be applied to the
12063next trace experiment.
12064
12065@kindex enable tracepoint
12066@item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
12067Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. If this command is
12068issued during a trace experiment and the debug target supports enabling
12069tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the enabled tracepoints will
12070become effective immediately. Otherwise, they will become effective the
12071next time a trace experiment is run.
12072@end table
12073
12074@node Tracepoint Passcounts
12075@subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
12076
12077@table @code
12078@kindex passcount
12079@cindex tracepoint pass count
12080@item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
12081Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
12082automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
12083@var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
12084the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
12085@var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
12086passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
12087given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
12088user.
12089
12090Examples:
12091
12092@smallexample
12093(@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
12094@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
12095
12096(@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
12097@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
12098(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
12099(@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
12100(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
12101(@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
12102(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
12103(@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
12104@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
12105@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
12106@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
12107@end smallexample
12108@end table
12109
12110@node Tracepoint Conditions
12111@subsection Tracepoint Conditions
12112@cindex conditional tracepoints
12113@cindex tracepoint conditions
12114
12115The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
12116reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
12117a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
12118programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
12119tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
12120program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
12121is true.
12122
12123Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
12124using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
12125@xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
12126also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
12127just as with breakpoints.
12128
12129Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
12130the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
12131expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions})
12132suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
12133Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
12134accesses, and so forth.
12135
12136For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
12137frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
12138could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
12139of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
12140through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
12141collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
12142search through.
12143
12144@smallexample
12145(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
12146@end smallexample
12147
12148@node Trace State Variables
12149@subsection Trace State Variables
12150@cindex trace state variables
12151
12152A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
12153created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
12154that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
12155but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
12156using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
12157integers.
12158
12159Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
12160to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
12161experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
12162trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
12163
12164@cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
12165Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
12166them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
12167variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
12168while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
12169the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
12170cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
12171@code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
12172variable with the same name.
12173
12174@table @code
12175
12176@item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
12177@kindex tvariable
12178The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
12179@code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
12180@var{expression}. The @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
12181entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
12182otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
12183@code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
12184variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
12185existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
12186value. The default initial value is 0.
12187
12188@item info tvariables
12189@kindex info tvariables
12190List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
12191Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
12192currently running.
12193
12194@item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
12195@kindex delete tvariable
12196Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
12197are specified.
12198
12199@end table
12200
12201@node Tracepoint Actions
12202@subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
12203
12204@table @code
12205@kindex actions
12206@cindex tracepoint actions
12207@item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
12208This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
12209tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
12210specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
12211recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
12212@code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
12213actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
12214terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
12215far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
12216@code{while-stepping}.
12217
12218@code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
12219Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
12220actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
12221
12222@cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
12223To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
12224and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
12225
12226@smallexample
12227(@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
12228
12229(@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
12230
12231(@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
12232@end smallexample
12233
12234In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
12235commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
12236hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
12237following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
12238followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
12239sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
12240terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
12241list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
12242
12243@smallexample
12244(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
12245(@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
12246Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
12247> collect bar,baz
12248> collect $regs
12249> while-stepping 12
12250 > collect $pc, arr[i]
12251 > end
12252end
12253@end smallexample
12254
12255@kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
12256@item collect@r{[}/@var{mods}@r{]} @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
12257Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
12258This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
12259In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
12260special arguments are supported:
12261
12262@table @code
12263@item $regs
12264Collect all registers.
12265
12266@item $args
12267Collect all function arguments.
12268
12269@item $locals
12270Collect all local variables.
12271
12272@item $_ret
12273Collect the return address. This is helpful if you want to see more
12274of a backtrace.
12275
12276@item $_probe_argc
12277Collects the number of arguments from the static probe at which the
12278tracepoint is located.
12279@xref{Static Probe Points}.
12280
12281@item $_probe_arg@var{n}
12282@var{n} is an integer between 0 and 11. Collects the @var{n}th argument
12283from the static probe at which the tracepoint is located.
12284@xref{Static Probe Points}.
12285
12286@item $_sdata
12287@vindex $_sdata@r{, collect}
12288Collect static tracepoint marker specific data. Only available for
12289static tracepoints. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action
12290Lists}. On the UST static tracepoints library backend, an
12291instrumentation point resembles a @code{printf} function call. The
12292tracing library is able to collect user specified data formatted to a
12293character string using the format provided by the programmer that
12294instrumented the program. Other backends have similar mechanisms.
12295Here's an example of a UST marker call:
12296
12297@smallexample
12298 const char master_name[] = "$your_name";
12299 trace_mark(channel1, marker1, "hello %s", master_name)
12300@end smallexample
12301
12302In this case, collecting @code{$_sdata} collects the string
12303@samp{hello $yourname}. When analyzing the trace buffer, you can
12304inspect @samp{$_sdata} like any other variable available to
12305@value{GDBN}.
12306@end table
12307
12308You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
12309with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
12310arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
12311
12312The optional @var{mods} changes the usual handling of the arguments.
12313@code{s} requests that pointers to chars be handled as strings, in
12314particular collecting the contents of the memory being pointed at, up
12315to the first zero. The upper bound is by default the value of the
12316@code{print elements} variable; if @code{s} is followed by a decimal
12317number, that is the upper bound instead. So for instance
12318@samp{collect/s25 mystr} collects as many as 25 characters at
12319@samp{mystr}.
12320
12321The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
12322particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
12323
12324@kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
12325@item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
12326Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
12327command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
12328are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
12329state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
12330values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
12331action were used.
12332
12333@kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
12334@item while-stepping @var{n}
12335Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
12336collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
12337command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
12338(followed by its own @code{end} command):
12339
12340@smallexample
12341> while-stepping 12
12342 > collect $regs, myglobal
12343 > end
12344>
12345@end smallexample
12346
12347@noindent
12348Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
12349@code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
12350you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
12351@code{stepping}.
12352
12353@item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
12354@kindex set default-collect
12355@cindex default collection action
12356This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
12357hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
12358to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
12359individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
12360@code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
12361local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
12362
12363@item show default-collect
12364@kindex show default-collect
12365Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
12366tracepoint hit.
12367
12368@end table
12369
12370@node Listing Tracepoints
12371@subsection Listing Tracepoints
12372
12373@table @code
12374@kindex info tracepoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
12375@kindex info tp @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
12376@cindex information about tracepoints
12377@item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@dots{}@r{]}
12378Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
12379specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
12380tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
12381@code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
12382command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
12383
12384A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
12385tracing:
12386
12387@itemize @bullet
12388@item
12389its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
12390
12391@item
12392the state about installed on target of each location
12393@end itemize
12394
12395@smallexample
12396(@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
12397Num Type Disp Enb Address What
123981 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
12399 while-stepping 20
12400 collect globfoo, $regs
12401 end
12402 collect globfoo2
12403 end
12404 pass count 1200
124052 tracepoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
12406 collect $eip
124072.1 y 0x0804859c in func4 at change-loc.h:35
12408 installed on target
124092.2 y 0xb7ffc480 in func4 at change-loc.h:35
12410 installed on target
124112.3 y <PENDING> set_tracepoint
124123 tracepoint keep y 0x080485b1 in foo at change-loc.c:29
12413 not installed on target
12414(@value{GDBP})
12415@end smallexample
12416
12417@noindent
12418This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
12419@end table
12420
12421@node Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
12422@subsection Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
12423
12424@table @code
12425@kindex info static-tracepoint-markers
12426@cindex information about static tracepoint markers
12427@item info static-tracepoint-markers
12428Display information about all static tracepoint markers defined in the
12429program.
12430
12431For each marker, the following columns are printed:
12432
12433@table @emph
12434@item Count
12435An incrementing counter, output to help readability. This is not a
12436stable identifier.
12437@item ID
12438The marker ID, as reported by the target.
12439@item Enabled or Disabled
12440Probed markers are tagged with @samp{y}. @samp{n} identifies marks
12441that are not enabled.
12442@item Address
12443Where the marker is in your program, as a memory address.
12444@item What
12445Where the marker is in the source for your program, as a file and line
12446number. If the debug information included in the program does not
12447allow @value{GDBN} to locate the source of the marker, this column
12448will be left blank.
12449@end table
12450
12451@noindent
12452In addition, the following information may be printed for each marker:
12453
12454@table @emph
12455@item Data
12456User data passed to the tracing library by the marker call. In the
12457UST backend, this is the format string passed as argument to the
12458marker call.
12459@item Static tracepoints probing the marker
12460The list of static tracepoints attached to the marker.
12461@end table
12462
12463@smallexample
12464(@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
12465Cnt ID Enb Address What
124661 ust/bar2 y 0x0000000000400e1a in main at stexample.c:25
12467 Data: number1 %d number2 %d
12468 Probed by static tracepoints: #2
124692 ust/bar33 n 0x0000000000400c87 in main at stexample.c:24
12470 Data: str %s
12471(@value{GDBP})
12472@end smallexample
12473@end table
12474
12475@node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
12476@subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
12477
12478@table @code
12479@kindex tstart [ @var{notes} ]
12480@cindex start a new trace experiment
12481@cindex collected data discarded
12482@item tstart
12483This command starts the trace experiment, and begins collecting data.
12484It has the side effect of discarding all the data collected in the
12485trace buffer during the previous trace experiment. If any arguments
12486are supplied, they are taken as a note and stored with the trace
12487experiment's state. The notes may be arbitrary text, and are
12488especially useful with disconnected tracing in a multi-user context;
12489the notes can explain what the trace is doing, supply user contact
12490information, and so forth.
12491
12492@kindex tstop [ @var{notes} ]
12493@cindex stop a running trace experiment
12494@item tstop
12495This command stops the trace experiment. If any arguments are
12496supplied, they are recorded with the experiment as a note. This is
12497useful if you are stopping a trace started by someone else, for
12498instance if the trace is interfering with the system's behavior and
12499needs to be stopped quickly.
12500
12501@strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
12502automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
12503(@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
12504
12505@kindex tstatus
12506@cindex status of trace data collection
12507@cindex trace experiment, status of
12508@item tstatus
12509This command displays the status of the current trace data
12510collection.
12511@end table
12512
12513Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
12514
12515@smallexample
12516(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
12517(@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
12518Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
12519> collect $regs,$locals,$args
12520> while-stepping 11
12521 > collect $regs
12522 > end
12523> end
12524(@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
12525 [time passes @dots{}]
12526(@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
12527@end smallexample
12528
12529@anchor{disconnected tracing}
12530@cindex disconnected tracing
12531You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
12532@value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
12533involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
12534ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
12535terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
12536unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
12537@code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
12538continue running without @value{GDBN}.
12539
12540@table @code
12541@item set disconnected-tracing on
12542@itemx set disconnected-tracing off
12543@kindex set disconnected-tracing
12544Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
12545has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
12546@code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
12547matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
12548for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
12549
12550@item show disconnected-tracing
12551@kindex show disconnected-tracing
12552Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
12553
12554@end table
12555
12556When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
12557still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
12558meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
12559it will continue after reconnection.
12560
12561Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
12562tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
12563information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
12564to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
12565have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
12566the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
12567debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
12568which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
12569necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
12570created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
12571
12572@cindex circular trace buffer
12573If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
12574can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
12575buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
12576frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
12577collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
12578hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
12579buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
12580@samp{circular-trace-buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
12581including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
12582buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
12583the next run.
12584
12585@table @code
12586@item set circular-trace-buffer on
12587@itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
12588@kindex set circular-trace-buffer
12589Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
12590for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
12591fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
12592data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
12593
12594@item show circular-trace-buffer
12595@kindex show circular-trace-buffer
12596Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
12597match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
12598match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
12599for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
12600
12601@end table
12602
12603@table @code
12604@item set trace-buffer-size @var{n}
12605@itemx set trace-buffer-size unlimited
12606@kindex set trace-buffer-size
12607Request that the target use a trace buffer of @var{n} bytes. Not all
12608targets will honor the request; they may have a compiled-in size for
12609the trace buffer, or some other limitation. Set to a value of
12610@code{unlimited} or @code{-1} to let the target use whatever size it
12611likes. This is also the default.
12612
12613@item show trace-buffer-size
12614@kindex show trace-buffer-size
12615Show the current requested size for the trace buffer. Note that this
12616will only match the actual size if the target supports size-setting,
12617and was able to handle the requested size. For instance, if the
12618target can only change buffer size between runs, this variable will
12619not reflect the change until the next run starts. Use @code{tstatus}
12620to get a report of the actual buffer size.
12621@end table
12622
12623@table @code
12624@item set trace-user @var{text}
12625@kindex set trace-user
12626
12627@item show trace-user
12628@kindex show trace-user
12629
12630@item set trace-notes @var{text}
12631@kindex set trace-notes
12632Set the trace run's notes.
12633
12634@item show trace-notes
12635@kindex show trace-notes
12636Show the trace run's notes.
12637
12638@item set trace-stop-notes @var{text}
12639@kindex set trace-stop-notes
12640Set the trace run's stop notes. The handling of the note is as for
12641@code{tstop} arguments; the set command is convenient way to fix a
12642stop note that is mistaken or incomplete.
12643
12644@item show trace-stop-notes
12645@kindex show trace-stop-notes
12646Show the trace run's stop notes.
12647
12648@end table
12649
12650@node Tracepoint Restrictions
12651@subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
12652
12653@cindex tracepoint restrictions
12654There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
12655described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
12656without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
12657the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
12658examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
12659collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
12660is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
12661mentioned here.
12662
12663@itemize @bullet
12664
12665@item
12666Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
12667the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
12668You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
12669convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
12670state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
12671functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
12672cannot be collected either.
12673
12674@item
12675Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
12676@code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
12677behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
12678instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
12679may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
12680tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
12681variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
12682tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
12683where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
12684program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
12685
12686@item
12687Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
12688may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
12689in a misleading way.
12690
12691@item
12692When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
12693dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
12694being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
12695not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
12696dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
12697collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
12698@code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
12699by @code{ptr}.
12700
12701@item
12702It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
12703tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
12704bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*(unsigned char *)$esp@@300}
12705(adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
12706target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
12707Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
12708using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
12709depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
12710if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
12711stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
12712invalid address.
12713
12714@item
12715If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
12716infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
12717the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
12718for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
12719multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
12720inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
12721@value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
12722it to zero.
12723
12724@end itemize
12725
12726@node Analyze Collected Data
12727@section Using the Collected Data
12728
12729After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
12730for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
12731collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
12732snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
12733consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
12734examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
12735specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
12736snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
12737registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
12738rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
12739debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
12740(@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
12741behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
12742when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
12743the buffer will fail.
12744
12745@menu
12746* tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
12747* tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
12748* save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
12749@end menu
12750
12751@node tfind
12752@subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
12753
12754@kindex tfind
12755@cindex select trace snapshot
12756@cindex find trace snapshot
12757The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
12758@code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
12759counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
12760snapshot is selected.
12761
12762Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
12763
12764@table @code
12765@item tfind start
12766Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
12767@code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
12768
12769@item tfind none
12770Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
12771
12772@item tfind end
12773Same as @samp{tfind none}.
12774
12775@item tfind
12776No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
12777
12778@item tfind -
12779Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
12780retracing earlier steps.
12781
12782@item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
12783Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
12784proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
12785argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
12786for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
12787
12788@item tfind pc @var{addr}
12789Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
12790program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
12791snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
12792snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
12793
12794@item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
12795Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
12796addresses (exclusive).
12797
12798@item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
12799Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
12800@var{addr2} (inclusive).
12801
12802@item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
12803Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
12804the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
12805that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
12806trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
12807next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
12808@code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
12809stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
12810@end table
12811
12812The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
12813designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
12814instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
12815snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
12816trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
12817simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
12818snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
12819@key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
12820The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
12821for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
12822no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
12823(PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
12824no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
12825tracepoint as the current one.
12826
12827In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
12828these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
12829scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
12830you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
12831registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
12832
12833@smallexample
12834(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12835(@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
12836> printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
12837 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
12838> tfind
12839> end
12840
12841Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
12842Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
12843Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
12844Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
12845Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
12846Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
12847Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
12848Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
12849Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
12850Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
12851Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
12852@end smallexample
12853
12854Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
12855the buffer:
12856
12857@smallexample
12858(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12859(@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
12860> printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
12861> tfind line
12862> end
12863
12864Frame 0, X = 1
12865Frame 7, X = 2
12866Frame 13, X = 255
12867@end smallexample
12868
12869@node tdump
12870@subsection @code{tdump}
12871@kindex tdump
12872@cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
12873@cindex tracepoint data, display
12874
12875This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
12876the current trace snapshot.
12877
12878@smallexample
12879(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
12880(@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
12881Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
12882> collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
12883> end
12884
12885(@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
12886
12887(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
12888#0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
12889at gdb_test.c:444
12890444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
12891
12892(@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
12893Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
12894d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
12895d1 0x18 24
12896d2 0x80 128
12897d3 0x33 51
12898d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
12899d5 0x22 34
12900d6 0xe0 224
12901d7 0x380035 3670069
12902a0 0x19e24a 1696330
12903a1 0x3000668 50333288
12904a2 0x100 256
12905a3 0x322000 3284992
12906a4 0x3000698 50333336
12907a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
12908fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
12909sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
12910ps 0x0 0
12911pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
12912fpcontrol 0x0 0
12913fpstatus 0x0 0
12914fpiaddr 0x0 0
12915p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
12916p1 = (void *) 0x11
12917p2 = (void *) 0x22
12918p3 = (void *) 0x33
12919p4 = (void *) 0x44
12920p5 = (void *) 0x55
12921p6 = (void *) 0x66
12922gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
12923
12924(@value{GDBP})
12925@end smallexample
12926
12927@code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
12928actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
12929@code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
12930actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
12931
12932Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
12933uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
12934frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
12935collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
12936to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
12937body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
12938then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
12939list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
12940same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
12941@c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
12942
12943@node save tracepoints
12944@subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
12945@kindex save tracepoints
12946@kindex save-tracepoints
12947@cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
12948
12949This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
12950their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
12951suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
12952tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
12953Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
12954alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
12955
12956@node Tracepoint Variables
12957@section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
12958@cindex tracepoint variables
12959@cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
12960
12961@table @code
12962@vindex $trace_frame
12963@item (int) $trace_frame
12964The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
12965snapshot is selected.
12966
12967@vindex $tracepoint
12968@item (int) $tracepoint
12969The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
12970
12971@vindex $trace_line
12972@item (int) $trace_line
12973The line number for the current trace snapshot.
12974
12975@vindex $trace_file
12976@item (char []) $trace_file
12977The source file for the current trace snapshot.
12978
12979@vindex $trace_func
12980@item (char []) $trace_func
12981The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
12982@end table
12983
12984Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
12985use @code{output} instead.
12986
12987Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
12988stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
12989data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
12990which are managed by the target.
12991
12992@smallexample
12993(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12994
12995(@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
12996> output $trace_file
12997> printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
12998> tfind
12999> end
13000@end smallexample
13001
13002@node Trace Files
13003@section Using Trace Files
13004@cindex trace files
13005
13006In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
13007longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
13008for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
13009dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
13010of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
13011
13012@table @code
13013
13014@kindex tsave
13015@item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
13016@itemx tsave [-ctf] @var{dirname}
13017Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
13018assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
13019necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
13020then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
13021optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
13022the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
13023more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
13024@code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
13025By default, this command will save trace frame in tfile format.
13026You can supply the optional argument @code{-ctf} to save date in CTF
13027format. The @dfn{Common Trace Format} (CTF) is proposed as a trace format
13028that can be shared by multiple debugging and tracing tools. Please go to
13029@indicateurl{http://www.efficios.com/ctf} to get more information.
13030
13031@kindex target tfile
13032@kindex tfile
13033@kindex target ctf
13034@kindex ctf
13035@item target tfile @var{filename}
13036@itemx target ctf @var{dirname}
13037Use the file named @var{filename} or directory named @var{dirname} as
13038a source of trace data. Commands that examine data work as they do with
13039a live target, but it is not possible to run any new trace experiments.
13040@code{tstatus} will report the state of the trace run at the moment
13041the data was saved, as well as the current trace frame you are examining.
13042Both @var{filename} and @var{dirname} must be on a filesystem accessible to
13043the host.
13044
13045@smallexample
13046(@value{GDBP}) target ctf ctf.ctf
13047(@value{GDBP}) tfind
13048Found trace frame 0, tracepoint 2
1304939 ++a; /* set tracepoint 1 here */
13050(@value{GDBP}) tdump
13051Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 0:
13052i = 0
13053a = 0
13054b = 1 '\001'
13055c = @{"123", "456", "789", "123", "456", "789"@}
13056d = @{@{@{a = 1, b = 2@}, @{a = 3, b = 4@}@}, @{@{a = 5, b = 6@}, @{a = 7, b = 8@}@}@}
13057(@value{GDBP}) p b
13058$1 = 1
13059@end smallexample
13060
13061@end table
13062
13063@node Overlays
13064@chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
13065@cindex overlays
13066
13067If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
13068memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
13069problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
13070use overlays.
13071
13072@menu
13073* How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
13074* Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
13075* Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
13076 mapped by asking the inferior.
13077* Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
13078@end menu
13079
13080@node How Overlays Work
13081@section How Overlays Work
13082@cindex mapped overlays
13083@cindex unmapped overlays
13084@cindex load address, overlay's
13085@cindex mapped address
13086@cindex overlay area
13087
13088Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
13089kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
13090other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
13091management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
13092adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
13093
13094One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
13095independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
13096@dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
13097their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
13098instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
13099largest overlay as well.
13100
13101Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
13102overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
13103for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
13104there.
13105
13106@c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
13107@c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
13108@c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
13109
13110@smallexample
13111@group
13112 Data Instruction Larger
13113Address Space Address Space Address Space
13114+-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
13115| | | | | |
13116+-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
13117| program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
13118| variables | | program | | +-----------+
13119| and heap | | | | | |
13120+-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
13121| | +-----------+ | | | load address
13122+-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
13123 | | | | | |
13124 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
13125 address | | | | | |
13126 | overlay | <-' | | |
13127 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
13128 | | <---. | | load address
13129 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
13130 | | | |
13131 +-----------+ | |
13132 +-----------+
13133 | |
13134 +-----------+
13135
13136 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
13137@end group
13138@end smallexample
13139
13140The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
13141and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
13142its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
13143Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
13144may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
13145data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
13146program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
13147program and the overlay area.
13148
13149An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
13150@dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
13151instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
13152in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
13153is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
13154the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
13155called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
13156
13157Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
13158program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
13159global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
13160
13161@itemize @bullet
13162
13163@item
13164Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
13165must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
13166return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
13167overlay, and your program will probably crash.
13168
13169@item
13170If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
13171will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
13172your program's performance.
13173
13174@item
13175The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
13176overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
13177mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
13178and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
13179You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
13180addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
13181ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
13182
13183@item
13184The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
13185to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
13186instruction and data spaces.
13187
13188@end itemize
13189
13190The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
13191improved in many ways:
13192
13193@itemize @bullet
13194
13195@item
13196If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
13197hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
13198contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
13199This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
13200area in the usual way.
13201
13202@item
13203If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
13204overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
13205
13206@item
13207You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
13208general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
13209code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
13210return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
13211the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
13212must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
13213different data overlay into the same mapped area.
13214
13215@end itemize
13216
13217
13218@node Overlay Commands
13219@section Overlay Commands
13220
13221To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
13222correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
13223virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
13224mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
13225@value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
13226variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
13227
13228@value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
13229you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
13230
13231@table @code
13232@item overlay off
13233@kindex overlay
13234Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
13235disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
13236always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
13237overlay support is disabled.
13238
13239@item overlay manual
13240@cindex manual overlay debugging
13241Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
13242relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
13243using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
13244commands described below.
13245
13246@item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
13247@itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
13248@cindex map an overlay
13249Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
13250be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
13251overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
13252functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
13253that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
13254@var{overlay} are now unmapped.
13255
13256@item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
13257@itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
13258@cindex unmap an overlay
13259Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
13260must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
13261When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
13262overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
13263
13264@item overlay auto
13265Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
13266consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
13267to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
13268Overlay Debugging}.
13269
13270@item overlay load-target
13271@itemx overlay load
13272@cindex reloading the overlay table
13273Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
13274re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
13275stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
13276overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
13277useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
13278
13279@item overlay list-overlays
13280@itemx overlay list
13281@cindex listing mapped overlays
13282Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
13283addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
13284
13285@end table
13286
13287Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
13288of the function the address falls in:
13289
13290@smallexample
13291(@value{GDBP}) print main
13292$3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
13293@end smallexample
13294@noindent
13295When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
13296unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
13297asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
13298unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
13299
13300@smallexample
13301(@value{GDBP}) overlay list
13302No sections are mapped.
13303(@value{GDBP}) print foo
13304$5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
13305@end smallexample
13306@noindent
13307When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
13308name normally:
13309
13310@smallexample
13311(@value{GDBP}) overlay list
13312Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
13313 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
13314(@value{GDBP}) print foo
13315$6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
13316@end smallexample
13317
13318When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
13319address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
13320overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
13321@code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
13322code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
13323
13324@itemize @bullet
13325@item
13326@cindex breakpoints in overlays
13327@cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
13328You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
13329@value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
13330@item
13331@value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
13332unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
13333overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
13334you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
13335breakpoints properly.
13336@end itemize
13337
13338
13339@node Automatic Overlay Debugging
13340@section Automatic Overlay Debugging
13341@cindex automatic overlay debugging
13342
13343@value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
13344are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
13345inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
13346@code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
13347looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
13348current state of the overlays.
13349
13350Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
13351@value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
13352
13353@table @asis
13354
13355@item @code{_ovly_table}:
13356This variable must be an array of the following structures:
13357
13358@smallexample
13359struct
13360@{
13361 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
13362 unsigned long vma;
13363
13364 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
13365 unsigned long size;
13366
13367 /* The overlay's load address. */
13368 unsigned long lma;
13369
13370 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
13371 zero otherwise. */
13372 unsigned long mapped;
13373@}
13374@end smallexample
13375
13376@item @code{_novlys}:
13377This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
13378number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
13379
13380@end table
13381
13382To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
13383looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
13384@code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
13385executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
13386the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
13387currently mapped.
13388
13389In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
13390@code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
13391will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
13392calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
13393will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
13394are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
13395in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
13396overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
13397are not being executed.
13398
13399@node Overlay Sample Program
13400@section Overlay Sample Program
13401@cindex overlay example program
13402
13403When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
13404at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
13405addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
13406Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
13407since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
13408architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
13409portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
13410
13411However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
13412program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
13413suite. The program consists of the following files from
13414@file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
13415
13416@table @file
13417@item overlays.c
13418The main program file.
13419@item ovlymgr.c
13420A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
13421@item foo.c
13422@itemx bar.c
13423@itemx baz.c
13424@itemx grbx.c
13425Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
13426@item d10v.ld
13427@itemx m32r.ld
13428Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
13429and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
13430@end table
13431
13432You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
13433cross-compiler like this:
13434
13435@smallexample
13436$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
13437$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
13438$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
13439$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
13440$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
13441$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
13442$ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
13443 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
13444@end smallexample
13445
13446The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
13447you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
13448target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
13449
13450
13451@node Languages
13452@chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
13453@cindex languages
13454
13455Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
13456rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
13457dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
13458Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
13459represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
13460@samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
13461
13462@cindex working language
13463Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
13464allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
13465native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
13466consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
13467language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
13468language}.
13469
13470@menu
13471* Setting:: Switching between source languages
13472* Show:: Displaying the language
13473* Checks:: Type and range checks
13474* Supported Languages:: Supported languages
13475* Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
13476@end menu
13477
13478@node Setting
13479@section Switching Between Source Languages
13480
13481There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
13482set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
13483@code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
13484defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
13485used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
13486are printed, etc.
13487
13488In addition to the working language, every source file that
13489@value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
13490file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
13491source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
13492language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
13493controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
13494show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
13495set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
13496set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
13497Displaying the Language}.
13498
13499This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
13500as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
13501another language. In that case, make the
13502program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
13503@value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
13504program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
13505
13506@menu
13507* Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
13508* Manually:: Setting the working language manually
13509* Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
13510@end menu
13511
13512@node Filenames
13513@subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
13514
13515If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
13516@value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
13517
13518@table @file
13519@item .ada
13520@itemx .ads
13521@itemx .adb
13522@itemx .a
13523Ada source file.
13524
13525@item .c
13526C source file
13527
13528@item .C
13529@itemx .cc
13530@itemx .cp
13531@itemx .cpp
13532@itemx .cxx
13533@itemx .c++
13534C@t{++} source file
13535
13536@item .d
13537D source file
13538
13539@item .m
13540Objective-C source file
13541
13542@item .f
13543@itemx .F
13544Fortran source file
13545
13546@item .mod
13547Modula-2 source file
13548
13549@item .s
13550@itemx .S
13551Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
13552@value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
13553@end table
13554
13555In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
13556extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
13557
13558@node Manually
13559@subsection Setting the Working Language
13560
13561If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
13562expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
13563your program.
13564
13565@kindex set language
13566If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
13567command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
13568a language, such as
13569@code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
13570For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
13571
13572Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
13573language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
13574to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
13575source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
13576languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
13577source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
13578command such as:
13579
13580@smallexample
13581print a = b + c
13582@end smallexample
13583
13584@noindent
13585might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
13586@code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
13587printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
13588@code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
13589
13590@node Automatically
13591@subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
13592
13593To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
13594@samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
13595then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
13596frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
13597working language to the language recorded for the function in that
13598frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
13599or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
13600does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
13601not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
13602
13603This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
13604entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
13605written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
13606a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
13607case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
13608
13609@node Show
13610@section Displaying the Language
13611
13612The following commands help you find out which language is the
13613working language, and also what language source files were written in.
13614
13615@table @code
13616@item show language
13617@anchor{show language}
13618@kindex show language
13619Display the current working language. This is the
13620language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
13621build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
13622
13623@item info frame
13624@kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
13625Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
13626working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
13627@xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
13628information listed here.
13629
13630@item info source
13631@kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
13632Display the source language of this source file.
13633@xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
13634information listed here.
13635@end table
13636
13637In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
13638not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
13639with a language explicitly:
13640
13641@table @code
13642@item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
13643@kindex set extension-language
13644Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
13645assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
13646
13647@item info extensions
13648@kindex info extensions
13649List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
13650@end table
13651
13652@node Checks
13653@section Type and Range Checking
13654
13655Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
13656errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
13657checking the type of arguments to functions and operators and making
13658sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
13659these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
13660by eliminating type mismatches and providing active checks for range
13661errors when your program is running.
13662
13663By default @value{GDBN} checks for these errors according to the
13664rules of the current source language. Although @value{GDBN} does not check
13665the statements in your program, it can check expressions entered directly
13666into @value{GDBN} for evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example.
13667
13668@menu
13669* Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
13670* Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
13671@end menu
13672
13673@cindex type checking
13674@cindex checks, type
13675@node Type Checking
13676@subsection An Overview of Type Checking
13677
13678Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, are strongly typed, meaning that the
13679arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
13680otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
13681errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
13682
13683@smallexample
13684int klass::my_method(char *b) @{ return b ? 1 : 2; @}
13685
13686(@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0)
13687$1 = 2
13688@exdent but
13689(@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0x1234)
13690Cannot resolve method klass::my_method to any overloaded instance
13691@end smallexample
13692
13693The second example fails because in C@t{++} the integer constant
13694@samp{0x1234} is not type-compatible with the pointer parameter type.
13695
13696For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
13697@value{GDBN} to not enforce strict type checking or
13698to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
13699When type checking is disabled, @value{GDBN} successfully evaluates
13700expressions like the second example above.
13701
13702Even if type checking is off, there may be other reasons
13703related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
13704For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
13705a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
13706with the language in use and usually arise from expressions which make
13707little sense to evaluate anyway.
13708
13709@value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling type checking:
13710
13711@kindex set check type
13712@kindex show check type
13713@table @code
13714@item set check type on
13715@itemx set check type off
13716Set strict type checking on or off. If any type mismatches occur in
13717evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
13718message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
13719
13720@item show check type
13721Show the current setting of type checking and whether @value{GDBN}
13722is enforcing strict type checking rules.
13723@end table
13724
13725@cindex range checking
13726@cindex checks, range
13727@node Range Checking
13728@subsection An Overview of Range Checking
13729
13730In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
13731bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
13732checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
13733computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
13734not exceed the bounds of the array.
13735
13736For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
13737@value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
13738always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
13739warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
13740
13741A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
13742array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
13743of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
13744error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
13745result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
13746the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
13747
13748@smallexample
13749@var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
13750@end smallexample
13751
13752This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
13753specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
13754Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
13755
13756@value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
13757
13758@kindex set check range
13759@kindex show check range
13760@table @code
13761@item set check range auto
13762Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
13763@xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
13764each language.
13765
13766@item set check range on
13767@itemx set check range off
13768Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
13769current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
13770match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
13771then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
13772
13773@item set check range warn
13774Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
13775but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
13776expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
13777memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
13778systems).
13779
13780@item show range
13781Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
13782being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
13783@end table
13784
13785@node Supported Languages
13786@section Supported Languages
13787
13788@value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Go, Objective-C, Fortran, Java,
13789OpenCL C, Pascal, assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
13790@c This is false ...
13791Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
13792language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
13793and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
13794,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
13795language.
13796
13797The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
13798supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
13799tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
13800@value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
13801formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
13802books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
13803language reference or tutorial.
13804
13805@menu
13806* C:: C and C@t{++}
13807* D:: D
13808* Go:: Go
13809* Objective-C:: Objective-C
13810* OpenCL C:: OpenCL C
13811* Fortran:: Fortran
13812* Pascal:: Pascal
13813* Modula-2:: Modula-2
13814* Ada:: Ada
13815@end menu
13816
13817@node C
13818@subsection C and C@t{++}
13819
13820@cindex C and C@t{++}
13821@cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
13822
13823Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
13824to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
13825together.
13826
13827@cindex C@t{++}
13828@cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
13829@cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
13830The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
13831compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
13832effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
13833C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
13834compiler (@code{aCC}).
13835
13836@menu
13837* C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
13838* C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
13839* C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
13840* C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
13841* C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
13842* Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
13843* Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
13844* Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
13845@end menu
13846
13847@node C Operators
13848@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
13849
13850@cindex C and C@t{++} operators
13851
13852Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
13853@code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
13854often defined on groups of types.
13855
13856For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
13857
13858@itemize @bullet
13859
13860@item
13861@emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
13862specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
13863
13864@item
13865@emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
13866@code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
13867
13868@item
13869@emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
13870
13871@item
13872@emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
13873
13874@end itemize
13875
13876@noindent
13877The following operators are supported. They are listed here
13878in order of increasing precedence:
13879
13880@table @code
13881@item ,
13882The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
13883are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
13884expression being the last expression evaluated.
13885
13886@item =
13887Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
13888assigned. Defined on scalar types.
13889
13890@item @var{op}=
13891Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
13892and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
13893@w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence. The operator
13894@var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
13895@code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
13896
13897@item ?:
13898The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
13899of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. The argument @var{a}
13900should be of an integral type.
13901
13902@item ||
13903Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13904
13905@item &&
13906Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
13907
13908@item |
13909Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13910
13911@item ^
13912Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13913
13914@item &
13915Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
13916
13917@item ==@r{, }!=
13918Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
13919expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
13920
13921@item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
13922Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
13923Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
13924and non-zero for true.
13925
13926@item <<@r{, }>>
13927left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
13928
13929@item @@
13930The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
13931
13932@item +@r{, }-
13933Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
13934pointer types.
13935
13936@item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
13937Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
13938defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
13939integral types.
13940
13941@item ++@r{, }--
13942Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
13943operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
13944when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
13945operation takes place.
13946
13947@item *
13948Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
13949@code{++}.
13950
13951@item &
13952Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
13953
13954For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
13955allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
13956to examine the address
13957where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
13958stored.
13959
13960@item -
13961Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
13962precedence as @code{++}.
13963
13964@item !
13965Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
13966@code{++}.
13967
13968@item ~
13969Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
13970@code{++}.
13971
13972
13973@item .@r{, }->
13974Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
13975@value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
13976pointer based on the stored type information.
13977Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
13978
13979@item .*@r{, }->*
13980Dereferences of pointers to members.
13981
13982@item []
13983Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
13984@code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
13985
13986@item ()
13987Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
13988
13989@item ::
13990C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
13991and @code{class} types.
13992
13993@item ::
13994Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
13995(@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
13996above.
13997@end table
13998
13999If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
14000attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
14001predefined meaning.
14002
14003@node C Constants
14004@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
14005
14006@cindex C and C@t{++} constants
14007
14008@value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
14009following ways:
14010
14011@itemize @bullet
14012@item
14013Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
14014specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
14015by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
14016@samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
14017@code{long} value.
14018
14019@item
14020Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
14021point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
14022exponent. An exponent is of the form:
14023@samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
14024sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
14025A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
14026@samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
14027the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
14028a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
14029constant.
14030
14031@item
14032Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
14033integral equivalents.
14034
14035@item
14036Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
14037(@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
14038(usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
14039be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
14040the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
14041of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
14042@samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
14043@samp{\n} for newline.
14044
14045Wide character constants can be written by prefixing a character
14046constant with @samp{L}, as in C. For example, @samp{L'x'} is the wide
14047form of @samp{x}. The target wide character set is used when
14048computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
14049
14050@item
14051String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
14052double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
14053above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
14054a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
14055characters.
14056
14057Wide string constants can be written by prefixing a string constant
14058with @samp{L}, as in C. The target wide character set is used when
14059computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
14060
14061@item
14062Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
14063to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
14064
14065@item
14066Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
14067and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
14068integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
14069and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
14070@end itemize
14071
14072@node C Plus Plus Expressions
14073@subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
14074
14075@cindex expressions in C@t{++}
14076@value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
14077
14078@cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
14079@cindex C@t{++} compilers
14080@cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
14081@cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
14082@quotation
14083@emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use
14084the proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently,
14085@value{GDBN} works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled
14086with the most recent version of @value{NGCC} possible. The DWARF
14087debugging format is preferred; @value{NGCC} defaults to this on most
14088popular platforms. Other compilers and/or debug formats are likely to
14089work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug C@t{++}
14090code. @xref{Compilation}.
14091@end quotation
14092
14093@enumerate
14094
14095@cindex member functions
14096@item
14097Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
14098
14099@smallexample
14100count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
14101@end smallexample
14102
14103@vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
14104@cindex namespace in C@t{++}
14105@item
14106While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
14107expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
14108that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
14109pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}. @code{using}
14110declarations in the current scope are also respected by @value{GDBN}.
14111
14112@cindex call overloaded functions
14113@cindex overloaded functions, calling
14114@cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
14115@item
14116You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
14117call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
14118perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
14119calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
14120in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
14121default arguments.
14122
14123It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
14124promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
14125class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
14126functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
14127number of function arguments.
14128
14129Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
14130@code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
14131,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
14132
14133You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
14134explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
14135@smallexample
14136p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
14137@end smallexample
14138
14139The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
14140see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
14141
14142@cindex reference declarations
14143@item
14144@value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
14145them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
14146dereferenced.
14147
14148In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
14149reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
14150avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
14151The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
14152you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
14153
14154@item
14155@value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
14156expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
14157one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
14158necessary, for example in an expression like
14159@samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
14160resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
14161debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
14162
14163@item
14164@value{GDBN} performs argument-dependent lookup, following the C@t{++}
14165specification.
14166@end enumerate
14167
14168@node C Defaults
14169@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
14170
14171@cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
14172
14173If you allow @value{GDBN} to set range checking automatically, it
14174defaults to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
14175C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
14176selects the working language.
14177
14178If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
14179recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
14180@file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
14181these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
14182@xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
14183for further details.
14184
14185@node C Checks
14186@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
14187
14188@cindex C and C@t{++} checks
14189
14190By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, strict type
14191checking is used. However, if you turn type checking off, @value{GDBN}
14192will allow certain non-standard conversions, such as promoting integer
14193constants to pointers.
14194
14195Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
14196indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
14197that is not itself an array.
14198
14199@node Debugging C
14200@subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
14201
14202The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
14203the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
14204inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
14205appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
14206
14207The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
14208with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
14209,Expressions}.
14210
14211@node Debugging C Plus Plus
14212@subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
14213
14214@cindex commands for C@t{++}
14215
14216Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
14217designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
14218
14219@table @code
14220@cindex break in overloaded functions
14221@item @r{breakpoint menus}
14222When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
14223@value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
14224locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
14225@xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
14226
14227@cindex overloading in C@t{++}
14228@item rbreak @var{regex}
14229Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
14230breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
14231classes.
14232@xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
14233
14234@cindex C@t{++} exception handling
14235@item catch throw
14236@itemx catch rethrow
14237@itemx catch catch
14238Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
14239Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
14240
14241@cindex inheritance
14242@item ptype @var{typename}
14243Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
14244@var{typename}.
14245@xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
14246
14247@item info vtbl @var{expression}.
14248The @code{info vtbl} command can be used to display the virtual
14249method tables of the object computed by @var{expression}. This shows
14250one entry per virtual table; there may be multiple virtual tables when
14251multiple inheritance is in use.
14252
14253@cindex C@t{++} demangling
14254@item demangle @var{name}
14255Demangle @var{name}.
14256@xref{Symbols}, for a more complete description of the @code{demangle} command.
14257
14258@cindex C@t{++} symbol display
14259@item set print demangle
14260@itemx show print demangle
14261@itemx set print asm-demangle
14262@itemx show print asm-demangle
14263Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
14264displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
14265@xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
14266
14267@item set print object
14268@itemx show print object
14269Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
14270@xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
14271
14272@item set print vtbl
14273@itemx show print vtbl
14274Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
14275@xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
14276(The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
14277ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
14278
14279@kindex set overload-resolution
14280@cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
14281@item set overload-resolution on
14282Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
14283is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
14284and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
14285using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
14286Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
14287If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
14288
14289@item set overload-resolution off
14290Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
14291overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
14292chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
14293symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
14294overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
14295searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
14296argument types.
14297
14298@kindex show overload-resolution
14299@item show overload-resolution
14300Show the current setting of overload resolution.
14301
14302@item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
14303You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
14304the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
14305@code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
14306also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
14307available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
14308@xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
14309@end table
14310
14311@node Decimal Floating Point
14312@subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
14313@cindex decimal floating point format
14314
14315@value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
14316decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
14317@code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
14318specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
14319
14320There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
14321Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
14322PowerPC and S/390. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the
14323configured target.
14324
14325Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
14326to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
14327(using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
14328
14329In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
14330point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
14331underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
14332
14333In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
14334to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
14335See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
14336
14337@node D
14338@subsection D
14339
14340@cindex D
14341@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
14342GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
14343specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
14344
14345@node Go
14346@subsection Go
14347
14348@cindex Go (programming language)
14349@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Go and compiled with
14350@file{gccgo} or @file{6g} compilers.
14351
14352Here is a summary of the Go-specific features and restrictions:
14353
14354@table @code
14355@cindex current Go package
14356@item The current Go package
14357The name of the current package does not need to be specified when
14358specifying global variables and functions.
14359
14360For example, given the program:
14361
14362@example
14363package main
14364var myglob = "Shall we?"
14365func main () @{
14366 // ...
14367@}
14368@end example
14369
14370When stopped inside @code{main} either of these work:
14371
14372@example
14373(gdb) p myglob
14374(gdb) p main.myglob
14375@end example
14376
14377@cindex builtin Go types
14378@item Builtin Go types
14379The @code{string} type is recognized by @value{GDBN} and is printed
14380as a string.
14381
14382@cindex builtin Go functions
14383@item Builtin Go functions
14384The @value{GDBN} expression parser recognizes the @code{unsafe.Sizeof}
14385function and handles it internally.
14386
14387@cindex restrictions on Go expressions
14388@item Restrictions on Go expressions
14389All Go operators are supported except @code{&^}.
14390The Go @code{_} ``blank identifier'' is not supported.
14391Automatic dereferencing of pointers is not supported.
14392@end table
14393
14394@node Objective-C
14395@subsection Objective-C
14396
14397@cindex Objective-C
14398This section provides information about some commands and command
14399options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
14400@ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
14401few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
14402
14403@menu
14404* Method Names in Commands::
14405* The Print Command with Objective-C::
14406@end menu
14407
14408@node Method Names in Commands
14409@subsubsection Method Names in Commands
14410
14411The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
14412names as line specifications:
14413
14414@kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
14415@kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
14416@kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
14417@kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
14418@kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
14419@itemize
14420@item @code{clear}
14421@item @code{break}
14422@item @code{info line}
14423@item @code{jump}
14424@item @code{list}
14425@end itemize
14426
14427A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
14428
14429@smallexample
14430-[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
14431@end smallexample
14432
14433where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
14434plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
14435name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
14436brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
14437source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
14438instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
14439debugged, enter:
14440
14441@smallexample
14442break -[Fruit create]
14443@end smallexample
14444
14445To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
14446enter:
14447
14448@smallexample
14449list +[NSText initialize]
14450@end smallexample
14451
14452In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
14453required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
14454sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
14455is also possible to specify just a method name:
14456
14457@smallexample
14458break create
14459@end smallexample
14460
14461You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
14462your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
14463you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
14464method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
14465none apply.
14466
14467As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
14468@code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
14469
14470@smallexample
14471clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
14472@end smallexample
14473
14474@node The Print Command with Objective-C
14475@subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
14476@cindex Objective-C, print objects
14477@kindex print-object
14478@kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
14479
14480The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
14481
14482@smallexample
14483print -[@var{object} hash]
14484@end smallexample
14485
14486@cindex print an Objective-C object description
14487@cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
14488@noindent
14489will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
14490and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
14491@code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
14492the description of an object. However, this command may only work
14493with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
14494function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
14495
14496@node OpenCL C
14497@subsection OpenCL C
14498
14499@cindex OpenCL C
14500This section provides information about @value{GDBN}s OpenCL C support.
14501
14502@menu
14503* OpenCL C Datatypes::
14504* OpenCL C Expressions::
14505* OpenCL C Operators::
14506@end menu
14507
14508@node OpenCL C Datatypes
14509@subsubsection OpenCL C Datatypes
14510
14511@cindex OpenCL C Datatypes
14512@value{GDBN} supports the builtin scalar and vector datatypes specified
14513by OpenCL 1.1. In addition the half- and double-precision floating point
14514data types of the @code{cl_khr_fp16} and @code{cl_khr_fp64} OpenCL
14515extensions are also known to @value{GDBN}.
14516
14517@node OpenCL C Expressions
14518@subsubsection OpenCL C Expressions
14519
14520@cindex OpenCL C Expressions
14521@value{GDBN} supports accesses to vector components including the access as
14522lvalue where possible. Since OpenCL C is based on C99 most C expressions
14523supported by @value{GDBN} can be used as well.
14524
14525@node OpenCL C Operators
14526@subsubsection OpenCL C Operators
14527
14528@cindex OpenCL C Operators
14529@value{GDBN} supports the operators specified by OpenCL 1.1 for scalar and
14530vector data types.
14531
14532@node Fortran
14533@subsection Fortran
14534@cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
14535
14536@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
14537currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
14538
14539@cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
14540Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
14541among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
14542functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
14543will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
14544underscore.
14545
14546@menu
14547* Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
14548* Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
14549* Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
14550@end menu
14551
14552@node Fortran Operators
14553@subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
14554
14555@cindex Fortran operators and expressions
14556
14557Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
14558@code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
14559arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
14560
14561@table @code
14562@item **
14563The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
14564of the second one.
14565
14566@item :
14567The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
14568represent a section of array.
14569
14570@item %
14571The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
14572types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
14573this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
14574union type.
14575@end table
14576
14577@node Fortran Defaults
14578@subsubsection Fortran Defaults
14579
14580@cindex Fortran Defaults
14581
14582Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
14583default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
14584change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
14585@ref{Symbols}, for the details.
14586
14587@node Special Fortran Commands
14588@subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
14589
14590@cindex Special Fortran commands
14591
14592@value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
14593such as displaying common blocks.
14594
14595@table @code
14596@cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
14597@kindex info common
14598@item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
14599This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
14600block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
14601all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
14602printed.
14603@end table
14604
14605@node Pascal
14606@subsection Pascal
14607
14608@cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
14609Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
14610nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
14611entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
14612syntax.
14613
14614The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
14615controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
14616@xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
14617
14618@node Modula-2
14619@subsection Modula-2
14620
14621@cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
14622
14623The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
14624output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
14625developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
14626attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
14627to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
14628table.
14629
14630@cindex expressions in Modula-2
14631@menu
14632* M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
14633* Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
14634* M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
14635* M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
14636* M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
14637* Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
14638* M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
14639* M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
14640* GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
14641@end menu
14642
14643@node M2 Operators
14644@subsubsection Operators
14645@cindex Modula-2 operators
14646
14647Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
14648@code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
14649often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
14650following definitions hold:
14651
14652@itemize @bullet
14653
14654@item
14655@emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
14656their subranges.
14657
14658@item
14659@emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
14660
14661@item
14662@emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
14663
14664@item
14665@emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
14666@var{type}}.
14667
14668@item
14669@emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
14670
14671@item
14672@emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
14673
14674@item
14675@emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
14676@end itemize
14677
14678@noindent
14679The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
14680increasing precedence:
14681
14682@table @code
14683@item ,
14684Function argument or array index separator.
14685
14686@item :=
14687Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
14688@var{value}.
14689
14690@item <@r{, }>
14691Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
14692types.
14693
14694@item <=@r{, }>=
14695Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
14696on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
14697set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
14698
14699@item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
14700Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
14701Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
14702available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
14703comment character.
14704
14705@item IN
14706Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
14707Same precedence as @code{<}.
14708
14709@item OR
14710Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
14711
14712@item AND@r{, }&
14713Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
14714
14715@item @@
14716The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
14717
14718@item +@r{, }-
14719Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
14720and difference on set types.
14721
14722@item *
14723Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
14724on set types.
14725
14726@item /
14727Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
14728types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
14729
14730@item DIV@r{, }MOD
14731Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
14732precedence as @code{*}.
14733
14734@item -
14735Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
14736
14737@item ^
14738Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
14739
14740@item NOT
14741Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
14742@code{^}.
14743
14744@item .
14745@code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
14746precedence as @code{^}.
14747
14748@item []
14749Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
14750
14751@item ()
14752Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
14753as @code{^}.
14754
14755@item ::@r{, }.
14756@value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
14757@end table
14758
14759@quotation
14760@emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
14761treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
14762@code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
14763@code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
14764@end quotation
14765
14766
14767@node Built-In Func/Proc
14768@subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
14769@cindex Modula-2 built-ins
14770
14771Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
14772In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
14773
14774@table @var
14775
14776@item a
14777represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
14778
14779@item c
14780represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
14781
14782@item i
14783represents a variable or constant of integral type.
14784
14785@item m
14786represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
14787same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
14788be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
14789
14790@item n
14791represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
14792
14793@item r
14794represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
14795
14796@item t
14797represents a type.
14798
14799@item v
14800represents a variable.
14801
14802@item x
14803represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
14804explanation of the function for details.
14805@end table
14806
14807All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
14808
14809@table @code
14810@item ABS(@var{n})
14811Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
14812
14813@item CAP(@var{c})
14814If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
14815equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
14816
14817@item CHR(@var{i})
14818Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
14819
14820@item DEC(@var{v})
14821Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
14822
14823@item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
14824Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
14825new value.
14826
14827@item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
14828Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
14829set.
14830
14831@item FLOAT(@var{i})
14832Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
14833
14834@item HIGH(@var{a})
14835Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
14836
14837@item INC(@var{v})
14838Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
14839
14840@item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
14841Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
14842new value.
14843
14844@item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
14845Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
14846there. Returns the new set.
14847
14848@item MAX(@var{t})
14849Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
14850
14851@item MIN(@var{t})
14852Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
14853
14854@item ODD(@var{i})
14855Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
14856
14857@item ORD(@var{x})
14858Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
14859value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting
14860the @sc{ascii} character set). The argument @var{x} must be of an
14861ordered type, which include integral, character and enumerated types.
14862
14863@item SIZE(@var{x})
14864Returns the size of its argument. The argument @var{x} can be a
14865variable or a type.
14866
14867@item TRUNC(@var{r})
14868Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
14869
14870@item TSIZE(@var{x})
14871Returns the size of its argument. The argument @var{x} can be a
14872variable or a type.
14873
14874@item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
14875Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
14876@end table
14877
14878@quotation
14879@emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
14880@value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
14881an error.
14882@end quotation
14883
14884@cindex Modula-2 constants
14885@node M2 Constants
14886@subsubsection Constants
14887
14888@value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
14889ways:
14890
14891@itemize @bullet
14892
14893@item
14894Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
14895expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
14896rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
14897trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
14898
14899@item
14900Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
14901decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
14902then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
14903@samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
14904digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
14905digits.
14906
14907@item
14908Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
14909like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
14910also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
14911followed by a @samp{C}.
14912
14913@item
14914String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
14915pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
14916Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
14917Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
14918sequences.
14919
14920@item
14921Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
14922
14923@item
14924Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
14925@code{FALSE}.
14926
14927@item
14928Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
14929
14930@item
14931Set constants are not yet supported.
14932@end itemize
14933
14934@node M2 Types
14935@subsubsection Modula-2 Types
14936@cindex Modula-2 types
14937
14938Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
14939syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
14940types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
14941print the contents of variables declared using these type.
14942This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
14943sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
14944
14945The first example contains the following section of code:
14946
14947@smallexample
14948VAR
14949 s: SET OF CHAR ;
14950 r: [20..40] ;
14951@end smallexample
14952
14953@noindent
14954and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
14955@code{r} and @code{s}.
14956
14957@smallexample
14958(@value{GDBP}) print s
14959@{'A'..'C', 'Z'@}
14960(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14961SET OF CHAR
14962(@value{GDBP}) print r
1496321
14964(@value{GDBP}) ptype r
14965[20..40]
14966@end smallexample
14967
14968@noindent
14969Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
14970
14971@smallexample
14972VAR
14973 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
14974@end smallexample
14975
14976@noindent
14977then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
14978
14979@smallexample
14980(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14981type = SET ['A'..'Z']
14982@end smallexample
14983
14984@noindent
14985Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
14986expressions using the debugger.
14987
14988The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
14989and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
14990
14991@smallexample
14992VAR
14993 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
14994@end smallexample
14995
14996@smallexample
14997(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14998ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
14999@end smallexample
15000
15001Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
15002is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
15003arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
15004above.
15005
15006Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
15007
15008@smallexample
15009TYPE
15010 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
15011 t = [blue..yellow] ;
15012VAR
15013 s: t ;
15014BEGIN
15015 s := blue ;
15016@end smallexample
15017
15018@noindent
15019The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
15020and value of a variable.
15021
15022@smallexample
15023(@value{GDBP}) print s
15024$1 = blue
15025(@value{GDBP}) ptype t
15026type = [blue..yellow]
15027@end smallexample
15028
15029@noindent
15030In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
15031displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
15032their @code{C} counterparts.
15033
15034@smallexample
15035VAR
15036 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
15037BEGIN
15038 s[1] := 1 ;
15039@end smallexample
15040
15041@smallexample
15042(@value{GDBP}) print s
15043$1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
15044(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
15045type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
15046@end smallexample
15047
15048The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
15049pointer types as shown in this example:
15050
15051@smallexample
15052VAR
15053 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
15054BEGIN
15055 NEW(s) ;
15056 s^[1] := 1 ;
15057@end smallexample
15058
15059@noindent
15060and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
15061
15062@smallexample
15063(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
15064type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
15065@end smallexample
15066
15067@value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
15068Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
15069types:
15070
15071@smallexample
15072TYPE
15073 foo = RECORD
15074 f1: CARDINAL ;
15075 f2: CHAR ;
15076 f3: myarray ;
15077 END ;
15078
15079 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
15080 myrange = [-2..2] ;
15081VAR
15082 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
15083@end smallexample
15084
15085@noindent
15086and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
15087below.
15088
15089@smallexample
15090(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
15091type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
15092 f1 : CARDINAL;
15093 f2 : CHAR;
15094 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
15095END
15096@end smallexample
15097
15098@node M2 Defaults
15099@subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
15100@cindex Modula-2 defaults
15101
15102If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
15103both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
15104Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
15105selected the working language.
15106
15107If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
15108code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
15109working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
15110Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
15111
15112@node Deviations
15113@subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
15114@cindex Modula-2, deviations from
15115
15116A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
15117This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
15118
15119@itemize @bullet
15120@item
15121Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
15122integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
15123debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
15124pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
15125through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
15126returned a pointer.)
15127
15128@item
15129C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
15130non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
15131escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
15132printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
15133
15134@item
15135The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
15136argument.
15137
15138@item
15139All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
15140@end itemize
15141
15142@node M2 Checks
15143@subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
15144@cindex Modula-2 checks
15145
15146@quotation
15147@emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
15148range checking.
15149@end quotation
15150@c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
15151
15152@value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
15153
15154@itemize @bullet
15155@item
15156They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
15157@var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
15158
15159@item
15160They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
15161@sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
15162@end itemize
15163
15164As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
15165whose types are not equivalent is an error.
15166
15167Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
15168index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
15169
15170@node M2 Scope
15171@subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
15172@cindex scope
15173@cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
15174@cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
15175@ifinfo
15176@vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
15177@c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
15178@end ifinfo
15179@ifnotinfo
15180@vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
15181@end ifnotinfo
15182
15183There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
15184(@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
15185similar syntax:
15186
15187@smallexample
15188
15189@var{module} . @var{id}
15190@var{scope} :: @var{id}
15191@end smallexample
15192
15193@noindent
15194where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
15195@var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
15196identifier within your program, except another module.
15197
15198Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
15199specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
15200found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
15201enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
15202
15203Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
15204the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
15205definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
15206an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
15207module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
15208@var{module}.
15209
15210@node GDB/M2
15211@subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
15212
15213Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
15214Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
15215specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
15216@samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
15217apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
15218analogue in Modula-2.
15219
15220The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
15221with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
15222intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
15223created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
15224address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
15225@samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
15226
15227@cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
15228In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
15229interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
15230
15231@node Ada
15232@subsection Ada
15233@cindex Ada
15234
15235The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
15236output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
15237Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
15238attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
15239to be difficult.
15240
15241
15242@cindex expressions in Ada
15243@menu
15244* Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
15245 and semantics supported by Ada mode
15246 in @value{GDBN}.
15247* Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
15248* Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
15249* Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
15250* Ada Exceptions:: Ada Exceptions
15251* Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
15252* Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
15253* Ravenscar Profile:: Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar
15254 Profile
15255* Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
15256@end menu
15257
15258@node Ada Mode Intro
15259@subsubsection Introduction
15260@cindex Ada mode, general
15261
15262The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
15263syntax, with some extensions.
15264The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
15265
15266@itemize @bullet
15267@item
15268That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
15269arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
15270leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
15271program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
15272
15273@item
15274That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
15275are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
15276
15277@item
15278That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
15279@end itemize
15280
15281Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
15282user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
15283according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
15284names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
15285ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
15286
15287The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
15288As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
15289was translated from an Ada source file.
15290
15291While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
15292mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
15293(@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
15294middle (to allow based literals).
15295
15296The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
15297the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
15298actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
15299the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
15300procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
15301functions to procedures elsewhere.
15302
15303@node Omissions from Ada
15304@subsubsection Omissions from Ada
15305@cindex Ada, omissions from
15306
15307Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
15308
15309@itemize @bullet
15310@item
15311Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
15312
15313@itemize @minus
15314@item
15315@t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
15316 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
15317
15318@item
15319@t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
15320
15321@item
15322@t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
15323
15324@item
15325@t{'Tag}.
15326
15327@item
15328@t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
15329operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
15330
15331@item
15332@t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
15333@t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
15334
15335@item
15336@t{'Address}.
15337@end itemize
15338
15339@item
15340The names in
15341@code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
15342concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
15343not currently available.
15344
15345@item
15346Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
15347equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
15348for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
15349They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
15350types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
15351(in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
15352zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
15353indeterminate values.
15354
15355@item
15356The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
15357@code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
15358are not implemented.
15359
15360@item
15361@cindex array aggregates (Ada)
15362@cindex record aggregates (Ada)
15363@cindex aggregates (Ada)
15364There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
15365permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
15366
15367@smallexample
15368(@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
15369(@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
15370(@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
15371(@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
15372(@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
15373(@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
15374@end smallexample
15375
15376Changing a
15377discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
15378undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
15379However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
15380them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
15381aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
15382declared to have a type such as:
15383
15384@smallexample
15385type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
15386 Id : Integer;
15387 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
15388end record;
15389@end smallexample
15390
15391you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
15392assignments:
15393
15394@smallexample
15395(@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
15396(@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
15397@end smallexample
15398
15399As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
15400rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
15401components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
15402component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
15403original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
15404indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
15405redundant component associations, although which component values are
15406assigned in such cases is not defined.
15407
15408@item
15409Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
15410
15411@item
15412The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
15413than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
15414which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
15415looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
15416function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
15417the proper resolution.
15418
15419@item
15420The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
15421
15422@item
15423Entry calls are not implemented.
15424
15425@item
15426Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
15427formats are not supported.
15428
15429@item
15430It is not possible to slice a packed array.
15431
15432@item
15433The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
15434are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
15435context.
15436Should your program
15437redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
15438you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
15439@end itemize
15440
15441@node Additions to Ada
15442@subsubsection Additions to Ada
15443@cindex Ada, deviations from
15444
15445As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
15446extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
15447
15448@itemize @bullet
15449@item
15450If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
15451a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
15452then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
15453@var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
15454Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
15455in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
15456Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
15457which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
15458
15459@item
15460@code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
15461appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
15462you must typically surround it in single quotes.
15463
15464@item
15465The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
15466@var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
15467
15468@item
15469A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
15470(@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
15471@end itemize
15472
15473In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
15474additions specific to Ada:
15475
15476@itemize @bullet
15477@item
15478The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
15479its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
15480
15481@smallexample
15482(@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
15483(@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
15484@end smallexample
15485
15486@item
15487The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
15488the value of its right-hand operand.
15489This allows, for example,
15490complex conditional breaks:
15491
15492@smallexample
15493(@value{GDBP}) break f
15494(@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
15495@end smallexample
15496
15497@item
15498Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
15499characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
15500which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
15501@samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
15502(single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
15503sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
15504in strings. For example,
15505@smallexample
15506 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
15507@end smallexample
15508@noindent
15509contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
15510after each period.
15511
15512@item
15513The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
15514@t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
15515to write
15516
15517@smallexample
15518(@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
15519@end smallexample
15520
15521@item
15522When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
15523array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
15524For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
15525of 3 might print as
15526
15527@smallexample
15528(3 => 10, 17, 1)
15529@end smallexample
15530
15531@noindent
15532That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
15533clause.
15534
15535@item
15536You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
15537multi-character subsequence of
15538their names (an exact match gets preference).
15539For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
15540in place of @t{a'length}.
15541
15542@item
15543@cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
15544Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
15545to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
15546some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
15547For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
15548enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
15549For example,
15550@smallexample
15551(@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
15552@end smallexample
15553
15554@item
15555Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
15556access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
15557specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
15558selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
15559object.
15560
15561@end itemize
15562
15563@node Stopping Before Main Program
15564@subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
15565
15566@cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
15567It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
15568before reaching the main procedure.
15569As defined in the Ada Reference
15570Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
15571@code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
15572elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
15573@code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
15574
15575@node Ada Exceptions
15576@subsubsection Ada Exceptions
15577
15578A command is provided to list all Ada exceptions:
15579
15580@table @code
15581@kindex info exceptions
15582@item info exceptions
15583@itemx info exceptions @var{regexp}
15584The @code{info exceptions} command allows you to list all Ada exceptions
15585defined within the program being debugged, as well as their addresses.
15586With a regular expression, @var{regexp}, as argument, only those exceptions
15587whose names match @var{regexp} are listed.
15588@end table
15589
15590Below is a small example, showing how the command can be used, first
15591without argument, and next with a regular expression passed as an
15592argument.
15593
15594@smallexample
15595(@value{GDBP}) info exceptions
15596All defined Ada exceptions:
15597constraint_error: 0x613da0
15598program_error: 0x613d20
15599storage_error: 0x613ce0
15600tasking_error: 0x613ca0
15601const.aint_global_e: 0x613b00
15602(@value{GDBP}) info exceptions const.aint
15603All Ada exceptions matching regular expression "const.aint":
15604constraint_error: 0x613da0
15605const.aint_global_e: 0x613b00
15606@end smallexample
15607
15608It is also possible to ask @value{GDBN} to stop your program's execution
15609when an exception is raised. For more details, see @ref{Set Catchpoints}.
15610
15611@node Ada Tasks
15612@subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
15613@cindex Ada, tasking
15614
15615Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
15616@value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
15617
15618@table @code
15619@kindex info tasks
15620@item info tasks
15621This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
15622
15623
15624@smallexample
15625@iftex
15626@leftskip=0.5cm
15627@end iftex
15628(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15629 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15630 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15631 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
15632 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
15633* 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
15634
15635@end smallexample
15636
15637@noindent
15638In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
15639task currently being inspected.
15640
15641@table @asis
15642@item ID
15643Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
15644
15645@item TID
15646The Ada task ID.
15647
15648@item P-ID
15649The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
15650
15651@item Pri
15652The base priority of the task.
15653
15654@item State
15655Current state of the task.
15656
15657@table @code
15658@item Unactivated
15659The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
15660executing.
15661
15662@item Runnable
15663The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
15664for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
15665
15666@item Terminated
15667The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
15668that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
15669terminated themselves.
15670
15671@item Child Activation Wait
15672The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
15673
15674@item Accept Statement
15675The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
15676
15677@item Waiting on entry call
15678The task is waiting on an entry call.
15679
15680@item Async Select Wait
15681The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
15682select statement.
15683
15684@item Delay Sleep
15685The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
15686alternative open.
15687
15688@item Child Termination Wait
15689The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
15690waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
15691waiting on a terminate Phase.
15692
15693@item Wait Child in Term Alt
15694The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
15695finish terminating.
15696
15697@item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
15698The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
15699@end table
15700
15701@item Name
15702Name of the task in the program.
15703
15704@end table
15705
15706@kindex info task @var{taskno}
15707@item info task @var{taskno}
15708This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
15709the following example:
15710@smallexample
15711@iftex
15712@leftskip=0.5cm
15713@end iftex
15714(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15715 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15716 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15717* 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
15718(@value{GDBP}) info task 2
15719Ada Task: 0x807c468
15720Name: task_1
15721Thread: 0x807f378
15722Parent: 1 (main_task)
15723Base Priority: 15
15724State: Runnable
15725@end smallexample
15726
15727@item task
15728@kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
15729@cindex current Ada task ID
15730This command prints the ID of the current task.
15731
15732@smallexample
15733@iftex
15734@leftskip=0.5cm
15735@end iftex
15736(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15737 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15738 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15739* 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
15740(@value{GDBP}) task
15741[Current task is 2]
15742@end smallexample
15743
15744@item task @var{taskno}
15745@cindex Ada task switching
15746This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
15747command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
15748from the current task to the given task.
15749
15750@smallexample
15751@iftex
15752@leftskip=0.5cm
15753@end iftex
15754(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15755 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15756 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15757* 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
15758(@value{GDBP}) task 1
15759[Switching to task 1]
15760#0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
15761(@value{GDBP}) bt
15762#0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
15763#1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
15764#2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
15765#3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
15766#4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
15767@end smallexample
15768
15769@item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
15770@itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
15771@cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
15772@cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
15773@kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
15774These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
15775command (@pxref{Thread Stops}). The
15776@var{linespec} argument specifies source lines, as described
15777in @ref{Specify Location}.
15778
15779Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
15780to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
15781particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. The @var{taskno} is one of the
15782numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
15783column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
15784
15785If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
15786breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
15787program.
15788
15789You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
15790well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
15791breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
15792
15793For example,
15794
15795@smallexample
15796@iftex
15797@leftskip=0.5cm
15798@end iftex
15799(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15800 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15801 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15802 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
15803 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
15804* 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
15805(@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
15806Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
15807(@value{GDBP}) cont
15808Continuing.
15809task # 1 running
15810task # 2 running
15811
15812Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
1581315 flush;
15814(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15815 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15816 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15817* 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
15818 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
15819 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
15820@end smallexample
15821@end table
15822
15823@node Ada Tasks and Core Files
15824@subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
15825@cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
15826
15827When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
15828tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
15829the platform being used.
15830For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
15831switching is not supported.
15832
15833On certain platforms, the debugger needs to perform some
15834memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
15835a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
15836privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
15837Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
15838file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
15839
15840@node Ravenscar Profile
15841@subsubsection Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar Profile
15842@cindex Ravenscar Profile
15843
15844The @dfn{Ravenscar Profile} is a subset of the Ada tasking features,
15845specifically designed for systems with safety-critical real-time
15846requirements.
15847
15848@table @code
15849@kindex set ravenscar task-switching on
15850@cindex task switching with program using Ravenscar Profile
15851@item set ravenscar task-switching on
15852Allows task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
15853Profile. This is the default.
15854
15855@kindex set ravenscar task-switching off
15856@item set ravenscar task-switching off
15857Turn off task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
15858Profile. This is mostly intended to disable the code that adds support
15859for the Ravenscar Profile, in case a bug in either @value{GDBN} or in
15860the Ravenscar runtime is preventing @value{GDBN} from working properly.
15861To be effective, this command should be run before the program is started.
15862
15863@kindex show ravenscar task-switching
15864@item show ravenscar task-switching
15865Show whether it is possible to switch from task to task in a program
15866using the Ravenscar Profile.
15867
15868@end table
15869
15870@node Ada Glitches
15871@subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
15872@cindex Ada, problems
15873
15874Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
15875we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
15876@value{GDBN},
15877some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
15878and the GNU Ada compiler.
15879
15880@itemize @bullet
15881@item
15882Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
15883storage are invisible to the debugger.
15884
15885@item
15886Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
15887argument lists are treated as positional).
15888
15889@item
15890Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
15891
15892@item
15893Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
15894floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
15895the host machine.
15896
15897@item
15898The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
15899the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
15900this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
15901look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
15902symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
15903defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
15904local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
15905GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
15906you can usually resolve the confusion
15907by qualifying the problematic names with package
15908@code{Standard} explicitly.
15909@end itemize
15910
15911Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
15912information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
15913of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
15914around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
15915to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
15916enabled.
15917
15918@kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
15919@kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
15920@table @code
15921
15922@item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
15923Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
15924value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
15925types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
15926a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
15927This is the default.
15928
15929@item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
15930This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
15931sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
15932trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
15933the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
15934@code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
15935recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
15936
15937@end table
15938
15939@cindex GNAT descriptive types
15940@cindex GNAT encoding
15941Internally, the debugger also relies on the compiler following a number
15942of conventions known as the @samp{GNAT Encoding}, all documented in
15943@file{gcc/ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources. This encoding describes
15944how the debugging information should be generated for certain types.
15945In particular, this convention makes use of @dfn{descriptive types},
15946which are artificial types generated purely to help the debugger.
15947
15948These encodings were defined at a time when the debugging information
15949format used was not powerful enough to describe some of the more complex
15950types available in Ada. Since DWARF allows us to express nearly all
15951Ada features, the long-term goal is to slowly replace these descriptive
15952types by their pure DWARF equivalent. To facilitate that transition,
15953a new maintenance option is available to force the debugger to ignore
15954those descriptive types. It allows the user to quickly evaluate how
15955well @value{GDBN} works without them.
15956
15957@table @code
15958
15959@kindex maint ada set ignore-descriptive-types
15960@item maintenance ada set ignore-descriptive-types [on|off]
15961Control whether the debugger should ignore descriptive types.
15962The default is not to ignore descriptives types (@code{off}).
15963
15964@kindex maint ada show ignore-descriptive-types
15965@item maintenance ada show ignore-descriptive-types
15966Show if descriptive types are ignored by @value{GDBN}.
15967
15968@end table
15969
15970@node Unsupported Languages
15971@section Unsupported Languages
15972
15973@cindex unsupported languages
15974@cindex minimal language
15975In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
15976@value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
15977It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
15978of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
15979This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
15980an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
15981
15982If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
15983select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
15984language.
15985
15986@node Symbols
15987@chapter Examining the Symbol Table
15988
15989The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
15990symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
15991program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
15992does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
15993program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
15994(@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
15995file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
15996
15997@cindex symbol names
15998@cindex names of symbols
15999@cindex quoting names
16000Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
16001characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
16002most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
16003source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
16004are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
16005ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
16006@samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
16007@samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
16008
16009@smallexample
16010p 'foo.c'::x
16011@end smallexample
16012
16013@noindent
16014looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
16015
16016@table @code
16017@cindex case-insensitive symbol names
16018@cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
16019@kindex set case-sensitive
16020@item set case-sensitive on
16021@itemx set case-sensitive off
16022@itemx set case-sensitive auto
16023Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
16024with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
16025Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
16026case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
16027case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
16028you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
16029suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
16030matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
16031case-insensitive matches.
16032
16033@kindex show case-sensitive
16034@item show case-sensitive
16035This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
16036lookups.
16037
16038@kindex set print type methods
16039@item set print type methods
16040@itemx set print type methods on
16041@itemx set print type methods off
16042Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a class, it displays any methods
16043declared in that class. You can control this behavior either by
16044passing the appropriate flag to @code{ptype}, or using @command{set
16045print type methods}. Specifying @code{on} will cause @value{GDBN} to
16046display the methods; this is the default. Specifying @code{off} will
16047cause @value{GDBN} to omit the methods.
16048
16049@kindex show print type methods
16050@item show print type methods
16051This command shows the current setting of method display when printing
16052classes.
16053
16054@kindex set print type typedefs
16055@item set print type typedefs
16056@itemx set print type typedefs on
16057@itemx set print type typedefs off
16058
16059Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a class, it displays any typedefs
16060defined in that class. You can control this behavior either by
16061passing the appropriate flag to @code{ptype}, or using @command{set
16062print type typedefs}. Specifying @code{on} will cause @value{GDBN} to
16063display the typedef definitions; this is the default. Specifying
16064@code{off} will cause @value{GDBN} to omit the typedef definitions.
16065Note that this controls whether the typedef definition itself is
16066printed, not whether typedef names are substituted when printing other
16067types.
16068
16069@kindex show print type typedefs
16070@item show print type typedefs
16071This command shows the current setting of typedef display when
16072printing classes.
16073
16074@kindex info address
16075@cindex address of a symbol
16076@item info address @var{symbol}
16077Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
16078variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
16079local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
16080is always stored.
16081
16082Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
16083at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
16084the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
16085
16086@kindex info symbol
16087@cindex symbol from address
16088@cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
16089@item info symbol @var{addr}
16090Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
16091If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
16092nearest symbol and an offset from it:
16093
16094@smallexample
16095(@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
16096_initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
16097@end smallexample
16098
16099@noindent
16100This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
16101it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
16102
16103For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
16104library containing the symbol is also printed:
16105
16106@smallexample
16107(@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
16108_start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
16109(@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
16110__read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
16111@end smallexample
16112
16113@kindex demangle
16114@cindex demangle
16115@item demangle @r{[}-l @var{language}@r{]} @r{[}@var{--}@r{]} @var{name}
16116Demangle @var{name}.
16117If @var{language} is provided it is the name of the language to demangle
16118@var{name} in. Otherwise @var{name} is demangled in the current language.
16119
16120The @samp{--} option specifies the end of options,
16121and is useful when @var{name} begins with a dash.
16122
16123The parameter @code{demangle-style} specifies how to interpret the kind
16124of mangling used. @xref{Print Settings}.
16125
16126@kindex whatis
16127@item whatis[/@var{flags}] [@var{arg}]
16128Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression
16129or a name of a data type. With no argument, print the data type of
16130@code{$}, the last value in the value history.
16131
16132If @var{arg} is an expression (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), it
16133is not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
16134assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place.
16135
16136If @var{arg} is a variable or an expression, @code{whatis} prints its
16137literal type as it is used in the source code. If the type was
16138defined using a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will @emph{not} print
16139the data type underlying the @code{typedef}. If the type of the
16140variable or the expression is a compound data type, such as
16141@code{struct} or @code{class}, @code{whatis} never prints their
16142fields or methods. It just prints the @code{struct}/@code{class}
16143name (a.k.a.@: its @dfn{tag}). If you want to see the members of
16144such a compound data type, use @code{ptype}.
16145
16146If @var{arg} is a type name that was defined using @code{typedef},
16147@code{whatis} @dfn{unrolls} only one level of that @code{typedef}.
16148Unrolling means that @code{whatis} will show the underlying type used
16149in the @code{typedef} declaration of @var{arg}. However, if that
16150underlying type is also a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will not
16151unroll it.
16152
16153For C code, the type names may also have the form @samp{class
16154@var{class-name}}, @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union
16155@var{union-tag}} or @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
16156
16157@var{flags} can be used to modify how the type is displayed.
16158Available flags are:
16159
16160@table @code
16161@item r
16162Display in ``raw'' form. Normally, @value{GDBN} substitutes template
16163parameters and typedefs defined in a class when printing the class'
16164members. The @code{/r} flag disables this.
16165
16166@item m
16167Do not print methods defined in the class.
16168
16169@item M
16170Print methods defined in the class. This is the default, but the flag
16171exists in case you change the default with @command{set print type methods}.
16172
16173@item t
16174Do not print typedefs defined in the class. Note that this controls
16175whether the typedef definition itself is printed, not whether typedef
16176names are substituted when printing other types.
16177
16178@item T
16179Print typedefs defined in the class. This is the default, but the flag
16180exists in case you change the default with @command{set print type typedefs}.
16181@end table
16182
16183@kindex ptype
16184@item ptype[/@var{flags}] [@var{arg}]
16185@code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
16186detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
16187@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
16188
16189Contrary to @code{whatis}, @code{ptype} always unrolls any
16190@code{typedef}s in its argument declaration, whether the argument is
16191a variable, expression, or a data type. This means that @code{ptype}
16192of a variable or an expression will not print literally its type as
16193present in the source code---use @code{whatis} for that. @code{typedef}s at
16194the pointer or reference targets are also unrolled. Only @code{typedef}s of
16195fields, methods and inner @code{class typedef}s of @code{struct}s,
16196@code{class}es and @code{union}s are not unrolled even with @code{ptype}.
16197
16198For example, for this variable declaration:
16199
16200@smallexample
16201typedef double real_t;
16202struct complex @{ real_t real; double imag; @};
16203typedef struct complex complex_t;
16204complex_t var;
16205real_t *real_pointer_var;
16206@end smallexample
16207
16208@noindent
16209the two commands give this output:
16210
16211@smallexample
16212@group
16213(@value{GDBP}) whatis var
16214type = complex_t
16215(@value{GDBP}) ptype var
16216type = struct complex @{
16217 real_t real;
16218 double imag;
16219@}
16220(@value{GDBP}) whatis complex_t
16221type = struct complex
16222(@value{GDBP}) whatis struct complex
16223type = struct complex
16224(@value{GDBP}) ptype struct complex
16225type = struct complex @{
16226 real_t real;
16227 double imag;
16228@}
16229(@value{GDBP}) whatis real_pointer_var
16230type = real_t *
16231(@value{GDBP}) ptype real_pointer_var
16232type = double *
16233@end group
16234@end smallexample
16235
16236@noindent
16237As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
16238the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
16239
16240@cindex incomplete type
16241Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
16242of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
16243program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
16244the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
16245given these declarations:
16246
16247@smallexample
16248 struct foo;
16249 struct foo *fooptr;
16250@end smallexample
16251
16252@noindent
16253but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
16254
16255@smallexample
16256 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
16257 $1 = <incomplete type>
16258@end smallexample
16259
16260@noindent
16261``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
16262completely specified.
16263
16264@kindex info types
16265@item info types @var{regexp}
16266@itemx info types
16267Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
16268expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
16269no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
16270complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
16271types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
16272@samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
16273name is @code{value}.
16274
16275This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
16276@code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
16277lists all source files where a type is defined.
16278
16279@kindex info type-printers
16280@item info type-printers
16281Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled may
16282have ``type printers'' available. When using @command{ptype} or
16283@command{whatis}, these printers are consulted when the name of a type
16284is needed. @xref{Type Printing API}, for more information on writing
16285type printers.
16286
16287@code{info type-printers} displays all the available type printers.
16288
16289@kindex enable type-printer
16290@kindex disable type-printer
16291@item enable type-printer @var{name}@dots{}
16292@item disable type-printer @var{name}@dots{}
16293These commands can be used to enable or disable type printers.
16294
16295@kindex info scope
16296@cindex local variables
16297@item info scope @var{location}
16298List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
16299accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
16300an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
16301to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
16302details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
16303
16304@smallexample
16305(@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
16306Scope for command_line_handler:
16307Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
16308Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
16309Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
16310Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
16311Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
16312Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
16313Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
16314@end smallexample
16315
16316@noindent
16317This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
16318during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
16319collect}.
16320
16321@kindex info source
16322@item info source
16323Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
16324the function containing the current point of execution:
16325@itemize @bullet
16326@item
16327the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
16328@item
16329the directory it was compiled in,
16330@item
16331its length, in lines,
16332@item
16333which programming language it is written in,
16334@item
16335if the debug information provides it, the program that compiled the file
16336(which may include, e.g., the compiler version and command line arguments),
16337@item
16338whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
16339if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
16340@item
16341whether the debugging information includes information about
16342preprocessor macros.
16343@end itemize
16344
16345
16346@kindex info sources
16347@item info sources
16348Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
16349debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
16350have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
16351
16352@kindex info functions
16353@item info functions
16354Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
16355
16356@item info functions @var{regexp}
16357Print the names and data types of all defined functions
16358whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
16359Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
16360include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
16361start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
16362that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
16363@samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
16364
16365@kindex info variables
16366@item info variables
16367Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
16368outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
16369
16370@item info variables @var{regexp}
16371Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
16372variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
16373@var{regexp}.
16374
16375@kindex info classes
16376@cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
16377@item info classes
16378@itemx info classes @var{regexp}
16379Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
16380(with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
16381expression.
16382
16383@kindex info selectors
16384@item info selectors
16385@itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
16386Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
16387(with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
16388expression.
16389
16390@ignore
16391This was never implemented.
16392@kindex info methods
16393@item info methods
16394@itemx info methods @var{regexp}
16395The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
16396methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
16397specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
16398C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
16399from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
16400@code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
16401which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
16402@end ignore
16403
16404@cindex opaque data types
16405@kindex set opaque-type-resolution
16406@item set opaque-type-resolution on
16407Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
16408declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
16409@code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
16410source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
16411another source file. The default is on.
16412
16413A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
16414the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
16415
16416@item set opaque-type-resolution off
16417Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
16418is printed as follows:
16419@smallexample
16420@{<no data fields>@}
16421@end smallexample
16422
16423@kindex show opaque-type-resolution
16424@item show opaque-type-resolution
16425Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
16426
16427@kindex set print symbol-loading
16428@cindex print messages when symbols are loaded
16429@item set print symbol-loading
16430@itemx set print symbol-loading full
16431@itemx set print symbol-loading brief
16432@itemx set print symbol-loading off
16433The @code{set print symbol-loading} command allows you to control the
16434printing of messages when @value{GDBN} loads symbol information.
16435By default a message is printed for the executable and one for each
16436shared library, and normally this is what you want. However, when
16437debugging apps with large numbers of shared libraries these messages
16438can be annoying.
16439When set to @code{brief} a message is printed for each executable,
16440and when @value{GDBN} loads a collection of shared libraries at once
16441it will only print one message regardless of the number of shared
16442libraries. When set to @code{off} no messages are printed.
16443
16444@kindex show print symbol-loading
16445@item show print symbol-loading
16446Show whether messages will be printed when a @value{GDBN} command
16447entered from the keyboard causes symbol information to be loaded.
16448
16449@kindex maint print symbols
16450@cindex symbol dump
16451@kindex maint print psymbols
16452@cindex partial symbol dump
16453@kindex maint print msymbols
16454@cindex minimal symbol dump
16455@item maint print symbols @var{filename}
16456@itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
16457@itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
16458Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
16459These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
16460symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
16461symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
16462collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
16463only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
16464command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
16465use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
16466symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
16467files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
16468@samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
16469required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
16470@xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
16471@value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
16472
16473@kindex maint info symtabs
16474@kindex maint info psymtabs
16475@cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
16476@cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
16477@cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
16478@cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
16479@item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
16480@itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
16481
16482List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
16483structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
16484given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
16485copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
16486structure in more detail. For example:
16487
16488@smallexample
16489(@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
16490@{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
16491 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
16492 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
16493 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
16494 readin no
16495 fullname (null)
16496 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
16497 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
16498 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
16499 dependencies (none)
16500 @}
16501@}
16502(@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
16503(@value{GDBP})
16504@end smallexample
16505@noindent
16506We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
16507the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
16508and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
16509If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
16510read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
16511
16512@smallexample
16513(@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
16514Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
16515line 1574.
16516(@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
16517@{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
16518 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
16519 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
16520 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
16521 dirname (null)
16522 fullname (null)
16523 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
16524 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
16525 debugformat DWARF 2
16526 @}
16527@}
16528(@value{GDBP})
16529@end smallexample
16530
16531@kindex maint set symbol-cache-size
16532@cindex symbol cache size
16533@item maint set symbol-cache-size @var{size}
16534Set the size of the symbol cache to @var{size}.
16535The default size is intended to be good enough for debugging
16536most applications. This option exists to allow for experimenting
16537with different sizes.
16538
16539@kindex maint show symbol-cache-size
16540@item maint show symbol-cache-size
16541Show the size of the symbol cache.
16542
16543@kindex maint print symbol-cache
16544@cindex symbol cache, printing its contents
16545@item maint print symbol-cache
16546Print the contents of the symbol cache.
16547This is useful when debugging symbol cache issues.
16548
16549@kindex maint print symbol-cache-statistics
16550@cindex symbol cache, printing usage statistics
16551@item maint print symbol-cache-statistics
16552Print symbol cache usage statistics.
16553This helps determine how well the cache is being utilized.
16554
16555@kindex maint flush-symbol-cache
16556@cindex symbol cache, flushing
16557@item maint flush-symbol-cache
16558Flush the contents of the symbol cache, all entries are removed.
16559This command is useful when debugging the symbol cache.
16560It is also useful when collecting performance data.
16561
16562@end table
16563
16564@node Altering
16565@chapter Altering Execution
16566
16567Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
16568find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
16569correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
16570experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
16571program.
16572
16573For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
16574locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
16575address, or even return prematurely from a function.
16576
16577@menu
16578* Assignment:: Assignment to variables
16579* Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
16580* Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
16581* Returning:: Returning from a function
16582* Calling:: Calling your program's functions
16583* Patching:: Patching your program
16584* Compiling and Injecting Code:: Compiling and injecting code in @value{GDBN}
16585@end menu
16586
16587@node Assignment
16588@section Assignment to Variables
16589
16590@cindex assignment
16591@cindex setting variables
16592To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
16593@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
16594
16595@smallexample
16596print x=4
16597@end smallexample
16598
16599@noindent
16600stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
16601value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
16602@xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
16603information on operators in supported languages.
16604
16605@kindex set variable
16606@cindex variables, setting
16607If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
16608@code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
16609really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
16610not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
16611,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
16612
16613If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
16614appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
16615variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
16616to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
16617program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
16618a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
16619command @code{set width}:
16620
16621@smallexample
16622(@value{GDBP}) whatis width
16623type = double
16624(@value{GDBP}) p width
16625$4 = 13
16626(@value{GDBP}) set width=47
16627Invalid syntax in expression.
16628@end smallexample
16629
16630@noindent
16631The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
16632order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
16633
16634@smallexample
16635(@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
16636@end smallexample
16637
16638Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
16639with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
16640@code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
16641your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
16642to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
16643the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
16644
16645@smallexample
16646@group
16647(@value{GDBP}) whatis g
16648type = double
16649(@value{GDBP}) p g
16650$1 = 1
16651(@value{GDBP}) set g=4
16652(@value{GDBP}) p g
16653$2 = 1
16654(@value{GDBP}) r
16655The program being debugged has been started already.
16656Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
16657Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
16658"/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
16659 Invalid bfd target.
16660(@value{GDBP}) show g
16661The current BFD target is "=4".
16662@end group
16663@end smallexample
16664
16665@noindent
16666The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
16667@code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
16668@code{g}, use
16669
16670@smallexample
16671(@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
16672@end smallexample
16673
16674@value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
16675freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
16676and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
16677same length or shorter.
16678@comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
16679@comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
16680
16681To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
16682construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
16683(@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
16684to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
16685and representation in memory), and
16686
16687@smallexample
16688set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
16689@end smallexample
16690
16691@noindent
16692stores the value 4 into that memory location.
16693
16694@node Jumping
16695@section Continuing at a Different Address
16696
16697Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
16698it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
16699an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
16700
16701@table @code
16702@kindex jump
16703@kindex j @r{(@code{jump})}
16704@item jump @var{linespec}
16705@itemx j @var{linespec}
16706@itemx jump @var{location}
16707@itemx j @var{location}
16708Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
16709@var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
16710breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
16711different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
16712practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
16713@code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
16714
16715The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
16716the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
16717register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
16718a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
16719be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
16720of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
16721confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
16722executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
16723well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
16724@end table
16725
16726@c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
16727On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
16728command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
16729difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
16730changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
16731example,
16732
16733@smallexample
16734set $pc = 0x485
16735@end smallexample
16736
16737@noindent
16738makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
16739address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
16740@xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
16741
16742The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
16743up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
16744that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
16745detail.
16746
16747@c @group
16748@node Signaling
16749@section Giving your Program a Signal
16750@cindex deliver a signal to a program
16751
16752@table @code
16753@kindex signal
16754@item signal @var{signal}
16755Resume execution where your program is stopped, but immediately give it the
16756signal @var{signal}. The @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
16757signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
16758SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
16759
16760Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
16761giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
16762a signal and would ordinarily see the signal when resumed with the
16763@code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
16764signal.
16765
16766@emph{Note:} When resuming a multi-threaded program, @var{signal} is
16767delivered to the currently selected thread, not the thread that last
16768reported a stop. This includes the situation where a thread was
16769stopped due to a signal. So if you want to continue execution
16770suppressing the signal that stopped a thread, you should select that
16771same thread before issuing the @samp{signal 0} command. If you issue
16772the @samp{signal 0} command with another thread as the selected one,
16773@value{GDBN} detects that and asks for confirmation.
16774
16775Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
16776@code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
16777causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
16778the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
16779passes the signal directly to your program.
16780
16781@code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
16782after executing the command.
16783
16784@kindex queue-signal
16785@item queue-signal @var{signal}
16786Queue @var{signal} to be delivered immediately to the current thread
16787when execution of the thread resumes. The @var{signal} can be the name or
16788the number of a signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and
16789@code{signal SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
16790The handling of the signal must be set to pass the signal to the program,
16791otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error.
16792You can control the handling of signals from @value{GDBN} with the
16793@code{handle} command (@pxref{Signals}).
16794
16795Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, any currently queued signal
16796for the current thread is discarded and when execution resumes no signal
16797will be delivered. This is useful when your program stopped on account
16798of a signal and would ordinarily see the signal when resumed with the
16799@code{continue} command.
16800
16801This command differs from the @code{signal} command in that the signal
16802is just queued, execution is not resumed. And @code{queue-signal} cannot
16803be used to pass a signal whose handling state has been set to @code{nopass}
16804(@pxref{Signals}).
16805@end table
16806@c @end group
16807
16808@xref{stepping into signal handlers}, for information on how stepping
16809commands behave when the thread has a signal queued.
16810
16811@node Returning
16812@section Returning from a Function
16813
16814@table @code
16815@cindex returning from a function
16816@kindex return
16817@item return
16818@itemx return @var{expression}
16819You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
16820command. If you give an
16821@var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
16822value.
16823@end table
16824
16825When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
16826(and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
16827discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
16828be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
16829
16830This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
16831Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
16832innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
16833specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
16834of functions.
16835
16836The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
16837program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
16838returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
16839and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
16840selected stack frame returns naturally.
16841
16842@value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
16843the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
16844type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
16845OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
16846CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
16847registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
16848specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
16849current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
16850assignment into the right register(s).
16851
16852Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
16853use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
16854debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
16855function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
16856int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
16857into a @code{long long int}:
16858
16859@smallexample
16860Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
1686129 return 31;
16862(@value{GDBP}) return -1
16863Make func return now? (y or n) y
16864#0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
1686543 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
16866(@value{GDBP})
16867@end smallexample
16868
16869However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
16870function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
16871to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
16872in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
16873typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
16874of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
16875architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
16876an appropriate cast explicitly:
16877
16878@smallexample
16879Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
16880(@value{GDBP}) return -1
16881Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
16882Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
16883(@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
16884Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
16885#0 0x00400526 in main ()
16886(@value{GDBP})
16887@end smallexample
16888
16889@node Calling
16890@section Calling Program Functions
16891
16892@table @code
16893@cindex calling functions
16894@cindex inferior functions, calling
16895@item print @var{expr}
16896Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
16897The expression may include calls to functions in the program being
16898debugged.
16899
16900@kindex call
16901@item call @var{expr}
16902Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
16903returned values.
16904
16905You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
16906execute a function from your program that does not return anything
16907(a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
16908with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
16909print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
16910value history.
16911@end table
16912
16913It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
16914@code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
16915the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
16916in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
16917
16918Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
16919call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
16920exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
16921frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
16922an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
16923dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
16924seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
16925in that case is controlled by the
16926@code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
16927
16928@table @code
16929@item set unwindonsignal
16930@kindex set unwindonsignal
16931@cindex unwind stack in called functions
16932@cindex call dummy stack unwinding
16933Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
16934that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
16935@value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
16936the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
16937default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
16938received.
16939
16940@item show unwindonsignal
16941@kindex show unwindonsignal
16942Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
16943@value{GDBN}.
16944
16945@item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
16946@kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
16947@cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
16948@cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
16949Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
16950unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
16951debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
16952it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
16953the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
16954the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
16955
16956@item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
16957@kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
16958Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
16959@value{GDBN}.
16960
16961@end table
16962
16963@cindex weak alias functions
16964Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
16965for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
16966the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
16967which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
16968As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
16969even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
16970function instead.
16971
16972@node Patching
16973@section Patching Programs
16974
16975@cindex patching binaries
16976@cindex writing into executables
16977@cindex writing into corefiles
16978
16979By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
16980executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
16981alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
16982patching your program's binary.
16983
16984If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
16985explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
16986want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
16987repairs.
16988
16989@table @code
16990@kindex set write
16991@item set write on
16992@itemx set write off
16993If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
16994core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
16995off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
16996
16997If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
16998@code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
16999write}, for your new setting to take effect.
17000
17001@item show write
17002@kindex show write
17003Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
17004as well as reading.
17005@end table
17006
17007@node Compiling and Injecting Code
17008@section Compiling and injecting code in @value{GDBN}
17009@cindex injecting code
17010@cindex writing into executables
17011@cindex compiling code
17012
17013@value{GDBN} supports on-demand compilation and code injection into
17014programs running under @value{GDBN}. GCC 5.0 or higher built with
17015@file{libcc1.so} must be installed for this functionality to be enabled.
17016This functionality is implemented with the following commands.
17017
17018@table @code
17019@kindex compile code
17020@item compile code @var{source-code}
17021@itemx compile code -raw @var{--} @var{source-code}
17022Compile @var{source-code} with the compiler language found as the current
17023language in @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Languages}). If compilation and
17024injection is not supported with the current language specified in
17025@value{GDBN}, or the compiler does not support this feature, an error
17026message will be printed. If @var{source-code} compiles and links
17027successfully, @value{GDBN} will load the object-code emitted,
17028and execute it within the context of the currently selected inferior.
17029It is important to note that the compiled code is executed immediately.
17030After execution, the compiled code is removed from @value{GDBN} and any
17031new types or variables you have defined will be deleted.
17032
17033The command allows you to specify @var{source-code} in two ways.
17034The simplest method is to provide a single line of code to the command.
17035E.g.:
17036
17037@smallexample
17038compile code printf ("hello world\n");
17039@end smallexample
17040
17041If you specify options on the command line as well as source code, they
17042may conflict. The @samp{--} delimiter can be used to separate options
17043from actual source code. E.g.:
17044
17045@smallexample
17046compile code -r -- printf ("hello world\n");
17047@end smallexample
17048
17049Alternatively you can enter source code as multiple lines of text. To
17050enter this mode, invoke the @samp{compile code} command without any text
17051following the command. This will start the multiple-line editor and
17052allow you to type as many lines of source code as required. When you
17053have completed typing, enter @samp{end} on its own line to exit the
17054editor.
17055
17056@smallexample
17057compile code
17058>printf ("hello\n");
17059>printf ("world\n");
17060>end
17061@end smallexample
17062
17063Specifying @samp{-raw}, prohibits @value{GDBN} from wrapping the
17064provided @var{source-code} in a callable scope. In this case, you must
17065specify the entry point of the code by defining a function named
17066@code{_gdb_expr_}. The @samp{-raw} code cannot access variables of the
17067inferior. Using @samp{-raw} option may be needed for example when
17068@var{source-code} requires @samp{#include} lines which may conflict with
17069inferior symbols otherwise.
17070
17071@kindex compile file
17072@item compile file @var{filename}
17073@itemx compile file -raw @var{filename}
17074Like @code{compile code}, but take the source code from @var{filename}.
17075
17076@smallexample
17077compile file /home/user/example.c
17078@end smallexample
17079@end table
17080
17081@subsection Caveats when using the @code{compile} command
17082
17083There are a few caveats to keep in mind when using the @code{compile}
17084command. As the caveats are different per language, the table below
17085highlights specific issues on a per language basis.
17086
17087@table @asis
17088@item C code examples and caveats
17089When the language in @value{GDBN} is set to @samp{C}, the compiler will
17090attempt to compile the source code with a @samp{C} compiler. The source
17091code provided to the @code{compile} command will have much the same
17092access to variables and types as it normally would if it were part of
17093the program currently being debugged in @value{GDBN}.
17094
17095Below is a sample program that forms the basis of the examples that
17096follow. This program has been compiled and loaded into @value{GDBN},
17097much like any other normal debugging session.
17098
17099@smallexample
17100void function1 (void)
17101@{
17102 int i = 42;
17103 printf ("function 1\n");
17104@}
17105
17106void function2 (void)
17107@{
17108 int j = 12;
17109 function1 ();
17110@}
17111
17112int main(void)
17113@{
17114 int k = 6;
17115 int *p;
17116 function2 ();
17117 return 0;
17118@}
17119@end smallexample
17120
17121For the purposes of the examples in this section, the program above has
17122been compiled, loaded into @value{GDBN}, stopped at the function
17123@code{main}, and @value{GDBN} is awaiting input from the user.
17124
17125To access variables and types for any program in @value{GDBN}, the
17126program must be compiled and packaged with debug information. The
17127@code{compile} command is not an exception to this rule. Without debug
17128information, you can still use the @code{compile} command, but you will
17129be very limited in what variables and types you can access.
17130
17131So with that in mind, the example above has been compiled with debug
17132information enabled. The @code{compile} command will have access to
17133all variables and types (except those that may have been optimized
17134out). Currently, as @value{GDBN} has stopped the program in the
17135@code{main} function, the @code{compile} command would have access to
17136the variable @code{k}. You could invoke the @code{compile} command
17137and type some source code to set the value of @code{k}. You can also
17138read it, or do anything with that variable you would normally do in
17139@code{C}. Be aware that changes to inferior variables in the
17140@code{compile} command are persistent. In the following example:
17141
17142@smallexample
17143compile code k = 3;
17144@end smallexample
17145
17146@noindent
17147the variable @code{k} is now 3. It will retain that value until
17148something else in the example program changes it, or another
17149@code{compile} command changes it.
17150
17151Normal scope and access rules apply to source code compiled and
17152injected by the @code{compile} command. In the example, the variables
17153@code{j} and @code{k} are not accessible yet, because the program is
17154currently stopped in the @code{main} function, where these variables
17155are not in scope. Therefore, the following command
17156
17157@smallexample
17158compile code j = 3;
17159@end smallexample
17160
17161@noindent
17162will result in a compilation error message.
17163
17164Once the program is continued, execution will bring these variables in
17165scope, and they will become accessible; then the code you specify via
17166the @code{compile} command will be able to access them.
17167
17168You can create variables and types with the @code{compile} command as
17169part of your source code. Variables and types that are created as part
17170of the @code{compile} command are not visible to the rest of the program for
17171the duration of its run. This example is valid:
17172
17173@smallexample
17174compile code int ff = 5; printf ("ff is %d\n", ff);
17175@end smallexample
17176
17177However, if you were to type the following into @value{GDBN} after that
17178command has completed:
17179
17180@smallexample
17181compile code printf ("ff is %d\n'', ff);
17182@end smallexample
17183
17184@noindent
17185a compiler error would be raised as the variable @code{ff} no longer
17186exists. Object code generated and injected by the @code{compile}
17187command is removed when its execution ends. Caution is advised
17188when assigning to program variables values of variables created by the
17189code submitted to the @code{compile} command. This example is valid:
17190
17191@smallexample
17192compile code int ff = 5; k = ff;
17193@end smallexample
17194
17195The value of the variable @code{ff} is assigned to @code{k}. The variable
17196@code{k} does not require the existence of @code{ff} to maintain the value
17197it has been assigned. However, pointers require particular care in
17198assignment. If the source code compiled with the @code{compile} command
17199changed the address of a pointer in the example program, perhaps to a
17200variable created in the @code{compile} command, that pointer would point
17201to an invalid location when the command exits. The following example
17202would likely cause issues with your debugged program:
17203
17204@smallexample
17205compile code int ff = 5; p = &ff;
17206@end smallexample
17207
17208In this example, @code{p} would point to @code{ff} when the
17209@code{compile} command is executing the source code provided to it.
17210However, as variables in the (example) program persist with their
17211assigned values, the variable @code{p} would point to an invalid
17212location when the command exists. A general rule should be followed
17213in that you should either assign @code{NULL} to any assigned pointers,
17214or restore a valid location to the pointer before the command exits.
17215
17216Similar caution must be exercised with any structs, unions, and typedefs
17217defined in @code{compile} command. Types defined in the @code{compile}
17218command will no longer be available in the next @code{compile} command.
17219Therefore, if you cast a variable to a type defined in the
17220@code{compile} command, care must be taken to ensure that any future
17221need to resolve the type can be achieved.
17222
17223@smallexample
17224(gdb) compile code static struct a @{ int a; @} v = @{ 42 @}; argv = &v;
17225(gdb) compile code printf ("%d\n", ((struct a *) argv)->a);
17226gdb command line:1:36: error: dereferencing pointer to incomplete type ‘struct a’
17227Compilation failed.
17228(gdb) compile code struct a @{ int a; @}; printf ("%d\n", ((struct a *) argv)->a);
1722942
17230@end smallexample
17231
17232Variables that have been optimized away by the compiler are not
17233accessible to the code submitted to the @code{compile} command.
17234Access to those variables will generate a compiler error which @value{GDBN}
17235will print to the console.
17236@end table
17237
17238@node GDB Files
17239@chapter @value{GDBN} Files
17240
17241@value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
17242both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
17243program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
17244@value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
17245
17246@menu
17247* Files:: Commands to specify files
17248* Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
17249* MiniDebugInfo:: Debugging information in a special section
17250* Index Files:: Index files speed up GDB
17251* Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
17252* Data Files:: GDB data files
17253@end menu
17254
17255@node Files
17256@section Commands to Specify Files
17257
17258@cindex symbol table
17259@cindex core dump file
17260
17261You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
17262way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
17263@value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
17264Out of @value{GDBN}}).
17265
17266Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
17267@value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
17268specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
17269via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
17270Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
17271new files are useful.
17272
17273@table @code
17274@cindex executable file
17275@kindex file
17276@item file @var{filename}
17277Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
17278symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
17279executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
17280directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
17281@value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
17282directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
17283to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
17284and your program, using the @code{path} command.
17285
17286@cindex unlinked object files
17287@cindex patching object files
17288You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
17289the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
17290file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
17291if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
17292@kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
17293that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
17294case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
17295the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
17296
17297@item file
17298@code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
17299has on both executable file and the symbol table.
17300
17301@kindex exec-file
17302@item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
17303Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
17304in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
17305if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
17306discard information on the executable file.
17307
17308@kindex symbol-file
17309@item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
17310Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
17311searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
17312table and program to run from the same file.
17313
17314@code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
17315program's symbol table.
17316
17317The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
17318some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
17319contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
17320which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
17321@value{GDBN}.
17322
17323@code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
17324executing it once.
17325
17326When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
17327understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
17328generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
17329other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
17330Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
17331using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
17332optimized code.
17333
17334For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
17335using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
17336symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
17337quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
17338details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
17339
17340The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
17341start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
17342occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
17343file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
17344pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
17345Warnings and Messages}.)
17346
17347We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
17348symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
17349symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
17350still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
17351in stabs format.
17352
17353@kindex readnow
17354@cindex reading symbols immediately
17355@cindex symbols, reading immediately
17356@item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
17357@itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
17358You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
17359tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
17360load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
17361entire symbol table available.
17362
17363@c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
17364@c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
17365@c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
17366@c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
17367@c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
17368@c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
17369@c files.
17370
17371@kindex core-file
17372@item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
17373@itemx core
17374Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
17375of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
17376address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
17377executable file itself for other parts.
17378
17379@code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
17380to be used.
17381
17382Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
17383under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
17384wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
17385the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
17386(@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
17387
17388@kindex add-symbol-file
17389@cindex dynamic linking
17390@item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
17391@itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
17392@itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} -s @var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
17393The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
17394information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
17395when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
17396into the program that is running. The @var{address} should give the memory
17397address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
17398this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
17399of @samp{-s @var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
17400section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
17401@var{address} as an expression.
17402
17403The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
17404originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
17405@code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
17406thus read is kept in addition to the old.
17407
17408Changes can be reverted using the command @code{remove-symbol-file}.
17409
17410@cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
17411@cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
17412@cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
17413@cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
17414@cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
17415Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
17416executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
17417relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
17418information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
17419
17420@itemize @bullet
17421@item
17422the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
17423that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
17424@item
17425every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
17426been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
17427@item
17428you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
17429provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
17430@end itemize
17431
17432@noindent
17433Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
17434relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
17435typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
17436important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
17437procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
17438assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
17439general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
17440relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
17441as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
17442way.
17443
17444@code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
17445
17446@kindex remove-symbol-file
17447@item remove-symbol-file @var{filename}
17448@item remove-symbol-file -a @var{address}
17449Remove a symbol file added via the @code{add-symbol-file} command. The
17450file to remove can be identified by its @var{filename} or by an @var{address}
17451that lies within the boundaries of this symbol file in memory. Example:
17452
17453@smallexample
17454(gdb) add-symbol-file /home/user/gdb/mylib.so 0x7ffff7ff9480
17455add symbol table from file "/home/user/gdb/mylib.so" at
17456 .text_addr = 0x7ffff7ff9480
17457(y or n) y
17458Reading symbols from /home/user/gdb/mylib.so...done.
17459(gdb) remove-symbol-file -a 0x7ffff7ff9480
17460Remove symbol table from file "/home/user/gdb/mylib.so"? (y or n) y
17461(gdb)
17462@end smallexample
17463
17464
17465@code{remove-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
17466
17467@kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
17468@cindex @code{syscall DSO}
17469@cindex load symbols from memory
17470@item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
17471Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
17472object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
17473For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
17474process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
17475some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
17476evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
17477For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
17478@code{exec-file} commands in advance.
17479
17480@kindex section
17481@item section @var{section} @var{addr}
17482The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
17483@var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
17484exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
17485@code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
17486itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
17487@code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
17488their addresses.
17489
17490@kindex info files
17491@kindex info target
17492@item info files
17493@itemx info target
17494@code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
17495current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
17496including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
17497use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
17498command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
17499current ones.
17500
17501@kindex maint info sections
17502@item maint info sections
17503Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
17504is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
17505displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
17506offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
17507@code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
17508may be arbitrarily combined):
17509
17510@table @code
17511@item ALLOBJ
17512Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
17513@item @var{sections}
17514Display info only for named @var{sections}.
17515@item @var{section-flags}
17516Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
17517The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
17518@table @code
17519@item ALLOC
17520Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
17521Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
17522@item LOAD
17523Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
17524Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
17525@item RELOC
17526Section needs to be relocated before loading.
17527@item READONLY
17528Section cannot be modified by the child process.
17529@item CODE
17530Section contains executable code only.
17531@item DATA
17532Section contains data only (no executable code).
17533@item ROM
17534Section will reside in ROM.
17535@item CONSTRUCTOR
17536Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
17537@item HAS_CONTENTS
17538Section is not empty.
17539@item NEVER_LOAD
17540An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
17541@item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
17542A notification to the linker that the section contains
17543COFF shared library information.
17544@item IS_COMMON
17545Section contains common symbols.
17546@end table
17547@end table
17548@kindex set trust-readonly-sections
17549@cindex read-only sections
17550@item set trust-readonly-sections on
17551Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
17552really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
17553In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
17554out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
17555For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
17556enhancement to debugging performance.
17557
17558The default is off.
17559
17560@item set trust-readonly-sections off
17561Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
17562the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
17563and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
17564
17565@item show trust-readonly-sections
17566Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
17567@end table
17568
17569All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
17570as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
17571name and remembers it that way.
17572
17573@cindex shared libraries
17574@anchor{Shared Libraries}
17575@value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
17576and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
17577
17578On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
17579shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
17580
17581@value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
17582when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
17583(Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
17584references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
17585debugging a core file).
17586
17587On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
17588automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
17589
17590@c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
17591@c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
17592@c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
17593
17594There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
17595symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
17596particularly large or there are many of them.
17597
17598To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
17599commands:
17600
17601@table @code
17602@kindex set auto-solib-add
17603@item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
17604If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
17605will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
17606attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
17607informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
17608is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
17609@code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
17610
17611@cindex memory used for symbol tables
17612If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
17613takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
17614memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
17615symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
17616auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
17617library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
17618@var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
17619the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
17620
17621@kindex show auto-solib-add
17622@item show auto-solib-add
17623Display the current autoloading mode.
17624@end table
17625
17626@cindex load shared library
17627To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
17628command:
17629
17630@table @code
17631@kindex info sharedlibrary
17632@kindex info share
17633@item info share @var{regex}
17634@itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
17635Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
17636that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
17637all shared libraries that are loaded.
17638
17639@kindex sharedlibrary
17640@kindex share
17641@item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
17642@itemx share @var{regex}
17643Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
17644Unix regular expression.
17645As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
17646required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
17647@var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
17648loaded.
17649
17650@item nosharedlibrary
17651@kindex nosharedlibrary
17652@cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
17653Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
17654that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
17655libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
17656discarded.
17657@end table
17658
17659Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
17660when any of shared library events happen. The best way to do this is
17661to use @code{catch load} and @code{catch unload} (@pxref{Set
17662Catchpoints}).
17663
17664@value{GDBN} also supports the the @code{set stop-on-solib-events}
17665command for this. This command exists for historical reasons. It is
17666less useful than setting a catchpoint, because it does not allow for
17667conditions or commands as a catchpoint does.
17668
17669@table @code
17670@item set stop-on-solib-events
17671@kindex set stop-on-solib-events
17672This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
17673when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
17674The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
17675shared library.
17676
17677@item show stop-on-solib-events
17678@kindex show stop-on-solib-events
17679Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
17680library events happen.
17681@end table
17682
17683Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
17684configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
17685this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
17686on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
17687libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
17688provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
17689copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
17690not.
17691
17692@cindex where to look for shared libraries
17693For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
17694libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
17695may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
17696to specify the search directories for target libraries.
17697
17698@table @code
17699@cindex prefix for shared library file names
17700@cindex system root, alternate
17701@kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
17702@kindex set sysroot
17703@item set sysroot @var{path}
17704Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
17705absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
17706runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
17707target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
17708libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
17709the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
17710under @var{path}.
17711
17712If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
17713retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
17714supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
17715command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
17716The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
17717(if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
17718@footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
17719that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
17720variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
17721
17722For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
17723SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
17724absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
17725@value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
17726slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
17727
17728@smallexample
17729 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
17730@end smallexample
17731
17732Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
17733@var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
17734system:
17735
17736@smallexample
17737 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
17738@end smallexample
17739
17740If that does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries removing
17741the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
17742for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
17743colons:
17744
17745@smallexample
17746 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
17747@end smallexample
17748
17749This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
17750with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
17751copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
17752@samp{z}):
17753
17754@smallexample
17755 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
17756 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
17757 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
17758@end smallexample
17759
17760@noindent
17761and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
17762@value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
17763@file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
17764
17765If that still does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries
17766removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
17767
17768@smallexample
17769 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
17770@end smallexample
17771
17772This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
17773if you don't want or need to.
17774
17775The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
17776sysroot}.
17777
17778@cindex default system root
17779@cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
17780You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
17781@samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
17782@value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
17783@samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
17784automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
17785location.
17786
17787@kindex show sysroot
17788@item show sysroot
17789Display the current shared library prefix.
17790
17791@kindex set solib-search-path
17792@item set solib-search-path @var{path}
17793If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
17794directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
17795is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
17796path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
17797use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
17798@samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
17799finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
17800it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
17801of shared library symbols.
17802
17803@kindex show solib-search-path
17804@item show solib-search-path
17805Display the current shared library search path.
17806
17807@cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
17808@kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
17809@kindex show target-file-system-kind
17810@item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
17811Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
17812
17813Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
17814make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
17815example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
17816system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
17817@value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
17818@file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
17819drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
17820indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
17821normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
17822the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
17823as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
17824it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
17825shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
17826with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
17827@code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
17828to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
17829map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
17830semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
17831to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
17832tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
17833current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
17834Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
17835
17836@table @code
17837@item unix
17838Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
17839kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
17840are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
17841the forward slash.
17842
17843@item dos-based
17844Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
17845File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
17846followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
17847both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
17848considered directory separators.
17849
17850@item auto
17851Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
17852target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
17853This is the default.
17854@end table
17855@end table
17856
17857@cindex file name canonicalization
17858@cindex base name differences
17859When processing file names provided by the user, @value{GDBN}
17860frequently needs to compare them to the file names recorded in the
17861program's debug info. Normally, @value{GDBN} compares just the
17862@dfn{base names} of the files as strings, which is reasonably fast
17863even for very large programs. (The base name of a file is the last
17864portion of its name, after stripping all the leading directories.)
17865This shortcut in comparison is based upon the assumption that files
17866cannot have more than one base name. This is usually true, but
17867references to files that use symlinks or similar filesystem
17868facilities violate that assumption. If your program records files
17869using such facilities, or if you provide file names to @value{GDBN}
17870using symlinks etc., you can set @code{basenames-may-differ} to
17871@code{true} to instruct @value{GDBN} to completely canonicalize each
17872pair of file names it needs to compare. This will make file-name
17873comparisons accurate, but at a price of a significant slowdown.
17874
17875@table @code
17876@item set basenames-may-differ
17877@kindex set basenames-may-differ
17878Set whether a source file may have multiple base names.
17879
17880@item show basenames-may-differ
17881@kindex show basenames-may-differ
17882Show whether a source file may have multiple base names.
17883@end table
17884
17885@node Separate Debug Files
17886@section Debugging Information in Separate Files
17887@cindex separate debugging information files
17888@cindex debugging information in separate files
17889@cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
17890@cindex debugging information directory, global
17891@cindex global debugging information directories
17892@cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
17893@cindex @file{.build-id} directory
17894
17895@value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
17896file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
17897@value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
17898Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
17899than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
17900information for their executables in separate files, which users can
17901install only when they need to debug a problem.
17902
17903@value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
17904file:
17905
17906@itemize @bullet
17907@item
17908The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
17909the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
17910usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
17911name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
17912(e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
17913debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
17914checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
17915the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
17916
17917@item
17918The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
17919also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
17920only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
17921for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
17922this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
17923command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
17924The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
17925explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
17926below.
17927@end itemize
17928
17929Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
17930uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
17931
17932@itemize @bullet
17933@item
17934For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
17935the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
17936directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under each one of the global debug
17937directories, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
17938directories of the executable's absolute file name.
17939
17940@item
17941For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
17942@file{.build-id} subdirectory of each one of the global debug directories for
17943a file named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
17944first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
17945are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
17946hex characters, not 10.)
17947@end itemize
17948
17949So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
17950@file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
17951file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
17952@code{abcdef1234}. If the list of the global debug directories includes
17953@file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
17954debug information files, in the indicated order:
17955
17956@itemize @minus
17957@item
17958@file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
17959@item
17960@file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
17961@item
17962@file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
17963@item
17964@file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
17965@end itemize
17966
17967@anchor{debug-file-directory}
17968Global debugging info directories default to what is set by @value{GDBN}
17969configure option @option{--with-separate-debug-dir}. During @value{GDBN} run
17970you can also set the global debugging info directories, and view the list
17971@value{GDBN} is currently using.
17972
17973@table @code
17974
17975@kindex set debug-file-directory
17976@item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
17977Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
17978information files to @var{directory}. Multiple path components can be set
17979concatenating them by a path separator.
17980
17981@kindex show debug-file-directory
17982@item show debug-file-directory
17983Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
17984information files.
17985
17986@end table
17987
17988@cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
17989@cindex debug link sections
17990A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
17991@code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
17992
17993@itemize
17994@item
17995A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
17996a zero byte,
17997@item
17998zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
17999boundary within the section, and
18000@item
18001a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
18002executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
18003information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
18004zero as the @var{crc} argument.
18005@end itemize
18006
18007Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
18008contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
18009described above.
18010
18011@cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
18012@cindex build ID sections
18013The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
18014ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
18015often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
18016It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
18017the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
18018algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
18019content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
18020value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
18021stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
18022
18023The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
18024executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
18025debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
18026should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
18027but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
18028in an ordinary executable.
18029
18030The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
18031@samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
18032the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
18033following commands:
18034
18035@smallexample
18036@kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
18037@kbd{strip -g foo}
18038@end smallexample
18039
18040@noindent
18041These commands remove the debugging
18042information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
18043@file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
18044two files:
18045
18046@itemize @bullet
18047@item
18048The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
18049behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
18050
18051@smallexample
18052@kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
18053@end smallexample
18054
18055Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
18056a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
18057foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
18058the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
18059
18060@item
18061Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
18062the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
18063compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
18064utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
18065@end itemize
18066
18067@noindent
18068
18069@cindex CRC algorithm definition
18070The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
18071IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
18072
18073@c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
18074@c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
18075@c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
18076@c different ways!
18077@ifhtml
18078@display
18079@html
18080 <em>x</em><sup>32</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>26</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>23</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>22</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>16</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>12</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>11</sup>
18081 + <em>x</em><sup>10</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>8</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>7</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>5</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>4</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>2</sup> + <em>x</em> + 1
18082@end html
18083@end display
18084@end ifhtml
18085@ifnothtml
18086@display
18087 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
18088 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
18089@end display
18090@end ifnothtml
18091
18092The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
18093significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
18094@code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
18095the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
18096CRC.
18097
18098@emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
18099@dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{qCRC packet}).
18100However in the case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed
18101@emph{most} significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so
18102trailing zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
18103
18104To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
18105which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
18106initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
18107this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
18108@code{0xffffffff}.
18109
18110@kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
18111@smallexample
18112unsigned long
18113gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
18114 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
18115@{
18116 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
18117 @{
18118 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
18119 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
18120 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
18121 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
18122 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
18123 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
18124 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
18125 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
18126 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
18127 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
18128 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
18129 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
18130 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
18131 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
18132 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
18133 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
18134 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
18135 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
18136 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
18137 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
18138 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
18139 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
18140 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
18141 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
18142 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
18143 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
18144 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
18145 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
18146 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
18147 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
18148 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
18149 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
18150 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
18151 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
18152 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
18153 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
18154 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
18155 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
18156 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
18157 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
18158 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
18159 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
18160 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
18161 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
18162 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
18163 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
18164 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
18165 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
18166 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
18167 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
18168 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
18169 0x2d02ef8d
18170 @};
18171 unsigned char *end;
18172
18173 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
18174 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
18175 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
18176 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
18177@}
18178@end smallexample
18179
18180@noindent
18181This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
18182
18183@node MiniDebugInfo
18184@section Debugging information in a special section
18185@cindex separate debug sections
18186@cindex @samp{.gnu_debugdata} section
18187
18188Some systems ship pre-built executables and libraries that have a
18189special @samp{.gnu_debugdata} section. This feature is called
18190@dfn{MiniDebugInfo}. This section holds an LZMA-compressed object and
18191is used to supply extra symbols for backtraces.
18192
18193The intent of this section is to provide extra minimal debugging
18194information for use in simple backtraces. It is not intended to be a
18195replacement for full separate debugging information (@pxref{Separate
18196Debug Files}). The example below shows the intended use; however,
18197@value{GDBN} does not currently put restrictions on what sort of
18198debugging information might be included in the section.
18199
18200@value{GDBN} has support for this extension. If the section exists,
18201then it is used provided that no other source of debugging information
18202can be found, and that @value{GDBN} was configured with LZMA support.
18203
18204This section can be easily created using @command{objcopy} and other
18205standard utilities:
18206
18207@smallexample
18208# Extract the dynamic symbols from the main binary, there is no need
18209# to also have these in the normal symbol table.
18210nm -D @var{binary} --format=posix --defined-only \
18211 | awk '@{ print $1 @}' | sort > dynsyms
18212
18213# Extract all the text (i.e. function) symbols from the debuginfo.
18214# (Note that we actually also accept "D" symbols, for the benefit
18215# of platforms like PowerPC64 that use function descriptors.)
18216nm @var{binary} --format=posix --defined-only \
18217 | awk '@{ if ($2 == "T" || $2 == "t" || $2 == "D") print $1 @}' \
18218 | sort > funcsyms
18219
18220# Keep all the function symbols not already in the dynamic symbol
18221# table.
18222comm -13 dynsyms funcsyms > keep_symbols
18223
18224# Separate full debug info into debug binary.
18225objcopy --only-keep-debug @var{binary} debug
18226
18227# Copy the full debuginfo, keeping only a minimal set of symbols and
18228# removing some unnecessary sections.
18229objcopy -S --remove-section .gdb_index --remove-section .comment \
18230 --keep-symbols=keep_symbols debug mini_debuginfo
18231
18232# Drop the full debug info from the original binary.
18233strip --strip-all -R .comment @var{binary}
18234
18235# Inject the compressed data into the .gnu_debugdata section of the
18236# original binary.
18237xz mini_debuginfo
18238objcopy --add-section .gnu_debugdata=mini_debuginfo.xz @var{binary}
18239@end smallexample
18240
18241@node Index Files
18242@section Index Files Speed Up @value{GDBN}
18243@cindex index files
18244@cindex @samp{.gdb_index} section
18245
18246When @value{GDBN} finds a symbol file, it scans the symbols in the
18247file in order to construct an internal symbol table. This lets most
18248@value{GDBN} operations work quickly---at the cost of a delay early
18249on. For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so
18250@value{GDBN} provides a way to build an index, which speeds up
18251startup.
18252
18253The index is stored as a section in the symbol file. @value{GDBN} can
18254write the index to a file, then you can put it into the symbol file
18255using @command{objcopy}.
18256
18257To create an index file, use the @code{save gdb-index} command:
18258
18259@table @code
18260@item save gdb-index @var{directory}
18261@kindex save gdb-index
18262Create an index file for each symbol file currently known by
18263@value{GDBN}. Each file is named after its corresponding symbol file,
18264with @samp{.gdb-index} appended, and is written into the given
18265@var{directory}.
18266@end table
18267
18268Once you have created an index file you can merge it into your symbol
18269file, here named @file{symfile}, using @command{objcopy}:
18270
18271@smallexample
18272$ objcopy --add-section .gdb_index=symfile.gdb-index \
18273 --set-section-flags .gdb_index=readonly symfile symfile
18274@end smallexample
18275
18276@value{GDBN} will normally ignore older versions of @file{.gdb_index}
18277sections that have been deprecated. Usually they are deprecated because
18278they are missing a new feature or have performance issues.
18279To tell @value{GDBN} to use a deprecated index section anyway
18280specify @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
18281The default is @code{off}.
18282This can speed up startup, but may result in some functionality being lost.
18283@xref{Index Section Format}.
18284
18285@emph{Warning:} Setting @code{use-deprecated-index-sections} to @code{on}
18286must be done before gdb reads the file. The following will not work:
18287
18288@smallexample
18289$ gdb -ex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
18290@end smallexample
18291
18292Instead you must do, for example,
18293
18294@smallexample
18295$ gdb -iex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
18296@end smallexample
18297
18298There are currently some limitation on indices. They only work when
18299for DWARF debugging information, not stabs. And, they do not
18300currently work for programs using Ada.
18301
18302@node Symbol Errors
18303@section Errors Reading Symbol Files
18304
18305While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
18306such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
18307output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
18308they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
18309debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
18310about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
18311only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
18312times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
18313to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
18314complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
18315Messages}).
18316
18317The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
18318
18319@table @code
18320@item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
18321
18322The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
18323(such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
18324error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
18325in its outer scope blocks.
18326
18327@value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
18328the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
18329may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
18330function.
18331
18332@item block at @var{address} out of order
18333
18334The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
18335order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
18336do so.
18337
18338@value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
18339locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
18340can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
18341@code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
18342Messages}.)
18343
18344@item bad block start address patched
18345
18346The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
18347smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
18348to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
18349
18350@value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
18351starting on the previous source line.
18352
18353@item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
18354
18355@cindex foo
18356Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
18357larger than the size of the string table.
18358
18359@value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
18360name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
18361with this name.
18362
18363@item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
18364
18365The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
18366not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
18367uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
18368
18369@value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
18370This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
18371are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
18372debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
18373on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
18374and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
18375
18376@item stub type has NULL name
18377
18378@value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
18379
18380@item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
18381The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
18382information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
18383it.
18384
18385@item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
18386
18387@value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
18388
18389@end table
18390
18391@node Data Files
18392@section GDB Data Files
18393
18394@cindex prefix for data files
18395@value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
18396are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
18397
18398You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
18399is currently using.
18400
18401@table @code
18402@kindex set data-directory
18403@item set data-directory @var{directory}
18404Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
18405to @var{directory}.
18406
18407@kindex show data-directory
18408@item show data-directory
18409Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
18410@end table
18411
18412@cindex default data directory
18413@cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
18414You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
18415@samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
18416@value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
18417@samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
18418automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
18419location.
18420
18421The data directory may also be specified with the
18422@code{--data-directory} command line option.
18423@xref{Mode Options}.
18424
18425@node Targets
18426@chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
18427
18428@cindex debugging target
18429A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
18430
18431Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
18432in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
18433you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
18434flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
18435host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
18436realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
18437command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
18438(@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
18439
18440@cindex target architecture
18441It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
18442architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
18443one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
18444command.
18445
18446@table @code
18447@kindex set architecture
18448@kindex show architecture
18449@item set architecture @var{arch}
18450This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
18451value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
18452supported architectures.
18453
18454@item show architecture
18455Show the current target architecture.
18456
18457@item set processor
18458@itemx processor
18459@kindex set processor
18460@kindex show processor
18461These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
18462and @code{show architecture}.
18463@end table
18464
18465@menu
18466* Active Targets:: Active targets
18467* Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
18468* Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
18469@end menu
18470
18471@node Active Targets
18472@section Active Targets
18473
18474@cindex stacking targets
18475@cindex active targets
18476@cindex multiple targets
18477
18478There are multiple classes of targets such as: processes, executable files or
18479recording sessions. Core files belong to the process class, making core file
18480and process mutually exclusive. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} can work concurrently
18481on multiple active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for
18482example) start a process and inspect its activity, while still having access to
18483the executable file after the process finishes. Or if you start process
18484recording (@pxref{Reverse Execution}) and @code{reverse-step} there, you are
18485presented a virtual layer of the recording target, while the process target
18486remains stopped at the chronologically last point of the process execution.
18487
18488Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new core
18489file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}). To
18490specify as a target a process that is already running, use the @code{attach}
18491command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
18492
18493@node Target Commands
18494@section Commands for Managing Targets
18495
18496@table @code
18497@item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
18498Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
18499process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
18500facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
18501protocol of the target machine.
18502
18503Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
18504typically include things like device names or host names to connect
18505with, process numbers, and baud rates.
18506
18507The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
18508after executing the command.
18509
18510@kindex help target
18511@item help target
18512Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
18513currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
18514(@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
18515
18516@item help target @var{name}
18517Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
18518select it.
18519
18520@kindex set gnutarget
18521@item set gnutarget @var{args}
18522@value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
18523knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
18524a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
18525with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
18526with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
18527
18528@quotation
18529@emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
18530you must know the actual BFD name.
18531@end quotation
18532
18533@noindent
18534@xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
18535
18536@kindex show gnutarget
18537@item show gnutarget
18538Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
18539@code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
18540@value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
18541and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BFD target is "auto"}.
18542@end table
18543
18544@cindex common targets
18545Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
18546configuration):
18547
18548@table @code
18549@kindex target
18550@item target exec @var{program}
18551@cindex executable file target
18552An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
18553@samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
18554
18555@item target core @var{filename}
18556@cindex core dump file target
18557A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
18558@samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
18559
18560@item target remote @var{medium}
18561@cindex remote target
18562A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
18563connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
18564protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
18565
18566For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
18567machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
18568
18569@smallexample
18570target remote /dev/ttya
18571@end smallexample
18572
18573@code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
18574useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
18575system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
18576clobbered by the download.
18577
18578@item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
18579@cindex built-in simulator target
18580Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
18581In general,
18582@smallexample
18583 target sim
18584 load
18585 run
18586@end smallexample
18587@noindent
18588works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
18589drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
18590provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
18591see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
18592Processors}.
18593
18594@item target native
18595@cindex native target
18596Setup for local/native process debugging. Useful to make the
18597@code{run} command spawn native processes (likewise @code{attach},
18598etc.@:) even when @code{set auto-connect-native-target} is @code{off}
18599(@pxref{set auto-connect-native-target}).
18600
18601@end table
18602
18603Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
18604your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
18605
18606Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
18607you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
18608various aspects of this process.
18609
18610@table @code
18611
18612@item set hash
18613@kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
18614@cindex hash mark while downloading
18615This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
18616downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
18617displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
18618monitor.
18619
18620@item show hash
18621@kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
18622Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
18623
18624@item set debug monitor
18625@kindex set debug monitor
18626@cindex display remote monitor communications
18627Enable or disable display of communications messages between
18628@value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
18629
18630@item show debug monitor
18631@kindex show debug monitor
18632Show the current status of displaying communications between
18633@value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
18634@end table
18635
18636@table @code
18637
18638@kindex load @var{filename}
18639@item load @var{filename}
18640@anchor{load}
18641Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
18642@value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
18643is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
18644on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
18645@code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
18646the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
18647
18648If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
18649execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
18650target is @dots{}}''
18651
18652The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
18653For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
18654link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
18655specifies a fixed address.
18656@c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
18657
18658Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
18659load programs into flash memory.
18660
18661@code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
18662@end table
18663
18664@node Byte Order
18665@section Choosing Target Byte Order
18666
18667@cindex choosing target byte order
18668@cindex target byte order
18669
18670Some types of processors, such as the @acronym{MIPS}, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
18671offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
18672orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
18673designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
18674which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
18675@value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
18676
18677@table @code
18678@kindex set endian
18679@item set endian big
18680Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
18681
18682@item set endian little
18683Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
18684
18685@item set endian auto
18686Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
18687executable.
18688
18689@item show endian
18690Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
18691
18692@end table
18693
18694Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
18695data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
18696target system.
18697
18698
18699@node Remote Debugging
18700@chapter Debugging Remote Programs
18701@cindex remote debugging
18702
18703If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
18704@value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
18705For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
18706or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
18707powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
18708
18709Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
18710to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
18711@value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
18712but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
18713write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
18714communicate with @value{GDBN}.
18715
18716Other remote targets may be available in your
18717configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
18718
18719@menu
18720* Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
18721* File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
18722* Server:: Using the gdbserver program
18723* Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
18724* Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
18725@end menu
18726
18727@node Connecting
18728@section Connecting to a Remote Target
18729
18730On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
18731your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
18732Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
18733program as the first argument.
18734
18735@cindex @code{target remote}
18736@value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
18737over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
18738each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
18739program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
18740@code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
18741Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
18742
18743@table @code
18744
18745@item target remote @var{serial-device}
18746@cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
18747Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
18748to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
18749
18750@smallexample
18751target remote /dev/ttyb
18752@end smallexample
18753
18754If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
18755@samp{--baud} option, or use the @code{set serial baud} command
18756(@pxref{Remote Configuration, set serial baud}) before the
18757@code{target} command.
18758
18759@item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
18760@itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
18761@cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
18762Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
18763The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
18764address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
18765the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
18766it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
18767target.
18768
18769For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
18770@code{manyfarms}:
18771
18772@smallexample
18773target remote manyfarms:2828
18774@end smallexample
18775
18776If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
18777debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
18778same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
18779port 1234 on your local machine:
18780
18781@smallexample
18782target remote :1234
18783@end smallexample
18784@noindent
18785
18786Note that the colon is still required here.
18787
18788@item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
18789@cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
18790Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
18791connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
18792
18793@smallexample
18794target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
18795@end smallexample
18796
18797When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
18798keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
18799can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
18800cause havoc with your debugging session.
18801
18802@item target remote | @var{command}
18803@cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
18804Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
18805pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
18806by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
18807protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
18808standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
18809that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
18810using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
18811
18812If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
18813@value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
18814program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
18815
18816@end table
18817
18818Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
18819commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
18820running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
18821need to use @kbd{run}.
18822
18823@cindex interrupting remote programs
18824@cindex remote programs, interrupting
18825Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
18826interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
18827program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
18828and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
18829interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
18830
18831@smallexample
18832Interrupted while waiting for the program.
18833Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
18834@end smallexample
18835
18836If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
18837(If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
18838remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
18839goes back to waiting.
18840
18841@table @code
18842@kindex detach (remote)
18843@item detach
18844When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
18845@code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
18846Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
18847will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
18848command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
18849
18850@kindex disconnect
18851@item disconnect
18852The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
18853the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
18854(this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
18855the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
18856another target.
18857
18858@cindex send command to remote monitor
18859@cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
18860@cindex add new commands for external monitor
18861@kindex monitor
18862@item monitor @var{cmd}
18863This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
18864remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
18865sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
18866can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
18867and implement.
18868@end table
18869
18870@node File Transfer
18871@section Sending files to a remote system
18872@cindex remote target, file transfer
18873@cindex file transfer
18874@cindex sending files to remote systems
18875
18876Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
18877connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
18878for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
18879running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
18880e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
18881the only way to upload or download files.
18882
18883Not all remote targets support these commands.
18884
18885@table @code
18886@kindex remote put
18887@item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
18888Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
18889@value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
18890
18891@kindex remote get
18892@item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
18893Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
18894on the host system.
18895
18896@kindex remote delete
18897@item remote delete @var{targetfile}
18898Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
18899
18900@end table
18901
18902@node Server
18903@section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
18904
18905@kindex gdbserver
18906@cindex remote connection without stubs
18907@code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
18908allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
18909@code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
18910
18911@code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
18912because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
18913that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
18914@code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
18915@value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
18916because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
18917also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
18918started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
18919Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
18920the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
18921do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
18922by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
18923choice for debugging.
18924
18925@value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
18926or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
18927protocol.
18928
18929@quotation
18930@emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
18931Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
18932@value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
18933target system with the same privileges as the user running
18934@code{gdbserver}.
18935@end quotation
18936
18937@subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
18938@cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
18939@cindex @code{gdbserver}, command-line arguments
18940
18941Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
18942program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
18943@code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
18944strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
18945system does all the symbol handling.
18946
18947To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
18948the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
18949syntax is:
18950
18951@smallexample
18952target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
18953@end smallexample
18954
18955@var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line), or a TCP
18956hostname and portnumber, or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
18957stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}.
18958For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
18959@samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
18960@file{/dev/com1}:
18961
18962@smallexample
18963target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
18964@end smallexample
18965
18966@code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
18967with it.
18968
18969To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
18970
18971@smallexample
18972target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
18973@end smallexample
18974
18975The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
18976specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
18977TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
18978expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
18979(Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
18980you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
18981TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
18982reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
18983conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
18984and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
18985@code{target remote} command.
18986
18987The @code{stdio} connection is useful when starting @code{gdbserver}
18988with ssh:
18989
18990@smallexample
18991(gdb) target remote | ssh -T hostname gdbserver - hello
18992@end smallexample
18993
18994The @samp{-T} option to ssh is provided because we don't need a remote pty,
18995and we don't want escape-character handling. Ssh does this by default when
18996a command is provided, the flag is provided to make it explicit.
18997You could elide it if you want to.
18998
18999Programs started with stdio-connected gdbserver have @file{/dev/null} for
19000@code{stdin}, and @code{stdout},@code{stderr} are sent back to gdb for
19001display through a pipe connected to gdbserver.
19002Both @code{stdout} and @code{stderr} use the same pipe.
19003
19004@subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
19005@cindex attach to a program, @code{gdbserver}
19006@cindex @option{--attach}, @code{gdbserver} option
19007
19008On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
19009This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
19010
19011@smallexample
19012target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
19013@end smallexample
19014
19015@var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
19016to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
19017
19018@pindex pidof
19019You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
19020@code{pidof} utility:
19021
19022@smallexample
19023target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
19024@end smallexample
19025
19026In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
19027has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
19028@code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
19029
19030@subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
19031@cindex @code{gdbserver}, multiple processes
19032@cindex multiple processes with @code{gdbserver}
19033
19034When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
19035@code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
19036program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
19037and @code{gdbserver} exits.
19038
19039If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
19040enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
19041detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
19042though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
19043commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
19044The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
19045remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
19046arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
19047redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
19048
19049@cindex @option{--multi}, @code{gdbserver} option
19050To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
19051or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
19052Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
19053the program you want to debug.
19054
19055In multi-process mode @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit unless you
19056use the option @option{--once}. You can terminate it by using
19057@code{monitor exit} (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}). Note that the
19058conditions under which @code{gdbserver} terminates depend on how @value{GDBN}
19059connects to it (@kbd{target remote} or @kbd{target extended-remote}). The
19060@option{--multi} option to @code{gdbserver} has no influence on that.
19061
19062@subsubsection TCP port allocation lifecycle of @code{gdbserver}
19063
19064This section applies only when @code{gdbserver} is run to listen on a TCP port.
19065
19066@code{gdbserver} normally terminates after all of its debugged processes have
19067terminated in @kbd{target remote} mode. On the other hand, for @kbd{target
19068extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver} stays running even with no processes left.
19069@value{GDBN} normally terminates the spawned debugged process on its exit,
19070which normally also terminates @code{gdbserver} in the @kbd{target remote}
19071mode. Therefore, when the connection drops unexpectedly, and @value{GDBN}
19072cannot ask @code{gdbserver} to kill its debugged processes, @code{gdbserver}
19073stays running even in the @kbd{target remote} mode.
19074
19075When @code{gdbserver} stays running, @value{GDBN} can connect to it again later.
19076Such reconnecting is useful for features like @ref{disconnected tracing}. For
19077completeness, at most one @value{GDBN} can be connected at a time.
19078
19079@cindex @option{--once}, @code{gdbserver} option
19080By default, @code{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
19081subsequent connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
19082with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
19083connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session. This
19084means no further connections to @code{gdbserver} will be possible after the
19085first one. It also means @code{gdbserver} will terminate after the first
19086connection with remote @value{GDBN} has closed, even for unexpectedly closed
19087connections and even in the @kbd{target extended-remote} mode. The
19088@option{--once} option allows reusing the same port number for connecting to
19089multiple instances of @code{gdbserver} running on the same host, since each
19090instance closes its port after the first connection.
19091
19092@anchor{Other Command-Line Arguments for gdbserver}
19093@subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
19094
19095@cindex @option{--debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
19096The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
19097status information about the debugging process.
19098@cindex @option{--remote-debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
19099The @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
19100remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
19101@code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
19102
19103@cindex @option{--debug-format}, @code{gdbserver} option
19104The @option{--debug-format=option1[,option2,...]} option tells
19105@code{gdbserver} to include additional information in each output.
19106Possible options are:
19107
19108@table @code
19109@item none
19110Turn off all extra information in debugging output.
19111@item all
19112Turn on all extra information in debugging output.
19113@item timestamps
19114Include a timestamp in each line of debugging output.
19115@end table
19116
19117Options are processed in order. Thus, for example, if @option{none}
19118appears last then no additional information is added to debugging output.
19119
19120@cindex @option{--wrapper}, @code{gdbserver} option
19121The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
19122for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
19123wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
19124@kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
19125
19126@code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
19127command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
19128program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
19129runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
19130
19131You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
19132its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
19133this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
19134with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
19135
19136For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
19137the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
19138environment:
19139
19140@smallexample
19141$ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
19142@end smallexample
19143
19144@subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
19145
19146Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
19147
19148First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
19149your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
19150@code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
19151was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
19152
19153The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
19154and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
19155system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
19156are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
19157during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
19158files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
19159programs.
19160
19161Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
19162For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
19163the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
19164text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
19165@samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
19166command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
19167already on the target.
19168
19169@subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
19170@cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
19171@anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
19172
19173During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
19174@code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
19175Here are the available commands.
19176
19177@table @code
19178@item monitor help
19179List the available monitor commands.
19180
19181@item monitor set debug 0
19182@itemx monitor set debug 1
19183Disable or enable general debugging messages.
19184
19185@item monitor set remote-debug 0
19186@itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
19187Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
19188protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
19189
19190@item monitor set debug-format option1@r{[},option2,...@r{]}
19191Specify additional text to add to debugging messages.
19192Possible options are:
19193
19194@table @code
19195@item none
19196Turn off all extra information in debugging output.
19197@item all
19198Turn on all extra information in debugging output.
19199@item timestamps
19200Include a timestamp in each line of debugging output.
19201@end table
19202
19203Options are processed in order. Thus, for example, if @option{none}
19204appears last then no additional information is added to debugging output.
19205
19206@item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
19207@cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
19208When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
19209directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
19210libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
19211@samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to its default value.
19212
19213The special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path} is
19214not supported in @code{gdbserver}.
19215
19216@item monitor exit
19217Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
19218@code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
19219detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
19220Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
19221of a multi-process mode debug session.
19222
19223@end table
19224
19225@subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
19226@cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
19227
19228On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints, fast
19229tracepoints and static tracepoints.
19230
19231For fast or static tracepoints to work, a special library called the
19232@dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
19233This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
19234@code{gdbserver}. In addition, support for static tracepoints
19235requires building the in-process agent library with static tracepoints
19236support. At present, the UST (LTTng Userspace Tracer,
19237@url{http://lttng.org/ust}) tracing engine is supported. This support
19238is automatically available if UST development headers are found in the
19239standard include path when @code{gdbserver} is built, or if
19240@code{gdbserver} was explicitly configured using @option{--with-ust}
19241to point at such headers. You can explicitly disable the support
19242using @option{--with-ust=no}.
19243
19244There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
19245
19246@table @code
19247@item Specifying it as dependency at link time
19248
19249You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
19250library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
19251@code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
19252
19253@item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
19254
19255You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
19256your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
19257support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
19258cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
19259in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
19260@option{--wrapper} command line option.
19261
19262@item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
19263
19264On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
19265by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
19266of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
19267systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
19268command for that. For example:
19269
19270@smallexample
19271(@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
19272@end smallexample
19273
19274Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
19275available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
19276@end table
19277
19278On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
19279systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
19280remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
19281loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
19282program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
19283case, before being able to use any of the fast or static tracepoints
19284features, you need to let the loader run and load the shared
19285libraries. The simplest way to do that is to run the program to the
19286main procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
19287@code{gdbserver} like so:
19288
19289@smallexample
19290$ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
19291@end smallexample
19292
19293Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
19294
19295@smallexample
19296$ gdb myprogram
19297(@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
192980x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
19299(@value{GDBP}) b main
19300(@value{GDBP}) continue
19301@end smallexample
19302
19303The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
19304process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
19305command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
19306process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints, list static
19307tracepoint markers, probe static tracepoints markers, and start
19308tracing.
19309
19310@node Remote Configuration
19311@section Remote Configuration
19312
19313@kindex set remote
19314@kindex show remote
19315This section documents the configuration options available when
19316debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
19317extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
19318system-call-allowed}.
19319
19320@table @code
19321@item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
19322@cindex address size for remote targets
19323@cindex bits in remote address
19324Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
19325number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
19326that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
19327default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
19328
19329@item show remoteaddresssize
19330Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
19331
19332@item set serial baud @var{n}
19333@cindex baud rate for remote targets
19334Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
19335value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
19336remote targets.
19337
19338@item show serial baud
19339Show the current speed of the remote connection.
19340
19341@item set remotebreak
19342@cindex interrupt remote programs
19343@cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
19344@anchor{set remotebreak}
19345If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
19346when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
19347on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
19348character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
19349expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
19350
19351@item show remotebreak
19352Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
19353interrupt the remote program.
19354
19355@item set remoteflow on
19356@itemx set remoteflow off
19357@kindex set remoteflow
19358Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
19359on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
19360
19361@item show remoteflow
19362@kindex show remoteflow
19363Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
19364
19365@item set remotelogbase @var{base}
19366Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
19367communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
19368@code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
19369@code{ascii}.
19370
19371@item show remotelogbase
19372Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
19373protocol.
19374
19375@item set remotelogfile @var{file}
19376@cindex record serial communications on file
19377Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
19378default is not to record at all.
19379
19380@item show remotelogfile.
19381Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
19382serial communications.
19383
19384@item set remotetimeout @var{num}
19385@cindex timeout for serial communications
19386@cindex remote timeout
19387Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
19388@var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
19389
19390@item show remotetimeout
19391Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
19392responses.
19393
19394@cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
19395@cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
19396@anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
19397@anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
19398@item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
19399@itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
19400Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
19401watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
19402
19403@cindex limit hardware watchpoints length
19404@cindex remote target, limit watchpoints length
19405@anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit}
19406@item set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit @var{limit}
19407Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} bytes for the maximum length of
19408a remote hardware watchpoint. A limit of -1, the default, is treated
19409as unlimited.
19410
19411@item show remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit
19412Show the current limit (in bytes) of the maximum length of
19413a remote hardware watchpoint.
19414
19415@item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
19416@itemx show remote exec-file
19417@anchor{set remote exec-file}
19418@cindex executable file, for remote target
19419Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
19420extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
19421target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
19422filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
19423
19424@item set remote interrupt-sequence
19425@cindex interrupt remote programs
19426@cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
19427Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
19428@samp{BREAK-g} as the
19429sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
19430@samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
19431is high level of serial line for some certain time.
19432Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
19433It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
19434
19435@item show interrupt-sequence
19436Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
19437is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
19438@code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
19439also known as Magic SysRq g.
19440
19441@item set remote interrupt-on-connect
19442@cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
19443Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
19444@value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
19445Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
19446which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
19447
19448@item show interrupt-on-connect
19449Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
19450to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
19451
19452@kindex set tcp
19453@kindex show tcp
19454@item set tcp auto-retry on
19455@cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
19456Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
19457debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
19458condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
19459before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
19460enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
19461to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
19462@code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
19463
19464@item set tcp auto-retry off
19465Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
19466
19467@item show tcp auto-retry
19468Show the current auto-retry setting.
19469
19470@item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
19471@itemx set tcp connect-timeout unlimited
19472@cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
19473@cindex timeout, for remote target connection
19474Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
19475@var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
19476(enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
19477that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
19478value. If @var{seconds} is @code{unlimited}, there is no timeout and
19479@value{GDBN} will keep attempting to establish a connection forever,
19480unless interrupted with @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The default is 15 seconds.
19481
19482@item show tcp connect-timeout
19483Show the current connection timeout setting.
19484@end table
19485
19486@cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
19487The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
19488your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
19489can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
19490packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
19491packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
19492or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
19493all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
19494see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
19495
19496During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
19497If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
19498in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
19499@value{GDBN} developers.
19500
19501For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
19502packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
19503are:
19504
19505@multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
19506@item Command Name
19507@tab Remote Packet
19508@tab Related Features
19509
19510@item @code{fetch-register}
19511@tab @code{p}
19512@tab @code{info registers}
19513
19514@item @code{set-register}
19515@tab @code{P}
19516@tab @code{set}
19517
19518@item @code{binary-download}
19519@tab @code{X}
19520@tab @code{load}, @code{set}
19521
19522@item @code{read-aux-vector}
19523@tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
19524@tab @code{info auxv}
19525
19526@item @code{symbol-lookup}
19527@tab @code{qSymbol}
19528@tab Detecting multiple threads
19529
19530@item @code{attach}
19531@tab @code{vAttach}
19532@tab @code{attach}
19533
19534@item @code{verbose-resume}
19535@tab @code{vCont}
19536@tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
19537
19538@item @code{run}
19539@tab @code{vRun}
19540@tab @code{run}
19541
19542@item @code{software-breakpoint}
19543@tab @code{Z0}
19544@tab @code{break}
19545
19546@item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
19547@tab @code{Z1}
19548@tab @code{hbreak}
19549
19550@item @code{write-watchpoint}
19551@tab @code{Z2}
19552@tab @code{watch}
19553
19554@item @code{read-watchpoint}
19555@tab @code{Z3}
19556@tab @code{rwatch}
19557
19558@item @code{access-watchpoint}
19559@tab @code{Z4}
19560@tab @code{awatch}
19561
19562@item @code{target-features}
19563@tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
19564@tab @code{set architecture}
19565
19566@item @code{library-info}
19567@tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
19568@tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
19569
19570@item @code{memory-map}
19571@tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
19572@tab @code{info mem}
19573
19574@item @code{read-sdata-object}
19575@tab @code{qXfer:sdata:read}
19576@tab @code{print $_sdata}
19577
19578@item @code{read-spu-object}
19579@tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
19580@tab @code{info spu}
19581
19582@item @code{write-spu-object}
19583@tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
19584@tab @code{info spu}
19585
19586@item @code{read-siginfo-object}
19587@tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
19588@tab @code{print $_siginfo}
19589
19590@item @code{write-siginfo-object}
19591@tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
19592@tab @code{set $_siginfo}
19593
19594@item @code{threads}
19595@tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
19596@tab @code{info threads}
19597
19598@item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
19599@tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
19600@tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
19601
19602@item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
19603@tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
19604@tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
19605
19606@item @code{search-memory}
19607@tab @code{qSearch:memory}
19608@tab @code{find}
19609
19610@item @code{supported-packets}
19611@tab @code{qSupported}
19612@tab Remote communications parameters
19613
19614@item @code{pass-signals}
19615@tab @code{QPassSignals}
19616@tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
19617
19618@item @code{program-signals}
19619@tab @code{QProgramSignals}
19620@tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
19621
19622@item @code{hostio-close-packet}
19623@tab @code{vFile:close}
19624@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
19625
19626@item @code{hostio-open-packet}
19627@tab @code{vFile:open}
19628@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
19629
19630@item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
19631@tab @code{vFile:pread}
19632@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
19633
19634@item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
19635@tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
19636@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
19637
19638@item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
19639@tab @code{vFile:unlink}
19640@tab @code{remote delete}
19641
19642@item @code{hostio-readlink-packet}
19643@tab @code{vFile:readlink}
19644@tab Host I/O
19645
19646@item @code{noack-packet}
19647@tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
19648@tab Packet acknowledgment
19649
19650@item @code{osdata}
19651@tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
19652@tab @code{info os}
19653
19654@item @code{query-attached}
19655@tab @code{qAttached}
19656@tab Querying remote process attach state.
19657
19658@item @code{trace-buffer-size}
19659@tab @code{QTBuffer:size}
19660@tab @code{set trace-buffer-size}
19661
19662@item @code{trace-status}
19663@tab @code{qTStatus}
19664@tab @code{tstatus}
19665
19666@item @code{traceframe-info}
19667@tab @code{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
19668@tab Traceframe info
19669
19670@item @code{install-in-trace}
19671@tab @code{InstallInTrace}
19672@tab Install tracepoint in tracing
19673
19674@item @code{disable-randomization}
19675@tab @code{QDisableRandomization}
19676@tab @code{set disable-randomization}
19677
19678@item @code{conditional-breakpoints-packet}
19679@tab @code{Z0 and Z1}
19680@tab @code{Support for target-side breakpoint condition evaluation}
19681@end multitable
19682
19683@node Remote Stub
19684@section Implementing a Remote Stub
19685
19686@cindex debugging stub, example
19687@cindex remote stub, example
19688@cindex stub example, remote debugging
19689The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
19690communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
19691@value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
19692these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
19693implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
19694with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
19695organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
19696
19697@cindex remote serial debugging, overview
19698To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
19699@dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
19700prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
19701program, you need:
19702
19703@enumerate
19704@item
19705A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
19706have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
19707your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
19708
19709@item
19710A C subroutine library to support your program's
19711subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
19712
19713@item
19714A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
19715download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
19716manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
19717documentation.
19718@end enumerate
19719
19720The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
19721communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
19722machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
19723
19724@table @emph
19725@item On the host,
19726@value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
19727else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
19728(@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
19729
19730@item On the target,
19731you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
19732implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
19733subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
19734
19735On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
19736@code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
19737@xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
19738@end table
19739
19740The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
19741machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
19742@sc{sparc} boards.
19743
19744@cindex remote serial stub list
19745These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
19746
19747@table @code
19748
19749@item i386-stub.c
19750@cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
19751@cindex Intel
19752@cindex i386
19753For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
19754
19755@item m68k-stub.c
19756@cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
19757@cindex Motorola 680x0
19758@cindex m680x0
19759For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
19760
19761@item sh-stub.c
19762@cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
19763@cindex Renesas
19764@cindex SH
19765For Renesas SH architectures.
19766
19767@item sparc-stub.c
19768@cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
19769@cindex Sparc
19770For @sc{sparc} architectures.
19771
19772@item sparcl-stub.c
19773@cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
19774@cindex Fujitsu
19775@cindex SparcLite
19776For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
19777
19778@end table
19779
19780The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
19781recently added stubs.
19782
19783@menu
19784* Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
19785* Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
19786* Debug Session:: Putting it all together
19787@end menu
19788
19789@node Stub Contents
19790@subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
19791
19792@cindex remote serial stub
19793The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
19794subroutines:
19795
19796@table @code
19797@item set_debug_traps
19798@findex set_debug_traps
19799@cindex remote serial stub, initialization
19800This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
19801program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly in your
19802program's startup code.
19803
19804@item handle_exception
19805@findex handle_exception
19806@cindex remote serial stub, main routine
19807This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
19808explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
19809run when a trap is triggered.
19810
19811@code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
19812execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
19813with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
19814protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
19815representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
19816information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
19817retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
19818execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
19819@code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
19820machine.
19821
19822@item breakpoint
19823@cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
19824Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
19825breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
19826way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
19827machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
19828pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
19829@code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
19830simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
19831again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
19832your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
19833@value{GDBN} session gets control.
19834
19835Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
19836to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
19837start of your debugging session.
19838@end table
19839
19840@node Bootstrapping
19841@subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
19842
19843@cindex remote stub, support routines
19844The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
19845chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
19846debugging target machine.
19847
19848First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
19849serial port.
19850
19851@table @code
19852@item int getDebugChar()
19853@findex getDebugChar
19854Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
19855It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
19856different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
19857
19858@item void putDebugChar(int)
19859@findex putDebugChar
19860Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
19861It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
19862different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
19863@end table
19864
19865@cindex control C, and remote debugging
19866@cindex interrupting remote targets
19867If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
19868running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
19869for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
19870character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
19871remote system to stop.
19872
19873Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
19874probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
19875is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
19876@value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
19877
19878Other routines you need to supply are:
19879
19880@table @code
19881@item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
19882@findex exceptionHandler
19883Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
19884handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
19885way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
19886are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
19887containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
19888The @var{exception_number} specifies the exception which should be changed;
19889its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
19890might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
19891exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
19892@var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
19893and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
19894you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
19895should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
19896
19897For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
19898gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
19899should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
19900@sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
19901help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
19902
19903@item void flush_i_cache()
19904@findex flush_i_cache
19905On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
19906instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
19907instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
19908
19909On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
19910function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
19911@end table
19912
19913@noindent
19914You must also make sure this library routine is available:
19915
19916@table @code
19917@item void *memset(void *, int, int)
19918@findex memset
19919This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
19920memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
19921@code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
19922either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
19923@end table
19924
19925If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
19926library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
19927but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
19928subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
19929
19930
19931@node Debug Session
19932@subsection Putting it All Together
19933
19934@cindex remote serial debugging summary
19935In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
19936steps.
19937
19938@enumerate
19939@item
19940Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
19941(@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
19942@display
19943@code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
19944@code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
19945@end display
19946
19947@item
19948Insert these lines in your program's startup code, before the main
19949procedure is called:
19950
19951@smallexample
19952set_debug_traps();
19953breakpoint();
19954@end smallexample
19955
19956On some machines, when a breakpoint trap is raised, the hardware
19957automatically makes the PC point to the instruction after the
19958breakpoint. If your machine doesn't do that, you may need to adjust
19959@code{handle_exception} to arrange for it to return to the instruction
19960after the breakpoint on this first invocation, so that your program
19961doesn't keep hitting the initial breakpoint instead of making
19962progress.
19963
19964@item
19965For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
19966@code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
19967
19968@smallexample
19969void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
19970@end smallexample
19971
19972@noindent
19973but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
19974function in your program, that function is called when
19975@code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
19976error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
19977one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
19978
19979@item
19980Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
19981your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
19982
19983@item
19984Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
19985the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
19986
19987@item
19988@c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
19989@c document that. FIXME.
19990Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
19991whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
19992
19993@item
19994Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
19995(@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
19996
19997@end enumerate
19998
19999@node Configurations
20000@chapter Configuration-Specific Information
20001
20002While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
20003cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
20004describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
20005
20006There are three major categories of configurations: native
20007configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
20008operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
20009different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
20010are quite different from each other.
20011
20012@menu
20013* Native::
20014* Embedded OS::
20015* Embedded Processors::
20016* Architectures::
20017@end menu
20018
20019@node Native
20020@section Native
20021
20022This section describes details specific to particular native
20023configurations.
20024
20025@menu
20026* HP-UX:: HP-UX
20027* BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
20028* SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
20029* DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
20030* Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
20031* Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
20032* Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
20033@end menu
20034
20035@node HP-UX
20036@subsection HP-UX
20037
20038On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
20039begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
20040name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
20041
20042
20043@node BSD libkvm Interface
20044@subsection BSD libkvm Interface
20045
20046@cindex libkvm
20047@cindex kernel memory image
20048@cindex kernel crash dump
20049
20050BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
20051interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
20052memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
20053uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
20054dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
20055special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
20056the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
20057@code{kvm} target:
20058
20059@smallexample
20060(@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
20061@end smallexample
20062
20063For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
20064argument:
20065
20066@smallexample
20067(@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
20068@end smallexample
20069
20070Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
20071available:
20072
20073@table @code
20074@kindex kvm
20075@item kvm pcb
20076Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
20077
20078@item kvm proc
20079Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
20080modern FreeBSD systems.
20081@end table
20082
20083@node SVR4 Process Information
20084@subsection SVR4 Process Information
20085@cindex /proc
20086@cindex examine process image
20087@cindex process info via @file{/proc}
20088
20089Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
20090@samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
20091process using file-system subroutines.
20092
20093If @value{GDBN} is configured for an operating system with this
20094facility, the command @code{info proc} is available to report
20095information about the process running your program, or about any
20096process running on your system. This includes, as of this writing,
20097@sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris, but not HP-UX, for example.
20098
20099This command may also work on core files that were created on a system
20100that has the @samp{/proc} facility.
20101
20102@table @code
20103@kindex info proc
20104@cindex process ID
20105@item info proc
20106@itemx info proc @var{process-id}
20107Summarize available information about any running process. If a
20108process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
20109that process; otherwise display information about the program being
20110debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
20111line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
20112executable file's absolute file name.
20113
20114On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
20115@samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
20116within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
20117a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
20118needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
20119a process ID rather than a thread ID).
20120
20121@item info proc cmdline
20122@cindex info proc cmdline
20123Show the original command line of the process. This command is
20124specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
20125
20126@item info proc cwd
20127@cindex info proc cwd
20128Show the current working directory of the process. This command is
20129specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
20130
20131@item info proc exe
20132@cindex info proc exe
20133Show the name of executable of the process. This command is specific
20134to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
20135
20136@item info proc mappings
20137@cindex memory address space mappings
20138Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
20139information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
20140rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
20141includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
20142memory access rights to that range.
20143
20144@item info proc stat
20145@itemx info proc status
20146@cindex process detailed status information
20147These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
20148the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
20149how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
20150the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
20151consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
20152value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
20153(type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
20154
20155@item info proc all
20156Show all the information about the process described under all of the
20157above @code{info proc} subcommands.
20158
20159@ignore
20160@comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
20161@comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
20162@comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
20163@kindex info proc times
20164@item info proc times
20165Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
20166its children.
20167
20168@kindex info proc id
20169@item info proc id
20170Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
20171the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
20172@end ignore
20173
20174@item set procfs-trace
20175@kindex set procfs-trace
20176@cindex @code{procfs} API calls
20177This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
20178
20179@item show procfs-trace
20180@kindex show procfs-trace
20181Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
20182
20183@item set procfs-file @var{file}
20184@kindex set procfs-file
20185Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
20186@var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
20187contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
20188standard output.
20189
20190@item show procfs-file
20191@kindex show procfs-file
20192Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
20193
20194@item proc-trace-entry
20195@itemx proc-trace-exit
20196@itemx proc-untrace-entry
20197@itemx proc-untrace-exit
20198@kindex proc-trace-entry
20199@kindex proc-trace-exit
20200@kindex proc-untrace-entry
20201@kindex proc-untrace-exit
20202These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
20203from the @code{syscall} interface.
20204
20205@item info pidlist
20206@kindex info pidlist
20207@cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
20208For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
20209processes and all the threads within each process.
20210
20211@item info meminfo
20212@kindex info meminfo
20213@cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
20214For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
20215@end table
20216
20217@node DJGPP Native
20218@subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
20219@cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
20220@cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
20221@cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
20222
20223@cindex DPMI
20224@sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
20225MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
20226that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
20227top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
20228
20229@value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
20230defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
20231subsection describes those commands.
20232
20233@table @code
20234@kindex info dos
20235@item info dos
20236This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
20237information about the target system and important OS structures.
20238
20239@kindex sysinfo
20240@cindex MS-DOS system info
20241@cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
20242@item info dos sysinfo
20243This command displays assorted information about the underlying
20244platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
20245DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
20246
20247@cindex GDT
20248@cindex LDT
20249@cindex IDT
20250@cindex segment descriptor tables
20251@cindex descriptor tables display
20252@item info dos gdt
20253@itemx info dos ldt
20254@itemx info dos idt
20255These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
20256and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
20257tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
20258that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
20259descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
20260descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
20261rights.
20262
20263A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
20264segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
20265allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
20266conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
20267additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
20268
20269@cindex garbled pointers
20270These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
20271Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
20272displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
20273display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
20274example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
20275debugged program's data segment:
20276
20277@smallexample
20278@exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
20279@exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
20280@end smallexample
20281
20282@noindent
20283This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
20284the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
20285
20286@cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
20287@item info dos pde
20288@itemx info dos pte
20289These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
20290Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
20291data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
20292into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
20293page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
20294may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
20295Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
20296that is currently in use.
20297
20298Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
20299Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
20300the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
20301@kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
20302Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
20303means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
20304the specified entry in the Page Directory.
20305
20306@cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
20307These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
20308Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
20309controller.
20310
20311These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
20312
20313@cindex physical address from linear address
20314@item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
20315This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
20316address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
20317already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
20318because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
20319segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
20320the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
20321
20322@smallexample
20323@exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
20324@exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
20325@exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
20326@end smallexample
20327
20328@noindent
20329This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
20330whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
20331attributes of that page.
20332
20333Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
20334since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
20335address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
20336be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
20337declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
20338@code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
20339
20340Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
20341transfer buffer:
20342
20343@smallexample
20344@exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
20345@exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
20346@exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
20347@end smallexample
20348
20349@noindent
20350(The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
203513rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
20352clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
20353memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
20354linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
20355
20356This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
20357@end table
20358
20359@cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
20360In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
20361debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
20362to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
20363
20364@table @code
20365@kindex set com1base
20366@kindex set com1irq
20367@kindex set com2base
20368@kindex set com2irq
20369@kindex set com3base
20370@kindex set com3irq
20371@kindex set com4base
20372@kindex set com4irq
20373@item set com1base @var{addr}
20374This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
20375port.
20376
20377@item set com1irq @var{irq}
20378This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
20379for the @file{COM1} serial port.
20380
20381There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
20382etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
20383other 3 COM ports.
20384
20385@kindex show com1base
20386@kindex show com1irq
20387@kindex show com2base
20388@kindex show com2irq
20389@kindex show com3base
20390@kindex show com3irq
20391@kindex show com4base
20392@kindex show com4irq
20393The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
20394display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
20395lines used by the COM ports.
20396
20397@item info serial
20398@kindex info serial
20399@cindex DOS serial port status
20400This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
20401port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
20402IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
20403counts of various errors encountered so far.
20404@end table
20405
20406
20407@node Cygwin Native
20408@subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
20409@cindex MS Windows debugging
20410@cindex native Cygwin debugging
20411@cindex Cygwin-specific commands
20412
20413@value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
20414DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
20415
20416@cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
20417@cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
20418MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
20419special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
20420by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
20421supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
20422sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
20423ignores @kbd{C-c}.
20424
20425There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
20426this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
20427described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
20428
20429@table @code
20430@kindex info w32
20431@item info w32
20432This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
20433information about the target system and important OS structures.
20434
20435@item info w32 selector
20436This command displays information returned by
20437the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
20438It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
20439a long value to give the information about this given selector.
20440Without argument, this command displays information
20441about the six segment registers.
20442
20443@item info w32 thread-information-block
20444This command displays thread specific information stored in the
20445Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
20446selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
20447
20448@kindex info dll
20449@item info dll
20450This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
20451
20452@kindex set cygwin-exceptions
20453@cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
20454@cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
20455@item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
20456If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
20457happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
20458@value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
20459exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
20460``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
20461Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
20462@value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
20463
20464@kindex show cygwin-exceptions
20465@item show cygwin-exceptions
20466Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
20467inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
20468
20469@kindex set new-console
20470@item set new-console @var{mode}
20471If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
20472be started in a new console on next start.
20473If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
20474be started in the same console as the debugger.
20475
20476@kindex show new-console
20477@item show new-console
20478Displays whether a new console is used
20479when the debuggee is started.
20480
20481@kindex set new-group
20482@item set new-group @var{mode}
20483This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
20484start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
20485This affects the way the Windows OS handles
20486@samp{Ctrl-C}.
20487
20488@kindex show new-group
20489@item show new-group
20490Displays current value of new-group boolean.
20491
20492@kindex set debugevents
20493@item set debugevents
20494This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
20495to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
20496signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
20497unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
20498Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
20499
20500@kindex set debugexec
20501@item set debugexec
20502This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
20503(such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
20504
20505@kindex set debugexceptions
20506@item set debugexceptions
20507This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
20508debuggee seen by the debugger.
20509
20510@kindex set debugmemory
20511@item set debugmemory
20512This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
20513and writes by the debugger.
20514
20515@kindex set shell
20516@item set shell
20517This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
20518via a shell or directly (default value is on).
20519
20520@kindex show shell
20521@item show shell
20522Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
20523
20524@end table
20525
20526@menu
20527* Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
20528@end menu
20529
20530@node Non-debug DLL Symbols
20531@subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
20532@cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
20533@cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
20534
20535Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
20536not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
20537@file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
20538symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
20539information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
20540describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
20541``minimal symbols''.
20542
20543Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
20544will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
20545start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
20546program run once to completion.
20547
20548@subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
20549
20550In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
20551tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
20552DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
20553also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
20554sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
20555(particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
20556necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
20557contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
20558exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
20559
20560Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
20561though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
20562symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
20563some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
20564@code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
20565(@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
20566
20567@smallexample
20568(@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
20569All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
20570
20571Non-debugging symbols:
205720x77e885f4 CreateFileA
205730x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
20574@end smallexample
20575
20576@smallexample
20577(@value{GDBP}) info function !
20578All functions matching regular expression "!":
20579
20580Non-debugging symbols:
205810x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
205820x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
205830x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
20584[etc...]
20585@end smallexample
20586
20587@subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
20588
20589Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
20590type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
20591refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
20592contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
20593contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
20594means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
20595a function within a DLL without a running program.
20596
20597Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
20598automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
20599variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
20600type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
20601problem:
20602
20603@smallexample
20604(@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
20605$1 = 268572168
20606@end smallexample
20607
20608@smallexample
20609(@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
206100x10021610: "\230y\""
20611@end smallexample
20612
20613And two possible solutions:
20614
20615@smallexample
20616(@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
20617$2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
20618@end smallexample
20619
20620@smallexample
20621(@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
206220x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
20623(@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
206240x10021608: 0x0022fd98
20625(@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
206260x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
20627@end smallexample
20628
20629Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
20630starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
20631examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
20632function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
20633to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
20634
20635@smallexample
20636(@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
20637Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
20638@end smallexample
20639
20640The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
20641break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
20642safe.
20643
20644@node Hurd Native
20645@subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
20646@cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
20647
20648This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
20649@sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
20650
20651@table @code
20652@item set signals
20653@itemx set sigs
20654@kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
20655@kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
20656This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
20657@value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
20658affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
20659@code{signals}.
20660
20661@item show signals
20662@itemx show sigs
20663@kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
20664@kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
20665Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
20666
20667@item set signal-thread
20668@itemx set sigthread
20669@kindex set signal-thread
20670@kindex set sigthread
20671This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
20672thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
20673process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
20674signal-thread}.
20675
20676@item show signal-thread
20677@itemx show sigthread
20678@kindex show signal-thread
20679@kindex show sigthread
20680These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
20681delivered a signal.
20682
20683@item set stopped
20684@kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
20685This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
20686as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
20687continued by delivering a signal to it.
20688
20689@item show stopped
20690@kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
20691This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
20692stopped.
20693
20694@item set exceptions
20695@kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
20696Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
20697When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
20698single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
20699trapping on.
20700
20701@item show exceptions
20702@kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
20703Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
20704
20705@item set task pause
20706@kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
20707@cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
20708@cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
20709This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
20710Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
20711whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
20712effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
20713to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
20714thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
20715
20716@item show task pause
20717@kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
20718Show the current state of task suspension.
20719
20720@item set task detach-suspend-count
20721@cindex task suspend count
20722@cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20723This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
20724@value{GDBN} detaches from it.
20725
20726@item show task detach-suspend-count
20727Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
20728
20729@item set task exception-port
20730@itemx set task excp
20731@cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20732This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
20733forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
20734rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
20735
20736@item set noninvasive
20737@cindex noninvasive task options
20738This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
20739invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
20740is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
20741@code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
20742
20743@item info send-rights
20744@itemx info receive-rights
20745@itemx info port-rights
20746@itemx info port-sets
20747@itemx info dead-names
20748@itemx info ports
20749@itemx info psets
20750@cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20751@cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20752@cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20753@cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20754@cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20755These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
20756receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
20757There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
20758port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
20759
20760@item set thread pause
20761@kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
20762@cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20763@cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
20764This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
20765control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
20766thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
20767off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
20768Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
20769control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
20770task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
20771only the current thread.
20772
20773@item show thread pause
20774@kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
20775This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
20776
20777@item set thread run
20778This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
20779
20780@item show thread run
20781Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
20782
20783@item set thread detach-suspend-count
20784@cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20785@cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20786This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
20787thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
20788found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
20789takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
20790
20791@item show thread detach-suspend-count
20792Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
20793detaching.
20794
20795@item set thread exception-port
20796@itemx set thread excp
20797Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
20798overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
20799@code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
20800
20801@item set thread takeover-suspend-count
20802Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
20803value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
20804changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
20805
20806@item set thread default
20807@itemx show thread default
20808@cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20809Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
20810default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
20811thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
20812variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
20813threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
20814the non-default commands.
20815@end table
20816
20817@node Darwin
20818@subsection Darwin
20819@cindex Darwin
20820
20821@value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
20822
20823@table @code
20824@item set debug darwin @var{num}
20825@kindex set debug darwin
20826When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
20827the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
20828
20829@item show debug darwin
20830@kindex show debug darwin
20831Show the current state of Darwin messages.
20832
20833@item set debug mach-o @var{num}
20834@kindex set debug mach-o
20835When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
20836@value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
20837file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
20838values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
20839problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
20840usage.
20841
20842@item show debug mach-o
20843@kindex show debug mach-o
20844Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
20845
20846@item set mach-exceptions on
20847@itemx set mach-exceptions off
20848@kindex set mach-exceptions
20849On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
20850mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
20851Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
20852better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
20853
20854@item show mach-exceptions
20855@kindex show mach-exceptions
20856Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
20857@end table
20858
20859
20860@node Embedded OS
20861@section Embedded Operating Systems
20862
20863This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
20864embedded operating systems that are available for several different
20865architectures.
20866
20867@value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
20868various real-time operating systems.
20869
20870@node Embedded Processors
20871@section Embedded Processors
20872
20873This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
20874configurations.
20875
20876@cindex send command to simulator
20877Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
20878allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
20879
20880@table @code
20881@item sim @var{command}
20882@kindex sim@r{, a command}
20883Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
20884documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
20885acceptable commands.
20886@end table
20887
20888
20889@menu
20890* ARM:: ARM RDI
20891* M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
20892* M68K:: Motorola M68K
20893* MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
20894* MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
20895* PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
20896* PA:: HP PA Embedded
20897* Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
20898* Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
20899* Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
20900* AVR:: Atmel AVR
20901* CRIS:: CRIS
20902* Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
20903@end menu
20904
20905@node ARM
20906@subsection ARM
20907@cindex ARM RDI
20908
20909@table @code
20910@kindex target rdi
20911@item target rdi @var{dev}
20912ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
20913use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
20914monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
20915
20916@kindex target rdp
20917@item target rdp @var{dev}
20918ARM Demon monitor.
20919
20920@end table
20921
20922@value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
20923
20924@table @code
20925@item set arm disassembler
20926@kindex set arm
20927This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
20928@code{"std"} style is the standard style.
20929
20930@item show arm disassembler
20931@kindex show arm
20932Show the current disassembly style.
20933
20934@item set arm apcs32
20935@cindex ARM 32-bit mode
20936This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
20937
20938@item show arm apcs32
20939Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
20940
20941@item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
20942This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
20943argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
20944
20945@table @code
20946@item auto
20947Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
20948@item softfpa
20949Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
20950processors.
20951@item fpa
20952GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
20953@item softvfp
20954Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
20955@item vfp
20956VFP co-processor.
20957@end table
20958
20959@item show arm fpu
20960Show the current type of the FPU.
20961
20962@item set arm abi
20963This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
20964
20965@item show arm abi
20966Show the currently used ABI.
20967
20968@item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
20969@value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
20970whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
20971@value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
20972available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
20973use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
20974register).
20975
20976@item show arm fallback-mode
20977Show the current fallback instruction mode.
20978
20979@item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
20980This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
20981instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
20982causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
20983of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
20984
20985@item show arm force-mode
20986Show the current forced instruction mode.
20987
20988@item set debug arm
20989Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
20990target support subsystem.
20991
20992@item show debug arm
20993Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
20994@end table
20995
20996The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
20997using the RDI interface:
20998
20999@table @code
21000@item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
21001@kindex rdilogfile
21002@cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
21003Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
21004With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
21005no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
21006@file{rdi.log}.
21007
21008@item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
21009@kindex rdilogenable
21010Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
21011enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
21012no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
21013ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
21014are logged to a file.
21015
21016@item set rdiromatzero
21017@kindex set rdiromatzero
21018@cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
21019Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
21020vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
21021(the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
21022effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
21023
21024@item show rdiromatzero
21025@kindex show rdiromatzero
21026Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
21027
21028@item set rdiheartbeat
21029@kindex set rdiheartbeat
21030@cindex RDI heartbeat
21031Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
21032turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
21033well as the Angel monitor.
21034
21035@item show rdiheartbeat
21036@kindex show rdiheartbeat
21037Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
21038@end table
21039
21040@table @code
21041@item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
21042The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
21043
21044@table @code
21045@item --swi-support=@var{type}
21046Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support. The argument
21047@var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
21048The default value is @code{all}.
21049
21050@table @code
21051@item none
21052@item demon
21053@item angel
21054@item redboot
21055@item all
21056@end table
21057@end table
21058@end table
21059
21060@node M32R/D
21061@subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
21062
21063@table @code
21064@kindex target m32r
21065@item target m32r @var{dev}
21066Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
21067
21068@kindex target m32rsdi
21069@item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
21070Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
21071@end table
21072
21073The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
21074
21075@table @code
21076@item set download-path @var{path}
21077@kindex set download-path
21078@cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
21079Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
21080
21081@item show download-path
21082@kindex show download-path
21083Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
21084
21085@item set board-address @var{addr}
21086@kindex set board-address
21087@cindex M32-EVA target board address
21088Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
21089
21090@item show board-address
21091@kindex show board-address
21092Show the current IP address of the target board.
21093
21094@item set server-address @var{addr}
21095@kindex set server-address
21096@cindex download server address (M32R)
21097Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
21098host machine.
21099
21100@item show server-address
21101@kindex show server-address
21102Display the IP address of the download server.
21103
21104@item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
21105@kindex upload@r{, M32R}
21106Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
21107upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
21108executable file is uploaded.
21109
21110@item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
21111@kindex tload@r{, M32R}
21112Test the @code{upload} command.
21113@end table
21114
21115The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
21116
21117@table @code
21118@item sdireset
21119@kindex sdireset
21120@cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
21121This command resets the SDI connection.
21122
21123@item sdistatus
21124@kindex sdistatus
21125This command shows the SDI connection status.
21126
21127@item debug_chaos
21128@kindex debug_chaos
21129@cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
21130Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
21131
21132@item use_debug_dma
21133@kindex use_debug_dma
21134Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
21135
21136@item use_mon_code
21137@kindex use_mon_code
21138Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
21139
21140@item use_ib_break
21141@kindex use_ib_break
21142Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
21143
21144@item use_dbt_break
21145@kindex use_dbt_break
21146Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
21147@end table
21148
21149@node M68K
21150@subsection M68k
21151
21152The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
21153target command for the following ROM monitor.
21154
21155@table @code
21156
21157@kindex target dbug
21158@item target dbug @var{dev}
21159dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
21160
21161@end table
21162
21163@node MicroBlaze
21164@subsection MicroBlaze
21165@cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
21166@cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
21167
21168The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
21169FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
21170usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
21171Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
21172This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
21173the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
21174communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
21175presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
21176@code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
21177this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
21178commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
21179
21180Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
21181
21182@table @code
21183@item target remote :1234
21184Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
21185on the same system as @code{xmd}.
21186
21187@item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
21188Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
21189running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
21190
21191@item load
21192Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
21193
21194@item set debug microblaze @var{n}
21195Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
21196
21197@item show debug microblaze @var{n}
21198Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
21199@end table
21200
21201@node MIPS Embedded
21202@subsection @acronym{MIPS} Embedded
21203
21204@cindex @acronym{MIPS} boards
21205@value{GDBN} can use the @acronym{MIPS} remote debugging protocol to talk to a
21206@acronym{MIPS} board attached to a serial line. This is available when
21207you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-elf}.
21208
21209@need 1000
21210Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
21211
21212@table @code
21213@item target mips @var{port}
21214@kindex target mips @var{port}
21215To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
21216name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
21217command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
21218the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
21219been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
21220download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
21221
21222For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
21223port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
21224debugger:
21225
21226@smallexample
21227host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
21228@value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
21229(@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
21230(@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
21231(@value{GDBP}) run
21232@end smallexample
21233
21234@item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
21235On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
21236connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
21237concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
21238@samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
21239
21240@item target pmon @var{port}
21241@kindex target pmon @var{port}
21242PMON ROM monitor.
21243
21244@item target ddb @var{port}
21245@kindex target ddb @var{port}
21246NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
21247
21248@item target lsi @var{port}
21249@kindex target lsi @var{port}
21250LSI variant of PMON.
21251
21252@kindex target r3900
21253@item target r3900 @var{dev}
21254Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
21255
21256@kindex target array
21257@item target array @var{dev}
21258Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
21259
21260@end table
21261
21262
21263@noindent
21264@value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for @acronym{MIPS} targets:
21265
21266@table @code
21267@item set mipsfpu double
21268@itemx set mipsfpu single
21269@itemx set mipsfpu none
21270@itemx set mipsfpu auto
21271@itemx show mipsfpu
21272@kindex set mipsfpu
21273@kindex show mipsfpu
21274@cindex @acronym{MIPS} remote floating point
21275@cindex floating point, @acronym{MIPS} remote
21276If your target board does not support the @acronym{MIPS} floating point
21277coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
21278need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
21279file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
21280functions which return floating point values. It also allows
21281@value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
21282functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
21283with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
21284processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
21285double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
21286@samp{set mipsfpu double}.
21287
21288In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
21289floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
21290and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
21291
21292As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
21293@samp{show mipsfpu}.
21294
21295@item set timeout @var{seconds}
21296@itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
21297@itemx show timeout
21298@itemx show retransmit-timeout
21299@cindex @code{timeout}, @acronym{MIPS} protocol
21300@cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, @acronym{MIPS} protocol
21301@kindex set timeout
21302@kindex show timeout
21303@kindex set retransmit-timeout
21304@kindex show retransmit-timeout
21305You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the @acronym{MIPS}
21306remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
21307default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
21308waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
21309retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
21310You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
21311retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
21312@value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-elf}.)
21313
21314The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
21315is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
21316forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
21317to run before stopping.
21318
21319@item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
21320@kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
21321@cindex synchronize with remote @acronym{MIPS} target
21322Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
21323it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
21324characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
21325
21326@item show syn-garbage-limit
21327@kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
21328Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
21329trying to synchronize with the remote system.
21330
21331@item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
21332@kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
21333@cindex remote monitor prompt
21334Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
21335remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
21336@table @asis
21337@item pmon target
21338@samp{PMON}
21339@item ddb target
21340@samp{NEC010}
21341@item lsi target
21342@samp{PMON>}
21343@end table
21344
21345@item show monitor-prompt
21346@kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
21347Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
21348remote monitor.
21349
21350@item set monitor-warnings
21351@kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
21352Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
21353has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
21354display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
21355PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
21356
21357@item show monitor-warnings
21358@kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
21359Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
21360
21361@item pmon @var{command}
21362@kindex pmon@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
21363@cindex send PMON command
21364This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
21365monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
21366@end table
21367
21368@node PowerPC Embedded
21369@subsection PowerPC Embedded
21370
21371@cindex DVC register
21372@value{GDBN} supports using the DVC (Data Value Compare) register to
21373implement in hardware simple hardware watchpoint conditions of the form:
21374
21375@smallexample
21376(@value{GDBP}) watch @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} \
21377 if @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} == @var{CONSTANT EXPRESSION}
21378@end smallexample
21379
21380The DVC register will be automatically used when @value{GDBN} detects
21381such pattern in a condition expression, and the created watchpoint uses one
21382debug register (either the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on and the
21383variable is scalar, or the variable has a length of one byte). This feature
21384is available in native @value{GDBN} running on a Linux kernel version 2.6.34
21385or newer.
21386
21387When running on PowerPC embedded processors, @value{GDBN} automatically uses
21388ranged hardware watchpoints, unless the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on,
21389in which case watchpoints using only one debug register are created when
21390watching variables of scalar types.
21391
21392You can create an artificial array to watch an arbitrary memory
21393region using one of the following commands (@pxref{Expressions}):
21394
21395@smallexample
21396(@value{GDBP}) watch *((char *) @var{address})@@@var{length}
21397(@value{GDBP}) watch @{char[@var{length}]@} @var{address}
21398@end smallexample
21399
21400PowerPC embedded processors support masked watchpoints. See the discussion
21401about the @code{mask} argument in @ref{Set Watchpoints}.
21402
21403@cindex ranged breakpoint
21404PowerPC embedded processors support hardware accelerated
21405@dfn{ranged breakpoints}. A ranged breakpoint stops execution of
21406the inferior whenever it executes an instruction at any address within
21407the range it specifies. To set a ranged breakpoint in @value{GDBN},
21408use the @code{break-range} command.
21409
21410@value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
21411
21412@table @code
21413@kindex break-range
21414@item break-range @var{start-location}, @var{end-location}
21415Set a breakpoint for an address range given by
21416@var{start-location} and @var{end-location}, which can specify a function name,
21417a line number, an offset of lines from the current line or from the start
21418location, or an address of an instruction (see @ref{Specify Location},
21419for a list of all the possible ways to specify a @var{location}.)
21420The breakpoint will stop execution of the inferior whenever it
21421executes an instruction at any address within the specified range,
21422(including @var{start-location} and @var{end-location}.)
21423
21424@kindex set powerpc
21425@item set powerpc soft-float
21426@itemx show powerpc soft-float
21427Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
21428convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
21429on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
21430
21431@item set powerpc vector-abi
21432@itemx show powerpc vector-abi
21433Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
21434arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
21435@samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
21436@samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
21437registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
21438based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
21439
21440@item set powerpc exact-watchpoints
21441@itemx show powerpc exact-watchpoints
21442Allow @value{GDBN} to use only one debug register when watching a variable
21443of scalar type, thus assuming that the variable is accessed through the
21444address of its first byte.
21445
21446@kindex target dink32
21447@item target dink32 @var{dev}
21448DINK32 ROM monitor.
21449
21450@kindex target ppcbug
21451@item target ppcbug @var{dev}
21452@kindex target ppcbug1
21453@item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
21454PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
21455
21456@kindex target sds
21457@item target sds @var{dev}
21458SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
21459@end table
21460
21461@cindex SDS protocol
21462The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
21463by @value{GDBN}:
21464
21465@table @code
21466@item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
21467@kindex set sdstimeout
21468Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
21469default is 2 seconds.
21470
21471@item show sdstimeout
21472@kindex show sdstimeout
21473Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
21474
21475@item sds @var{command}
21476@kindex sds@r{, a command}
21477Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
21478@end table
21479
21480
21481@node PA
21482@subsection HP PA Embedded
21483
21484@table @code
21485
21486@kindex target op50n
21487@item target op50n @var{dev}
21488OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
21489
21490@kindex target w89k
21491@item target w89k @var{dev}
21492W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
21493
21494@end table
21495
21496@node Sparclet
21497@subsection Tsqware Sparclet
21498
21499@cindex Sparclet
21500
21501@value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
21502Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
21503@value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
21504both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
21505@code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
21506
21507@table @code
21508@item remotetimeout @var{args}
21509@kindex remotetimeout
21510@value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
21511This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
21512seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
21513@end table
21514
21515@cindex compiling, on Sparclet
21516When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
21517information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
21518load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
21519@samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
21520
21521@smallexample
21522sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
21523@end smallexample
21524
21525You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
21526
21527@smallexample
21528sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
21529@end smallexample
21530
21531@cindex running, on Sparclet
21532Once you have set
21533your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
21534run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
21535(or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
21536
21537@value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
21538
21539@smallexample
21540(gdbslet)
21541@end smallexample
21542
21543@menu
21544* Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
21545* Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
21546* Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
21547* Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
21548@end menu
21549
21550@node Sparclet File
21551@subsubsection Setting File to Debug
21552
21553The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
21554
21555@smallexample
21556(gdbslet) file prog
21557@end smallexample
21558
21559@need 1000
21560@value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
21561@value{GDBN} locates
21562the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
21563path.
21564If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
21565files will be searched as well.
21566@value{GDBN} locates
21567the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
21568path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
21569If it fails
21570to find a file, it displays a message such as:
21571
21572@smallexample
21573prog: No such file or directory.
21574@end smallexample
21575
21576When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
21577the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
21578@code{target} command again.
21579
21580@node Sparclet Connection
21581@subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
21582
21583The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
21584To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
21585
21586@smallexample
21587(gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
21588Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
21589main () at ../prog.c:3
21590@end smallexample
21591
21592@need 750
21593@value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
21594
21595@smallexample
21596Connected to ttya.
21597@end smallexample
21598
21599@node Sparclet Download
21600@subsubsection Sparclet Download
21601
21602@cindex download to Sparclet
21603Once connected to the Sparclet target,
21604you can use the @value{GDBN}
21605@code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
21606The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
21607command.
21608Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
21609address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
21610offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
21611of each of the file's sections.
21612For instance, if the program
21613@file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
21614and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
21615
21616@smallexample
21617(gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
21618Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
21619@end smallexample
21620
21621If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
21622to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
21623to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
21624
21625@node Sparclet Execution
21626@subsubsection Running and Debugging
21627
21628@cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
21629You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
21630commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
21631manual for the list of commands.
21632
21633@smallexample
21634(gdbslet) b main
21635Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
21636(gdbslet) run
21637Starting program: prog
21638Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
216393 char *symarg = 0;
21640(gdbslet) step
216414 char *execarg = "hello!";
21642(gdbslet)
21643@end smallexample
21644
21645@node Sparclite
21646@subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
21647
21648@table @code
21649
21650@kindex target sparclite
21651@item target sparclite @var{dev}
21652Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
21653You must use an additional command to debug the program.
21654For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
21655remote protocol.
21656
21657@end table
21658
21659@node Z8000
21660@subsection Zilog Z8000
21661
21662@cindex Z8000
21663@cindex simulator, Z8000
21664@cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
21665
21666When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
21667a Z8000 simulator.
21668
21669For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
21670unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
21671segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
21672appropriate by inspecting the object code.
21673
21674@table @code
21675@item target sim @var{args}
21676@kindex sim
21677@kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
21678Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
21679options, specify them via @var{args}.
21680@end table
21681
21682@noindent
21683After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
21684CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
21685@code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
21686to run your program, and so on.
21687
21688As well as making available all the usual machine registers
21689(@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
21690additional items of information as specially named registers:
21691
21692@table @code
21693
21694@item cycles
21695Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
21696
21697@item insts
21698Counts instructions run in the simulator.
21699
21700@item time
21701Execution time in 60ths of a second.
21702
21703@end table
21704
21705You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
21706conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
21707conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
21708simulated clock ticks.
21709
21710@node AVR
21711@subsection Atmel AVR
21712@cindex AVR
21713
21714When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
21715following AVR-specific commands:
21716
21717@table @code
21718@item info io_registers
21719@kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
21720@cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
21721This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
21722each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
21723@end table
21724
21725@node CRIS
21726@subsection CRIS
21727@cindex CRIS
21728
21729When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
21730following CRIS-specific commands:
21731
21732@table @code
21733@item set cris-version @var{ver}
21734@cindex CRIS version
21735Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
21736The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
21737case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
21738
21739@item show cris-version
21740Show the current CRIS version.
21741
21742@item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
21743@cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
21744Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
21745Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
21746@code{R59}.
21747
21748@item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
21749Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
21750
21751@item set cris-mode @var{mode}
21752@cindex CRIS mode
21753Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
21754debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
21755@samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
21756
21757@item show cris-mode
21758Show the current CRIS mode.
21759@end table
21760
21761@node Super-H
21762@subsection Renesas Super-H
21763@cindex Super-H
21764
21765For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
21766commands:
21767
21768@table @code
21769@item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
21770@kindex set sh calling-convention
21771Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
21772Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
21773With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
21774convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
21775that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
21776is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
21777is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
21778regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
21779default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
21780does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
21781
21782@item show sh calling-convention
21783@kindex show sh calling-convention
21784Show the current calling convention setting.
21785
21786@end table
21787
21788
21789@node Architectures
21790@section Architectures
21791
21792This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
21793all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
21794
21795@menu
21796* AArch64::
21797* i386::
21798* Alpha::
21799* MIPS::
21800* HPPA:: HP PA architecture
21801* SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
21802* PowerPC::
21803* Nios II::
21804@end menu
21805
21806@node AArch64
21807@subsection AArch64
21808@cindex AArch64 support
21809
21810When @value{GDBN} is debugging the AArch64 architecture, it provides the
21811following special commands:
21812
21813@table @code
21814@item set debug aarch64
21815@kindex set debug aarch64
21816This command determines whether AArch64 architecture-specific debugging
21817messages are to be displayed.
21818
21819@item show debug aarch64
21820Show whether AArch64 debugging messages are displayed.
21821
21822@end table
21823
21824@node i386
21825@subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
21826
21827@table @code
21828@item set struct-convention @var{mode}
21829@kindex set struct-convention
21830@cindex struct return convention
21831@cindex struct/union returned in registers
21832Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
21833@code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
21834@var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
21835default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
21836are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
21837@code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
21838be returned in a register.
21839
21840@item show struct-convention
21841@kindex show struct-convention
21842Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
21843from functions.
21844@end table
21845
21846@subsubsection Intel(R) @dfn{Memory Protection Extensions} (MPX).
21847@cindex Intel(R) Memory Protection Extensions (MPX).
21848
21849Memory Protection Extension (MPX) adds the bound registers @samp{BND0}
21850@footnote{The register named with capital letters represent the architecture
21851registers.} through @samp{BND3}. Bound registers store a pair of 64-bit values
21852which are the lower bound and upper bound. Bounds are effective addresses or
21853memory locations. The upper bounds are architecturally represented in 1's
21854complement form. A bound having lower bound = 0, and upper bound = 0
21855(1's complement of all bits set) will allow access to the entire address space.
21856
21857@samp{BND0} through @samp{BND3} are represented in @value{GDBN} as @samp{bnd0raw}
21858through @samp{bnd3raw}. Pseudo registers @samp{bnd0} through @samp{bnd3}
21859display the upper bound performing the complement of one operation on the
21860upper bound value, i.e.@ when upper bound in @samp{bnd0raw} is 0 in the
21861@value{GDBN} @samp{bnd0} it will be @code{0xfff@dots{}}. In this sense it
21862can also be noted that the upper bounds are inclusive.
21863
21864As an example, assume that the register BND0 holds bounds for a pointer having
21865access allowed for the range between 0x32 and 0x71. The values present on
21866bnd0raw and bnd registers are presented as follows:
21867
21868@smallexample
21869 bnd0raw = @{0x32, 0xffffffff8e@}
21870 bnd0 = @{lbound = 0x32, ubound = 0x71@} : size 64
21871@end smallexample
21872
21873This way the raw value can be accessed via bnd0raw@dots{}bnd3raw. Any
21874change on bnd0@dots{}bnd3 or bnd0raw@dots{}bnd3raw is reflect on its
21875counterpart. When the bnd0@dots{}bnd3 registers are displayed via
21876Python, the display includes the memory size, in bits, accessible to
21877the pointer.
21878
21879@node Alpha
21880@subsection Alpha
21881
21882See the following section.
21883
21884@node MIPS
21885@subsection @acronym{MIPS}
21886
21887@cindex stack on Alpha
21888@cindex stack on @acronym{MIPS}
21889@cindex Alpha stack
21890@cindex @acronym{MIPS} stack
21891Alpha- and @acronym{MIPS}-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
21892sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
21893find the beginning of a function.
21894
21895@cindex response time, @acronym{MIPS} debugging
21896To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
21897@value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
21898you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
21899commands:
21900
21901@table @code
21902@cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, @acronym{MIPS})
21903@item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
21904Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
21905search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
21906default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
21907larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
21908and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
21909this command when debugging a stripped executable.
21910
21911@item show heuristic-fence-post
21912Display the current limit.
21913@end table
21914
21915@noindent
21916These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
21917for debugging programs on Alpha or @acronym{MIPS} processors.
21918
21919Several @acronym{MIPS}-specific commands are available when debugging @acronym{MIPS}
21920programs:
21921
21922@table @code
21923@item set mips abi @var{arg}
21924@kindex set mips abi
21925@cindex set ABI for @acronym{MIPS}
21926Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
21927values of @var{arg} are:
21928
21929@table @samp
21930@item auto
21931The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
21932default).
21933@item o32
21934@item o64
21935@item n32
21936@item n64
21937@item eabi32
21938@item eabi64
21939@end table
21940
21941@item show mips abi
21942@kindex show mips abi
21943Show the @acronym{MIPS} ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
21944
21945@item set mips compression @var{arg}
21946@kindex set mips compression
21947@cindex code compression, @acronym{MIPS}
21948Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} compressed
21949@acronym{ISA, Instruction Set Architecture} encoding is used by the
21950inferior. @value{GDBN} uses this for code disassembly and other
21951internal interpretation purposes. This setting is only referred to
21952when no executable has been associated with the debugging session or
21953the executable does not provide information about the encoding it uses.
21954Otherwise this setting is automatically updated from information
21955provided by the executable.
21956
21957Possible values of @var{arg} are @samp{mips16} and @samp{micromips}.
21958The default compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding is @samp{mips16}, as
21959executables containing @acronym{MIPS16} code frequently are not
21960identified as such.
21961
21962This setting is ``sticky''; that is, it retains its value across
21963debugging sessions until reset either explicitly with this command or
21964implicitly from an executable.
21965
21966The compiler and/or assembler typically add symbol table annotations to
21967identify functions compiled for the @acronym{MIPS16} or
21968@acronym{microMIPS} @acronym{ISA}s. If these function-scope annotations
21969are present, @value{GDBN} uses them in preference to the global
21970compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding setting.
21971
21972@item show mips compression
21973@kindex show mips compression
21974Show the @acronym{MIPS} compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding used by
21975@value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
21976
21977@item set mipsfpu
21978@itemx show mipsfpu
21979@xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
21980
21981@item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
21982@kindex set mips mask-address
21983@cindex @acronym{MIPS} addresses, masking
21984This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
21985@acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
21986@samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
21987setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
21988
21989@item show mips mask-address
21990@kindex show mips mask-address
21991Show whether the upper 32 bits of @acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off or
21992not.
21993
21994@item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21995@kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21996This command controls compatibility with 64-bit @acronym{MIPS} targets that
21997transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old @acronym{MIPS} 64 target
21998that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
21999and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
22000
22001@item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
22002@kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
22003Show the current setting of compatibility with older @acronym{MIPS} 64 targets.
22004
22005@item set debug mips
22006@kindex set debug mips
22007This command turns on and off debugging messages for the @acronym{MIPS}-specific
22008target code in @value{GDBN}.
22009
22010@item show debug mips
22011@kindex show debug mips
22012Show the current setting of @acronym{MIPS} debugging messages.
22013@end table
22014
22015
22016@node HPPA
22017@subsection HPPA
22018@cindex HPPA support
22019
22020When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
22021following special commands:
22022
22023@table @code
22024@item set debug hppa
22025@kindex set debug hppa
22026This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
22027messages are to be displayed.
22028
22029@item show debug hppa
22030Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
22031
22032@item maint print unwind @var{address}
22033@kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
22034This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
22035given @var{address}.
22036
22037@end table
22038
22039
22040@node SPU
22041@subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
22042@cindex Cell Broadband Engine
22043@cindex SPU
22044
22045When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
22046it provides the following special commands:
22047
22048@table @code
22049@item info spu event
22050@kindex info spu
22051Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
22052and pending event status.
22053
22054@item info spu signal
22055Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
22056signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
22057notification channels.
22058
22059@item info spu mailbox
22060Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
22061in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
22062SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
22063
22064@item info spu dma
22065Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
22066DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
22067and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
22068
22069@item info spu proxydma
22070Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
22071Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
22072and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
22073
22074@end table
22075
22076When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
22077on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
22078special commands:
22079
22080@table @code
22081@item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
22082@kindex set spu
22083Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
22084will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
22085function. The default is @code{off}.
22086
22087@item show spu stop-on-load
22088@kindex show spu
22089Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
22090
22091@item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
22092Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
22093@code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
22094cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
22095view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
22096does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
22097
22098@item show spu auto-flush-cache
22099Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
22100
22101@end table
22102
22103@node PowerPC
22104@subsection PowerPC
22105@cindex PowerPC architecture
22106
22107When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
22108pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
22109numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
22110in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
22111@code{f0} or @code{f2}.
22112
22113The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
22114by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
22115@code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
22116
22117For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
22118wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
22119
22120@node Nios II
22121@subsection Nios II
22122@cindex Nios II architecture
22123
22124When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Nios II architecture,
22125it provides the following special commands:
22126
22127@table @code
22128
22129@item set debug nios2
22130@kindex set debug nios2
22131This command turns on and off debugging messages for the Nios II
22132target code in @value{GDBN}.
22133
22134@item show debug nios2
22135@kindex show debug nios2
22136Show the current setting of Nios II debugging messages.
22137@end table
22138
22139@node Controlling GDB
22140@chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
22141
22142You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
22143@code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
22144data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
22145described here.
22146
22147@menu
22148* Prompt:: Prompt
22149* Editing:: Command editing
22150* Command History:: Command history
22151* Screen Size:: Screen size
22152* Numbers:: Numbers
22153* ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
22154* Auto-loading:: Automatically loading associated files
22155* Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
22156* Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
22157* Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
22158@end menu
22159
22160@node Prompt
22161@section Prompt
22162
22163@cindex prompt
22164
22165@value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
22166called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
22167can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
22168instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
22169the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
22170which one you are talking to.
22171
22172@emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
22173prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
22174or a prompt that does not.
22175
22176@table @code
22177@kindex set prompt
22178@item set prompt @var{newprompt}
22179Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
22180
22181@kindex show prompt
22182@item show prompt
22183Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
22184@end table
22185
22186Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled have
22187prompt extensions. The commands for interacting with these extensions
22188are:
22189
22190@table @code
22191@kindex set extended-prompt
22192@item set extended-prompt @var{prompt}
22193Set an extended prompt that allows for substitutions.
22194@xref{gdb.prompt}, for a list of escape sequences that can be used for
22195substitution. Any escape sequences specified as part of the prompt
22196string are replaced with the corresponding strings each time the prompt
22197is displayed.
22198
22199For example:
22200
22201@smallexample
22202set extended-prompt Current working directory: \w (gdb)
22203@end smallexample
22204
22205Note that when an extended-prompt is set, it takes control of the
22206@var{prompt_hook} hook. @xref{prompt_hook}, for further information.
22207
22208@kindex show extended-prompt
22209@item show extended-prompt
22210Prints the extended prompt. Any escape sequences specified as part of
22211the prompt string with @code{set extended-prompt}, are replaced with the
22212corresponding strings each time the prompt is displayed.
22213@end table
22214
22215@node Editing
22216@section Command Editing
22217@cindex readline
22218@cindex command line editing
22219
22220@value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
22221@sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
22222command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
22223or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
22224substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
22225debugging sessions.
22226
22227You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
22228command @code{set}.
22229
22230@table @code
22231@kindex set editing
22232@cindex editing
22233@item set editing
22234@itemx set editing on
22235Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
22236
22237@item set editing off
22238Disable command line editing.
22239
22240@kindex show editing
22241@item show editing
22242Show whether command line editing is enabled.
22243@end table
22244
22245@ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
22246@xref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library},
22247@end ifset
22248@ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
22249@xref{Command Line Editing},
22250@end ifclear
22251for more details about the Readline
22252interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
22253encouraged to read that chapter.
22254
22255@node Command History
22256@section Command History
22257@cindex command history
22258
22259@value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
22260debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
22261happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
22262history facility.
22263
22264@value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
22265package, to provide the history facility.
22266@ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
22267@xref{Using History Interactively, , , history, GNU History Library},
22268@end ifset
22269@ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
22270@xref{Using History Interactively},
22271@end ifclear
22272for the detailed description of the History library.
22273
22274To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
22275the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
22276(@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
22277means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
22278affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
22279pressed on a line by itself.
22280
22281@cindex @code{server}, command prefix
22282The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
22283history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
22284use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
22285
22286Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
22287history.
22288
22289@table @code
22290@cindex history substitution
22291@cindex history file
22292@kindex set history filename
22293@cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
22294@item set history filename @var{fname}
22295Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
22296This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
22297list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
22298exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
22299the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
22300to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
22301@file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
22302is not set.
22303
22304@cindex save command history
22305@kindex set history save
22306@item set history save
22307@itemx set history save on
22308Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
22309@code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
22310
22311@item set history save off
22312Stop recording command history in a file.
22313
22314@cindex history size
22315@kindex set history size
22316@cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
22317@item set history size @var{size}
22318@itemx set history size unlimited
22319Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
22320This defaults to the value of the environment variable
22321@code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set. If @var{size}
22322is @code{unlimited}, the number of commands @value{GDBN} keeps in the
22323history list is unlimited.
22324@end table
22325
22326History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
22327@ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
22328@xref{Event Designators, , , history, GNU History Library},
22329@end ifset
22330@ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
22331@xref{Event Designators},
22332@end ifclear
22333for more details.
22334
22335@cindex history expansion, turn on/off
22336Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
22337is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
22338@code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
22339follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
22340a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
22341history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
22342@kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
22343
22344The commands to control history expansion are:
22345
22346@table @code
22347@item set history expansion on
22348@itemx set history expansion
22349@kindex set history expansion
22350Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
22351
22352@item set history expansion off
22353Disable history expansion.
22354
22355@c @group
22356@kindex show history
22357@item show history
22358@itemx show history filename
22359@itemx show history save
22360@itemx show history size
22361@itemx show history expansion
22362These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
22363@code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
22364@c @end group
22365@end table
22366
22367@table @code
22368@kindex show commands
22369@cindex show last commands
22370@cindex display command history
22371@item show commands
22372Display the last ten commands in the command history.
22373
22374@item show commands @var{n}
22375Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
22376
22377@item show commands +
22378Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
22379@end table
22380
22381@node Screen Size
22382@section Screen Size
22383@cindex size of screen
22384@cindex screen size
22385@cindex pagination
22386@cindex page size
22387@cindex pauses in output
22388
22389Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
22390information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
22391@value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
22392output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
22393to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
22394determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
22395printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
22396rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
22397
22398Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
22399driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
22400together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
22401@code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
22402you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
22403width} commands:
22404
22405@table @code
22406@kindex set height
22407@kindex set width
22408@kindex show width
22409@kindex show height
22410@item set height @var{lpp}
22411@itemx set height unlimited
22412@itemx show height
22413@itemx set width @var{cpl}
22414@itemx set width unlimited
22415@itemx show width
22416These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
22417a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
22418commands display the current settings.
22419
22420If you specify a height of either @code{unlimited} or zero lines,
22421@value{GDBN} does not pause during output no matter how long the
22422output is. This is useful if output is to a file or to an editor
22423buffer.
22424
22425Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width unlimited} or @samp{set
22426width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN} from wrapping its output.
22427
22428@item set pagination on
22429@itemx set pagination off
22430@kindex set pagination
22431Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
22432pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height unlimited}. Note that
22433running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
22434Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
22435
22436@item show pagination
22437@kindex show pagination
22438Show the current pagination mode.
22439@end table
22440
22441@node Numbers
22442@section Numbers
22443@cindex number representation
22444@cindex entering numbers
22445
22446You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
22447@value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
22448@samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
22449begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
22450@samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
2245110; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
22452format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
22453both input and output with the commands described below.
22454
22455@table @code
22456@kindex set input-radix
22457@item set input-radix @var{base}
22458Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
22459for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. The base must itself be
22460specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
22461example, any of
22462
22463@smallexample
22464set input-radix 012
22465set input-radix 10.
22466set input-radix 0xa
22467@end smallexample
22468
22469@noindent
22470sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
22471leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
22472@samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
22473interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
22474@samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
22475change the radix.
22476
22477@kindex set output-radix
22478@item set output-radix @var{base}
22479Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
22480for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. The base must itself be
22481specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
22482
22483@kindex show input-radix
22484@item show input-radix
22485Display the current default base for numeric input.
22486
22487@kindex show output-radix
22488@item show output-radix
22489Display the current default base for numeric display.
22490
22491@item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
22492@itemx show radix
22493@kindex set radix
22494@kindex show radix
22495These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
22496of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
22497the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
22498default value of 10.
22499
22500@end table
22501
22502@node ABI
22503@section Configuring the Current ABI
22504
22505@value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
22506application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
22507conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
22508current ABI.
22509
22510@cindex OS ABI
22511@kindex set osabi
22512@kindex show osabi
22513@cindex Newlib OS ABI and its influence on the longjmp handling
22514
22515One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
22516system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
22517@value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
22518but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
22519One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
22520an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
22521not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
22522platform provides.
22523
22524When @value{GDBN} is debugging the AArch64 architecture, it provides a
22525``Newlib'' OS ABI. This is useful for handling @code{setjmp} and
22526@code{longjmp} when debugging binaries that use the @sc{newlib} C library.
22527The ``Newlib'' OS ABI can be selected by @code{set osabi Newlib}.
22528
22529@table @code
22530@item show osabi
22531Show the OS ABI currently in use.
22532
22533@item set osabi
22534With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
22535
22536@item set osabi @var{abi}
22537Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
22538@end table
22539
22540@cindex float promotion
22541
22542Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
22543function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
22544(i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
22545according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
22546(i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
22547@code{double} and then passed.
22548
22549Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
22550a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
22551as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
22552
22553@table @code
22554@kindex set coerce-float-to-double
22555@item set coerce-float-to-double
22556@itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
22557Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
22558to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
22559
22560@item set coerce-float-to-double off
22561Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
22562functions.
22563
22564@kindex show coerce-float-to-double
22565@item show coerce-float-to-double
22566Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
22567@end table
22568
22569@kindex set cp-abi
22570@kindex show cp-abi
22571@value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
22572objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
22573used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
22574programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
22575multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
22576program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
22577Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
22578before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
22579``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
22580use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
22581``auto''.
22582
22583@table @code
22584@item show cp-abi
22585Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
22586
22587@item set cp-abi
22588With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
22589
22590@item set cp-abi @var{abi}
22591@itemx set cp-abi auto
22592Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
22593@end table
22594
22595@node Auto-loading
22596@section Automatically loading associated files
22597@cindex auto-loading
22598
22599@value{GDBN} sometimes reads files with commands and settings automatically,
22600without being explicitly told so by the user. We call this feature
22601@dfn{auto-loading}. While auto-loading is useful for automatically adapting
22602@value{GDBN} to the needs of your project, it can sometimes produce unexpected
22603results or introduce security risks (e.g., if the file comes from untrusted
22604sources).
22605
22606@menu
22607* Init File in the Current Directory:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load local-gdbinit}
22608* libthread_db.so.1 file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load libthread-db}
22609
22610* Auto-loading safe path:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load safe-path}
22611* Auto-loading verbose mode:: @samp{set/show debug auto-load}
22612@end menu
22613
22614There are various kinds of files @value{GDBN} can automatically load.
22615In addition to these files, @value{GDBN} supports auto-loading code written
22616in various extension languages. @xref{Auto-loading extensions}.
22617
22618Note that loading of these associated files (including the local @file{.gdbinit}
22619file) requires accordingly configured @code{auto-load safe-path}
22620(@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
22621
22622For these reasons, @value{GDBN} includes commands and options to let you
22623control when to auto-load files and which files should be auto-loaded.
22624
22625@table @code
22626@anchor{set auto-load off}
22627@kindex set auto-load off
22628@item set auto-load off
22629Globally disable loading of all auto-loaded files.
22630You may want to use this command with the @samp{-iex} option
22631(@pxref{Option -init-eval-command}) such as:
22632@smallexample
22633$ @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load off" untrusted-executable corefile}
22634@end smallexample
22635
22636Be aware that system init file (@pxref{System-wide configuration})
22637and init files from your home directory (@pxref{Home Directory Init File})
22638still get read (as they come from generally trusted directories).
22639To prevent @value{GDBN} from auto-loading even those init files, use the
22640@option{-nx} option (@pxref{Mode Options}), in addition to
22641@code{set auto-load no}.
22642
22643@anchor{show auto-load}
22644@kindex show auto-load
22645@item show auto-load
22646Show whether auto-loading of each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) is enabled
22647or disabled.
22648
22649@smallexample
22650(gdb) show auto-load
22651gdb-scripts: Auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is on.
22652libthread-db: Auto-loading of inferior specific libthread_db is on.
22653local-gdbinit: Auto-loading of .gdbinit script from current directory
22654 is on.
22655python-scripts: Auto-loading of Python scripts is on.
22656safe-path: List of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
22657 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
22658scripts-directory: List of directories from which to load auto-loaded scripts
22659 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
22660@end smallexample
22661
22662@anchor{info auto-load}
22663@kindex info auto-load
22664@item info auto-load
22665Print whether each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) have been auto-loaded or
22666not.
22667
22668@smallexample
22669(gdb) info auto-load
22670gdb-scripts:
22671Loaded Script
22672Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb
22673libthread-db: No auto-loaded libthread-db.
22674local-gdbinit: Local .gdbinit file "/home/user/gdb/.gdbinit" has been
22675 loaded.
22676python-scripts:
22677Loaded Script
22678Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py
22679@end smallexample
22680@end table
22681
22682These are @value{GDBN} control commands for the auto-loading:
22683
22684@multitable @columnfractions .5 .5
22685@item @xref{set auto-load off}.
22686@tab Disable auto-loading globally.
22687@item @xref{show auto-load}.
22688@tab Show setting of all kinds of files.
22689@item @xref{info auto-load}.
22690@tab Show state of all kinds of files.
22691@item @xref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
22692@tab Control for @value{GDBN} command scripts.
22693@item @xref{show auto-load gdb-scripts}.
22694@tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
22695@item @xref{info auto-load gdb-scripts}.
22696@tab Show state of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
22697@item @xref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
22698@tab Control for @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
22699@item @xref{show auto-load python-scripts}.
22700@tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
22701@item @xref{info auto-load python-scripts}.
22702@tab Show state of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
22703@item @xref{set auto-load guile-scripts}.
22704@tab Control for @value{GDBN} Guile scripts.
22705@item @xref{show auto-load guile-scripts}.
22706@tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} Guile scripts.
22707@item @xref{info auto-load guile-scripts}.
22708@tab Show state of @value{GDBN} Guile scripts.
22709@item @xref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
22710@tab Control for @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
22711@item @xref{show auto-load scripts-directory}.
22712@tab Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
22713@item @xref{add-auto-load-scripts-directory}.
22714@tab Add directory for auto-loaded scripts location list.
22715@item @xref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
22716@tab Control for init file in the current directory.
22717@item @xref{show auto-load local-gdbinit}.
22718@tab Show setting of init file in the current directory.
22719@item @xref{info auto-load local-gdbinit}.
22720@tab Show state of init file in the current directory.
22721@item @xref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
22722@tab Control for thread debugging library.
22723@item @xref{show auto-load libthread-db}.
22724@tab Show setting of thread debugging library.
22725@item @xref{info auto-load libthread-db}.
22726@tab Show state of thread debugging library.
22727@item @xref{set auto-load safe-path}.
22728@tab Control directories trusted for automatic loading.
22729@item @xref{show auto-load safe-path}.
22730@tab Show directories trusted for automatic loading.
22731@item @xref{add-auto-load-safe-path}.
22732@tab Add directory trusted for automatic loading.
22733@end multitable
22734
22735@node Init File in the Current Directory
22736@subsection Automatically loading init file in the current directory
22737@cindex auto-loading init file in the current directory
22738
22739By default, @value{GDBN} reads and executes the canned sequences of commands
22740from init file (if any) in the current working directory,
22741see @ref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}.
22742
22743Note that loading of this local @file{.gdbinit} file also requires accordingly
22744configured @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
22745
22746@table @code
22747@anchor{set auto-load local-gdbinit}
22748@kindex set auto-load local-gdbinit
22749@item set auto-load local-gdbinit [on|off]
22750Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands
22751(@pxref{Sequences}) found in init file in the current directory.
22752
22753@anchor{show auto-load local-gdbinit}
22754@kindex show auto-load local-gdbinit
22755@item show auto-load local-gdbinit
22756Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands from init file in the
22757current directory is enabled or disabled.
22758
22759@anchor{info auto-load local-gdbinit}
22760@kindex info auto-load local-gdbinit
22761@item info auto-load local-gdbinit
22762Print whether canned sequences of commands from init file in the
22763current directory have been auto-loaded.
22764@end table
22765
22766@node libthread_db.so.1 file
22767@subsection Automatically loading thread debugging library
22768@cindex auto-loading libthread_db.so.1
22769
22770This feature is currently present only on @sc{gnu}/Linux native hosts.
22771
22772@value{GDBN} reads in some cases thread debugging library from places specific
22773to the inferior (@pxref{set libthread-db-search-path}).
22774
22775The special @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entry @samp{$sdir} is processed
22776without checking this @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} switch as system
22777libraries have to be trusted in general. In all other cases of
22778@samp{libthread-db-search-path} entries @value{GDBN} checks first if @samp{set
22779auto-load libthread-db} is enabled before trying to open such thread debugging
22780library.
22781
22782Note that loading of this debugging library also requires accordingly configured
22783@code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
22784
22785@table @code
22786@anchor{set auto-load libthread-db}
22787@kindex set auto-load libthread-db
22788@item set auto-load libthread-db [on|off]
22789Enable or disable the auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library.
22790
22791@anchor{show auto-load libthread-db}
22792@kindex show auto-load libthread-db
22793@item show auto-load libthread-db
22794Show whether auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library is
22795enabled or disabled.
22796
22797@anchor{info auto-load libthread-db}
22798@kindex info auto-load libthread-db
22799@item info auto-load libthread-db
22800Print the list of all loaded inferior specific thread debugging libraries and
22801for each such library print list of inferior @var{pid}s using it.
22802@end table
22803
22804@node Auto-loading safe path
22805@subsection Security restriction for auto-loading
22806@cindex auto-loading safe-path
22807
22808As the files of inferior can come from untrusted source (such as submitted by
22809an application user) @value{GDBN} does not always load any files automatically.
22810@value{GDBN} provides the @samp{set auto-load safe-path} setting to list
22811directories trusted for loading files not explicitly requested by user.
22812Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern.
22813
22814If the path is not set properly you will see a warning and the file will not
22815get loaded:
22816
22817@smallexample
22818$ ./gdb -q ./gdb
22819Reading symbols from /home/user/gdb/gdb...done.
22820warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been
22821 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
22822 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
22823warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py" auto-loading has been
22824 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
22825 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
22826@end smallexample
22827
22828@noindent
22829To instruct @value{GDBN} to go ahead and use the init files anyway,
22830invoke @value{GDBN} like this:
22831
22832@smallexample
22833$ gdb -q -iex "set auto-load safe-path /home/user/gdb" ./gdb
22834@end smallexample
22835
22836The list of trusted directories is controlled by the following commands:
22837
22838@table @code
22839@anchor{set auto-load safe-path}
22840@kindex set auto-load safe-path
22841@item set auto-load safe-path @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
22842Set the list of directories (and their subdirectories) trusted for automatic
22843loading and execution of scripts. You can also enter a specific trusted file.
22844Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern; wildcards do not match
22845directory separator - see @code{FNM_PATHNAME} for system function @code{fnmatch}
22846(@pxref{Wildcard Matching, fnmatch, , libc, GNU C Library Reference Manual}).
22847If you omit @var{directories}, @samp{auto-load safe-path} will be reset to
22848its default value as specified during @value{GDBN} compilation.
22849
22850The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
22851systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
22852to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
22853
22854@anchor{show auto-load safe-path}
22855@kindex show auto-load safe-path
22856@item show auto-load safe-path
22857Show the list of directories trusted for automatic loading and execution of
22858scripts.
22859
22860@anchor{add-auto-load-safe-path}
22861@kindex add-auto-load-safe-path
22862@item add-auto-load-safe-path
22863Add an entry (or list of entries) to the list of directories trusted for
22864automatic loading and execution of scripts. Multiple entries may be delimited
22865by the host platform path separator in use.
22866@end table
22867
22868This variable defaults to what @code{--with-auto-load-dir} has been configured
22869to (@pxref{with-auto-load-dir}). @file{$debugdir} and @file{$datadir}
22870substitution applies the same as for @ref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
22871The default @code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by
22872@value{GDBN} configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-safe-path}.
22873
22874Setting this variable to @file{/} disables this security protection,
22875corresponding @value{GDBN} configuration option is
22876@option{--without-auto-load-safe-path}.
22877This variable is supposed to be set to the system directories writable by the
22878system superuser only. Users can add their source directories in init files in
22879their home directories (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). See also deprecated
22880init file in the current directory
22881(@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}).
22882
22883To force @value{GDBN} to load the files it declined to load in the previous
22884example, you could use one of the following ways:
22885
22886@table @asis
22887@item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{add-auto-load-safe-path ~/src/gdb}
22888Specify this trusted directory (or a file) as additional component of the list.
22889You have to specify also any existing directories displayed by
22890by @samp{show auto-load safe-path} (such as @samp{/usr:/bin} in this example).
22891
22892@item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /usr:/bin:~/src/gdb" @dots{}}
22893Specify this directory as in the previous case but just for a single
22894@value{GDBN} session.
22895
22896@item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /" @dots{}}
22897Disable auto-loading safety for a single @value{GDBN} session.
22898This assumes all the files you debug during this @value{GDBN} session will come
22899from trusted sources.
22900
22901@item @kbd{./configure --without-auto-load-safe-path}
22902During compilation of @value{GDBN} you may disable any auto-loading safety.
22903This assumes all the files you will ever debug with this @value{GDBN} come from
22904trusted sources.
22905@end table
22906
22907On the other hand you can also explicitly forbid automatic files loading which
22908also suppresses any such warning messages:
22909
22910@table @asis
22911@item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load no" @dots{}}
22912You can use @value{GDBN} command-line option for a single @value{GDBN} session.
22913
22914@item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{set auto-load no}
22915Disable auto-loading globally for the user
22916(@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). While it is improbable, you could also
22917use system init file instead (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
22918@end table
22919
22920This setting applies to the file names as entered by user. If no entry matches
22921@value{GDBN} tries as a last resort to also resolve all the file names into
22922their canonical form (typically resolving symbolic links) and compare the
22923entries again. @value{GDBN} already canonicalizes most of the filenames on its
22924own before starting the comparison so a canonical form of directories is
22925recommended to be entered.
22926
22927@node Auto-loading verbose mode
22928@subsection Displaying files tried for auto-load
22929@cindex auto-loading verbose mode
22930
22931For better visibility of all the file locations where you can place scripts to
22932be auto-loaded with inferior --- or to protect yourself against accidental
22933execution of untrusted scripts --- @value{GDBN} provides a feature for printing
22934all the files attempted to be loaded. Both existing and non-existing files may
22935be printed.
22936
22937For example the list of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
22938(@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}) applies also to canonicalized filenames which
22939may not be too obvious while setting it up.
22940
22941@smallexample
22942(gdb) set debug auto-load on
22943(gdb) file ~/src/t/true
22944auto-load: Loading canned sequences of commands script "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb"
22945 for objfile "/tmp/true".
22946auto-load: Updating directories of "/usr:/opt".
22947auto-load: Using directory "/usr".
22948auto-load: Using directory "/opt".
22949warning: File "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been declined
22950 by your `auto-load safe-path' set to "/usr:/opt".
22951@end smallexample
22952
22953@table @code
22954@anchor{set debug auto-load}
22955@kindex set debug auto-load
22956@item set debug auto-load [on|off]
22957Set whether to print the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded.
22958
22959@anchor{show debug auto-load}
22960@kindex show debug auto-load
22961@item show debug auto-load
22962Show whether printing of the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded is turned
22963on or off.
22964@end table
22965
22966@node Messages/Warnings
22967@section Optional Warnings and Messages
22968
22969@cindex verbose operation
22970@cindex optional warnings
22971By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
22972running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
22973command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
22974internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
22975
22976Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
22977which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
22978see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
22979
22980@table @code
22981@kindex set verbose
22982@item set verbose on
22983Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
22984
22985@item set verbose off
22986Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
22987
22988@kindex show verbose
22989@item show verbose
22990Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
22991@end table
22992
22993By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
22994object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
22995find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
22996Symbol Files}).
22997
22998@table @code
22999
23000@kindex set complaints
23001@item set complaints @var{limit}
23002Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
23003unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
23004@var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
23005to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
23006
23007@kindex show complaints
23008@item show complaints
23009Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
23010
23011@end table
23012
23013@anchor{confirmation requests}
23014By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
23015lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
23016you try to run a program which is already running:
23017
23018@smallexample
23019(@value{GDBP}) run
23020The program being debugged has been started already.
23021Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
23022@end smallexample
23023
23024If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
23025commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
23026
23027@table @code
23028
23029@kindex set confirm
23030@cindex flinching
23031@cindex confirmation
23032@cindex stupid questions
23033@item set confirm off
23034Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
23035the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
23036automatically disables confirmation requests.
23037
23038@item set confirm on
23039Enables confirmation requests (the default).
23040
23041@kindex show confirm
23042@item show confirm
23043Displays state of confirmation requests.
23044
23045@end table
23046
23047@cindex command tracing
23048If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
23049useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
23050printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
23051quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
23052
23053@table @code
23054@kindex set trace-commands
23055@cindex command scripts, debugging
23056@item set trace-commands on
23057Enable command tracing.
23058@item set trace-commands off
23059Disable command tracing.
23060@item show trace-commands
23061Display the current state of command tracing.
23062@end table
23063
23064@node Debugging Output
23065@section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
23066@cindex optional debugging messages
23067
23068@value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
23069various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
23070interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
23071section documents those commands.
23072
23073@table @code
23074@kindex set exec-done-display
23075@item set exec-done-display
23076Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
23077completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
23078asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
23079@kindex show exec-done-display
23080@item show exec-done-display
23081Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
23082notification.
23083@kindex set debug
23084@cindex ARM AArch64
23085@item set debug aarch64
23086Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to ARM AArch64.
23087The default is off.
23088@kindex show debug
23089@item show debug aarch64
23090Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
23091ARM AArch64.
23092@cindex gdbarch debugging info
23093@cindex architecture debugging info
23094@item set debug arch
23095Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
23096@item show debug arch
23097Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
23098@item set debug aix-solib
23099@cindex AIX shared library debugging
23100Control display of debugging messages from the AIX shared library
23101support module. The default is off.
23102@item show debug aix-thread
23103Show the current state of displaying AIX shared library debugging messages.
23104@item set debug aix-thread
23105@cindex AIX threads
23106Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
23107module.
23108@item show debug aix-thread
23109Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
23110@item set debug check-physname
23111@cindex physname
23112Check the results of the ``physname'' computation. When reading DWARF
23113debugging information for C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} attempts to compute
23114each entity's name. @value{GDBN} can do this computation in two
23115different ways, depending on exactly what information is present.
23116When enabled, this setting causes @value{GDBN} to compute the names
23117both ways and display any discrepancies.
23118@item show debug check-physname
23119Show the current state of ``physname'' checking.
23120@item set debug coff-pe-read
23121@cindex COFF/PE exported symbols
23122Control display of debugging messages related to reading of COFF/PE
23123exported symbols. The default is off.
23124@item show debug coff-pe-read
23125Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
23126reading of COFF/PE exported symbols.
23127@item set debug dwarf2-die
23128@cindex DWARF2 DIEs
23129Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
23130The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
23131A value of zero turns off the display.
23132@item show debug dwarf2-die
23133Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
23134@item set debug dwarf2-read
23135@cindex DWARF2 Reading
23136Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to reading
23137DWARF debug info. The default is 0 (off).
23138A value of 1 provides basic information.
23139A value greater than 1 provides more verbose information.
23140@item show debug dwarf2-read
23141Show the current state of DWARF2 reader debugging.
23142@item set debug displaced
23143@cindex displaced stepping debugging info
23144Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
23145displaced stepping support. The default is off.
23146@item show debug displaced
23147Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
23148related to displaced stepping.
23149@item set debug event
23150@cindex event debugging info
23151Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
23152default is off.
23153@item show debug event
23154Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
23155info.
23156@item set debug expression
23157@cindex expression debugging info
23158Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
23159expression parsing. The default is off.
23160@item show debug expression
23161Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
23162@value{GDBN} expression parsing.
23163@item set debug frame
23164@cindex frame debugging info
23165Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
23166default is off.
23167@item show debug frame
23168Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
23169info.
23170@item set debug gnu-nat
23171@cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
23172Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
23173@item show debug gnu-nat
23174Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
23175@item set debug infrun
23176@cindex inferior debugging info
23177Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
23178The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
23179for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
23180@item show debug infrun
23181Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
23182@item set debug jit
23183@cindex just-in-time compilation, debugging messages
23184Turns on or off debugging messages from JIT debug support.
23185@item show debug jit
23186Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} JIT debugging.
23187@item set debug lin-lwp
23188@cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
23189@cindex Linux lightweight processes
23190Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
23191@item show debug lin-lwp
23192Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
23193@item set debug mach-o
23194@cindex Mach-O symbols processing
23195Control display of debugging messages related to Mach-O symbols
23196processing. The default is off.
23197@item show debug mach-o
23198Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
23199reading of COFF/PE exported symbols.
23200@item set debug notification
23201@cindex remote async notification debugging info
23202Turns on or off debugging messages about remote async notification.
23203The default is off.
23204@item show debug notification
23205Displays the current state of remote async notification debugging messages.
23206@item set debug observer
23207@cindex observer debugging info
23208Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
23209includes info such as the notification of observable events.
23210@item show debug observer
23211Displays the current state of observer debugging.
23212@item set debug overload
23213@cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
23214Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
23215info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
23216is off.
23217@item show debug overload
23218Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
23219debugging info.
23220@cindex expression parser, debugging info
23221@cindex debug expression parser
23222@item set debug parser
23223Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
23224Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
23225parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
23226details. The default is off.
23227@item show debug parser
23228Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
23229@cindex packets, reporting on stdout
23230@cindex serial connections, debugging
23231@cindex debug remote protocol
23232@cindex remote protocol debugging
23233@cindex display remote packets
23234@item set debug remote
23235Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
23236the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
23237@value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
23238@item show debug remote
23239Displays the state of display of remote packets.
23240@item set debug serial
23241Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
23242default is off.
23243@item show debug serial
23244Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
23245info.
23246@item set debug solib-frv
23247@cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
23248Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
23249@item show debug solib-frv
23250Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
23251messages.
23252@item set debug symbol-lookup
23253@cindex symbol lookup
23254Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to symbol lookup.
23255The default is 0 (off).
23256A value of 1 provides basic information.
23257A value greater than 1 provides more verbose information.
23258@item show debug symbol-lookup
23259Show the current state of symbol lookup debugging messages.
23260@item set debug symfile
23261@cindex symbol file functions
23262Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to symbol file functions.
23263The default is off. @xref{Files}.
23264@item show debug symfile
23265Show the current state of symbol file debugging messages.
23266@item set debug symtab-create
23267@cindex symbol table creation
23268Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to symbol table creation.
23269The default is 0 (off).
23270A value of 1 provides basic information.
23271A value greater than 1 provides more verbose information.
23272@item show debug symtab-create
23273Show the current state of symbol table creation debugging.
23274@item set debug target
23275@cindex target debugging info
23276Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
23277includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
23278default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
23279value of large memory transfers.
23280@item show debug target
23281Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
23282info.
23283@item set debug timestamp
23284@cindex timestampping debugging info
23285Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
23286When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
23287message.
23288@item show debug timestamp
23289Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
23290debugging info.
23291@item set debug varobj
23292@cindex variable object debugging info
23293Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
23294info. The default is off.
23295@item show debug varobj
23296Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
23297debugging info.
23298@item set debug xml
23299@cindex XML parser debugging
23300Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
23301@item show debug xml
23302Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
23303@end table
23304
23305@node Other Misc Settings
23306@section Other Miscellaneous Settings
23307@cindex miscellaneous settings
23308
23309@table @code
23310@kindex set interactive-mode
23311@item set interactive-mode
23312If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to assume that GDB was started
23313in a terminal. In practice, this means that @value{GDBN} should wait
23314for the user to answer queries generated by commands entered at
23315the command prompt. If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate
23316in the opposite mode, and it uses the default answers to all queries.
23317If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} tries to determine whether
23318its standard input is a terminal, and works in interactive-mode if it
23319is, non-interactively otherwise.
23320
23321In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
23322correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
23323in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
23324inside a cygwin window.
23325
23326@kindex show interactive-mode
23327@item show interactive-mode
23328Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
23329@end table
23330
23331@node Extending GDB
23332@chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
23333@cindex extending GDB
23334
23335@value{GDBN} provides several mechanisms for extension.
23336@value{GDBN} also provides the ability to automatically load
23337extensions when it reads a file for debugging. This allows the
23338user to automatically customize @value{GDBN} for the program
23339being debugged.
23340
23341@menu
23342* Sequences:: Canned Sequences of @value{GDBN} Commands
23343* Python:: Extending @value{GDBN} using Python
23344* Guile:: Extending @value{GDBN} using Guile
23345* Auto-loading extensions:: Automatically loading extensions
23346* Multiple Extension Languages:: Working with multiple extension languages
23347* Aliases:: Creating new spellings of existing commands
23348@end menu
23349
23350To facilitate the use of extension languages, @value{GDBN} is capable
23351of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
23352can recognize which extension language is being used by looking at
23353the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
23354are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
23355@xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
23356
23357You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
23358setting:
23359
23360@table @code
23361@kindex set script-extension
23362@kindex show script-extension
23363@item set script-extension off
23364All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
23365
23366@item set script-extension soft
23367The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
23368extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
23369evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
23370the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
23371
23372@item set script-extension strict
23373The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
23374extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
23375language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
23376
23377@item show script-extension
23378Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
23379
23380@end table
23381
23382@node Sequences
23383@section Canned Sequences of Commands
23384
23385Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
23386Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
23387commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
23388files.
23389
23390@menu
23391* Define:: How to define your own commands
23392* Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
23393* Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
23394* Output:: Commands for controlled output
23395* Auto-loading sequences:: Controlling auto-loaded command files
23396@end menu
23397
23398@node Define
23399@subsection User-defined Commands
23400
23401@cindex user-defined command
23402@cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
23403A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
23404which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
23405@code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
23406separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
23407via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
23408
23409@smallexample
23410define adder
23411 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
23412end
23413@end smallexample
23414
23415@noindent
23416To execute the command use:
23417
23418@smallexample
23419adder 1 2 3
23420@end smallexample
23421
23422@noindent
23423This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
23424its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
23425reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
23426functions calls.
23427
23428@cindex argument count in user-defined commands
23429@cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
23430In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
23431been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
23432
23433@smallexample
23434define adder
23435 if $argc == 2
23436 print $arg0 + $arg1
23437 end
23438 if $argc == 3
23439 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
23440 end
23441end
23442@end smallexample
23443
23444@table @code
23445
23446@kindex define
23447@item define @var{commandname}
23448Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
23449by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
23450The argument @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
23451numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
23452prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
23453a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
23454
23455The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
23456which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
23457commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
23458
23459@kindex document
23460@kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
23461@item document @var{commandname}
23462Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
23463accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
23464defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
23465reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
23466After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
23467@var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
23468
23469You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
23470documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
23471does not change the documentation.
23472
23473@kindex dont-repeat
23474@cindex don't repeat command
23475@item dont-repeat
23476Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
23477command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
23478(@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
23479
23480@kindex help user-defined
23481@item help user-defined
23482List all user-defined commands and all python commands defined in class
23483COMAND_USER. The first line of the documentation or docstring is
23484included (if any).
23485
23486@kindex show user
23487@item show user
23488@itemx show user @var{commandname}
23489Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
23490not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
23491definitions for all user-defined commands.
23492This does not work for user-defined python commands.
23493
23494@cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
23495@kindex show max-user-call-depth
23496@kindex set max-user-call-depth
23497@item show max-user-call-depth
23498@itemx set max-user-call-depth
23499The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
23500levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
23501infinite recursion and aborts the command.
23502This does not apply to user-defined python commands.
23503@end table
23504
23505In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
23506use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
23507
23508When user-defined commands are executed, the
23509commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
23510stops execution of the user-defined command.
23511
23512If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
23513without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
23514commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
23515messages when used in a user-defined command.
23516
23517@node Hooks
23518@subsection User-defined Command Hooks
23519@cindex command hooks
23520@cindex hooks, for commands
23521@cindex hooks, pre-command
23522
23523@kindex hook
23524You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
23525command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
23526command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
23527before that command.
23528
23529@cindex hooks, post-command
23530@kindex hookpost
23531A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
23532Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
23533@samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
23534that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
23535pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
23536
23537It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
23538occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
23539
23540@c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
23541@c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
23542
23543@kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
23544In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
23545(@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
23546execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
23547displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
23548
23549For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
23550single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
23551you could define:
23552
23553@smallexample
23554define hook-stop
23555handle SIGALRM nopass
23556end
23557
23558define hook-run
23559handle SIGALRM pass
23560end
23561
23562define hook-continue
23563handle SIGALRM pass
23564end
23565@end smallexample
23566
23567As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
23568command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
23569you could define:
23570
23571@smallexample
23572define hook-echo
23573echo <<<---
23574end
23575
23576define hookpost-echo
23577echo --->>>\n
23578end
23579
23580(@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
23581<<<---Hello World--->>>
23582(@value{GDBP})
23583
23584@end smallexample
23585
23586You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
23587not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
23588name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
23589@c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
23590@c or not?
23591You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
23592@code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
23593@samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
23594
23595If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
23596@value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
23597(before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
23598
23599If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
23600get a warning from the @code{define} command.
23601
23602@node Command Files
23603@subsection Command Files
23604
23605@cindex command files
23606@cindex scripting commands
23607A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
23608@value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
23609also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
23610does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
23611terminal.
23612
23613You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
23614command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
23615scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
23616using the @code{script-extension} setting.
23617@xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
23618
23619@table @code
23620@kindex source
23621@cindex execute commands from a file
23622@item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
23623Execute the command file @var{filename}.
23624@end table
23625
23626The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
23627unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
23628@emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
23629printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
23630execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
23631
23632@value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
23633If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
23634directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
23635(specified with the @samp{directory} command);
23636except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
23637is not relevant to scripts.
23638
23639If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
23640on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
23641The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
23642search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
23643and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
23644look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
23645The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
23646For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
23647the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
23648look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
23649For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
23650it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
23651@file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
23652will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
23653
23654If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
23655each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
23656@var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
23657
23658Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
23659without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
23660normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
23661when called from command files.
23662
23663@value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
23664mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
23665standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
23666not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
23667the next command.
23668
23669@smallexample
23670gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
23671@end smallexample
23672
23673(The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
23674will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
23675would be directed to @file{log}.
23676
23677Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
23678commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
23679complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
23680variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
23681built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
23682deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
23683complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
23684conditionally, etc.
23685
23686@table @code
23687@kindex if
23688@kindex else
23689@item if
23690@itemx else
23691This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
23692commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
23693expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
23694are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
23695There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
23696of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
23697end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
23698
23699@kindex while
23700@item while
23701This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
23702@code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
23703to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
23704line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
23705@dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
23706executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
23707
23708@kindex loop_break
23709@item loop_break
23710This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
23711Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
23712line.
23713
23714@kindex loop_continue
23715@item loop_continue
23716This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
23717in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
23718branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
23719the controlling expression.
23720
23721@kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
23722@item end
23723Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
23724@code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
23725@end table
23726
23727
23728@node Output
23729@subsection Commands for Controlled Output
23730
23731During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
23732@value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
23733explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
23734describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
23735want.
23736
23737@table @code
23738@kindex echo
23739@item echo @var{text}
23740@c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
23741@c because it is not in ANSI.
23742Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
23743@var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
23744newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
23745In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
23746by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
23747string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
23748trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
23749To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
23750@samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
23751
23752A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
23753the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
23754
23755@smallexample
23756echo This is some text\n\
23757which is continued\n\
23758onto several lines.\n
23759@end smallexample
23760
23761produces the same output as
23762
23763@smallexample
23764echo This is some text\n
23765echo which is continued\n
23766echo onto several lines.\n
23767@end smallexample
23768
23769@kindex output
23770@item output @var{expression}
23771Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
23772newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
23773value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
23774on expressions.
23775
23776@item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
23777Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
23778the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
23779Formats}, for more information.
23780
23781@kindex printf
23782@item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
23783Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
23784the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
23785@var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
23786which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
23787specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
23788executing the code below:
23789
23790@smallexample
23791printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
23792@end smallexample
23793
23794As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
23795are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
23796by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
23797evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
23798style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
23799printed.
23800
23801For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
23802
23803@smallexample
23804printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
23805@end smallexample
23806
23807@code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
23808specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
23809character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
23810
23811@itemize @bullet
23812@item
23813The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
23814
23815@item
23816The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
23817width.
23818
23819@item
23820The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
23821@code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
23822
23823@item
23824The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
23825supported.
23826
23827@item
23828The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
23829
23830@item
23831The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
23832@end itemize
23833
23834@noindent
23835Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
23836underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
23837the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
23838supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
23839
23840As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
23841sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
23842@samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
23843single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
23844supported.
23845
23846Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
23847(@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
23848together with a floating point specifier.
23849letters:
23850
23851@itemize @bullet
23852@item
23853@samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
23854
23855@item
23856@samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
23857
23858@item
23859@samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
23860@end itemize
23861
23862If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
23863support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
23864such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
23865
23866In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
23867available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
23868
23869Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
23870@smallexample
23871printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
23872@end smallexample
23873
23874@kindex eval
23875@item eval @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
23876Convert the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
23877the string @var{template} to a command line, and call it.
23878
23879@end table
23880
23881@node Auto-loading sequences
23882@subsection Controlling auto-loading native @value{GDBN} scripts
23883@cindex native script auto-loading
23884
23885When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
23886command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
23887@value{GDBN} will look for the command file @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb}.
23888@xref{Auto-loading extensions}.
23889
23890Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled,
23891and the list of auto-loaded scripts can be printed.
23892
23893@table @code
23894@anchor{set auto-load gdb-scripts}
23895@kindex set auto-load gdb-scripts
23896@item set auto-load gdb-scripts [on|off]
23897Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts.
23898
23899@anchor{show auto-load gdb-scripts}
23900@kindex show auto-load gdb-scripts
23901@item show auto-load gdb-scripts
23902Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is enabled or
23903disabled.
23904
23905@anchor{info auto-load gdb-scripts}
23906@kindex info auto-load gdb-scripts
23907@cindex print list of auto-loaded canned sequences of commands scripts
23908@item info auto-load gdb-scripts [@var{regexp}]
23909Print the list of all canned sequences of commands scripts that @value{GDBN}
23910auto-loaded.
23911@end table
23912
23913If @var{regexp} is supplied only canned sequences of commands scripts with
23914matching names are printed.
23915
23916@c Python docs live in a separate file.
23917@include python.texi
23918
23919@c Guile docs live in a separate file.
23920@include guile.texi
23921
23922@node Auto-loading extensions
23923@section Auto-loading extensions
23924@cindex auto-loading extensions
23925
23926@value{GDBN} provides two mechanisms for automatically loading extensions
23927when a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
23928command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library):
23929@file{@var{objfile}-gdb.@var{ext}} and the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts}
23930section of modern file formats like ELF.
23931
23932@menu
23933* objfile-gdb.ext file: objfile-gdbdotext file. The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.@var{ext}} file
23934* .debug_gdb_scripts section: dotdebug_gdb_scripts section. The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
23935* Which flavor to choose?::
23936@end menu
23937
23938The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
23939debugging commands and features.
23940
23941Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled,
23942and the list of auto-loaded scripts can be printed.
23943See the @samp{auto-loading} section of each extension language
23944for more information.
23945For @value{GDBN} command files see @ref{Auto-loading sequences}.
23946For Python files see @ref{Python Auto-loading}.
23947
23948Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
23949@code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
23950
23951@node objfile-gdbdotext file
23952@subsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.@var{ext}} file
23953@cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb}
23954@cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
23955@cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.scm}
23956
23957When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for a file named
23958@file{@var{objfile}-gdb.@var{ext}} (we call it @var{script-name} below),
23959where @var{objfile} is the object file's name and
23960where @var{ext} is the file extension for the extension language:
23961
23962@table @code
23963@item @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb}
23964GDB's own command language
23965@item @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
23966Python
23967@item @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.scm}
23968Guile
23969@end table
23970
23971@var{script-name} is formed by ensuring that the file name of @var{objfile}
23972is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving @code{.} and @code{..}
23973components, and appending the @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} suffix.
23974If this file exists and is readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a
23975script in the specified extension language.
23976
23977If this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
23978@var{script-name} file in all of the directories as specified below.
23979
23980Note that loading of these files requires an accordingly configured
23981@code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
23982
23983For object files using @file{.exe} suffix @value{GDBN} tries to load first the
23984scripts normally according to its @file{.exe} filename. But if no scripts are
23985found @value{GDBN} also tries script filenames matching the object file without
23986its @file{.exe} suffix. This @file{.exe} stripping is case insensitive and it
23987is attempted on any platform. This makes the script filenames compatible
23988between Unix and MS-Windows hosts.
23989
23990@table @code
23991@anchor{set auto-load scripts-directory}
23992@kindex set auto-load scripts-directory
23993@item set auto-load scripts-directory @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
23994Control @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location. Multiple directory entries
23995may be delimited by the host platform path separator in use
23996(@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS).
23997
23998Each entry here needs to be covered also by the security setting
23999@code{set auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{set auto-load safe-path}).
24000
24001@anchor{with-auto-load-dir}
24002This variable defaults to @file{$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load}. The default
24003@code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by @value{GDBN}
24004configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-dir}.
24005
24006Any reference to @file{$debugdir} will get replaced by
24007@var{debug-file-directory} value (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}) and any
24008reference to @file{$datadir} will get replaced by @var{data-directory} which is
24009determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}). @file{$debugdir} and
24010@file{$datadir} must be placed as a directory component --- either alone or
24011delimited by @file{/} or @file{\} directory separators, depending on the host
24012platform.
24013
24014The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
24015systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
24016to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
24017
24018@anchor{show auto-load scripts-directory}
24019@kindex show auto-load scripts-directory
24020@item show auto-load scripts-directory
24021Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
24022
24023@anchor{add-auto-load-scripts-directory}
24024@kindex add-auto-load-scripts-directory
24025@item add-auto-load-scripts-directory @r{[}@var{directories}@dots{}@r{]}
24026Add an entry (or list of entries) to the list of auto-loaded scripts locations.
24027Multiple entries may be delimited by the host platform path separator in use.
24028@end table
24029
24030@value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
24031@value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
24032@var{objfile} is opened.
24033So your @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
24034is evaluated more than once.
24035
24036@node dotdebug_gdb_scripts section
24037@subsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
24038@cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
24039
24040For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
24041when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
24042it will look for a special section named @code{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
24043If this section exists, its contents is a list of null-terminated entries
24044specifying scripts to load. Each entry begins with a non-null prefix byte that
24045specifies the kind of entry, typically the extension language and whether the
24046script is in a file or inlined in @code{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
24047
24048The following entries are supported:
24049
24050@table @code
24051@item SECTION_SCRIPT_ID_PYTHON_FILE = 1
24052@item SECTION_SCRIPT_ID_SCHEME_FILE = 3
24053@item SECTION_SCRIPT_ID_PYTHON_TEXT = 4
24054@item SECTION_SCRIPT_ID_SCHEME_TEXT = 6
24055@end table
24056
24057@subsubsection Script File Entries
24058
24059If the entry specifies a file, @value{GDBN} will look for the file first
24060in the current directory and then along the source search path
24061(@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
24062except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
24063directory is not relevant to scripts.
24064
24065File entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
24066for example, this GCC macro for Python scripts.
24067
24068@example
24069/* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remove duplicates. */
24070#define DEFINE_GDB_PY_SCRIPT(script_name) \
24071 asm("\
24072.pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
24073.byte 1 /* Python */\n\
24074.asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
24075.popsection \n\
24076");
24077@end example
24078
24079@noindent
24080For Guile scripts, replace @code{.byte 1} with @code{.byte 3}.
24081Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
24082
24083@example
24084DEFINE_GDB_PY_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
24085@end example
24086
24087The script name may include directories if desired.
24088
24089Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
24090@code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
24091
24092If the macro invocation is put in a header, any application or library
24093using this header will get a reference to the specified script,
24094and with the use of @code{"MS"} attributes on the section, the linker
24095will remove duplicates.
24096
24097@subsubsection Script Text Entries
24098
24099Script text entries allow to put the executable script in the entry
24100itself instead of loading it from a file.
24101The first line of the entry, everything after the prefix byte and up to
24102the first newline (@code{0xa}) character, is the script name, and must not
24103contain any kind of space character, e.g., spaces or tabs.
24104The rest of the entry, up to the trailing null byte, is the script to
24105execute in the specified language. The name needs to be unique among
24106all script names, as @value{GDBN} executes each script only once based
24107on its name.
24108
24109Here is an example from file @file{py-section-script.c} in the @value{GDBN}
24110testsuite.
24111
24112@example
24113#include "symcat.h"
24114#include "gdb/section-scripts.h"
24115asm(
24116".pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n"
24117".byte " XSTRING (SECTION_SCRIPT_ID_PYTHON_TEXT) "\n"
24118".ascii \"gdb.inlined-script\\n\"\n"
24119".ascii \"class test_cmd (gdb.Command):\\n\"\n"
24120".ascii \" def __init__ (self):\\n\"\n"
24121".ascii \" super (test_cmd, self).__init__ ("
24122 "\\\"test-cmd\\\", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)\\n\"\n"
24123".ascii \" def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):\\n\"\n"
24124".ascii \" print (\\\"test-cmd output, arg = %s\\\" % arg)\\n\"\n"
24125".ascii \"test_cmd ()\\n\"\n"
24126".byte 0\n"
24127".popsection\n"
24128);
24129@end example
24130
24131Loading of inlined scripts requires a properly configured
24132@code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
24133The path to specify in @code{auto-load safe-path} is the path of the file
24134containing the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section.
24135
24136@node Which flavor to choose?
24137@subsection Which flavor to choose?
24138
24139Given the multiple ways of auto-loading extensions, it might not always
24140be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
24141
24142@noindent
24143Benefits of the @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} way:
24144
24145@itemize @bullet
24146@item
24147Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
24148
24149@item
24150Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
24151
24152Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
24153in the source search path.
24154For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
24155isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
24156
24157@item
24158Doesn't require source code additions.
24159@end itemize
24160
24161@noindent
24162Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
24163
24164@itemize @bullet
24165@item
24166Works with static linking.
24167
24168Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} way require an objfile to
24169trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
24170objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
24171scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's
24172@file{-gdb.@var{ext}} script.
24173
24174@item
24175Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
24176
24177Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
24178shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} script to.
24179
24180@item
24181Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
24182
24183In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
24184libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
24185@file{-gdb.@var{ext}} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
24186cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
24187@code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
24188top of the source tree to the source search path.
24189@end itemize
24190
24191@node Multiple Extension Languages
24192@section Multiple Extension Languages
24193
24194The Guile and Python extension languages do not share any state,
24195and generally do not interfere with each other.
24196There are some things to be aware of, however.
24197
24198@subsection Python comes first
24199
24200Python was @value{GDBN}'s first extension language, and to avoid breaking
24201existing behaviour Python comes first. This is generally solved by the
24202``first one wins'' principle. @value{GDBN} maintains a list of enabled
24203extension languages, and when it makes a call to an extension language,
24204(say to pretty-print a value), it tries each in turn until an extension
24205language indicates it has performed the request (e.g., has returned the
24206pretty-printed form of a value).
24207This extends to errors while performing such requests: If an error happens
24208while, for example, trying to pretty-print an object then the error is
24209reported and any following extension languages are not tried.
24210
24211@node Aliases
24212@section Creating new spellings of existing commands
24213@cindex aliases for commands
24214
24215It is often useful to define alternate spellings of existing commands.
24216For example, if a new @value{GDBN} command defined in Python has
24217a long name to type, it is handy to have an abbreviated version of it
24218that involves less typing.
24219
24220@value{GDBN} itself uses aliases. For example @samp{s} is an alias
24221of the @samp{step} command even though it is otherwise an ambiguous
24222abbreviation of other commands like @samp{set} and @samp{show}.
24223
24224Aliases are also used to provide shortened or more common versions
24225of multi-word commands. For example, @value{GDBN} provides the
24226@samp{tty} alias of the @samp{set inferior-tty} command.
24227
24228You can define a new alias with the @samp{alias} command.
24229
24230@table @code
24231
24232@kindex alias
24233@item alias [-a] [--] @var{ALIAS} = @var{COMMAND}
24234
24235@end table
24236
24237@var{ALIAS} specifies the name of the new alias.
24238Each word of @var{ALIAS} must consist of letters, numbers, dashes and
24239underscores.
24240
24241@var{COMMAND} specifies the name of an existing command
24242that is being aliased.
24243
24244The @samp{-a} option specifies that the new alias is an abbreviation
24245of the command. Abbreviations are not shown in command
24246lists displayed by the @samp{help} command.
24247
24248The @samp{--} option specifies the end of options,
24249and is useful when @var{ALIAS} begins with a dash.
24250
24251Here is a simple example showing how to make an abbreviation
24252of a command so that there is less to type.
24253Suppose you were tired of typing @samp{disas}, the current
24254shortest unambiguous abbreviation of the @samp{disassemble} command
24255and you wanted an even shorter version named @samp{di}.
24256The following will accomplish this.
24257
24258@smallexample
24259(gdb) alias -a di = disas
24260@end smallexample
24261
24262Note that aliases are different from user-defined commands.
24263With a user-defined command, you also need to write documentation
24264for it with the @samp{document} command.
24265An alias automatically picks up the documentation of the existing command.
24266
24267Here is an example where we make @samp{elms} an abbreviation of
24268@samp{elements} in the @samp{set print elements} command.
24269This is to show that you can make an abbreviation of any part
24270of a command.
24271
24272@smallexample
24273(gdb) alias -a set print elms = set print elements
24274(gdb) alias -a show print elms = show print elements
24275(gdb) set p elms 20
24276(gdb) show p elms
24277Limit on string chars or array elements to print is 200.
24278@end smallexample
24279
24280Note that if you are defining an alias of a @samp{set} command,
24281and you want to have an alias for the corresponding @samp{show}
24282command, then you need to define the latter separately.
24283
24284Unambiguously abbreviated commands are allowed in @var{COMMAND} and
24285@var{ALIAS}, just as they are normally.
24286
24287@smallexample
24288(gdb) alias -a set pr elms = set p ele
24289@end smallexample
24290
24291Finally, here is an example showing the creation of a one word
24292alias for a more complex command.
24293This creates alias @samp{spe} of the command @samp{set print elements}.
24294
24295@smallexample
24296(gdb) alias spe = set print elements
24297(gdb) spe 20
24298@end smallexample
24299
24300@node Interpreters
24301@chapter Command Interpreters
24302@cindex command interpreters
24303
24304@value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
24305infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
24306between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
24307
24308@value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
24309interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
24310and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
24311describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
24312
24313By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
24314However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
24315interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
24316startup options. Defined interpreters include:
24317
24318@table @code
24319@item console
24320@cindex console interpreter
24321The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
24322used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
24323@value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
24324
24325@item mi
24326@cindex mi interpreter
24327The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
24328by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
24329or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
24330Interface}.
24331
24332@item mi2
24333@cindex mi2 interpreter
24334The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
24335
24336@item mi1
24337@cindex mi1 interpreter
24338The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
24339
24340@end table
24341
24342@cindex invoke another interpreter
24343The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
24344switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
24345precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
24346enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
24347@value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
24348the IDE inoperable!
24349
24350@kindex interpreter-exec
24351Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
24352commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
24353command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
24354@code{interpreter-exec} command:
24355
24356@smallexample
24357interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
24358@end smallexample
24359
24360@sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
24361@value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
24362
24363@node TUI
24364@chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
24365@cindex TUI
24366@cindex Text User Interface
24367
24368@menu
24369* TUI Overview:: TUI overview
24370* TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
24371* TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
24372* TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
24373* TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
24374@end menu
24375
24376The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
24377interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
24378file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
24379commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
24380on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
24381is available.
24382
24383The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
24384@samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
24385You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
24386using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
24387@xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
24388
24389@node TUI Overview
24390@section TUI Overview
24391
24392In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
24393
24394@table @emph
24395@item command
24396This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
24397prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
24398managed using readline.
24399
24400@item source
24401The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
24402line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
24403
24404@item assembly
24405The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
24406
24407@item register
24408This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
24409when their values change.
24410@end table
24411
24412The source and assembly windows show the current program position
24413by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
24414Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
24415indicates the breakpoint type:
24416
24417@table @code
24418@item B
24419Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
24420
24421@item b
24422Breakpoint which was never hit.
24423
24424@item H
24425Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
24426
24427@item h
24428Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
24429@end table
24430
24431The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
24432
24433@table @code
24434@item +
24435Breakpoint is enabled.
24436
24437@item -
24438Breakpoint is disabled.
24439@end table
24440
24441The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
24442thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
24443changes.
24444
24445These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
24446window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
24447layouts:
24448
24449@itemize @bullet
24450@item
24451source only,
24452
24453@item
24454assembly only,
24455
24456@item
24457source and assembly,
24458
24459@item
24460source and registers, or
24461
24462@item
24463assembly and registers.
24464@end itemize
24465
24466A status line above the command window shows the following information:
24467
24468@table @emph
24469@item target
24470Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
24471(@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
24472
24473@item process
24474Gives the current process or thread number.
24475When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
24476
24477@item function
24478Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
24479The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
24480When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
24481the string @code{??} is displayed.
24482
24483@item line
24484Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
24485When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
24486
24487@item pc
24488Indicates the current program counter address.
24489@end table
24490
24491@node TUI Keys
24492@section TUI Key Bindings
24493@cindex TUI key bindings
24494
24495The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
24496@ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
24497(@pxref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library}).
24498@end ifset
24499@ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
24500(@pxref{Command Line Editing}).
24501@end ifclear
24502The following key bindings are installed for both TUI mode and the
24503@value{GDBN} standard mode.
24504
24505@table @kbd
24506@kindex C-x C-a
24507@item C-x C-a
24508@kindex C-x a
24509@itemx C-x a
24510@kindex C-x A
24511@itemx C-x A
24512Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
24513the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
24514its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
24515the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
24516The screen is then refreshed.
24517
24518@kindex C-x 1
24519@item C-x 1
24520Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
24521either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
24522is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
24523
24524Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
24525
24526@kindex C-x 2
24527@item C-x 2
24528Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
24529layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
24530When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
24531previous layout and the new one.
24532
24533Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
24534
24535@kindex C-x o
24536@item C-x o
24537Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
24538(like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
24539gives the focus to the next TUI window.
24540
24541Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
24542
24543@kindex C-x s
24544@item C-x s
24545Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
24546keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
24547@end table
24548
24549The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
24550
24551@table @asis
24552@kindex PgUp
24553@item @key{PgUp}
24554Scroll the active window one page up.
24555
24556@kindex PgDn
24557@item @key{PgDn}
24558Scroll the active window one page down.
24559
24560@kindex Up
24561@item @key{Up}
24562Scroll the active window one line up.
24563
24564@kindex Down
24565@item @key{Down}
24566Scroll the active window one line down.
24567
24568@kindex Left
24569@item @key{Left}
24570Scroll the active window one column left.
24571
24572@kindex Right
24573@item @key{Right}
24574Scroll the active window one column right.
24575
24576@kindex C-L
24577@item @kbd{C-L}
24578Refresh the screen.
24579@end table
24580
24581Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
24582are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
24583window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
24584other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
24585and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
24586
24587@node TUI Single Key Mode
24588@section TUI Single Key Mode
24589@cindex TUI single key mode
24590
24591The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
24592frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
24593switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
24594
24595@table @kbd
24596@kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
24597@item c
24598continue
24599
24600@kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
24601@item d
24602down
24603
24604@kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
24605@item f
24606finish
24607
24608@kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
24609@item n
24610next
24611
24612@kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
24613@item q
24614exit the SingleKey mode.
24615
24616@kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
24617@item r
24618run
24619
24620@kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
24621@item s
24622step
24623
24624@kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
24625@item u
24626up
24627
24628@kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
24629@item v
24630info locals
24631
24632@kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
24633@item w
24634where
24635@end table
24636
24637Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
24638The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
24639it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
24640with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
24641SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
24642this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
24643
24644
24645@node TUI Commands
24646@section TUI-specific Commands
24647@cindex TUI commands
24648
24649The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
24650These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
24651the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
24652of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
24653
24654Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
24655terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
24656interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
24657these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
24658possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
24659
24660@table @code
24661@item info win
24662@kindex info win
24663List and give the size of all displayed windows.
24664
24665@item layout next
24666@kindex layout
24667Display the next layout.
24668
24669@item layout prev
24670Display the previous layout.
24671
24672@item layout src
24673Display the source window only.
24674
24675@item layout asm
24676Display the assembly window only.
24677
24678@item layout split
24679Display the source and assembly window.
24680
24681@item layout regs
24682Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
24683
24684@item focus next
24685@kindex focus
24686Make the next window active for scrolling.
24687
24688@item focus prev
24689Make the previous window active for scrolling.
24690
24691@item focus src
24692Make the source window active for scrolling.
24693
24694@item focus asm
24695Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
24696
24697@item focus regs
24698Make the register window active for scrolling.
24699
24700@item focus cmd
24701Make the command window active for scrolling.
24702
24703@item refresh
24704@kindex refresh
24705Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
24706
24707@item tui reg float
24708@kindex tui reg
24709Show the floating point registers in the register window.
24710
24711@item tui reg general
24712Show the general registers in the register window.
24713
24714@item tui reg next
24715Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
24716their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
24717following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
24718@code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
24719
24720@item tui reg system
24721Show the system registers in the register window.
24722
24723@item update
24724@kindex update
24725Update the source window and the current execution point.
24726
24727@item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
24728@itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
24729@kindex winheight
24730Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
24731lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
24732decrease it. The @var{name} parameter can be one of @code{src} (the
24733source window), @code{cmd} (the command window), @code{asm} (the
24734disassembly window), or @code{regs} (the register display window).
24735
24736@item tabset @var{nchars}
24737@kindex tabset
24738Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters. This
24739setting affects the display of TAB characters in the source and
24740assembly windows.
24741@end table
24742
24743@node TUI Configuration
24744@section TUI Configuration Variables
24745@cindex TUI configuration variables
24746
24747Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
24748
24749@table @code
24750@item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
24751@kindex set tui border-kind
24752Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
24753The possible values are the following:
24754@table @code
24755@item space
24756Use a space character to draw the border.
24757
24758@item ascii
24759Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
24760
24761@item acs
24762Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
24763drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
24764@end table
24765
24766@item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
24767@kindex set tui border-mode
24768@itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
24769@kindex set tui active-border-mode
24770Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
24771or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
24772@table @code
24773@item normal
24774Use normal attributes to display the border.
24775
24776@item standout
24777Use standout mode.
24778
24779@item reverse
24780Use reverse video mode.
24781
24782@item half
24783Use half bright mode.
24784
24785@item half-standout
24786Use half bright and standout mode.
24787
24788@item bold
24789Use extra bright or bold mode.
24790
24791@item bold-standout
24792Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
24793@end table
24794@end table
24795
24796@node Emacs
24797@chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
24798
24799@cindex Emacs
24800@cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
24801A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
24802edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
24803@value{GDBN}.
24804
24805To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
24806executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
24807@value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
24808created Emacs buffer.
24809@c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
24810
24811Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
24812things:
24813
24814@itemize @bullet
24815@item
24816All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
24817the GUD buffer.
24818
24819This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
24820and output done by the program you are debugging.
24821
24822This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
24823commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
24824in this way.
24825
24826All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
24827with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
24828way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
24829stop.
24830
24831@item
24832@value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
24833
24834Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
24835source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
24836left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
24837source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
24838and the source.
24839
24840Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
24841usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
24842@end itemize
24843
24844We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
24845a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
24846that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
24847@xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
24848
24849If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
24850gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
24851your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
24852sets your current working directory to the directory associated
24853with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
24854program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
24855some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
24856@value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
24857buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
24858
24859The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
24860line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
24861that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
24862,Commands to Specify Files}.
24863
24864By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
24865need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
24866keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
24867customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
24868one you want.
24869
24870In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
24871addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
24872
24873@table @kbd
24874@item C-h m
24875Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
24876
24877@item C-c C-s
24878Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
24879update the display window to show the current file and location.
24880
24881@item C-c C-n
24882Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
24883calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
24884to show the current file and location.
24885
24886@item C-c C-i
24887Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
24888display window accordingly.
24889
24890@item C-c C-f
24891Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
24892@code{finish} command.
24893
24894@item C-c C-r
24895Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
24896command.
24897
24898@item C-c <
24899Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
24900(@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
24901like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
24902
24903@item C-c >
24904Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
24905@value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
24906@end table
24907
24908In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
24909tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
24910
24911In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
24912separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
24913Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
24914become the current frame and display the associated source in the
24915source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
24916selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
24917speedbar displays watch expressions.
24918
24919If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
24920it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
24921request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
24922the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
24923frame.
24924
24925The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
24926which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
24927the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
24928communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
24929delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
24930to correspond properly with the code.
24931
24932A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
24933given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
24934Emacs Manual}).
24935
24936@node GDB/MI
24937@chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
24938
24939@unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
24940
24941@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
24942@sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
24943@value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
24944@option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
24945is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
24946use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
24947
24948This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
24949in the form of a reference manual.
24950
24951Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
24952features described below are incomplete and subject to change
24953(@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
24954
24955@unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
24956
24957@cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
24958This chapter uses the following notation:
24959
24960@itemize @bullet
24961@item
24962@code{|} separates two alternatives.
24963
24964@item
24965@code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
24966it may or may not be given.
24967
24968@item
24969@code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
24970may repeat zero or more times.
24971
24972@item
24973@code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
24974may repeat one or more times.
24975
24976@item
24977@code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
24978@end itemize
24979
24980@ignore
24981@heading Dependencies
24982@end ignore
24983
24984@menu
24985* GDB/MI General Design::
24986* GDB/MI Command Syntax::
24987* GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
24988* GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
24989* GDB/MI Output Records::
24990* GDB/MI Simple Examples::
24991* GDB/MI Command Description Format::
24992* GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
24993* GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
24994* GDB/MI Program Context::
24995* GDB/MI Thread Commands::
24996* GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands::
24997* GDB/MI Program Execution::
24998* GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
24999* GDB/MI Variable Objects::
25000* GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
25001* GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
25002* GDB/MI Symbol Query::
25003* GDB/MI File Commands::
25004@ignore
25005* GDB/MI Kod Commands::
25006* GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
25007* GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
25008@end ignore
25009* GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
25010* GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
25011* GDB/MI Ada Exceptions Commands::
25012* GDB/MI Support Commands::
25013* GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
25014@end menu
25015
25016@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25017@node GDB/MI General Design
25018@section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
25019@cindex GDB/MI General Design
25020
25021Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
25022parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
25023and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
25024indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
25025For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
25026requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
25027response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
25028Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
25029target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
25030a command and reported as part of that command response.
25031
25032The important examples of notifications are:
25033@itemize @bullet
25034
25035@item
25036Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
25037target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
25038be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
25039commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
25040different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
25041happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
25042command itself was successfully executed.
25043
25044@item
25045Console output, and status notifications. Console output
25046notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
25047diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
25048report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
25049this information in command response would mean no output is produced
25050until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
25051
25052@item
25053General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
25054the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
25055a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
25056be included in command response, using notification allows for more
25057orthogonal frontend design.
25058
25059@end itemize
25060
25061There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
25062@value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
25063the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
25064processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
25065we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
25066the user interface.
25067
25068
25069@menu
25070* Context management::
25071* Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
25072* Thread groups::
25073@end menu
25074
25075@node Context management
25076@subsection Context management
25077
25078@subsubsection Threads and Frames
25079
25080In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
25081done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
25082Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
25083be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
25084and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
25085because a command line user would not want to specify that information
25086explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
25087@value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
25088to what thread and frame are the current ones.
25089
25090In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
25091useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
25092itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
25093each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
25094want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
25095increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
25096frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
25097should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
25098make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
25099@samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
25100for thread and frame to operate on.
25101
25102Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
25103a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
25104operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
25105current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
25106it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
25107another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
25108the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
25109one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
25110change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
25111No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
25112
25113Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
25114frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
25115right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
25116simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
25117before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
25118to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
25119if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
25120thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
25121optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
25122sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
25123selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
25124change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
25125problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
25126all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
25127right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
25128@samp{--frame} options.
25129
25130@subsubsection Language
25131
25132The execution of several commands depends on which language is selected.
25133By default, the current language (@pxref{show language}) is used.
25134But for commands known to be language-sensitive, it is recommended
25135to use the @samp{--language} option. This option takes one argument,
25136which is the name of the language to use while executing the command.
25137For instance:
25138
25139@smallexample
25140-data-evaluate-expression --language c "sizeof (void*)"
25141^done,value="4"
25142(gdb)
25143@end smallexample
25144
25145The valid language names are the same names accepted by the
25146@samp{set language} command (@pxref{Manually}), excluding @samp{auto},
25147@samp{local} or @samp{unknown}.
25148
25149@node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
25150@subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
25151
25152On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
25153even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
25154command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
25155specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
25156@code{-gdb-set mi-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
25157either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
25158frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
25159find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
25160@code{-list-target-features} command.
25161
25162@table @code
25163@item -gdb-set mi-async on
25164@item -gdb-set mi-async off
25165Set whether MI is in asynchronous mode.
25166
25167When @code{off}, which is the default, MI execution commands (e.g.,
25168@code{-exec-continue}) are foreground commands, and @value{GDBN} waits
25169for the program to stop before processing further commands.
25170
25171When @code{on}, MI execution commands are background execution
25172commands (e.g., @code{-exec-continue} becomes the equivalent of the
25173@code{c&} CLI command), and so @value{GDBN} is capable of processing
25174MI commands even while the target is running.
25175
25176@item -gdb-show mi-async
25177Show whether MI asynchronous mode is enabled.
25178@end table
25179
25180Note: In @value{GDBN} version 7.7 and earlier, this option was called
25181@code{target-async} instead of @code{mi-async}, and it had the effect
25182of both putting MI in asynchronous mode and making CLI background
25183commands possible. CLI background commands are now always possible
25184``out of the box'' if the target supports them. The old spelling is
25185kept as a deprecated alias for backwards compatibility.
25186
25187Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
25188many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
25189running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
25190when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
25191it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
25192are running.
25193
25194When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
25195target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
25196some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
25197stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
25198modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
25199that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
25200@code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
25201context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
25202stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
25203@samp{--thread} option).
25204
25205Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
25206highly target dependent. However, the two commands
25207@code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
25208to find the state of a thread, will always work.
25209
25210@node Thread groups
25211@subsection Thread groups
25212@value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
25213On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
25214hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
25215processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
25216mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
25217
25218The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
25219target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
25220accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
25221thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
25222neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
25223current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
25224that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
25225into processes.
25226
25227To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
25228hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
25229@dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
25230thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
25231and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
25232command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
25233thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
25234debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
25235to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
25236the members of specific thread group.
25237
25238To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
25239wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
25240introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
25241@value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
25242@code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
25243groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
25244In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
25245after attaching to that thread group.
25246
25247Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
25248Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
25249type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
25250such thread groups.
25251
25252@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25253@node GDB/MI Command Syntax
25254@section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
25255
25256@menu
25257* GDB/MI Input Syntax::
25258* GDB/MI Output Syntax::
25259@end menu
25260
25261@node GDB/MI Input Syntax
25262@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
25263
25264@cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
25265@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
25266@table @code
25267@item @var{command} @expansion{}
25268@code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
25269
25270@item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
25271@code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
25272@var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
25273
25274@item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
25275@code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
25276@code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
25277
25278@item @var{token} @expansion{}
25279"any sequence of digits"
25280
25281@item @var{option} @expansion{}
25282@code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
25283
25284@item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
25285@code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
25286
25287@item @var{operation} @expansion{}
25288@emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
25289
25290@item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
25291@emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
25292"-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
25293
25294@item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
25295@code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
25296
25297@item @var{nl} @expansion{}
25298@code{CR | CR-LF}
25299@end table
25300
25301@noindent
25302Notes:
25303
25304@itemize @bullet
25305@item
25306The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
25307output is described below.
25308
25309@item
25310The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
25311finishes.
25312
25313@item
25314Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
25315list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
25316followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
25317parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
25318@samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
25319@end itemize
25320
25321Pragmatics:
25322
25323@itemize @bullet
25324@item
25325We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
25326
25327@item
25328We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
25329@end itemize
25330
25331@node GDB/MI Output Syntax
25332@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
25333
25334@cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
25335@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
25336The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
25337followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
25338is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
25339terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
25340
25341If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
25342corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
25343@var{token}.
25344
25345@table @code
25346@item @var{output} @expansion{}
25347@code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
25348
25349@item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
25350@code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
25351
25352@item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
25353@code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
25354
25355@item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
25356@code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
25357
25358@item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
25359@code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output nl}}
25360
25361@item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
25362@code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output nl}}
25363
25364@item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
25365@code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output nl}}
25366
25367@item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
25368@code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )*}
25369
25370@item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
25371@code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
25372
25373@item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
25374@code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
25375depending on the needs---this is still in development).
25376
25377@item @var{result} @expansion{}
25378@code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
25379
25380@item @var{variable} @expansion{}
25381@code{ @var{string} }
25382
25383@item @var{value} @expansion{}
25384@code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
25385
25386@item @var{const} @expansion{}
25387@code{@var{c-string}}
25388
25389@item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
25390@code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
25391
25392@item @var{list} @expansion{}
25393@code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
25394@var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
25395
25396@item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
25397@code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
25398
25399@item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
25400@code{"~" @var{c-string nl}}
25401
25402@item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
25403@code{"@@" @var{c-string nl}}
25404
25405@item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
25406@code{"&" @var{c-string nl}}
25407
25408@item @var{nl} @expansion{}
25409@code{CR | CR-LF}
25410
25411@item @var{token} @expansion{}
25412@emph{any sequence of digits}.
25413@end table
25414
25415@noindent
25416Notes:
25417
25418@itemize @bullet
25419@item
25420All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
25421
25422@item
25423The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
25424for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
25425may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
25426output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
25427all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
25428target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
25429prior command.
25430
25431@item
25432@cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
25433@var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
25434progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
25435prefixed by @samp{+}.
25436
25437@item
25438@cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
25439@var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
25440(stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
25441@samp{*}.
25442
25443@item
25444@cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
25445@var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
25446client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
25447output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
25448
25449@item
25450@cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
25451@var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
25452console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
25453output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
25454
25455@item
25456@cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
25457@var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
25458All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
25459
25460@item
25461@cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
25462@var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
25463instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
25464the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
25465
25466@item
25467@cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
25468New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
25469@var{values}.
25470
25471
25472@end itemize
25473
25474@xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
25475details about the various output records.
25476
25477@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25478@node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
25479@section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
25480
25481@cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
25482@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
25483
25484For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
25485but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
25486that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
25487command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
25488@code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
25489@samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
25490
25491This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
25492recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
25493(@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
25494
25495@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25496@node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
25497@section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
25498@cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
25499
25500The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
25501program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
25502
25503Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
25504by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
25505to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
25506section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
25507might change.
25508
25509Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
25510for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
25511list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
25512parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
25513
25514@itemize @bullet
25515@item
25516New MI commands may be added.
25517
25518@item
25519New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
25520
25521@item
25522The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
25523@code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
25524
25525@c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
25526@c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
25527
25528@c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
25529@c resolve inconsistencies.
25530@end itemize
25531
25532If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
25533will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
25534output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
25535@value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
25536responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
25537
25538@c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
25539@c version?
25540
25541The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
25542end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
25543follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
25544@email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
25545@cindex mailing lists
25546
25547@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25548@node GDB/MI Output Records
25549@section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
25550
25551@menu
25552* GDB/MI Result Records::
25553* GDB/MI Stream Records::
25554* GDB/MI Async Records::
25555* GDB/MI Breakpoint Information::
25556* GDB/MI Frame Information::
25557* GDB/MI Thread Information::
25558* GDB/MI Ada Exception Information::
25559@end menu
25560
25561@node GDB/MI Result Records
25562@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
25563
25564@cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
25565@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
25566In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
25567@sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
25568
25569@table @code
25570@findex ^done
25571@item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
25572The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
25573values.
25574
25575@item "^running"
25576@findex ^running
25577This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
25578was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
25579target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
25580all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
25581identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
25582which threads are resumed.
25583
25584@item "^connected"
25585@findex ^connected
25586@value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
25587
25588@item "^error" "," "msg=" @var{c-string} [ "," "code=" @var{c-string} ]
25589@findex ^error
25590The operation failed. The @code{msg=@var{c-string}} variable contains
25591the corresponding error message.
25592
25593If present, the @code{code=@var{c-string}} variable provides an error
25594code on which consumers can rely on to detect the corresponding
25595error condition. At present, only one error code is defined:
25596
25597@table @samp
25598@item "undefined-command"
25599Indicates that the command causing the error does not exist.
25600@end table
25601
25602@item "^exit"
25603@findex ^exit
25604@value{GDBN} has terminated.
25605
25606@end table
25607
25608@node GDB/MI Stream Records
25609@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
25610
25611@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
25612@cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
25613@value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
25614target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
25615funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
25616
25617Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
25618identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
25619Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
25620@code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
25621line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
25622
25623@table @code
25624@item "~" @var{string-output}
25625The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
25626CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
25627
25628@item "@@" @var{string-output}
25629The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
25630target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
25631asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
25632
25633@item "&" @var{string-output}
25634The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
25635internals.
25636@end table
25637
25638@node GDB/MI Async Records
25639@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
25640
25641@cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
25642@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
25643@dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
25644additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
25645consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
25646target activity (e.g., target stopped).
25647
25648The following is the list of possible async records:
25649
25650@table @code
25651
25652@item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
25653The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
25654specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
25655are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
25656running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
25657The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
25658only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
25659several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
25660all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
25661be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
25662
25663@item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
25664The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
25665following values:
25666
25667@table @code
25668@item breakpoint-hit
25669A breakpoint was reached.
25670@item watchpoint-trigger
25671A watchpoint was triggered.
25672@item read-watchpoint-trigger
25673A read watchpoint was triggered.
25674@item access-watchpoint-trigger
25675An access watchpoint was triggered.
25676@item function-finished
25677An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
25678@item location-reached
25679An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
25680@item watchpoint-scope
25681A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
25682@item end-stepping-range
25683An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
25684similar CLI command was accomplished.
25685@item exited-signalled
25686The inferior exited because of a signal.
25687@item exited
25688The inferior exited.
25689@item exited-normally
25690The inferior exited normally.
25691@item signal-received
25692A signal was received by the inferior.
25693@item solib-event
25694The inferior has stopped due to a library being loaded or unloaded.
25695This can happen when @code{stop-on-solib-events} (@pxref{Files}) is
25696set or when a @code{catch load} or @code{catch unload} catchpoint is
25697in use (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}).
25698@item fork
25699The inferior has forked. This is reported when @code{catch fork}
25700(@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
25701@item vfork
25702The inferior has vforked. This is reported in when @code{catch vfork}
25703(@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
25704@item syscall-entry
25705The inferior entered a system call. This is reported when @code{catch
25706syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
25707@item syscall-entry
25708The inferior returned from a system call. This is reported when
25709@code{catch syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
25710@item exec
25711The inferior called @code{exec}. This is reported when @code{catch exec}
25712(@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
25713@end table
25714
25715The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
25716-- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
25717mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
25718stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
25719If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
25720value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
25721field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
25722always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
25723several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
25724processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
25725if such information is not available.
25726
25727@item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
25728@itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
25729A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
25730contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
25731group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
25732process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
25733cannot be used in any way.
25734
25735@item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
25736A thread group became associated with a running program,
25737either because the program was just started or the thread group
25738was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
25739@value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
25740contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
25741
25742@item =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"[,exit-code="@var{code}"]
25743A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
25744either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
25745from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
25746thread group. The @var{code} field is the exit code of the inferior; it exists
25747only when the inferior exited with some code.
25748
25749@item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
25750@itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
25751A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
25752contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
25753field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
25754
25755@item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
25756Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
25757command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
25758command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
25759to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
25760invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
25761@code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
25762
25763We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
25764highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
25765that thread.
25766
25767@item =library-loaded,...
25768Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
25769notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
25770@var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
25771opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
25772@var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
25773library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
25774debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
25775@var{symbols-loaded} field is emitted only for backward compatibility
25776and should not be relied on to convey any useful information. The
25777@var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the thread
25778group in whose context the library was loaded. If the field is
25779absent, it means the library was loaded in the context of all present
25780thread groups.
25781
25782@item =library-unloaded,...
25783Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
25784has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
25785the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
25786The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
25787thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
25788absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
25789thread groups.
25790
25791@item =traceframe-changed,num=@var{tfnum},tracepoint=@var{tpnum}
25792@itemx =traceframe-changed,end
25793Reports that the trace frame was changed and its new number is
25794@var{tfnum}. The number of the tracepoint associated with this trace
25795frame is @var{tpnum}.
25796
25797@item =tsv-created,name=@var{name},initial=@var{initial}
25798Reports that the new trace state variable @var{name} is created with
25799initial value @var{initial}.
25800
25801@item =tsv-deleted,name=@var{name}
25802@itemx =tsv-deleted
25803Reports that the trace state variable @var{name} is deleted or all
25804trace state variables are deleted.
25805
25806@item =tsv-modified,name=@var{name},initial=@var{initial}[,current=@var{current}]
25807Reports that the trace state variable @var{name} is modified with
25808the initial value @var{initial}. The current value @var{current} of
25809trace state variable is optional and is reported if the current
25810value of trace state variable is known.
25811
25812@item =breakpoint-created,bkpt=@{...@}
25813@itemx =breakpoint-modified,bkpt=@{...@}
25814@itemx =breakpoint-deleted,id=@var{number}
25815Reports that a breakpoint was created, modified, or deleted,
25816respectively. Only user-visible breakpoints are reported to the MI
25817user.
25818
25819The @var{bkpt} argument is of the same form as returned by the various
25820breakpoint commands; @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}. The
25821@var{number} is the ordinal number of the breakpoint.
25822
25823Note that if a breakpoint is emitted in the result record of a
25824command, then it will not also be emitted in an async record.
25825
25826@item =record-started,thread-group="@var{id}"
25827@itemx =record-stopped,thread-group="@var{id}"
25828Execution log recording was either started or stopped on an
25829inferior. The @var{id} is the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread
25830group corresponding to the affected inferior.
25831
25832@item =cmd-param-changed,param=@var{param},value=@var{value}
25833Reports that a parameter of the command @code{set @var{param}} is
25834changed to @var{value}. In the multi-word @code{set} command,
25835the @var{param} is the whole parameter list to @code{set} command.
25836For example, In command @code{set check type on}, @var{param}
25837is @code{check type} and @var{value} is @code{on}.
25838
25839@item =memory-changed,thread-group=@var{id},addr=@var{addr},len=@var{len}[,type="code"]
25840Reports that bytes from @var{addr} to @var{data} + @var{len} were
25841written in an inferior. The @var{id} is the identifier of the
25842thread group corresponding to the affected inferior. The optional
25843@code{type="code"} part is reported if the memory written to holds
25844executable code.
25845@end table
25846
25847@node GDB/MI Breakpoint Information
25848@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Information
25849
25850When @value{GDBN} reports information about a breakpoint, a
25851tracepoint, a watchpoint, or a catchpoint, it uses a tuple with the
25852following fields:
25853
25854@table @code
25855@item number
25856The breakpoint number. For a breakpoint that represents one location
25857of a multi-location breakpoint, this will be a dotted pair, like
25858@samp{1.2}.
25859
25860@item type
25861The type of the breakpoint. For ordinary breakpoints this will be
25862@samp{breakpoint}, but many values are possible.
25863
25864@item catch-type
25865If the type of the breakpoint is @samp{catchpoint}, then this
25866indicates the exact type of catchpoint.
25867
25868@item disp
25869This is the breakpoint disposition---either @samp{del}, meaning that
25870the breakpoint will be deleted at the next stop, or @samp{keep},
25871meaning that the breakpoint will not be deleted.
25872
25873@item enabled
25874This indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled, in which case the
25875value is @samp{y}, or disabled, in which case the value is @samp{n}.
25876Note that this is not the same as the field @code{enable}.
25877
25878@item addr
25879The address of the breakpoint. This may be a hexidecimal number,
25880giving the address; or the string @samp{<PENDING>}, for a pending
25881breakpoint; or the string @samp{<MULTIPLE>}, for a breakpoint with
25882multiple locations. This field will not be present if no address can
25883be determined. For example, a watchpoint does not have an address.
25884
25885@item func
25886If known, the function in which the breakpoint appears.
25887If not known, this field is not present.
25888
25889@item filename
25890The name of the source file which contains this function, if known.
25891If not known, this field is not present.
25892
25893@item fullname
25894The full file name of the source file which contains this function, if
25895known. If not known, this field is not present.
25896
25897@item line
25898The line number at which this breakpoint appears, if known.
25899If not known, this field is not present.
25900
25901@item at
25902If the source file is not known, this field may be provided. If
25903provided, this holds the address of the breakpoint, possibly followed
25904by a symbol name.
25905
25906@item pending
25907If this breakpoint is pending, this field is present and holds the
25908text used to set the breakpoint, as entered by the user.
25909
25910@item evaluated-by
25911Where this breakpoint's condition is evaluated, either @samp{host} or
25912@samp{target}.
25913
25914@item thread
25915If this is a thread-specific breakpoint, then this identifies the
25916thread in which the breakpoint can trigger.
25917
25918@item task
25919If this breakpoint is restricted to a particular Ada task, then this
25920field will hold the task identifier.
25921
25922@item cond
25923If the breakpoint is conditional, this is the condition expression.
25924
25925@item ignore
25926The ignore count of the breakpoint.
25927
25928@item enable
25929The enable count of the breakpoint.
25930
25931@item traceframe-usage
25932FIXME.
25933
25934@item static-tracepoint-marker-string-id
25935For a static tracepoint, the name of the static tracepoint marker.
25936
25937@item mask
25938For a masked watchpoint, this is the mask.
25939
25940@item pass
25941A tracepoint's pass count.
25942
25943@item original-location
25944The location of the breakpoint as originally specified by the user.
25945This field is optional.
25946
25947@item times
25948The number of times the breakpoint has been hit.
25949
25950@item installed
25951This field is only given for tracepoints. This is either @samp{y},
25952meaning that the tracepoint is installed, or @samp{n}, meaning that it
25953is not.
25954
25955@item what
25956Some extra data, the exact contents of which are type-dependent.
25957
25958@end table
25959
25960For example, here is what the output of @code{-break-insert}
25961(@pxref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}) might be:
25962
25963@smallexample
25964-> -break-insert main
25965<- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
25966 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
25967 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",thread-groups=["i1"],
25968 times="0"@}
25969<- (gdb)
25970@end smallexample
25971
25972@node GDB/MI Frame Information
25973@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
25974
25975Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
25976frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
25977fields:
25978
25979@table @code
25980@item level
25981The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
25982zero. This field is always present.
25983
25984@item func
25985The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
25986be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
25987
25988@item addr
25989The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
25990
25991@item file
25992The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
25993address. This field may be absent.
25994
25995@item line
25996The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
25997may be absent.
25998
25999@item from
26000The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
26001corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
26002
26003@end table
26004
26005@node GDB/MI Thread Information
26006@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
26007
26008Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
26009uses a tuple with the following fields:
26010
26011@table @code
26012@item id
26013The numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
26014always present.
26015
26016@item target-id
26017Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
26018
26019@item details
26020Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
26021It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
26022frontend. This field is optional.
26023
26024@item state
26025Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
26026thread is presently running. This field is always present.
26027
26028@item core
26029The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
26030thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
26031@end table
26032
26033@node GDB/MI Ada Exception Information
26034@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Exception Information
26035
26036Whenever a @code{*stopped} record is emitted because the program
26037stopped after hitting an exception catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}),
26038@value{GDBN} provides the name of the exception that was raised via
26039the @code{exception-name} field.
26040
26041@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26042@node GDB/MI Simple Examples
26043@section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
26044@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
26045
26046This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
26047the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
26048following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
26049the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
26050
26051Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
26052readability, they don't appear in the real output.
26053
26054@subheading Setting a Breakpoint
26055
26056Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
26057information of the breakpoint.
26058
26059@smallexample
26060-> -break-insert main
26061<- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
26062 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
26063 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",thread-groups=["i1"],
26064 times="0"@}
26065<- (gdb)
26066@end smallexample
26067
26068@subheading Program Execution
26069
26070Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
26071reason that execution stopped.
26072
26073@smallexample
26074-> -exec-run
26075<- ^running
26076<- (gdb)
26077<- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
26078 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
26079 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
26080 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
26081<- (gdb)
26082-> -exec-continue
26083<- ^running
26084<- (gdb)
26085<- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
26086<- (gdb)
26087@end smallexample
26088
26089@subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
26090
26091Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
26092
26093@smallexample
26094-> (gdb)
26095<- -gdb-exit
26096<- ^exit
26097@end smallexample
26098
26099Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
26100take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
26101performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
26102or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
26103@value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
26104fails to exit in reasonable time.
26105
26106@subheading A Bad Command
26107
26108Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
26109
26110@smallexample
26111-> -rubbish
26112<- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
26113<- (gdb)
26114@end smallexample
26115
26116
26117@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26118@node GDB/MI Command Description Format
26119@section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
26120
26121The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
26122commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
26123
26124@subheading Motivation
26125
26126The motivation for this collection of commands.
26127
26128@subheading Introduction
26129
26130A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
26131
26132@subheading Commands
26133
26134For each command in the block, the following is described:
26135
26136@subsubheading Synopsis
26137
26138@smallexample
26139 -command @var{args}@dots{}
26140@end smallexample
26141
26142@subsubheading Result
26143
26144@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26145
26146The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
26147
26148@subsubheading Example
26149
26150Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
26151not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
26152
26153
26154@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26155@node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
26156@section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
26157
26158@cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
26159@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
26160This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
26161breakpoints.
26162
26163@subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
26164@findex -break-after
26165
26166@subsubheading Synopsis
26167
26168@smallexample
26169 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
26170@end smallexample
26171
26172The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
26173hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
26174the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
26175@samp{-break-list} command below.
26176
26177@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26178
26179The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
26180
26181@subsubheading Example
26182
26183@smallexample
26184(gdb)
26185-break-insert main
26186^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
26187enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
26188fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
26189times="0"@}
26190(gdb)
26191-break-after 1 3
26192~
26193^done
26194(gdb)
26195-break-list
26196^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26197hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26198@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26199@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26200@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26201@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26202@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26203body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26204addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26205line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
26206(gdb)
26207@end smallexample
26208
26209@ignore
26210@subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
26211@findex -break-catch
26212@end ignore
26213
26214@subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
26215@findex -break-commands
26216
26217@subsubheading Synopsis
26218
26219@smallexample
26220 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
26221@end smallexample
26222
26223Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
26224@var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
26225are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
26226commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
26227functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
26228some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
26229
26230@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26231
26232The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
26233
26234@subsubheading Example
26235
26236@smallexample
26237(gdb)
26238-break-insert main
26239^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
26240enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
26241fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
26242times="0"@}
26243(gdb)
26244-break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
26245^done
26246(gdb)
26247@end smallexample
26248
26249@subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
26250@findex -break-condition
26251
26252@subsubheading Synopsis
26253
26254@smallexample
26255 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
26256@end smallexample
26257
26258Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
26259@var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
26260@samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
26261command below).
26262
26263@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26264
26265The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
26266
26267@subsubheading Example
26268
26269@smallexample
26270(gdb)
26271-break-condition 1 1
26272^done
26273(gdb)
26274-break-list
26275^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26276hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26277@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26278@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26279@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26280@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26281@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26282body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26283addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26284line="5",cond="1",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
26285(gdb)
26286@end smallexample
26287
26288@subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
26289@findex -break-delete
26290
26291@subsubheading Synopsis
26292
26293@smallexample
26294 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
26295@end smallexample
26296
26297Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
26298list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
26299
26300@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26301
26302The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
26303
26304@subsubheading Example
26305
26306@smallexample
26307(gdb)
26308-break-delete 1
26309^done
26310(gdb)
26311-break-list
26312^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
26313hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26314@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26315@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26316@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26317@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26318@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26319body=[]@}
26320(gdb)
26321@end smallexample
26322
26323@subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
26324@findex -break-disable
26325
26326@subsubheading Synopsis
26327
26328@smallexample
26329 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
26330@end smallexample
26331
26332Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
26333break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
26334
26335@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26336
26337The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
26338
26339@subsubheading Example
26340
26341@smallexample
26342(gdb)
26343-break-disable 2
26344^done
26345(gdb)
26346-break-list
26347^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26348hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26349@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26350@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26351@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26352@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26353@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26354body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
26355addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26356line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
26357(gdb)
26358@end smallexample
26359
26360@subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
26361@findex -break-enable
26362
26363@subsubheading Synopsis
26364
26365@smallexample
26366 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
26367@end smallexample
26368
26369Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
26370
26371@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26372
26373The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
26374
26375@subsubheading Example
26376
26377@smallexample
26378(gdb)
26379-break-enable 2
26380^done
26381(gdb)
26382-break-list
26383^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26384hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26385@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26386@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26387@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26388@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26389@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26390body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26391addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26392line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
26393(gdb)
26394@end smallexample
26395
26396@subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
26397@findex -break-info
26398
26399@subsubheading Synopsis
26400
26401@smallexample
26402 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
26403@end smallexample
26404
26405@c REDUNDANT???
26406Get information about a single breakpoint.
26407
26408The result is a table of breakpoints. @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint
26409Information}, for details on the format of each breakpoint in the
26410table.
26411
26412@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26413
26414The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
26415
26416@subsubheading Example
26417N.A.
26418
26419@subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
26420@findex -break-insert
26421
26422@subsubheading Synopsis
26423
26424@smallexample
26425 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
26426 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
26427 [ -p @var{thread-id} ] [ @var{location} ]
26428@end smallexample
26429
26430@noindent
26431If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
26432
26433@itemize @bullet
26434@item function
26435@c @item +offset
26436@c @item -offset
26437@c @item linenum
26438@item filename:linenum
26439@item filename:function
26440@item *address
26441@end itemize
26442
26443The possible optional parameters of this command are:
26444
26445@table @samp
26446@item -t
26447Insert a temporary breakpoint.
26448@item -h
26449Insert a hardware breakpoint.
26450@item -f
26451If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
26452refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
26453breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
26454an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
26455cannot be parsed.
26456@item -d
26457Create a disabled breakpoint.
26458@item -a
26459Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
26460is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
26461@item -c @var{condition}
26462Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
26463@item -i @var{ignore-count}
26464Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
26465@item -p @var{thread-id}
26466Restrict the breakpoint to the specified @var{thread-id}.
26467@end table
26468
26469@subsubheading Result
26470
26471@xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Information}, for details on the format of the
26472resulting breakpoint.
26473
26474Note: this format is open to change.
26475@c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
26476
26477@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26478
26479The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
26480@samp{hbreak}, and @samp{thbreak}. @c and @samp{rbreak}.
26481
26482@subsubheading Example
26483
26484@smallexample
26485(gdb)
26486-break-insert main
26487^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
26488fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],
26489times="0"@}
26490(gdb)
26491-break-insert -t foo
26492^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
26493fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
26494times="0"@}
26495(gdb)
26496-break-list
26497^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
26498hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26499@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26500@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26501@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26502@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26503@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26504body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26505addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
26506fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],
26507times="0"@},
26508bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
26509addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
26510fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
26511times="0"@}]@}
26512(gdb)
26513@c -break-insert -r foo.*
26514@c ~int foo(int, int);
26515@c ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
26516@c "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
26517@c times="0"@}
26518@c (gdb)
26519@end smallexample
26520
26521@subheading The @code{-dprintf-insert} Command
26522@findex -dprintf-insert
26523
26524@subsubheading Synopsis
26525
26526@smallexample
26527 -dprintf-insert [ -t ] [ -f ] [ -d ]
26528 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
26529 [ -p @var{thread-id} ] [ @var{location} ] [ @var{format} ]
26530 [ @var{argument} ]
26531@end smallexample
26532
26533@noindent
26534If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
26535
26536@itemize @bullet
26537@item @var{function}
26538@c @item +offset
26539@c @item -offset
26540@c @item @var{linenum}
26541@item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
26542@item @var{filename}:function
26543@item *@var{address}
26544@end itemize
26545
26546The possible optional parameters of this command are:
26547
26548@table @samp
26549@item -t
26550Insert a temporary breakpoint.
26551@item -f
26552If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example, if it
26553refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
26554breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
26555an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
26556cannot be parsed.
26557@item -d
26558Create a disabled breakpoint.
26559@item -c @var{condition}
26560Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
26561@item -i @var{ignore-count}
26562Set the ignore count of the breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ignore count})
26563to @var{ignore-count}.
26564@item -p @var{thread-id}
26565Restrict the breakpoint to the specified @var{thread-id}.
26566@end table
26567
26568@subsubheading Result
26569
26570@xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Information}, for details on the format of the
26571resulting breakpoint.
26572
26573@c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
26574
26575@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26576
26577The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dprintf}.
26578
26579@subsubheading Example
26580
26581@smallexample
26582(gdb)
265834-dprintf-insert foo "At foo entry\n"
265844^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="dprintf",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26585addr="0x000000000040061b",func="foo",file="mi-dprintf.c",
26586fullname="mi-dprintf.c",line="25",thread-groups=["i1"],
26587times="0",script=@{"printf \"At foo entry\\n\"","continue"@},
26588original-location="foo"@}
26589(gdb)
265905-dprintf-insert 26 "arg=%d, g=%d\n" arg g
265915^done,bkpt=@{number="2",type="dprintf",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26592addr="0x000000000040062a",func="foo",file="mi-dprintf.c",
26593fullname="mi-dprintf.c",line="26",thread-groups=["i1"],
26594times="0",script=@{"printf \"arg=%d, g=%d\\n\", arg, g","continue"@},
26595original-location="mi-dprintf.c:26"@}
26596(gdb)
26597@end smallexample
26598
26599@subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
26600@findex -break-list
26601
26602@subsubheading Synopsis
26603
26604@smallexample
26605 -break-list
26606@end smallexample
26607
26608Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
26609
26610@table @samp
26611@item Number
26612number of the breakpoint
26613@item Type
26614type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
26615@item Disposition
26616should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
26617or @samp{nokeep}
26618@item Enabled
26619is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
26620@item Address
26621memory location at which the breakpoint is set
26622@item What
26623logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
26624name, line number
26625@item Thread-groups
26626list of thread groups to which this breakpoint applies
26627@item Times
26628number of times the breakpoint has been hit
26629@end table
26630
26631If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
26632@code{body} field is an empty list.
26633
26634@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26635
26636The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
26637
26638@subsubheading Example
26639
26640@smallexample
26641(gdb)
26642-break-list
26643^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
26644hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26645@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26646@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26647@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26648@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26649@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26650body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26651addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
26652times="0"@},
26653bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26654addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26655line="13",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
26656(gdb)
26657@end smallexample
26658
26659Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
26660
26661@smallexample
26662(gdb)
26663-break-list
26664^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
26665hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26666@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26667@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26668@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26669@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26670@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26671body=[]@}
26672(gdb)
26673@end smallexample
26674
26675@subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
26676@findex -break-passcount
26677
26678@subsubheading Synopsis
26679
26680@smallexample
26681 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
26682@end smallexample
26683
26684Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
26685@var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
26686is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
26687command @samp{passcount}.
26688
26689@subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
26690@findex -break-watch
26691
26692@subsubheading Synopsis
26693
26694@smallexample
26695 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
26696@end smallexample
26697
26698Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
26699@dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
26700read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
26701option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
26702trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
26703either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
26704i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
26705@xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
26706
26707Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
26708breakpoints inserted.
26709
26710@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26711
26712The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
26713@samp{rwatch}.
26714
26715@subsubheading Example
26716
26717Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
26718
26719@smallexample
26720(gdb)
26721-break-watch x
26722^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
26723(gdb)
26724-exec-continue
26725^running
26726(gdb)
26727*stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
26728value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
26729frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
26730fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
26731(gdb)
26732@end smallexample
26733
26734Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
26735the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
26736for the watchpoint going out of scope.
26737
26738@smallexample
26739(gdb)
26740-break-watch C
26741^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
26742(gdb)
26743-exec-continue
26744^running
26745(gdb)
26746*stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
26747wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
26748frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
26749file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26750fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
26751(gdb)
26752-exec-continue
26753^running
26754(gdb)
26755*stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
26756frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
26757value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
26758file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26759fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
26760(gdb)
26761@end smallexample
26762
26763Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
26764execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
26765deleted.
26766
26767@smallexample
26768(gdb)
26769-break-watch C
26770^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
26771(gdb)
26772-break-list
26773^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
26774hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26775@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26776@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26777@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26778@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26779@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26780body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26781addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
26782file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26783fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",thread-groups=["i1"],
26784times="1"@},
26785bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
26786enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
26787(gdb)
26788-exec-continue
26789^running
26790(gdb)
26791*stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
26792value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
26793frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
26794file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26795fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
26796(gdb)
26797-break-list
26798^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
26799hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26800@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26801@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26802@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26803@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26804@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26805body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26806addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
26807file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26808fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",thread-groups=["i1"],
26809times="1"@},
26810bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
26811enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],times="-5"@}]@}
26812(gdb)
26813-exec-continue
26814^running
26815^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
26816frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
26817value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
26818file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26819fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
26820(gdb)
26821-break-list
26822^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26823hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26824@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26825@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26826@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26827@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26828@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26829body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26830addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
26831file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26832fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
26833thread-groups=["i1"],times="1"@}]@}
26834(gdb)
26835@end smallexample
26836
26837
26838@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26839@node GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
26840@section @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoint Commands
26841
26842This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
26843catchpoints.
26844
26845@menu
26846* Shared Library GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
26847* Ada Exception GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
26848@end menu
26849
26850@node Shared Library GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
26851@subsection Shared Library @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoints
26852
26853@subheading The @code{-catch-load} Command
26854@findex -catch-load
26855
26856@subsubheading Synopsis
26857
26858@smallexample
26859 -catch-load [ -t ] [ -d ] @var{regexp}
26860@end smallexample
26861
26862Add a catchpoint for library load events. If the @samp{-t} option is used,
26863the catchpoint is a temporary one (@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting
26864Breakpoints}). If the @samp{-d} option is used, the catchpoint is created
26865in a disabled state. The @samp{regexp} argument is a regular
26866expression used to match the name of the loaded library.
26867
26868
26869@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26870
26871The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch load}.
26872
26873@subsubheading Example
26874
26875@smallexample
26876-catch-load -t foo.so
26877^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="catchpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
26878what="load of library matching foo.so",catch-type="load",times="0"@}
26879(gdb)
26880@end smallexample
26881
26882
26883@subheading The @code{-catch-unload} Command
26884@findex -catch-unload
26885
26886@subsubheading Synopsis
26887
26888@smallexample
26889 -catch-unload [ -t ] [ -d ] @var{regexp}
26890@end smallexample
26891
26892Add a catchpoint for library unload events. If the @samp{-t} option is
26893used, the catchpoint is a temporary one (@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting
26894Breakpoints}). If the @samp{-d} option is used, the catchpoint is
26895created in a disabled state. The @samp{regexp} argument is a regular
26896expression used to match the name of the unloaded library.
26897
26898@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26899
26900The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch unload}.
26901
26902@subsubheading Example
26903
26904@smallexample
26905-catch-unload -d bar.so
26906^done,bkpt=@{number="2",type="catchpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
26907what="load of library matching bar.so",catch-type="unload",times="0"@}
26908(gdb)
26909@end smallexample
26910
26911@node Ada Exception GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
26912@subsection Ada Exception @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoints
26913
26914The following @sc{gdb/mi} commands can be used to create catchpoints
26915that stop the execution when Ada exceptions are being raised.
26916
26917@subheading The @code{-catch-assert} Command
26918@findex -catch-assert
26919
26920@subsubheading Synopsis
26921
26922@smallexample
26923 -catch-assert [ -c @var{condition}] [ -d ] [ -t ]
26924@end smallexample
26925
26926Add a catchpoint for failed Ada assertions.
26927
26928The possible optional parameters for this command are:
26929
26930@table @samp
26931@item -c @var{condition}
26932Make the catchpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
26933@item -d
26934Create a disabled catchpoint.
26935@item -t
26936Create a temporary catchpoint.
26937@end table
26938
26939@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26940
26941The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch assert}.
26942
26943@subsubheading Example
26944
26945@smallexample
26946-catch-assert
26947^done,bkptno="5",bkpt=@{number="5",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
26948enabled="y",addr="0x0000000000404888",what="failed Ada assertions",
26949thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",
26950original-location="__gnat_debug_raise_assert_failure"@}
26951(gdb)
26952@end smallexample
26953
26954@subheading The @code{-catch-exception} Command
26955@findex -catch-exception
26956
26957@subsubheading Synopsis
26958
26959@smallexample
26960 -catch-exception [ -c @var{condition}] [ -d ] [ -e @var{exception-name} ]
26961 [ -t ] [ -u ]
26962@end smallexample
26963
26964Add a catchpoint stopping when Ada exceptions are raised.
26965By default, the command stops the program when any Ada exception
26966gets raised. But it is also possible, by using some of the
26967optional parameters described below, to create more selective
26968catchpoints.
26969
26970The possible optional parameters for this command are:
26971
26972@table @samp
26973@item -c @var{condition}
26974Make the catchpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
26975@item -d
26976Create a disabled catchpoint.
26977@item -e @var{exception-name}
26978Only stop when @var{exception-name} is raised. This option cannot
26979be used combined with @samp{-u}.
26980@item -t
26981Create a temporary catchpoint.
26982@item -u
26983Stop only when an unhandled exception gets raised. This option
26984cannot be used combined with @samp{-e}.
26985@end table
26986
26987@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26988
26989The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{catch exception}
26990and @samp{catch exception unhandled}.
26991
26992@subsubheading Example
26993
26994@smallexample
26995-catch-exception -e Program_Error
26996^done,bkptno="4",bkpt=@{number="4",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
26997enabled="y",addr="0x0000000000404874",
26998what="`Program_Error' Ada exception", thread-groups=["i1"],
26999times="0",original-location="__gnat_debug_raise_exception"@}
27000(gdb)
27001@end smallexample
27002
27003@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27004@node GDB/MI Program Context
27005@section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
27006
27007@subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
27008@findex -exec-arguments
27009
27010
27011@subsubheading Synopsis
27012
27013@smallexample
27014 -exec-arguments @var{args}
27015@end smallexample
27016
27017Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
27018@samp{-exec-run}.
27019
27020@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27021
27022The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
27023
27024@subsubheading Example
27025
27026@smallexample
27027(gdb)
27028-exec-arguments -v word
27029^done
27030(gdb)
27031@end smallexample
27032
27033
27034@ignore
27035@subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
27036@findex -exec-show-arguments
27037
27038@subsubheading Synopsis
27039
27040@smallexample
27041 -exec-show-arguments
27042@end smallexample
27043
27044Print the arguments of the program.
27045
27046@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27047
27048The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
27049
27050@subsubheading Example
27051N.A.
27052@end ignore
27053
27054
27055@subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
27056@findex -environment-cd
27057
27058@subsubheading Synopsis
27059
27060@smallexample
27061 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
27062@end smallexample
27063
27064Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
27065
27066@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27067
27068The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
27069
27070@subsubheading Example
27071
27072@smallexample
27073(gdb)
27074-environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
27075^done
27076(gdb)
27077@end smallexample
27078
27079
27080@subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
27081@findex -environment-directory
27082
27083@subsubheading Synopsis
27084
27085@smallexample
27086 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
27087@end smallexample
27088
27089Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
27090If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
27091search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
27092@samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
27093occurs as normal.
27094Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
27095multiple directories in a single command
27096results in the directories added to the beginning of the
27097search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
27098If blanks are needed as
27099part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
27100the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
27101by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
27102character must not be used
27103in any directory name.
27104If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
27105
27106@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27107
27108The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
27109
27110@subsubheading Example
27111
27112@smallexample
27113(gdb)
27114-environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
27115^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
27116(gdb)
27117-environment-directory ""
27118^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
27119(gdb)
27120-environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
27121^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
27122(gdb)
27123-environment-directory -r
27124^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
27125(gdb)
27126@end smallexample
27127
27128
27129@subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
27130@findex -environment-path
27131
27132@subsubheading Synopsis
27133
27134@smallexample
27135 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
27136@end smallexample
27137
27138Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
27139If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
27140search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
27141supplied in addition to the
27142@samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
27143occurs as normal.
27144Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
27145multiple directories in a single command
27146results in the directories added to the beginning of the
27147search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
27148If blanks are needed as
27149part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
27150the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
27151by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
27152character must not be used
27153in any directory name.
27154If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
27155
27156
27157@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27158
27159The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
27160
27161@subsubheading Example
27162
27163@smallexample
27164(gdb)
27165-environment-path
27166^done,path="/usr/bin"
27167(gdb)
27168-environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
27169^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
27170(gdb)
27171-environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
27172^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
27173(gdb)
27174@end smallexample
27175
27176
27177@subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
27178@findex -environment-pwd
27179
27180@subsubheading Synopsis
27181
27182@smallexample
27183 -environment-pwd
27184@end smallexample
27185
27186Show the current working directory.
27187
27188@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27189
27190The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
27191
27192@subsubheading Example
27193
27194@smallexample
27195(gdb)
27196-environment-pwd
27197^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
27198(gdb)
27199@end smallexample
27200
27201@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27202@node GDB/MI Thread Commands
27203@section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
27204
27205
27206@subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
27207@findex -thread-info
27208
27209@subsubheading Synopsis
27210
27211@smallexample
27212 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
27213@end smallexample
27214
27215Reports information about either a specific thread, if
27216the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
27217threads. When printing information about all threads,
27218also reports the current thread.
27219
27220@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27221
27222The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
27223about all threads.
27224
27225@subsubheading Result
27226
27227The result is a list of threads. The following attributes are
27228defined for a given thread:
27229
27230@table @samp
27231@item current
27232This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
27233
27234@item id
27235The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the thread.
27236
27237@item target-id
27238The identifier that the target uses to refer to the thread.
27239
27240@item details
27241Extra information about the thread, in a target-specific format. This
27242field is optional.
27243
27244@item name
27245The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using the
27246@code{thread name} command, then this name is given. Otherwise, if
27247@value{GDBN} can extract the thread name from the target, then that
27248name is given. If @value{GDBN} cannot find the thread name, then this
27249field is omitted.
27250
27251@item frame
27252The stack frame currently executing in the thread.
27253
27254@item state
27255The thread's state. The @samp{state} field may have the following
27256values:
27257
27258@table @code
27259@item stopped
27260The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
27261threads.
27262
27263@item running
27264The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
27265threads.
27266
27267@end table
27268
27269@item core
27270If @value{GDBN} can find the CPU core on which this thread is running,
27271then this field is the core identifier. This field is optional.
27272
27273@end table
27274
27275@subsubheading Example
27276
27277@smallexample
27278-thread-info
27279^done,threads=[
27280@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
27281 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",
27282 args=[]@},state="running"@},
27283@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
27284 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",
27285 args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
27286 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},
27287 state="running"@}],
27288current-thread-id="1"
27289(gdb)
27290@end smallexample
27291
27292@subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
27293@findex -thread-list-ids
27294
27295@subsubheading Synopsis
27296
27297@smallexample
27298 -thread-list-ids
27299@end smallexample
27300
27301Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
27302end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
27303
27304This command is retained for historical reasons, the
27305@code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
27306
27307@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27308
27309Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
27310
27311@subsubheading Example
27312
27313@smallexample
27314(gdb)
27315-thread-list-ids
27316^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
27317current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
27318(gdb)
27319@end smallexample
27320
27321
27322@subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
27323@findex -thread-select
27324
27325@subsubheading Synopsis
27326
27327@smallexample
27328 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
27329@end smallexample
27330
27331Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
27332current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
27333
27334This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
27335@samp{--thread} option to each command.
27336
27337@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27338
27339The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
27340
27341@subsubheading Example
27342
27343@smallexample
27344(gdb)
27345-exec-next
27346^running
27347(gdb)
27348*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
27349file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
27350(gdb)
27351-thread-list-ids
27352^done,
27353thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
27354number-of-threads="3"
27355(gdb)
27356-thread-select 3
27357^done,new-thread-id="3",
27358frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
27359args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
27360@{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
27361(gdb)
27362@end smallexample
27363
27364@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27365@node GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands
27366@section @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Tasking Commands
27367
27368@subheading The @code{-ada-task-info} Command
27369@findex -ada-task-info
27370
27371@subsubheading Synopsis
27372
27373@smallexample
27374 -ada-task-info [ @var{task-id} ]
27375@end smallexample
27376
27377Reports information about either a specific Ada task, if the
27378@var{task-id} parameter is present, or about all Ada tasks.
27379
27380@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27381
27382The @samp{info tasks} command prints the same information
27383about all Ada tasks (@pxref{Ada Tasks}).
27384
27385@subsubheading Result
27386
27387The result is a table of Ada tasks. The following columns are
27388defined for each Ada task:
27389
27390@table @samp
27391@item current
27392This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
27393
27394@item id
27395The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the Ada task.
27396
27397@item task-id
27398The identifier that the target uses to refer to the Ada task.
27399
27400@item thread-id
27401The identifier of the thread corresponding to the Ada task.
27402
27403This field should always exist, as Ada tasks are always implemented
27404on top of a thread. But if @value{GDBN} cannot find this corresponding
27405thread for any reason, the field is omitted.
27406
27407@item parent-id
27408This field exists only when the task was created by another task.
27409In this case, it provides the ID of the parent task.
27410
27411@item priority
27412The base priority of the task.
27413
27414@item state
27415The current state of the task. For a detailed description of the
27416possible states, see @ref{Ada Tasks}.
27417
27418@item name
27419The name of the task.
27420
27421@end table
27422
27423@subsubheading Example
27424
27425@smallexample
27426-ada-task-info
27427^done,tasks=@{nr_rows="3",nr_cols="8",
27428hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr=""@},
27429@{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="id",colhdr="ID"@},
27430@{width="9",alignment="1",col_name="task-id",colhdr="TID"@},
27431@{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="thread-id",colhdr=""@},
27432@{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="parent-id",colhdr="P-ID"@},
27433@{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="priority",colhdr="Pri"@},
27434@{width="22",alignment="-1",col_name="state",colhdr="State"@},
27435@{width="1",alignment="2",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@}],
27436body=[@{current="*",id="1",task-id=" 644010",thread-id="1",priority="48",
27437state="Child Termination Wait",name="main_task"@}]@}
27438(gdb)
27439@end smallexample
27440
27441@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27442@node GDB/MI Program Execution
27443@section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
27444
27445These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
27446record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
27447asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
27448other cases.
27449
27450@subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
27451@findex -exec-continue
27452
27453@subsubheading Synopsis
27454
27455@smallexample
27456 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
27457@end smallexample
27458
27459Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
27460to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
27461@samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
27462it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
27463@itemize @bullet
27464@item
27465breakpoints or watchpoints
27466@item
27467signals or exceptions
27468@item
27469the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
27470@item
27471the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
27472@end itemize
27473In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
27474Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
27475value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
27476specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
27477ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
27478specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
27479
27480@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27481
27482The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
27483
27484@subsubheading Example
27485
27486@smallexample
27487-exec-continue
27488^running
27489(gdb)
27490@@Hello world
27491*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
27492func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
27493line="13"@}
27494(gdb)
27495@end smallexample
27496
27497
27498@subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
27499@findex -exec-finish
27500
27501@subsubheading Synopsis
27502
27503@smallexample
27504 -exec-finish [--reverse]
27505@end smallexample
27506
27507Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
27508function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
27509If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
27510execution of the inferior program until the point where current
27511function was called.
27512
27513@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27514
27515The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
27516
27517@subsubheading Example
27518
27519Function returning @code{void}.
27520
27521@smallexample
27522-exec-finish
27523^running
27524(gdb)
27525@@hello from foo
27526*stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
27527file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
27528(gdb)
27529@end smallexample
27530
27531Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
27532@value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
27533value itself.
27534
27535@smallexample
27536-exec-finish
27537^running
27538(gdb)
27539*stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
27540args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
27541file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
27542gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
27543(gdb)
27544@end smallexample
27545
27546
27547@subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
27548@findex -exec-interrupt
27549
27550@subsubheading Synopsis
27551
27552@smallexample
27553 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
27554@end smallexample
27555
27556Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
27557associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
27558that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
27559appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
27560interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
27561
27562Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
27563asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
27564@samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
27565reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
27566
27567In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
27568All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
27569@samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
27570option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
27571
27572@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27573
27574The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
27575
27576@subsubheading Example
27577
27578@smallexample
27579(gdb)
27580111-exec-continue
27581111^running
27582
27583(gdb)
27584222-exec-interrupt
27585222^done
27586(gdb)
27587111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
27588frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
27589fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
27590(gdb)
27591
27592(gdb)
27593-exec-interrupt
27594^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
27595(gdb)
27596@end smallexample
27597
27598@subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
27599@findex -exec-jump
27600
27601@subsubheading Synopsis
27602
27603@smallexample
27604 -exec-jump @var{location}
27605@end smallexample
27606
27607Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
27608parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
27609different forms of @var{location}.
27610
27611@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27612
27613The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
27614
27615@subsubheading Example
27616
27617@smallexample
27618-exec-jump foo.c:10
27619*running,thread-id="all"
27620^running
27621@end smallexample
27622
27623
27624@subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
27625@findex -exec-next
27626
27627@subsubheading Synopsis
27628
27629@smallexample
27630 -exec-next [--reverse]
27631@end smallexample
27632
27633Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
27634of the next source line is reached.
27635
27636If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
27637of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
27638source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
27639function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
27640source line where the function was called.
27641
27642
27643@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27644
27645The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
27646
27647@subsubheading Example
27648
27649@smallexample
27650-exec-next
27651^running
27652(gdb)
27653*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
27654(gdb)
27655@end smallexample
27656
27657
27658@subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
27659@findex -exec-next-instruction
27660
27661@subsubheading Synopsis
27662
27663@smallexample
27664 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
27665@end smallexample
27666
27667Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
27668call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
27669instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
27670printed as well.
27671
27672If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
27673of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
27674previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
27675it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
27676(from the current stack frame) is reached.
27677
27678@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27679
27680The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
27681
27682@subsubheading Example
27683
27684@smallexample
27685(gdb)
27686-exec-next-instruction
27687^running
27688
27689(gdb)
27690*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
27691addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
27692(gdb)
27693@end smallexample
27694
27695
27696@subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
27697@findex -exec-return
27698
27699@subsubheading Synopsis
27700
27701@smallexample
27702 -exec-return
27703@end smallexample
27704
27705Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
27706Displays the new current frame.
27707
27708@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27709
27710The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
27711
27712@subsubheading Example
27713
27714@smallexample
27715(gdb)
27716200-break-insert callee4
27717200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
27718file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
27719(gdb)
27720000-exec-run
27721000^running
27722(gdb)
27723000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
27724frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
27725file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27726fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
27727(gdb)
27728205-break-delete
27729205^done
27730(gdb)
27731111-exec-return
27732111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
27733args=[@{name="strarg",
27734value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
27735file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27736fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
27737(gdb)
27738@end smallexample
27739
27740
27741@subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
27742@findex -exec-run
27743
27744@subsubheading Synopsis
27745
27746@smallexample
27747 -exec-run [ --all | --thread-group N ] [ --start ]
27748@end smallexample
27749
27750Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
27751executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
27752exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
27753the program has exited exceptionally.
27754
27755When neither the @samp{--all} nor the @samp{--thread-group} option
27756is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
27757@samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
27758group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
27759If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
27760
27761Using the @samp{--start} option instructs the debugger to stop
27762the execution at the start of the inferior's main subprogram,
27763following the same behavior as the @code{start} command
27764(@pxref{Starting}).
27765
27766@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27767
27768The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
27769
27770@subsubheading Examples
27771
27772@smallexample
27773(gdb)
27774-break-insert main
27775^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
27776(gdb)
27777-exec-run
27778^running
27779(gdb)
27780*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
27781frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
27782fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
27783(gdb)
27784@end smallexample
27785
27786@noindent
27787Program exited normally:
27788
27789@smallexample
27790(gdb)
27791-exec-run
27792^running
27793(gdb)
27794x = 55
27795*stopped,reason="exited-normally"
27796(gdb)
27797@end smallexample
27798
27799@noindent
27800Program exited exceptionally:
27801
27802@smallexample
27803(gdb)
27804-exec-run
27805^running
27806(gdb)
27807x = 55
27808*stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
27809(gdb)
27810@end smallexample
27811
27812Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
27813@code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
27814
27815@smallexample
27816(gdb)
27817*stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
27818signal-meaning="Interrupt"
27819@end smallexample
27820
27821
27822@c @subheading -exec-signal
27823
27824
27825@subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
27826@findex -exec-step
27827
27828@subsubheading Synopsis
27829
27830@smallexample
27831 -exec-step [--reverse]
27832@end smallexample
27833
27834Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
27835of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
27836function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
27837function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
27838execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
27839previously executed source line.
27840
27841@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27842
27843The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
27844
27845@subsubheading Example
27846
27847Stepping into a function:
27848
27849@smallexample
27850-exec-step
27851^running
27852(gdb)
27853*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
27854frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
27855@{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
27856fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
27857(gdb)
27858@end smallexample
27859
27860Regular stepping:
27861
27862@smallexample
27863-exec-step
27864^running
27865(gdb)
27866*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
27867(gdb)
27868@end smallexample
27869
27870
27871@subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
27872@findex -exec-step-instruction
27873
27874@subsubheading Synopsis
27875
27876@smallexample
27877 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
27878@end smallexample
27879
27880Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
27881@samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
27882inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
27883The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
27884whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
27885former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
27886as well.
27887
27888@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27889
27890The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
27891
27892@subsubheading Example
27893
27894@smallexample
27895(gdb)
27896-exec-step-instruction
27897^running
27898
27899(gdb)
27900*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
27901frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
27902fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
27903(gdb)
27904-exec-step-instruction
27905^running
27906
27907(gdb)
27908*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
27909frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
27910fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
27911(gdb)
27912@end smallexample
27913
27914
27915@subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
27916@findex -exec-until
27917
27918@subsubheading Synopsis
27919
27920@smallexample
27921 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
27922@end smallexample
27923
27924Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
27925argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
27926until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
27927reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
27928
27929@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27930
27931The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
27932
27933@subsubheading Example
27934
27935@smallexample
27936(gdb)
27937-exec-until recursive2.c:6
27938^running
27939(gdb)
27940x = 55
27941*stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
27942file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
27943(gdb)
27944@end smallexample
27945
27946@ignore
27947@subheading -file-clear
27948Is this going away????
27949@end ignore
27950
27951@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27952@node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
27953@section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
27954
27955@subheading The @code{-enable-frame-filters} Command
27956@findex -enable-frame-filters
27957
27958@smallexample
27959-enable-frame-filters
27960@end smallexample
27961
27962@value{GDBN} allows Python-based frame filters to affect the output of
27963the MI commands relating to stack traces. As there is no way to
27964implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
27965request that this functionality be enabled.
27966
27967Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
27968
27969Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
27970this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
27971
27972@subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
27973@findex -stack-info-frame
27974
27975@subsubheading Synopsis
27976
27977@smallexample
27978 -stack-info-frame
27979@end smallexample
27980
27981Get info on the selected frame.
27982
27983@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27984
27985The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
27986(without arguments).
27987
27988@subsubheading Example
27989
27990@smallexample
27991(gdb)
27992-stack-info-frame
27993^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
27994file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27995fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
27996(gdb)
27997@end smallexample
27998
27999@subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
28000@findex -stack-info-depth
28001
28002@subsubheading Synopsis
28003
28004@smallexample
28005 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
28006@end smallexample
28007
28008Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
28009is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
28010
28011@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28012
28013There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
28014
28015@subsubheading Example
28016
28017For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
28018
28019@smallexample
28020(gdb)
28021-stack-info-depth
28022^done,depth="12"
28023(gdb)
28024-stack-info-depth 4
28025^done,depth="4"
28026(gdb)
28027-stack-info-depth 12
28028^done,depth="12"
28029(gdb)
28030-stack-info-depth 11
28031^done,depth="11"
28032(gdb)
28033-stack-info-depth 13
28034^done,depth="12"
28035(gdb)
28036@end smallexample
28037
28038@anchor{-stack-list-arguments}
28039@subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
28040@findex -stack-list-arguments
28041
28042@subsubheading Synopsis
28043
28044@smallexample
28045 -stack-list-arguments [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
28046 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
28047@end smallexample
28048
28049Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
28050and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
28051@var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
28052call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
28053at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
28054larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
28055@var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
28056which case only existing frames will be returned.
28057
28058If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
28059the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
28060values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
28061type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
28062structures and unions. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is
28063supplied, then Python frame filters will not be executed.
28064
28065If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, arguments that
28066are not available are not listed. Partially available arguments
28067are still displayed, however.
28068
28069Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
28070deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
28071
28072@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28073
28074@value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
28075@samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
28076functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
28077
28078@subsubheading Example
28079
28080@smallexample
28081(gdb)
28082-stack-list-frames
28083^done,
28084stack=[
28085frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
28086file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28087fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
28088frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
28089file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28090fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
28091frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
28092file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28093fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
28094frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
28095file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28096fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
28097frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
28098file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28099fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
28100(gdb)
28101-stack-list-arguments 0
28102^done,
28103stack-args=[
28104frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
28105frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
28106frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
28107frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
28108frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
28109(gdb)
28110-stack-list-arguments 1
28111^done,
28112stack-args=[
28113frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
28114frame=@{level="1",
28115 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
28116frame=@{level="2",args=[
28117@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
28118@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
28119@{frame=@{level="3",args=[
28120@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
28121@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
28122@{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
28123frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
28124(gdb)
28125-stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
28126^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
28127(gdb)
28128-stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
28129^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
28130args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
28131@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
28132(gdb)
28133@end smallexample
28134
28135@c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
28136
28137
28138@anchor{-stack-list-frames}
28139@subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
28140@findex -stack-list-frames
28141
28142@subsubheading Synopsis
28143
28144@smallexample
28145 -stack-list-frames [ --no-frame-filters @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
28146@end smallexample
28147
28148List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
28149following info:
28150
28151@table @samp
28152@item @var{level}
28153The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
28154@item @var{addr}
28155The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
28156@item @var{func}
28157Function name.
28158@item @var{file}
28159File name of the source file where the function lives.
28160@item @var{fullname}
28161The full file name of the source file where the function lives.
28162@item @var{line}
28163Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
28164@item @var{from}
28165The shared library where this function is defined. This is only given
28166if the frame's function is not known.
28167@end table
28168
28169If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
28170whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
28171levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
28172are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
28173an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
28174frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
28175actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be
28176returned. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is supplied, then
28177Python frame filters will not be executed.
28178
28179@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28180
28181The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
28182
28183@subsubheading Example
28184
28185Full stack backtrace:
28186
28187@smallexample
28188(gdb)
28189-stack-list-frames
28190^done,stack=
28191[frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
28192 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
28193frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28194 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28195frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28196 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28197frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28198 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28199frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28200 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28201frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28202 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28203frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28204 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28205frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28206 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28207frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28208 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28209frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28210 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28211frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28212 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28213frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
28214 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
28215(gdb)
28216@end smallexample
28217
28218Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
28219
28220@smallexample
28221(gdb)
28222-stack-list-frames 3 5
28223^done,stack=
28224[frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28225 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28226frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28227 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28228frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28229 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
28230(gdb)
28231@end smallexample
28232
28233Show a single frame:
28234
28235@smallexample
28236(gdb)
28237-stack-list-frames 3 3
28238^done,stack=
28239[frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28240 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
28241(gdb)
28242@end smallexample
28243
28244
28245@subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
28246@findex -stack-list-locals
28247@anchor{-stack-list-locals}
28248
28249@subsubheading Synopsis
28250
28251@smallexample
28252 -stack-list-locals [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
28253@end smallexample
28254
28255Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
28256@var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
28257the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
28258values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
28259type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
28260structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
28261display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
28262other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
28263more detail. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is supplied, then
28264Python frame filters will not be executed.
28265
28266If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, local variables
28267that are not available are not listed. Partially available local
28268variables are still displayed, however.
28269
28270This command is deprecated in favor of the
28271@samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
28272
28273@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28274
28275@samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
28276
28277@subsubheading Example
28278
28279@smallexample
28280(gdb)
28281-stack-list-locals 0
28282^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
28283(gdb)
28284-stack-list-locals --all-values
28285^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
28286 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
28287-stack-list-locals --simple-values
28288^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
28289 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
28290(gdb)
28291@end smallexample
28292
28293@anchor{-stack-list-variables}
28294@subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
28295@findex -stack-list-variables
28296
28297@subsubheading Synopsis
28298
28299@smallexample
28300 -stack-list-variables [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
28301@end smallexample
28302
28303Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
28304@var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
28305the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
28306values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
28307type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
28308structures and unions. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is
28309supplied, then Python frame filters will not be executed.
28310
28311If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, local variables
28312and arguments that are not available are not listed. Partially
28313available arguments and local variables are still displayed, however.
28314
28315@subsubheading Example
28316
28317@smallexample
28318(gdb)
28319-stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
28320^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
28321(gdb)
28322@end smallexample
28323
28324
28325@subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
28326@findex -stack-select-frame
28327
28328@subsubheading Synopsis
28329
28330@smallexample
28331 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
28332@end smallexample
28333
28334Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
28335the stack.
28336
28337This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
28338option to every command.
28339
28340@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28341
28342The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
28343@samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
28344
28345@subsubheading Example
28346
28347@smallexample
28348(gdb)
28349-stack-select-frame 2
28350^done
28351(gdb)
28352@end smallexample
28353
28354@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28355@node GDB/MI Variable Objects
28356@section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
28357
28358@ignore
28359
28360@subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
28361
28362For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
28363expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
28364used by @code{Insight}.
28365
28366The two main reasons for that are:
28367
28368@enumerate 1
28369@item
28370It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
28371
28372@item
28373It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
28374now).
28375@end enumerate
28376
28377The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
28378slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
28379describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
28380hints about their use.
28381
28382@emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
28383expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
28384least, the following operations:
28385
28386@itemize @bullet
28387@item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
28388@item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
28389@item @code{-stack-list-locals}
28390@item @code{-stack-select-frame}
28391@end itemize
28392
28393@end ignore
28394
28395@subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
28396
28397@cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
28398
28399Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
28400changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
28401work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
28402simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
28403is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
28404frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
28405expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
28406expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
28407variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
28408operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
28409object, or to change display format.
28410
28411Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
28412that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
28413a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
28414element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
28415children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
28416leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
28417objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
28418is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
28419child will be created.
28420
28421For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
28422string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
28423obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
28424that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
28425contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
28426
28427A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
28428the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
28429variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
28430operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
28431be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
28432objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
28433real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
28434variables that frontend has created.
28435
28436The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
28437might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
28438and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
28439relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
28440to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
28441visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
28442called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
28443implicitly updated.
28444
28445Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
28446fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
28447object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
28448variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
28449variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
28450expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
28451frame. Consider this example:
28452
28453@smallexample
28454void do_work(...)
28455@{
28456 struct work_state state;
28457
28458 if (...)
28459 do_work(...);
28460@}
28461@end smallexample
28462
28463If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
28464this function, and we enter the recursive call, the variable
28465object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
28466@code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
28467object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
28468
28469If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
28470refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
28471thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
28472variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
28473thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
28474and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
28475
28476The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
28477access this functionality:
28478
28479@multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
28480@item @strong{Operation}
28481@tab @strong{Description}
28482
28483@item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
28484@tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
28485@item @code{-var-create}
28486@tab create a variable object
28487@item @code{-var-delete}
28488@tab delete the variable object and/or its children
28489@item @code{-var-set-format}
28490@tab set the display format of this variable
28491@item @code{-var-show-format}
28492@tab show the display format of this variable
28493@item @code{-var-info-num-children}
28494@tab tells how many children this object has
28495@item @code{-var-list-children}
28496@tab return a list of the object's children
28497@item @code{-var-info-type}
28498@tab show the type of this variable object
28499@item @code{-var-info-expression}
28500@tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
28501@item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
28502@tab print full expression that this variable object represents
28503@item @code{-var-show-attributes}
28504@tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
28505@item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
28506@tab get the value of this variable
28507@item @code{-var-assign}
28508@tab set the value of this variable
28509@item @code{-var-update}
28510@tab update the variable and its children
28511@item @code{-var-set-frozen}
28512@tab set frozeness attribute
28513@item @code{-var-set-update-range}
28514@tab set range of children to display on update
28515@end multitable
28516
28517In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
28518how it can be used.
28519
28520@subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
28521
28522@subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
28523@findex -enable-pretty-printing
28524
28525@smallexample
28526-enable-pretty-printing
28527@end smallexample
28528
28529@value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
28530MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
28531implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
28532request that this functionality be enabled.
28533
28534Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
28535
28536Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
28537this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
28538
28539This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
28540may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
28541
28542@subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
28543@findex -var-create
28544
28545@subsubheading Synopsis
28546
28547@smallexample
28548 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
28549 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
28550@end smallexample
28551
28552This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
28553a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
28554register.
28555
28556The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
28557referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
28558system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
28559unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
28560The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
28561
28562The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
28563specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
28564frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
28565object must be created.
28566
28567@var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
28568begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
28569
28570@itemize @bullet
28571@item
28572@samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
28573
28574@item
28575@samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
28576
28577@item
28578@samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
28579@end itemize
28580
28581@cindex dynamic varobj
28582A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
28583case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
28584have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
28585@code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
28586will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
28587compatibility for existing clients.
28588
28589@subsubheading Result
28590
28591This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
28592are:
28593
28594@table @samp
28595@item name
28596The name of the varobj.
28597
28598@item numchild
28599The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
28600reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
28601@samp{has_more} attribute.
28602
28603@item value
28604The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
28605aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
28606will not be interesting.
28607
28608@item type
28609The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
28610would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI. If @samp{print object}
28611(@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
28612@emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
28613@emph{declared} one.
28614
28615@item thread-id
28616If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
28617thread's identifier.
28618
28619@item has_more
28620For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
28621children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
28622
28623@item dynamic
28624This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
28625varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
28626then this attribute will not be present.
28627
28628@item displayhint
28629A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
28630value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
28631@code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
28632@end table
28633
28634Typical output will look like this:
28635
28636@smallexample
28637 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
28638 has_more="@var{has_more}"
28639@end smallexample
28640
28641
28642@subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
28643@findex -var-delete
28644
28645@subsubheading Synopsis
28646
28647@smallexample
28648 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
28649@end smallexample
28650
28651Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
28652With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
28653
28654Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
28655
28656
28657@subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
28658@findex -var-set-format
28659
28660@subsubheading Synopsis
28661
28662@smallexample
28663 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
28664@end smallexample
28665
28666Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
28667@var{format-spec}.
28668
28669@anchor{-var-set-format}
28670The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
28671
28672@smallexample
28673 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
28674 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
28675@end smallexample
28676
28677The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
28678based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
28679for pointers, etc.).
28680
28681For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
28682variable itself, and the children are not affected.
28683
28684@subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
28685@findex -var-show-format
28686
28687@subsubheading Synopsis
28688
28689@smallexample
28690 -var-show-format @var{name}
28691@end smallexample
28692
28693Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
28694
28695@smallexample
28696 @var{format} @expansion{}
28697 @var{format-spec}
28698@end smallexample
28699
28700
28701@subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
28702@findex -var-info-num-children
28703
28704@subsubheading Synopsis
28705
28706@smallexample
28707 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
28708@end smallexample
28709
28710Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
28711
28712@smallexample
28713 numchild=@var{n}
28714@end smallexample
28715
28716Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
28717It will return the current number of children, but more children may
28718be available.
28719
28720
28721@subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
28722@findex -var-list-children
28723
28724@subsubheading Synopsis
28725
28726@smallexample
28727 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
28728@end smallexample
28729@anchor{-var-list-children}
28730
28731Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
28732create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
28733a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value of 0 or
28734@code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
28735@var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
28736values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
28737value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
28738and unions.
28739
28740@var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
28741to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
28742reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
28743at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
28744reported.
28745
28746If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
28747@code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
28748For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
28749intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
28750update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
28751front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
28752then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
28753different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
28754the visible items.
28755
28756For each child the following results are returned:
28757
28758@table @var
28759
28760@item name
28761Name of the variable object created for this child.
28762
28763@item exp
28764The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
28765For example this may be the name of a structure member.
28766
28767For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
28768expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
28769
28770For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
28771designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
28772@samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
28773type and value are not present.
28774
28775A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
28776pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
28777available at all with a dynamic varobj.
28778
28779@item numchild
28780Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
287810.
28782
28783@item type
28784The type of the child. If @samp{print object}
28785(@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
28786@emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
28787@emph{declared} one.
28788
28789@item value
28790If values were requested, this is the value.
28791
28792@item thread-id
28793If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
28794Otherwise this result is not present.
28795
28796@item frozen
28797If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
28798
28799@item displayhint
28800A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
28801value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
28802@code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
28803
28804@item dynamic
28805This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
28806varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
28807then this attribute will not be present.
28808
28809@end table
28810
28811The result may have its own attributes:
28812
28813@table @samp
28814@item displayhint
28815A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
28816value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
28817@code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
28818
28819@item has_more
28820This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
28821remaining after the end of the selected range.
28822@end table
28823
28824@subsubheading Example
28825
28826@smallexample
28827(gdb)
28828 -var-list-children n
28829 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
28830 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
28831(gdb)
28832 -var-list-children --all-values n
28833 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
28834 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
28835@end smallexample
28836
28837
28838@subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
28839@findex -var-info-type
28840
28841@subsubheading Synopsis
28842
28843@smallexample
28844 -var-info-type @var{name}
28845@end smallexample
28846
28847Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
28848returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
28849@value{GDBN} CLI:
28850
28851@smallexample
28852 type=@var{typename}
28853@end smallexample
28854
28855
28856@subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
28857@findex -var-info-expression
28858
28859@subsubheading Synopsis
28860
28861@smallexample
28862 -var-info-expression @var{name}
28863@end smallexample
28864
28865Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
28866variable object in user interface. The string is generally
28867not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
28868
28869For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
28870@code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
28871
28872@smallexample
28873(gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
28874^done,lang="C",exp="1"
28875@end smallexample
28876
28877@noindent
28878Here, the value of @code{lang} is the language name, which can be
28879found in @ref{Supported Languages}.
28880
28881Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
28882includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
28883is of limited use.
28884
28885@subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
28886@findex -var-info-path-expression
28887
28888@subsubheading Synopsis
28889
28890@smallexample
28891 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
28892@end smallexample
28893
28894Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
28895context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
28896Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
28897result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
28898the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
28899watchpoint from a variable object.
28900
28901This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
28902and will give an error when invoked on one.
28903
28904For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
28905@code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
28906@code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
28907@code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
28908@code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
28909@smallexample
28910(gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
28911^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
28912@end smallexample
28913
28914@subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
28915@findex -var-show-attributes
28916
28917@subsubheading Synopsis
28918
28919@smallexample
28920 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
28921@end smallexample
28922
28923List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
28924
28925@smallexample
28926 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
28927@end smallexample
28928
28929@noindent
28930where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
28931
28932@subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
28933@findex -var-evaluate-expression
28934
28935@subsubheading Synopsis
28936
28937@smallexample
28938 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
28939@end smallexample
28940
28941Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
28942object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
28943can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
28944this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
28945(@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
28946the current display format will be used. The current display format
28947can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
28948
28949@smallexample
28950 value=@var{value}
28951@end smallexample
28952
28953Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
28954before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
28955
28956@subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
28957@findex -var-assign
28958
28959@subsubheading Synopsis
28960
28961@smallexample
28962 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
28963@end smallexample
28964
28965Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
28966by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
28967value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
28968subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
28969
28970@subsubheading Example
28971
28972@smallexample
28973(gdb)
28974-var-assign var1 3
28975^done,value="3"
28976(gdb)
28977-var-update *
28978^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
28979(gdb)
28980@end smallexample
28981
28982@subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
28983@findex -var-update
28984
28985@subsubheading Synopsis
28986
28987@smallexample
28988 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
28989@end smallexample
28990
28991Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
28992@var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
28993list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
28994be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
28995@code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
28996@code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
28997object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
28998for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
28999@var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
29000names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
29001as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
29002recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
29003number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
29004
29005With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
29006currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
29007diagnostic.
29008
29009If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
29010only the selected range of children will be reported.
29011
29012@code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
29013@samp{changelist}.
29014
29015Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
29016
29017@table @samp
29018@item name
29019The name of the varobj.
29020
29021@item value
29022If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
29023present and will hold the value of the varobj.
29024
29025@item in_scope
29026@anchor{-var-update}
29027This field is a string which may take one of three values:
29028
29029@table @code
29030@item "true"
29031The variable object's current value is valid.
29032
29033@item "false"
29034The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
29035hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
29036scope.
29037
29038@item "invalid"
29039The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
29040This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
29041either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
29042command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
29043objects.
29044@end table
29045
29046In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
29047be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
29048
29049@item type_changed
29050This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
29051changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
29052be @samp{false}.
29053
29054When a varobj's type changes, its children are also likely to have
29055become incorrect. Therefore, the varobj's children are automatically
29056deleted when this attribute is @samp{true}. Also, the varobj's update
29057range, when set using the @code{-var-set-update-range} command, is
29058unset.
29059
29060@item new_type
29061If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
29062hold the new type.
29063
29064@item new_num_children
29065For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
29066type changed, this will be the new number of children.
29067
29068The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
29069valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
29070@value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
29071instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
29072children which may be available.
29073
29074The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
29075number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
29076detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
29077only happen at the end of the update range).
29078
29079@item displayhint
29080The display hint, if any.
29081
29082@item has_more
29083This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
29084available outside the varobj's update range.
29085
29086@item dynamic
29087This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
29088varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
29089then this attribute will not be present.
29090
29091@item new_children
29092If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
29093update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
29094be listed in this attribute.
29095@end table
29096
29097@subsubheading Example
29098
29099@smallexample
29100(gdb)
29101-var-assign var1 3
29102^done,value="3"
29103(gdb)
29104-var-update --all-values var1
29105^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
29106type_changed="false"@}]
29107(gdb)
29108@end smallexample
29109
29110@subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
29111@findex -var-set-frozen
29112@anchor{-var-set-frozen}
29113
29114@subsubheading Synopsis
29115
29116@smallexample
29117 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
29118@end smallexample
29119
29120Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
29121@var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
29122frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
29123frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
29124implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
29125a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
29126@code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
29127values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
29128implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
29129Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
29130@code{-var-update} does.
29131
29132@subsubheading Example
29133
29134@smallexample
29135(gdb)
29136-var-set-frozen V 1
29137^done
29138(gdb)
29139@end smallexample
29140
29141@subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
29142@findex -var-set-update-range
29143@anchor{-var-set-update-range}
29144
29145@subsubheading Synopsis
29146
29147@smallexample
29148 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
29149@end smallexample
29150
29151Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
29152@code{-var-update}.
29153
29154@var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
29155@var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
29156children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
29157(zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
29158
29159@subsubheading Example
29160
29161@smallexample
29162(gdb)
29163-var-set-update-range V 1 2
29164^done
29165@end smallexample
29166
29167@subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
29168@findex -var-set-visualizer
29169@anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
29170
29171@subsubheading Synopsis
29172
29173@smallexample
29174 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
29175@end smallexample
29176
29177Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
29178
29179@var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
29180@samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
29181
29182If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
29183This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
29184single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
29185the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
29186Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
29187When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
29188pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
29189
29190The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
29191select a visualizer by following the built-in process
29192(@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
29193a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
29194
29195This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
29196command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Support Commands})
29197can be used to check this.
29198
29199@subsubheading Example
29200
29201Resetting the visualizer:
29202
29203@smallexample
29204(gdb)
29205-var-set-visualizer V None
29206^done
29207@end smallexample
29208
29209Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
29210
29211@smallexample
29212(gdb)
29213-var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
29214^done
29215@end smallexample
29216
29217Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
29218can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
29219
29220@smallexample
29221(gdb)
29222-var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
29223^done
29224@end smallexample
29225
29226@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29227@node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
29228@section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
29229
29230@cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
29231@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
29232This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
29233examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
29234
29235@c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
29236@c @subheading -data-assign
29237@c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
29238@c @subsubheading GDB Command
29239@c set variable
29240@c @subsubheading Example
29241@c N.A.
29242
29243@subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
29244@findex -data-disassemble
29245
29246@subsubheading Synopsis
29247
29248@smallexample
29249 -data-disassemble
29250 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
29251 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
29252 -- @var{mode}
29253@end smallexample
29254
29255@noindent
29256Where:
29257
29258@table @samp
29259@item @var{start-addr}
29260is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
29261@item @var{end-addr}
29262is the end address
29263@item @var{filename}
29264is the name of the file to disassemble
29265@item @var{linenum}
29266is the line number to disassemble around
29267@item @var{lines}
29268is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
29269the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
29270specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
29271@var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
29272@var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
29273displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
29274@var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
29275are displayed.
29276@item @var{mode}
29277is either 0 (meaning only disassembly), 1 (meaning mixed source and
29278disassembly), 2 (meaning disassembly with raw opcodes), or 3 (meaning
29279mixed source and disassembly with raw opcodes).
29280@end table
29281
29282@subsubheading Result
29283
29284The result of the @code{-data-disassemble} command will be a list named
29285@samp{asm_insns}, the contents of this list depend on the @var{mode}
29286used with the @code{-data-disassemble} command.
29287
29288For modes 0 and 2 the @samp{asm_insns} list contains tuples with the
29289following fields:
29290
29291@table @code
29292@item address
29293The address at which this instruction was disassembled.
29294
29295@item func-name
29296The name of the function this instruction is within.
29297
29298@item offset
29299The decimal offset in bytes from the start of @samp{func-name}.
29300
29301@item inst
29302The text disassembly for this @samp{address}.
29303
29304@item opcodes
29305This field is only present for mode 2. This contains the raw opcode
29306bytes for the @samp{inst} field.
29307
29308@end table
29309
29310For modes 1 and 3 the @samp{asm_insns} list contains tuples named
29311@samp{src_and_asm_line}, each of which has the following fields:
29312
29313@table @code
29314@item line
29315The line number within @samp{file}.
29316
29317@item file
29318The file name from the compilation unit. This might be an absolute
29319file name or a relative file name depending on the compile command
29320used.
29321
29322@item fullname
29323Absolute file name of @samp{file}. It is converted to a canonical form
29324using the source file search path
29325(@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories})
29326and after resolving all the symbolic links.
29327
29328If the source file is not found this field will contain the path as
29329present in the debug information.
29330
29331@item line_asm_insn
29332This is a list of tuples containing the disassembly for @samp{line} in
29333@samp{file}. The fields of each tuple are the same as for
29334@code{-data-disassemble} in @var{mode} 0 and 2, so @samp{address},
29335@samp{func-name}, @samp{offset}, @samp{inst}, and optionally
29336@samp{opcodes}.
29337
29338@end table
29339
29340Note that whatever included in the @samp{inst} field, is not
29341manipulated directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to
29342adjust its format.
29343
29344@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29345
29346The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disassemble}.
29347
29348@subsubheading Example
29349
29350Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
29351
29352@smallexample
29353(gdb)
29354-data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
29355^done,
29356asm_insns=[
29357@{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
29358inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29359@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29360inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
29361@{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
29362inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
29363@{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
29364inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
29365@{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
29366inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
29367(gdb)
29368@end smallexample
29369
29370Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
29371@code{main}.
29372
29373@smallexample
29374-data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
29375^done,asm_insns=[
29376@{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
29377inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
29378@{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
29379inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29380@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29381inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
29382[@dots{}]
29383@{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
29384@{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
29385(gdb)
29386@end smallexample
29387
29388Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
29389
29390@smallexample
29391(gdb)
29392-data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
29393^done,asm_insns=[
29394@{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
29395inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
29396@{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
29397inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29398@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29399inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
29400(gdb)
29401@end smallexample
29402
29403Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
29404
29405@smallexample
29406(gdb)
29407-data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
29408^done,asm_insns=[
29409src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
29410file="../../../src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29411fullname="/absolute/path/to/src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29412line_asm_insn=[@{address="0x000107bc",
29413func-name="main",offset="0",inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
29414src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
29415file="../../../src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29416fullname="/absolute/path/to/src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29417line_asm_insn=[@{address="0x000107c0",
29418func-name="main",offset="4",inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29419@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29420inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
29421(gdb)
29422@end smallexample
29423
29424
29425@subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
29426@findex -data-evaluate-expression
29427
29428@subsubheading Synopsis
29429
29430@smallexample
29431 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
29432@end smallexample
29433
29434Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
29435inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
29436If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
29437
29438@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29439
29440The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
29441@samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
29442@samp{gdb_eval} command.
29443
29444@subsubheading Example
29445
29446In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
29447@dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
29448Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
29449output.
29450
29451@smallexample
29452211-data-evaluate-expression A
29453211^done,value="1"
29454(gdb)
29455311-data-evaluate-expression &A
29456311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
29457(gdb)
29458411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
29459411^done,value="4"
29460(gdb)
29461511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
29462511^done,value="4"
29463(gdb)
29464@end smallexample
29465
29466
29467@subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
29468@findex -data-list-changed-registers
29469
29470@subsubheading Synopsis
29471
29472@smallexample
29473 -data-list-changed-registers
29474@end smallexample
29475
29476Display a list of the registers that have changed.
29477
29478@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29479
29480@value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
29481has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
29482
29483@subsubheading Example
29484
29485On a PPC MBX board:
29486
29487@smallexample
29488(gdb)
29489-exec-continue
29490^running
29491
29492(gdb)
29493*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
29494func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
29495line="5"@}
29496(gdb)
29497-data-list-changed-registers
29498^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
29499"10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
29500"24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
29501(gdb)
29502@end smallexample
29503
29504
29505@subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
29506@findex -data-list-register-names
29507
29508@subsubheading Synopsis
29509
29510@smallexample
29511 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
29512@end smallexample
29513
29514Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
29515are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
29516integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
29517names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
29518consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
29519include empty register names.
29520
29521@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29522
29523@value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
29524@samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
29525corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
29526
29527@subsubheading Example
29528
29529For the PPC MBX board:
29530@smallexample
29531(gdb)
29532-data-list-register-names
29533^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
29534"r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
29535"r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
29536"r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
29537"f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
29538"f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
29539"", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
29540(gdb)
29541-data-list-register-names 1 2 3
29542^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
29543(gdb)
29544@end smallexample
29545
29546@subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
29547@findex -data-list-register-values
29548
29549@subsubheading Synopsis
29550
29551@smallexample
29552 -data-list-register-values
29553 [ @code{--skip-unavailable} ] @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
29554@end smallexample
29555
29556Display the registers' contents. The format according to which the
29557registers' contents are to be returned is given by @var{fmt}, followed
29558by an optional list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A
29559missing list of numbers indicates that the contents of all the
29560registers must be returned. The @code{--skip-unavailable} option
29561indicates that only the available registers are to be returned.
29562
29563Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
29564
29565@table @code
29566@item x
29567Hexadecimal
29568@item o
29569Octal
29570@item t
29571Binary
29572@item d
29573Decimal
29574@item r
29575Raw
29576@item N
29577Natural
29578@end table
29579
29580@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29581
29582The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
29583all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
29584
29585@subsubheading Example
29586
29587For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
29588don't appear in the actual output):
29589
29590@smallexample
29591(gdb)
29592-data-list-register-values r 64 65
29593^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
29594@{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
29595(gdb)
29596-data-list-register-values x
29597^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
29598@{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
29599@{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
29600@{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
29601@{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
29602@{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
29603@{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
29604@{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
29605@{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
29606@{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
29607@{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
29608@{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
29609@{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
29610@{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
29611@{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
29612@{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
29613@{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
29614@{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
29615@{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
29616@{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
29617@{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
29618@{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
29619@{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
29620@{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
29621@{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
29622@{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
29623@{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
29624@{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
29625@{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
29626@{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
29627@{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
29628@{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
29629@{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
29630@{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
29631@{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
29632@{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
29633(gdb)
29634@end smallexample
29635
29636
29637@subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
29638@findex -data-read-memory
29639
29640This command is deprecated, use @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} instead.
29641
29642@subsubheading Synopsis
29643
29644@smallexample
29645 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
29646 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
29647 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
29648@end smallexample
29649
29650@noindent
29651where:
29652
29653@table @samp
29654@item @var{address}
29655An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
29656read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
29657quoted using the C convention.
29658
29659@item @var{word-format}
29660The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
29661same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
29662,Output Formats}).
29663
29664@item @var{word-size}
29665The size of each memory word in bytes.
29666
29667@item @var{nr-rows}
29668The number of rows in the output table.
29669
29670@item @var{nr-cols}
29671The number of columns in the output table.
29672
29673@item @var{aschar}
29674If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
29675value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
29676member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
29677characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
29678
29679@item @var{byte-offset}
29680An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
29681@end table
29682
29683This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
29684@var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
29685@code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
29686(returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
29687of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
29688using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
29689in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
29690@samp{addr}.
29691
29692The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
29693@samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
29694@samp{prev-page}.
29695
29696@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29697
29698The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
29699@samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
29700
29701@subsubheading Example
29702
29703Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
29704@code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
29705word. Display each word in hex.
29706
29707@smallexample
29708(gdb)
297099-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
297109^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
29711next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
29712prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
29713@{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
29714@{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
29715@{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
29716(gdb)
29717@end smallexample
29718
29719Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
29720display as a single word formatted in decimal.
29721
29722@smallexample
29723(gdb)
297245-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
297255^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
29726next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
29727next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
29728@{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
29729(gdb)
29730@end smallexample
29731
29732Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
29733as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
29734used as the non-printable character.
29735
29736@smallexample
29737(gdb)
297384-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
297394^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
29740next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
29741next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
29742@{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
29743@{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
29744@{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
29745@{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
29746@{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
29747@{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
29748@{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
29749@{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
29750(gdb)
29751@end smallexample
29752
29753@subheading The @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} Command
29754@findex -data-read-memory-bytes
29755
29756@subsubheading Synopsis
29757
29758@smallexample
29759 -data-read-memory-bytes [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
29760 @var{address} @var{count}
29761@end smallexample
29762
29763@noindent
29764where:
29765
29766@table @samp
29767@item @var{address}
29768An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
29769read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
29770quoted using the C convention.
29771
29772@item @var{count}
29773The number of bytes to read. This should be an integer literal.
29774
29775@item @var{byte-offset}
29776The offsets in bytes relative to @var{address} at which to start
29777reading. This should be an integer literal. This option is provided
29778so that a frontend is not required to first evaluate address and then
29779perform address arithmetics itself.
29780
29781@end table
29782
29783This command attempts to read all accessible memory regions in the
29784specified range. First, all regions marked as unreadable in the memory
29785map (if one is defined) will be skipped. @xref{Memory Region
29786Attributes}. Second, @value{GDBN} will attempt to read the remaining
29787regions. For each one, if reading full region results in an errors,
29788@value{GDBN} will try to read a subset of the region.
29789
29790In general, every single byte in the region may be readable or not,
29791and the only way to read every readable byte is to try a read at
29792every address, which is not practical. Therefore, @value{GDBN} will
29793attempt to read all accessible bytes at either beginning or the end
29794of the region, using a binary division scheme. This heuristic works
29795well for reading accross a memory map boundary. Note that if a region
29796has a readable range that is neither at the beginning or the end,
29797@value{GDBN} will not read it.
29798
29799The result record (@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}) that is output of
29800the command includes a field named @samp{memory} whose content is a
29801list of tuples. Each tuple represent a successfully read memory block
29802and has the following fields:
29803
29804@table @code
29805@item begin
29806The start address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
29807
29808@item end
29809The end address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
29810
29811@item offset
29812The offset of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal, relative to
29813the start address passed to @code{-data-read-memory-bytes}.
29814
29815@item contents
29816The contents of the memory block, in hex.
29817
29818@end table
29819
29820
29821
29822@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29823
29824The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}.
29825
29826@subsubheading Example
29827
29828@smallexample
29829(gdb)
29830-data-read-memory-bytes &a 10
29831^done,memory=[@{begin="0xbffff154",offset="0x00000000",
29832 end="0xbffff15e",
29833 contents="01000000020000000300"@}]
29834(gdb)
29835@end smallexample
29836
29837
29838@subheading The @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} Command
29839@findex -data-write-memory-bytes
29840
29841@subsubheading Synopsis
29842
29843@smallexample
29844 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents}
29845 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents} @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
29846@end smallexample
29847
29848@noindent
29849where:
29850
29851@table @samp
29852@item @var{address}
29853An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
29854read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
29855quoted using the C convention.
29856
29857@item @var{contents}
29858The hex-encoded bytes to write.
29859
29860@item @var{count}
29861Optional argument indicating the number of bytes to be written. If @var{count}
29862is greater than @var{contents}' length, @value{GDBN} will repeatedly
29863write @var{contents} until it fills @var{count} bytes.
29864
29865@end table
29866
29867@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29868
29869There's no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
29870
29871@subsubheading Example
29872
29873@smallexample
29874(gdb)
29875-data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd"
29876^done
29877(gdb)
29878@end smallexample
29879
29880@smallexample
29881(gdb)
29882-data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd" 16e
29883^done
29884(gdb)
29885@end smallexample
29886
29887@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29888@node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
29889@section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
29890
29891The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
29892tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
29893
29894@subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
29895@findex -trace-find
29896
29897@subsubheading Synopsis
29898
29899@smallexample
29900 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
29901@end smallexample
29902
29903Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
29904@var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
29905modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
29906
29907@table @samp
29908
29909@item none
29910No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
29911
29912@item frame-number
29913An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
29914that index.
29915
29916@item tracepoint-number
29917An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
29918trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
29919
29920@item pc
29921An address is required as parameter. Finds
29922next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
29923address.
29924
29925@item pc-inside-range
29926Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
29927frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
29928specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
29929
29930@item pc-outside-range
29931Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
29932next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
29933the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
29934
29935@item line
29936Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
29937Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
29938the specified location.
29939
29940@end table
29941
29942If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
29943have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
29944
29945@table @samp
29946@item found
29947This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
29948on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
29949
29950@item traceframe
29951The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
29952the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
29953
29954@item tracepoint
29955The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
29956the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
29957
29958@item frame
29959The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
29960frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
29961@xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
29962
29963@end table
29964
29965@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29966
29967The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
29968
29969@subheading -trace-define-variable
29970@findex -trace-define-variable
29971
29972@subsubheading Synopsis
29973
29974@smallexample
29975 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
29976@end smallexample
29977
29978Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
29979@var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
29980trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
29981with the @samp{$} character.
29982
29983@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29984
29985The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
29986
29987@subheading The @code{-trace-frame-collected} Command
29988@findex -trace-frame-collected
29989
29990@subsubheading Synopsis
29991
29992@smallexample
29993 -trace-frame-collected
29994 [--var-print-values @var{var_pval}]
29995 [--comp-print-values @var{comp_pval}]
29996 [--registers-format @var{regformat}]
29997 [--memory-contents]
29998@end smallexample
29999
30000This command returns the set of collected objects, register names,
30001trace state variable names, memory ranges and computed expressions
30002that have been collected at a particular trace frame. The optional
30003parameters to the command affect the output format in different ways.
30004See the output description table below for more details.
30005
30006The reported names can be used in the normal manner to create
30007varobjs and inspect the objects themselves. The items returned by
30008this command are categorized so that it is clear which is a variable,
30009which is a register, which is a trace state variable, which is a
30010memory range and which is a computed expression.
30011
30012For instance, if the actions were
30013@smallexample
30014collect myVar, myArray[myIndex], myObj.field, myPtr->field, myCount + 2
30015collect *(int*)0xaf02bef0@@40
30016@end smallexample
30017
30018@noindent
30019the object collected in its entirety would be @code{myVar}. The
30020object @code{myArray} would be partially collected, because only the
30021element at index @code{myIndex} would be collected. The remaining
30022objects would be computed expressions.
30023
30024An example output would be:
30025
30026@smallexample
30027(gdb)
30028-trace-frame-collected
30029^done,
30030 explicit-variables=[@{name="myVar",value="1"@}],
30031 computed-expressions=[@{name="myArray[myIndex]",value="0"@},
30032 @{name="myObj.field",value="0"@},
30033 @{name="myPtr->field",value="1"@},
30034 @{name="myCount + 2",value="3"@},
30035 @{name="$tvar1 + 1",value="43970027"@}],
30036 registers=[@{number="0",value="0x7fe2c6e79ec8"@},
30037 @{number="1",value="0x0"@},
30038 @{number="2",value="0x4"@},
30039 ...
30040 @{number="125",value="0x0"@}],
30041 tvars=[@{name="$tvar1",current="43970026"@}],
30042 memory=[@{address="0x0000000000602264",length="4"@},
30043 @{address="0x0000000000615bc0",length="4"@}]
30044(gdb)
30045@end smallexample
30046
30047Where:
30048
30049@table @code
30050@item explicit-variables
30051The set of objects that have been collected in their entirety (as
30052opposed to collecting just a few elements of an array or a few struct
30053members). For each object, its name and value are printed.
30054The @code{--var-print-values} option affects how or whether the value
30055field is output. If @var{var_pval} is 0, then print only the names;
30056if it is 1, print also their values; and if it is 2, print the name,
30057type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for
30058arrays, structures and unions.
30059
30060@item computed-expressions
30061The set of computed expressions that have been collected at the
30062current trace frame. The @code{--comp-print-values} option affects
30063this set like the @code{--var-print-values} option affects the
30064@code{explicit-variables} set. See above.
30065
30066@item registers
30067The registers that have been collected at the current trace frame.
30068For each register collected, the name and current value are returned.
30069The value is formatted according to the @code{--registers-format}
30070option. See the @command{-data-list-register-values} command for a
30071list of the allowed formats. The default is @samp{x}.
30072
30073@item tvars
30074The trace state variables that have been collected at the current
30075trace frame. For each trace state variable collected, the name and
30076current value are returned.
30077
30078@item memory
30079The set of memory ranges that have been collected at the current trace
30080frame. Its content is a list of tuples. Each tuple represents a
30081collected memory range and has the following fields:
30082
30083@table @code
30084@item address
30085The start address of the memory range, as hexadecimal literal.
30086
30087@item length
30088The length of the memory range, as decimal literal.
30089
30090@item contents
30091The contents of the memory block, in hex. This field is only present
30092if the @code{--memory-contents} option is specified.
30093
30094@end table
30095
30096@end table
30097
30098@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30099
30100There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
30101
30102@subsubheading Example
30103
30104@subheading -trace-list-variables
30105@findex -trace-list-variables
30106
30107@subsubheading Synopsis
30108
30109@smallexample
30110 -trace-list-variables
30111@end smallexample
30112
30113Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
30114table has the following fields:
30115
30116@table @samp
30117@item name
30118The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
30119
30120@item initial
30121The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
30122field is always present.
30123
30124@item current
30125The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
30126signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
30127not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
30128presently running.
30129
30130@end table
30131
30132@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30133
30134The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
30135
30136@subsubheading Example
30137
30138@smallexample
30139(gdb)
30140-trace-list-variables
30141^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
30142hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
30143 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
30144 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
30145body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
30146 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
30147(gdb)
30148@end smallexample
30149
30150@subheading -trace-save
30151@findex -trace-save
30152
30153@subsubheading Synopsis
30154
30155@smallexample
30156 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
30157@end smallexample
30158
30159Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
30160@samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
30161in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
30162to perform the save.
30163
30164@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30165
30166The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
30167
30168
30169@subheading -trace-start
30170@findex -trace-start
30171
30172@subsubheading Synopsis
30173
30174@smallexample
30175 -trace-start
30176@end smallexample
30177
30178Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
30179have any fields.
30180
30181@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30182
30183The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
30184
30185@subheading -trace-status
30186@findex -trace-status
30187
30188@subsubheading Synopsis
30189
30190@smallexample
30191 -trace-status
30192@end smallexample
30193
30194Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
30195the following fields:
30196
30197@table @samp
30198
30199@item supported
30200May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
30201supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
30202@samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
30203of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
30204started. This field is always present.
30205
30206@item running
30207May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
30208tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
30209if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
30210
30211@item stop-reason
30212Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
30213may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
30214value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
30215the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
30216the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
30217tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
30218The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
30219tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
30220This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
30221
30222@item stopping-tracepoint
30223The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
30224present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
30225@samp{passcount}.
30226
30227@item frames
30228@itemx frames-created
30229The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
30230in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
30231during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
30232circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
30233
30234@item buffer-size
30235@itemx buffer-free
30236These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
30237remaining space. These fields are optional.
30238
30239@item circular
30240The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
30241trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
30242necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
30243and may fill up.
30244
30245@item disconnected
30246The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
30247tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
30248that the trace run will stop.
30249
30250@item trace-file
30251The filename of the trace file being examined. This field is
30252optional, and only present when examining a trace file.
30253
30254@end table
30255
30256@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30257
30258The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
30259
30260@subheading -trace-stop
30261@findex -trace-stop
30262
30263@subsubheading Synopsis
30264
30265@smallexample
30266 -trace-stop
30267@end smallexample
30268
30269Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
30270fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
30271@samp{running} fields are not output.
30272
30273@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30274
30275The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
30276
30277
30278@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30279@node GDB/MI Symbol Query
30280@section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
30281
30282
30283@ignore
30284@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
30285@findex -symbol-info-address
30286
30287@subsubheading Synopsis
30288
30289@smallexample
30290 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
30291@end smallexample
30292
30293Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
30294
30295@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30296
30297The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
30298
30299@subsubheading Example
30300N.A.
30301
30302
30303@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
30304@findex -symbol-info-file
30305
30306@subsubheading Synopsis
30307
30308@smallexample
30309 -symbol-info-file
30310@end smallexample
30311
30312Show the file for the symbol.
30313
30314@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30315
30316There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
30317@samp{gdb_find_file}.
30318
30319@subsubheading Example
30320N.A.
30321
30322
30323@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
30324@findex -symbol-info-function
30325
30326@subsubheading Synopsis
30327
30328@smallexample
30329 -symbol-info-function
30330@end smallexample
30331
30332Show which function the symbol lives in.
30333
30334@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30335
30336@samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
30337
30338@subsubheading Example
30339N.A.
30340
30341
30342@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
30343@findex -symbol-info-line
30344
30345@subsubheading Synopsis
30346
30347@smallexample
30348 -symbol-info-line
30349@end smallexample
30350
30351Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
30352
30353@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30354
30355The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
30356@code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
30357
30358@subsubheading Example
30359N.A.
30360
30361
30362@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
30363@findex -symbol-info-symbol
30364
30365@subsubheading Synopsis
30366
30367@smallexample
30368 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
30369@end smallexample
30370
30371Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
30372
30373@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30374
30375The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
30376
30377@subsubheading Example
30378N.A.
30379
30380
30381@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
30382@findex -symbol-list-functions
30383
30384@subsubheading Synopsis
30385
30386@smallexample
30387 -symbol-list-functions
30388@end smallexample
30389
30390List the functions in the executable.
30391
30392@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30393
30394@samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
30395@samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
30396
30397@subsubheading Example
30398N.A.
30399@end ignore
30400
30401
30402@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
30403@findex -symbol-list-lines
30404
30405@subsubheading Synopsis
30406
30407@smallexample
30408 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
30409@end smallexample
30410
30411Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
30412addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
30413ascending PC order.
30414
30415@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30416
30417There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
30418
30419@subsubheading Example
30420@smallexample
30421(gdb)
30422-symbol-list-lines basics.c
30423^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
30424(gdb)
30425@end smallexample
30426
30427
30428@ignore
30429@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
30430@findex -symbol-list-types
30431
30432@subsubheading Synopsis
30433
30434@smallexample
30435 -symbol-list-types
30436@end smallexample
30437
30438List all the type names.
30439
30440@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30441
30442The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
30443@samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
30444
30445@subsubheading Example
30446N.A.
30447
30448
30449@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
30450@findex -symbol-list-variables
30451
30452@subsubheading Synopsis
30453
30454@smallexample
30455 -symbol-list-variables
30456@end smallexample
30457
30458List all the global and static variable names.
30459
30460@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30461
30462@samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
30463
30464@subsubheading Example
30465N.A.
30466
30467
30468@subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
30469@findex -symbol-locate
30470
30471@subsubheading Synopsis
30472
30473@smallexample
30474 -symbol-locate
30475@end smallexample
30476
30477@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30478
30479@samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
30480
30481@subsubheading Example
30482N.A.
30483
30484
30485@subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
30486@findex -symbol-type
30487
30488@subsubheading Synopsis
30489
30490@smallexample
30491 -symbol-type @var{variable}
30492@end smallexample
30493
30494Show type of @var{variable}.
30495
30496@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30497
30498The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
30499@samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
30500
30501@subsubheading Example
30502N.A.
30503@end ignore
30504
30505
30506@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30507@node GDB/MI File Commands
30508@section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
30509
30510This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
30511and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
30512
30513@subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
30514@findex -file-exec-and-symbols
30515
30516@subsubheading Synopsis
30517
30518@smallexample
30519 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
30520@end smallexample
30521
30522Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
30523which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
30524command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
30525are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
30526error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
30527notification.
30528
30529@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30530
30531The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
30532
30533@subsubheading Example
30534
30535@smallexample
30536(gdb)
30537-file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
30538^done
30539(gdb)
30540@end smallexample
30541
30542
30543@subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
30544@findex -file-exec-file
30545
30546@subsubheading Synopsis
30547
30548@smallexample
30549 -file-exec-file @var{file}
30550@end smallexample
30551
30552Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
30553@samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
30554from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
30555about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
30556notification.
30557
30558@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30559
30560The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
30561
30562@subsubheading Example
30563
30564@smallexample
30565(gdb)
30566-file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
30567^done
30568(gdb)
30569@end smallexample
30570
30571
30572@ignore
30573@subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
30574@findex -file-list-exec-sections
30575
30576@subsubheading Synopsis
30577
30578@smallexample
30579 -file-list-exec-sections
30580@end smallexample
30581
30582List the sections of the current executable file.
30583
30584@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30585
30586The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
30587information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
30588@samp{gdb_load_info}.
30589
30590@subsubheading Example
30591N.A.
30592@end ignore
30593
30594
30595@subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
30596@findex -file-list-exec-source-file
30597
30598@subsubheading Synopsis
30599
30600@smallexample
30601 -file-list-exec-source-file
30602@end smallexample
30603
30604List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
30605to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
30606information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
30607whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
30608
30609@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30610
30611The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
30612
30613@subsubheading Example
30614
30615@smallexample
30616(gdb)
30617123-file-list-exec-source-file
30618123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
30619(gdb)
30620@end smallexample
30621
30622
30623@subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
30624@findex -file-list-exec-source-files
30625
30626@subsubheading Synopsis
30627
30628@smallexample
30629 -file-list-exec-source-files
30630@end smallexample
30631
30632List the source files for the current executable.
30633
30634It will always output both the filename and fullname (absolute file
30635name) of a source file.
30636
30637@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30638
30639The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
30640@code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
30641
30642@subsubheading Example
30643@smallexample
30644(gdb)
30645-file-list-exec-source-files
30646^done,files=[
30647@{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
30648@{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
30649@{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
30650(gdb)
30651@end smallexample
30652
30653@ignore
30654@subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
30655@findex -file-list-shared-libraries
30656
30657@subsubheading Synopsis
30658
30659@smallexample
30660 -file-list-shared-libraries
30661@end smallexample
30662
30663List the shared libraries in the program.
30664
30665@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30666
30667The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
30668
30669@subsubheading Example
30670N.A.
30671
30672
30673@subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
30674@findex -file-list-symbol-files
30675
30676@subsubheading Synopsis
30677
30678@smallexample
30679 -file-list-symbol-files
30680@end smallexample
30681
30682List symbol files.
30683
30684@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30685
30686The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
30687
30688@subsubheading Example
30689N.A.
30690@end ignore
30691
30692
30693@subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
30694@findex -file-symbol-file
30695
30696@subsubheading Synopsis
30697
30698@smallexample
30699 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
30700@end smallexample
30701
30702Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
30703used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
30704produced, except for a completion notification.
30705
30706@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30707
30708The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
30709
30710@subsubheading Example
30711
30712@smallexample
30713(gdb)
30714-file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
30715^done
30716(gdb)
30717@end smallexample
30718
30719@ignore
30720@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30721@node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
30722@section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
30723
30724The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
30725
30726@c @subheading -overlay-auto
30727
30728@c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
30729
30730@c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
30731
30732@c @subheading -overlay-map
30733
30734@c @subheading -overlay-off
30735
30736@c @subheading -overlay-on
30737
30738@c @subheading -overlay-unmap
30739
30740@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30741@node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
30742@section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
30743
30744Signal handling commands are not implemented.
30745
30746@c @subheading -signal-handle
30747
30748@c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
30749
30750@c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
30751@end ignore
30752
30753
30754@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30755@node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
30756@section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
30757
30758
30759@subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
30760@findex -target-attach
30761
30762@subsubheading Synopsis
30763
30764@smallexample
30765 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
30766@end smallexample
30767
30768Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
30769@value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
30770group, the id previously returned by
30771@samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
30772
30773@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30774
30775The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
30776
30777@subsubheading Example
30778@smallexample
30779(gdb)
30780-target-attach 34
30781=thread-created,id="1"
30782*stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
30783^done
30784(gdb)
30785@end smallexample
30786
30787@ignore
30788@subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
30789@findex -target-compare-sections
30790
30791@subsubheading Synopsis
30792
30793@smallexample
30794 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
30795@end smallexample
30796
30797Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
30798Without the argument, all sections are compared.
30799
30800@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30801
30802The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
30803
30804@subsubheading Example
30805N.A.
30806@end ignore
30807
30808
30809@subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
30810@findex -target-detach
30811
30812@subsubheading Synopsis
30813
30814@smallexample
30815 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
30816@end smallexample
30817
30818Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
30819If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
30820the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
30821
30822@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30823
30824The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
30825
30826@subsubheading Example
30827
30828@smallexample
30829(gdb)
30830-target-detach
30831^done
30832(gdb)
30833@end smallexample
30834
30835
30836@subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
30837@findex -target-disconnect
30838
30839@subsubheading Synopsis
30840
30841@smallexample
30842 -target-disconnect
30843@end smallexample
30844
30845Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
30846generally not resumed.
30847
30848@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30849
30850The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
30851
30852@subsubheading Example
30853
30854@smallexample
30855(gdb)
30856-target-disconnect
30857^done
30858(gdb)
30859@end smallexample
30860
30861
30862@subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
30863@findex -target-download
30864
30865@subsubheading Synopsis
30866
30867@smallexample
30868 -target-download
30869@end smallexample
30870
30871Loads the executable onto the remote target.
30872It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
30873
30874@table @samp
30875@item section
30876The name of the section.
30877@item section-sent
30878The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
30879@item section-size
30880The size of the section.
30881@item total-sent
30882The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
30883@item total-size
30884The size of the overall executable to download.
30885@end table
30886
30887@noindent
30888Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
30889@sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
30890
30891In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
30892downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
30893
30894@table @samp
30895@item section
30896The name of the section.
30897@item section-size
30898The size of the section.
30899@item total-size
30900The size of the overall executable to download.
30901@end table
30902
30903@noindent
30904At the end, a summary is printed.
30905
30906@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30907
30908The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
30909
30910@subsubheading Example
30911
30912Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
30913have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
30914
30915@smallexample
30916(gdb)
30917-target-download
30918+download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
30919+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
30920total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
30921+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
30922total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
30923+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
30924total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
30925+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
30926total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
30927+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
30928total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
30929+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
30930total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
30931+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
30932total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
30933+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
30934total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
30935+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
30936total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
30937+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
30938total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
30939+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
30940total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
30941+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
30942total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
30943+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
30944total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
30945+download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
30946+download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
30947+download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
30948+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
30949total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
30950+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
30951total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
30952+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
30953total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
30954+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
30955total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
30956+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
30957total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
30958+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
30959total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
30960^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
30961write-rate="429"
30962(gdb)
30963@end smallexample
30964
30965
30966@ignore
30967@subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
30968@findex -target-exec-status
30969
30970@subsubheading Synopsis
30971
30972@smallexample
30973 -target-exec-status
30974@end smallexample
30975
30976Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
30977not, for instance).
30978
30979@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30980
30981There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
30982
30983@subsubheading Example
30984N.A.
30985
30986
30987@subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
30988@findex -target-list-available-targets
30989
30990@subsubheading Synopsis
30991
30992@smallexample
30993 -target-list-available-targets
30994@end smallexample
30995
30996List the possible targets to connect to.
30997
30998@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30999
31000The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
31001
31002@subsubheading Example
31003N.A.
31004
31005
31006@subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
31007@findex -target-list-current-targets
31008
31009@subsubheading Synopsis
31010
31011@smallexample
31012 -target-list-current-targets
31013@end smallexample
31014
31015Describe the current target.
31016
31017@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31018
31019The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
31020other things).
31021
31022@subsubheading Example
31023N.A.
31024
31025
31026@subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
31027@findex -target-list-parameters
31028
31029@subsubheading Synopsis
31030
31031@smallexample
31032 -target-list-parameters
31033@end smallexample
31034
31035@c ????
31036@end ignore
31037
31038@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31039
31040No equivalent.
31041
31042@subsubheading Example
31043N.A.
31044
31045
31046@subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
31047@findex -target-select
31048
31049@subsubheading Synopsis
31050
31051@smallexample
31052 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
31053@end smallexample
31054
31055Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
31056
31057@table @samp
31058@item @var{type}
31059The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
31060@item @var{parameters}
31061Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
31062Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
31063@end table
31064
31065The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
31066which the target program is, in the following form:
31067
31068@smallexample
31069^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
31070 args=[@var{arg list}]
31071@end smallexample
31072
31073@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31074
31075The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
31076
31077@subsubheading Example
31078
31079@smallexample
31080(gdb)
31081-target-select remote /dev/ttya
31082^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
31083(gdb)
31084@end smallexample
31085
31086@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31087@node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
31088@section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
31089
31090
31091@subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
31092@findex -target-file-put
31093
31094@subsubheading Synopsis
31095
31096@smallexample
31097 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
31098@end smallexample
31099
31100Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
31101@value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
31102
31103@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31104
31105The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
31106
31107@subsubheading Example
31108
31109@smallexample
31110(gdb)
31111-target-file-put localfile remotefile
31112^done
31113(gdb)
31114@end smallexample
31115
31116
31117@subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
31118@findex -target-file-get
31119
31120@subsubheading Synopsis
31121
31122@smallexample
31123 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
31124@end smallexample
31125
31126Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
31127on the host system.
31128
31129@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31130
31131The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
31132
31133@subsubheading Example
31134
31135@smallexample
31136(gdb)
31137-target-file-get remotefile localfile
31138^done
31139(gdb)
31140@end smallexample
31141
31142
31143@subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
31144@findex -target-file-delete
31145
31146@subsubheading Synopsis
31147
31148@smallexample
31149 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
31150@end smallexample
31151
31152Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
31153
31154@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31155
31156The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
31157
31158@subsubheading Example
31159
31160@smallexample
31161(gdb)
31162-target-file-delete remotefile
31163^done
31164(gdb)
31165@end smallexample
31166
31167
31168@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31169@node GDB/MI Ada Exceptions Commands
31170@section Ada Exceptions @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
31171
31172@subheading The @code{-info-ada-exceptions} Command
31173@findex -info-ada-exceptions
31174
31175@subsubheading Synopsis
31176
31177@smallexample
31178 -info-ada-exceptions [ @var{regexp}]
31179@end smallexample
31180
31181List all Ada exceptions defined within the program being debugged.
31182With a regular expression @var{regexp}, only those exceptions whose
31183names match @var{regexp} are listed.
31184
31185@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31186
31187The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info exceptions}.
31188
31189@subsubheading Result
31190
31191The result is a table of Ada exceptions. The following columns are
31192defined for each exception:
31193
31194@table @samp
31195@item name
31196The name of the exception.
31197
31198@item address
31199The address of the exception.
31200
31201@end table
31202
31203@subsubheading Example
31204
31205@smallexample
31206-info-ada-exceptions aint
31207^done,ada-exceptions=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="2",
31208hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
31209@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="address",colhdr="Address"@}],
31210body=[@{name="constraint_error",address="0x0000000000613da0"@},
31211@{name="const.aint_global_e",address="0x0000000000613b00"@}]@}
31212@end smallexample
31213
31214@subheading Catching Ada Exceptions
31215
31216The commands describing how to ask @value{GDBN} to stop when a program
31217raises an exception are described at @ref{Ada Exception GDB/MI
31218Catchpoint Commands}.
31219
31220
31221@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31222@node GDB/MI Support Commands
31223@section @sc{gdb/mi} Support Commands
31224
31225Since new commands and features get regularly added to @sc{gdb/mi},
31226some commands are available to help front-ends query the debugger
31227about support for these capabilities. Similarly, it is also possible
31228to query @value{GDBN} about target support of certain features.
31229
31230@subheading The @code{-info-gdb-mi-command} Command
31231@cindex @code{-info-gdb-mi-command}
31232@findex -info-gdb-mi-command
31233
31234@subsubheading Synopsis
31235
31236@smallexample
31237 -info-gdb-mi-command @var{cmd_name}
31238@end smallexample
31239
31240Query support for the @sc{gdb/mi} command named @var{cmd_name}.
31241
31242Note that the dash (@code{-}) starting all @sc{gdb/mi} commands
31243is technically not part of the command name (@pxref{GDB/MI Input
31244Syntax}), and thus should be omitted in @var{cmd_name}. However,
31245for ease of use, this command also accepts the form with the leading
31246dash.
31247
31248@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31249
31250There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
31251
31252@subsubheading Result
31253
31254The result is a tuple. There is currently only one field:
31255
31256@table @samp
31257@item exists
31258This field is equal to @code{"true"} if the @sc{gdb/mi} command exists,
31259@code{"false"} otherwise.
31260
31261@end table
31262
31263@subsubheading Example
31264
31265Here is an example where the @sc{gdb/mi} command does not exist:
31266
31267@smallexample
31268-info-gdb-mi-command unsupported-command
31269^done,command=@{exists="false"@}
31270@end smallexample
31271
31272@noindent
31273And here is an example where the @sc{gdb/mi} command is known
31274to the debugger:
31275
31276@smallexample
31277-info-gdb-mi-command symbol-list-lines
31278^done,command=@{exists="true"@}
31279@end smallexample
31280
31281@subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
31282@findex -list-features
31283@cindex supported @sc{gdb/mi} features, list
31284
31285Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
31286this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
31287or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
31288important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
31289of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
31290startup.
31291
31292The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
31293available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
31294have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
31295is given below.
31296
31297Example output:
31298
31299@smallexample
31300(gdb) -list-features
31301^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
31302@end smallexample
31303
31304The current list of features is:
31305
31306@ftable @samp
31307@item frozen-varobjs
31308Indicates support for the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
31309as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
31310of @code{-varobj-create}.
31311@item pending-breakpoints
31312Indicates support for the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert}
31313command.
31314@item python
31315Indicates Python scripting support, Python-based
31316pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
31317@samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
31318@item thread-info
31319Indicates support for the @code{-thread-info} command.
31320@item data-read-memory-bytes
31321Indicates support for the @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} and the
31322@code{-data-write-memory-bytes} commands.
31323@item breakpoint-notifications
31324Indicates that changes to breakpoints and breakpoints created via the
31325CLI will be announced via async records.
31326@item ada-task-info
31327Indicates support for the @code{-ada-task-info} command.
31328@item language-option
31329Indicates that all @sc{gdb/mi} commands accept the @option{--language}
31330option (@pxref{Context management}).
31331@item info-gdb-mi-command
31332Indicates support for the @code{-info-gdb-mi-command} command.
31333@item undefined-command-error-code
31334Indicates support for the "undefined-command" error code in error result
31335records, produced when trying to execute an undefined @sc{gdb/mi} command
31336(@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}).
31337@item exec-run-start-option
31338Indicates that the @code{-exec-run} command supports the @option{--start}
31339option (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}).
31340@end ftable
31341
31342@subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
31343@findex -list-target-features
31344
31345Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
31346target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
31347unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
31348features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
31349a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
31350@code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
31351may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
31352Example output:
31353
31354@smallexample
31355(gdb) -list-target-features
31356^done,result=["async"]
31357@end smallexample
31358
31359The current list of features is:
31360
31361@table @samp
31362@item async
31363Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
31364execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
31365while the target is running.
31366
31367@item reverse
31368Indicates that the target is capable of reverse execution.
31369@xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
31370
31371@end table
31372
31373@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31374@node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
31375@section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
31376
31377@c @subheading -gdb-complete
31378
31379@subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
31380@findex -gdb-exit
31381
31382@subsubheading Synopsis
31383
31384@smallexample
31385 -gdb-exit
31386@end smallexample
31387
31388Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
31389
31390@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31391
31392Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
31393
31394@subsubheading Example
31395
31396@smallexample
31397(gdb)
31398-gdb-exit
31399^exit
31400@end smallexample
31401
31402
31403@ignore
31404@subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
31405@findex -exec-abort
31406
31407@subsubheading Synopsis
31408
31409@smallexample
31410 -exec-abort
31411@end smallexample
31412
31413Kill the inferior running program.
31414
31415@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31416
31417The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
31418
31419@subsubheading Example
31420N.A.
31421@end ignore
31422
31423
31424@subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
31425@findex -gdb-set
31426
31427@subsubheading Synopsis
31428
31429@smallexample
31430 -gdb-set
31431@end smallexample
31432
31433Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
31434@c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
31435
31436@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31437
31438The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
31439
31440@subsubheading Example
31441
31442@smallexample
31443(gdb)
31444-gdb-set $foo=3
31445^done
31446(gdb)
31447@end smallexample
31448
31449
31450@subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
31451@findex -gdb-show
31452
31453@subsubheading Synopsis
31454
31455@smallexample
31456 -gdb-show
31457@end smallexample
31458
31459Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
31460
31461@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31462
31463The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
31464
31465@subsubheading Example
31466
31467@smallexample
31468(gdb)
31469-gdb-show annotate
31470^done,value="0"
31471(gdb)
31472@end smallexample
31473
31474@c @subheading -gdb-source
31475
31476
31477@subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
31478@findex -gdb-version
31479
31480@subsubheading Synopsis
31481
31482@smallexample
31483 -gdb-version
31484@end smallexample
31485
31486Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
31487
31488@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31489
31490The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
31491default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
31492
31493@subsubheading Example
31494
31495@c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
31496@c box in TeX.
31497@smallexample
31498(gdb)
31499-gdb-version
31500~GNU gdb 5.2.1
31501~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
31502~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
31503~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
31504~ certain conditions.
31505~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
31506~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
31507~ details.
31508~This GDB was configured as
31509 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
31510^done
31511(gdb)
31512@end smallexample
31513
31514@subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
31515@findex -list-thread-groups
31516
31517@subheading Synopsis
31518
31519@smallexample
31520-list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
31521@end smallexample
31522
31523Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
31524group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
31525When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
31526thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
31527top-level thread groups.
31528
31529Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
31530With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
31531available on the target.
31532
31533The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
31534a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
31535as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
31536Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
31537each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
31538requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
31539are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
31540of the @samp{group} result is described below.
31541
31542To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
31543together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
31544and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
31545permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
31546will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
31547@samp{threads} field.
31548
31549In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
31550the following caveats:
31551
31552@itemize @bullet
31553@item
31554When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
31555be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
31556anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
31557
31558@item
31559When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
31560be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
31561be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
31562not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
31563The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
31564is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
31565
31566@end itemize
31567
31568The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
31569have the following fields:
31570
31571@table @code
31572@item id
31573Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
31574The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
31575convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
31576
31577@item type
31578The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
31579valid type.
31580
31581@item pid
31582The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
31583for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
31584
31585@item exit-code
31586The exit code of this group's last exited thread, formatted in octal.
31587This field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process} and
31588only if the process is not running.
31589
31590@item num_children
31591The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
31592absent for an available thread group.
31593
31594@item threads
31595This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
31596thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
31597specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
31598
31599@item cores
31600This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
31601thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
31602such information is not available.
31603
31604@item executable
31605The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
31606The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
31607and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
31608
31609@end table
31610
31611@subheading Example
31612
31613@smallexample
31614@value{GDBP}
31615-list-thread-groups
31616^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
31617-list-thread-groups 17
31618^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
31619 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
31620@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
31621 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
31622 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
31623-list-thread-groups --available
31624^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
31625-list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
31626 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
31627 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
31628 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
31629-list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
31630^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
31631 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
31632 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
31633@end smallexample
31634
31635@subheading The @code{-info-os} Command
31636@findex -info-os
31637
31638@subsubheading Synopsis
31639
31640@smallexample
31641-info-os [ @var{type} ]
31642@end smallexample
31643
31644If no argument is supplied, the command returns a table of available
31645operating-system-specific information types. If one of these types is
31646supplied as an argument @var{type}, then the command returns a table
31647of data of that type.
31648
31649The types of information available depend on the target operating
31650system.
31651
31652@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31653
31654The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info os}.
31655
31656@subsubheading Example
31657
31658When run on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, the output will look something
31659like this:
31660
31661@smallexample
31662@value{GDBP}
31663-info-os
31664^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="9",nr_cols="3",
31665hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="Type"@},
31666 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="Description"@},
31667 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="Title"@}],
31668body=[item=@{col0="processes",col1="Listing of all processes",
31669 col2="Processes"@},
31670 item=@{col0="procgroups",col1="Listing of all process groups",
31671 col2="Process groups"@},
31672 item=@{col0="threads",col1="Listing of all threads",
31673 col2="Threads"@},
31674 item=@{col0="files",col1="Listing of all file descriptors",
31675 col2="File descriptors"@},
31676 item=@{col0="sockets",col1="Listing of all internet-domain sockets",
31677 col2="Sockets"@},
31678 item=@{col0="shm",col1="Listing of all shared-memory regions",
31679 col2="Shared-memory regions"@},
31680 item=@{col0="semaphores",col1="Listing of all semaphores",
31681 col2="Semaphores"@},
31682 item=@{col0="msg",col1="Listing of all message queues",
31683 col2="Message queues"@},
31684 item=@{col0="modules",col1="Listing of all loaded kernel modules",
31685 col2="Kernel modules"@}]@}
31686@value{GDBP}
31687-info-os processes
31688^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="190",nr_cols="4",
31689hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="pid"@},
31690 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="user"@},
31691 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="command"@},
31692 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col3",colhdr="cores"@}],
31693body=[item=@{col0="1",col1="root",col2="/sbin/init",col3="0"@},
31694 item=@{col0="2",col1="root",col2="[kthreadd]",col3="1"@},
31695 item=@{col0="3",col1="root",col2="[ksoftirqd/0]",col3="0"@},
31696 ...
31697 item=@{col0="26446",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="0"@},
31698 item=@{col0="28152",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="1"@}]@}
31699(gdb)
31700@end smallexample
31701
31702(Note that the MI output here includes a @code{"Title"} column that
31703does not appear in command-line @code{info os}; this column is useful
31704for MI clients that want to enumerate the types of data, such as in a
31705popup menu, but is needless clutter on the command line, and
31706@code{info os} omits it.)
31707
31708@subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
31709@findex -add-inferior
31710
31711@subheading Synopsis
31712
31713@smallexample
31714-add-inferior
31715@end smallexample
31716
31717Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
31718inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
31719be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
31720(@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
31721field, @samp{inferior}, whose value is the identifier of the
31722thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
31723
31724@subheading Example
31725
31726@smallexample
31727@value{GDBP}
31728-add-inferior
31729^done,inferior="i3"
31730@end smallexample
31731
31732@subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
31733@findex -interpreter-exec
31734
31735@subheading Synopsis
31736
31737@smallexample
31738-interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
31739@end smallexample
31740@anchor{-interpreter-exec}
31741
31742Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
31743
31744@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
31745
31746The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
31747
31748@subheading Example
31749
31750@smallexample
31751(gdb)
31752-interpreter-exec console "break main"
31753&"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
31754&"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
31755~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
31756^done
31757(gdb)
31758@end smallexample
31759
31760@subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
31761@findex -inferior-tty-set
31762
31763@subheading Synopsis
31764
31765@smallexample
31766-inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
31767@end smallexample
31768
31769Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
31770
31771@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
31772
31773The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
31774
31775@subheading Example
31776
31777@smallexample
31778(gdb)
31779-inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
31780^done
31781(gdb)
31782@end smallexample
31783
31784@subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
31785@findex -inferior-tty-show
31786
31787@subheading Synopsis
31788
31789@smallexample
31790-inferior-tty-show
31791@end smallexample
31792
31793Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
31794
31795@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
31796
31797The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
31798
31799@subheading Example
31800
31801@smallexample
31802(gdb)
31803-inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
31804^done
31805(gdb)
31806-inferior-tty-show
31807^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
31808(gdb)
31809@end smallexample
31810
31811@subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
31812@findex -enable-timings
31813
31814@subheading Synopsis
31815
31816@smallexample
31817-enable-timings [yes | no]
31818@end smallexample
31819
31820Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
31821command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
31822developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
31823equivalent to @samp{yes}.
31824
31825@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
31826
31827No equivalent.
31828
31829@subheading Example
31830
31831@smallexample
31832(gdb)
31833-enable-timings
31834^done
31835(gdb)
31836-break-insert main
31837^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
31838addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
31839fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",thread-groups=["i1"],
31840times="0"@},
31841time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
31842(gdb)
31843-enable-timings no
31844^done
31845(gdb)
31846-exec-run
31847^running
31848(gdb)
31849*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
31850frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
31851@{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
31852fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
31853(gdb)
31854@end smallexample
31855
31856@node Annotations
31857@chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
31858
31859This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
31860designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
31861similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
31862relatively high level.
31863
31864The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
31865(@pxref{GDB/MI}).
31866
31867@ignore
31868This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
31869@end ignore
31870
31871@menu
31872* Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
31873* Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
31874* Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
31875* Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
31876* Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
31877* Annotations for Running::
31878 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
31879* Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
31880@end menu
31881
31882@node Annotations Overview
31883@section What is an Annotation?
31884@cindex annotations
31885
31886Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
31887characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
31888information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
31889is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
31890information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
31891additional information, and a newline. The additional information
31892cannot contain newline characters.
31893
31894Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
31895characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
31896no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
31897@samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
31898annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
31899means those three characters as output.
31900
31901The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
31902@option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
31903how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
31904values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
31905is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
31906subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
31907for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
31908been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
31909Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
31910
31911@table @code
31912@kindex set annotate
31913@item set annotate @var{level}
31914The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
31915annotations to the specified @var{level}.
31916
31917@item show annotate
31918@kindex show annotate
31919Show the current annotation level.
31920@end table
31921
31922This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
31923
31924A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
31925
31926@smallexample
31927$ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
31928GNU gdb 6.0
31929Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
31930GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
31931and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
31932under certain conditions.
31933Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
31934There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
31935for details.
31936This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
31937
31938^Z^Zpre-prompt
31939(@value{GDBP})
31940^Z^Zprompt
31941@kbd{quit}
31942
31943^Z^Zpost-prompt
31944$
31945@end smallexample
31946
31947Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
31948@value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
31949denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
31950output from @value{GDBN}.
31951
31952@node Server Prefix
31953@section The Server Prefix
31954@cindex server prefix
31955
31956If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
31957the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
31958command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
31959means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
31960a transparent manner.
31961
31962The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
31963the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
31964value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
31965@code{print} command.
31966
31967Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
31968(@pxref{confirmation requests}).
31969
31970@node Prompting
31971@section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
31972
31973@cindex annotations for prompts
31974When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
31975to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
31976over, etc.
31977
31978Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
31979input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
31980denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
31981annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
31982annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
31983associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
31984features the following annotations:
31985
31986@smallexample
31987^Z^Zpre-prompt
31988^Z^Zprompt
31989^Z^Zpost-prompt
31990@end smallexample
31991
31992The input types are
31993
31994@table @code
31995@findex pre-prompt annotation
31996@findex prompt annotation
31997@findex post-prompt annotation
31998@item prompt
31999When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
32000
32001@findex pre-commands annotation
32002@findex commands annotation
32003@findex post-commands annotation
32004@item commands
32005When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
32006command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
32007
32008@findex pre-overload-choice annotation
32009@findex overload-choice annotation
32010@findex post-overload-choice annotation
32011@item overload-choice
32012When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
32013
32014@findex pre-query annotation
32015@findex query annotation
32016@findex post-query annotation
32017@item query
32018When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
32019
32020@findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
32021@findex prompt-for-continue annotation
32022@findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
32023@item prompt-for-continue
32024When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
32025expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
32026prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
32027presence of annotations.
32028@end table
32029
32030@node Errors
32031@section Errors
32032@cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
32033
32034@findex quit annotation
32035@smallexample
32036^Z^Zquit
32037@end smallexample
32038
32039This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
32040
32041@findex error annotation
32042@smallexample
32043^Z^Zerror
32044@end smallexample
32045
32046This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
32047
32048Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
32049in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
32050@code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
32051cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
32052cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
32053does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
32054to the top level.
32055
32056@findex error-begin annotation
32057A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
32058
32059@smallexample
32060^Z^Zerror-begin
32061@end smallexample
32062
32063Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
32064message.
32065
32066Warning messages are not yet annotated.
32067@c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
32068@c range_error(), and possibly other places.
32069
32070@node Invalidation
32071@section Invalidation Notices
32072
32073@cindex annotations for invalidation messages
32074The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
32075changed.
32076
32077@table @code
32078@findex frames-invalid annotation
32079@item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
32080
32081The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
32082have changed.
32083
32084@findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
32085@item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
32086
32087The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
32088deleted a breakpoint.
32089@end table
32090
32091@node Annotations for Running
32092@section Running the Program
32093@cindex annotations for running programs
32094
32095@findex starting annotation
32096@findex stopping annotation
32097When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
32098@code{step} or @code{continue},
32099
32100@smallexample
32101^Z^Zstarting
32102@end smallexample
32103
32104is output. When the program stops,
32105
32106@smallexample
32107^Z^Zstopped
32108@end smallexample
32109
32110is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
32111annotations describe how the program stopped.
32112
32113@table @code
32114@findex exited annotation
32115@item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
32116The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
32117successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
32118
32119@findex signalled annotation
32120@findex signal-name annotation
32121@findex signal-name-end annotation
32122@findex signal-string annotation
32123@findex signal-string-end annotation
32124@item ^Z^Zsignalled
32125The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
32126annotation continues:
32127
32128@smallexample
32129@var{intro-text}
32130^Z^Zsignal-name
32131@var{name}
32132^Z^Zsignal-name-end
32133@var{middle-text}
32134^Z^Zsignal-string
32135@var{string}
32136^Z^Zsignal-string-end
32137@var{end-text}
32138@end smallexample
32139
32140@noindent
32141where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
32142@code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
32143as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}. The arguments
32144@var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
32145user's benefit and have no particular format.
32146
32147@findex signal annotation
32148@item ^Z^Zsignal
32149The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
32150just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
32151terminated with it.
32152
32153@findex breakpoint annotation
32154@item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
32155The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
32156
32157@findex watchpoint annotation
32158@item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
32159The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
32160@end table
32161
32162@node Source Annotations
32163@section Displaying Source
32164@cindex annotations for source display
32165
32166@findex source annotation
32167The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
32168
32169@smallexample
32170^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
32171@end smallexample
32172
32173where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
32174file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
32175first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
32176within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
32177debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
32178@var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
32179line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
32180@var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
32181source which is being displayed. The @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
32182followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
32183depend on the language).
32184
32185@node JIT Interface
32186@chapter JIT Compilation Interface
32187@cindex just-in-time compilation
32188@cindex JIT compilation interface
32189
32190This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
32191interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
32192executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
32193performance while maintaining platform independence.
32194
32195Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
32196portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
32197object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
32198and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
32199@value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
32200symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
32201
32202If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
32203it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
32204you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
32205of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
32206LLVM JIT.
32207
32208Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
32209JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
32210variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
32211attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
32212find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
32213out about additional code.
32214
32215@menu
32216* Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
32217* Registering Code:: Steps to register code
32218* Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
32219* Custom Debug Info:: Emit debug information in a custom format
32220@end menu
32221
32222@node Declarations
32223@section JIT Declarations
32224
32225These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
32226implement the interface:
32227
32228@smallexample
32229typedef enum
32230@{
32231 JIT_NOACTION = 0,
32232 JIT_REGISTER_FN,
32233 JIT_UNREGISTER_FN
32234@} jit_actions_t;
32235
32236struct jit_code_entry
32237@{
32238 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
32239 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
32240 const char *symfile_addr;
32241 uint64_t symfile_size;
32242@};
32243
32244struct jit_descriptor
32245@{
32246 uint32_t version;
32247 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
32248 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
32249 uint32_t action_flag;
32250 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
32251 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
32252@};
32253
32254/* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
32255void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
32256
32257/* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
32258 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
32259struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
32260@end smallexample
32261
32262If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
32263modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
32264a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
32265
32266@node Registering Code
32267@section Registering Code
32268
32269To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
32270
32271@itemize @bullet
32272@item
32273Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
32274information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
32275
32276@item
32277Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
32278file.
32279
32280@item
32281Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
32282
32283@item
32284Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
32285
32286@item
32287Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
32288@code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
32289@end itemize
32290
32291When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
32292@code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
32293new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
32294@value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
32295
32296@node Unregistering Code
32297@section Unregistering Code
32298
32299If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
32300
32301@itemize @bullet
32302@item
32303Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
32304
32305@item
32306Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
32307
32308@item
32309Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
32310@code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
32311@end itemize
32312
32313If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
32314and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
32315
32316@node Custom Debug Info
32317@section Custom Debug Info
32318@cindex custom JIT debug info
32319@cindex JIT debug info reader
32320
32321Generating debug information in platform-native file formats (like ELF
32322or COFF) may be an overkill for JIT compilers; especially if all the
32323debug info is used for is displaying a meaningful backtrace. The
32324issue can be resolved by having the JIT writers decide on a debug info
32325format and also provide a reader that parses the debug info generated
32326by the JIT compiler. This section gives a brief overview on writing
32327such a parser. More specific details can be found in the source file
32328@file{gdb/jit-reader.in}, which is also installed as a header at
32329@file{@var{includedir}/gdb/jit-reader.h} for easy inclusion.
32330
32331The reader is implemented as a shared object (so this functionality is
32332not available on platforms which don't allow loading shared objects at
32333runtime). Two @value{GDBN} commands, @code{jit-reader-load} and
32334@code{jit-reader-unload} are provided, to be used to load and unload
32335the readers from a preconfigured directory. Once loaded, the shared
32336object is used the parse the debug information emitted by the JIT
32337compiler.
32338
32339@menu
32340* Using JIT Debug Info Readers:: How to use supplied readers correctly
32341* Writing JIT Debug Info Readers:: Creating a debug-info reader
32342@end menu
32343
32344@node Using JIT Debug Info Readers
32345@subsection Using JIT Debug Info Readers
32346@kindex jit-reader-load
32347@kindex jit-reader-unload
32348
32349Readers can be loaded and unloaded using the @code{jit-reader-load}
32350and @code{jit-reader-unload} commands.
32351
32352@table @code
32353@item jit-reader-load @var{reader}
32354Load the JIT reader named @var{reader}, which is a shared
32355object specified as either an absolute or a relative file name. In
32356the latter case, @value{GDBN} will try to load the reader from a
32357pre-configured directory, usually @file{@var{libdir}/gdb/} on a UNIX
32358system (here @var{libdir} is the system library directory, often
32359@file{/usr/local/lib}).
32360
32361Only one reader can be active at a time; trying to load a second
32362reader when one is already loaded will result in @value{GDBN}
32363reporting an error. A new JIT reader can be loaded by first unloading
32364the current one using @code{jit-reader-unload} and then invoking
32365@code{jit-reader-load}.
32366
32367@item jit-reader-unload
32368Unload the currently loaded JIT reader.
32369
32370@end table
32371
32372@node Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
32373@subsection Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
32374@cindex writing JIT debug info readers
32375
32376As mentioned, a reader is essentially a shared object conforming to a
32377certain ABI. This ABI is described in @file{jit-reader.h}.
32378
32379@file{jit-reader.h} defines the structures, macros and functions
32380required to write a reader. It is installed (along with
32381@value{GDBN}), in @file{@var{includedir}/gdb} where @var{includedir} is
32382the system include directory.
32383
32384Readers need to be released under a GPL compatible license. A reader
32385can be declared as released under such a license by placing the macro
32386@code{GDB_DECLARE_GPL_COMPATIBLE_READER} in a source file.
32387
32388The entry point for readers is the symbol @code{gdb_init_reader},
32389which is expected to be a function with the prototype
32390
32391@findex gdb_init_reader
32392@smallexample
32393extern struct gdb_reader_funcs *gdb_init_reader (void);
32394@end smallexample
32395
32396@cindex @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs}
32397
32398@code{struct gdb_reader_funcs} contains a set of pointers to callback
32399functions. These functions are executed to read the debug info
32400generated by the JIT compiler (@code{read}), to unwind stack frames
32401(@code{unwind}) and to create canonical frame IDs
32402(@code{get_Frame_id}). It also has a callback that is called when the
32403reader is being unloaded (@code{destroy}). The struct looks like this
32404
32405@smallexample
32406struct gdb_reader_funcs
32407@{
32408 /* Must be set to GDB_READER_INTERFACE_VERSION. */
32409 int reader_version;
32410
32411 /* For use by the reader. */
32412 void *priv_data;
32413
32414 gdb_read_debug_info *read;
32415 gdb_unwind_frame *unwind;
32416 gdb_get_frame_id *get_frame_id;
32417 gdb_destroy_reader *destroy;
32418@};
32419@end smallexample
32420
32421@cindex @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks}
32422@cindex @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}
32423
32424The callbacks are provided with another set of callbacks by
32425@value{GDBN} to do their job. For @code{read}, these callbacks are
32426passed in a @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} and for @code{unwind}
32427and @code{get_frame_id}, in a @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}.
32428@code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} has callbacks to create new object
32429files and new symbol tables inside those object files. @code{struct
32430gdb_unwind_callbacks} has callbacks to read registers off the current
32431frame and to write out the values of the registers in the previous
32432frame. Both have a callback (@code{target_read}) to read bytes off the
32433target's address space.
32434
32435@node In-Process Agent
32436@chapter In-Process Agent
32437@cindex debugging agent
32438The traditional debugging model is conceptually low-speed, but works fine,
32439because most bugs can be reproduced in debugging-mode execution. However,
32440as multi-core or many-core processors are becoming mainstream, and
32441multi-threaded programs become more and more popular, there should be more
32442and more bugs that only manifest themselves at normal-mode execution, for
32443example, thread races, because debugger's interference with the program's
32444timing may conceal the bugs. On the other hand, in some applications,
32445it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt the program's execution
32446long enough for the developer to learn anything helpful about its behavior.
32447If the program's correctness depends on its real-time behavior, delays
32448introduced by a debugger might cause the program to fail, even when the
32449code itself is correct. It is useful to be able to observe the program's
32450behavior without interrupting it.
32451
32452Therefore, traditional debugging model is too intrusive to reproduce
32453some bugs. In order to reduce the interference with the program, we can
32454reduce the number of operations performed by debugger. The
32455@dfn{In-Process Agent}, a shared library, is running within the same
32456process with inferior, and is able to perform some debugging operations
32457itself. As a result, debugger is only involved when necessary, and
32458performance of debugging can be improved accordingly. Note that
32459interference with program can be reduced but can't be removed completely,
32460because the in-process agent will still stop or slow down the program.
32461
32462The in-process agent can interpret and execute Agent Expressions
32463(@pxref{Agent Expressions}) during performing debugging operations. The
32464agent expressions can be used for different purposes, such as collecting
32465data in tracepoints, and condition evaluation in breakpoints.
32466
32467@anchor{Control Agent}
32468You can control whether the in-process agent is used as an aid for
32469debugging with the following commands:
32470
32471@table @code
32472@kindex set agent on
32473@item set agent on
32474Causes the in-process agent to perform some operations on behalf of the
32475debugger. Just which operations requested by the user will be done
32476by the in-process agent depends on the its capabilities. For example,
32477if you request to evaluate breakpoint conditions in the in-process agent,
32478and the in-process agent has such capability as well, then breakpoint
32479conditions will be evaluated in the in-process agent.
32480
32481@kindex set agent off
32482@item set agent off
32483Disables execution of debugging operations by the in-process agent. All
32484of the operations will be performed by @value{GDBN}.
32485
32486@kindex show agent
32487@item show agent
32488Display the current setting of execution of debugging operations by
32489the in-process agent.
32490@end table
32491
32492@menu
32493* In-Process Agent Protocol::
32494@end menu
32495
32496@node In-Process Agent Protocol
32497@section In-Process Agent Protocol
32498@cindex in-process agent protocol
32499
32500The in-process agent is able to communicate with both @value{GDBN} and
32501GDBserver (@pxref{In-Process Agent}). This section documents the protocol
32502used for communications between @value{GDBN} or GDBserver and the IPA.
32503In general, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver sends commands
32504(@pxref{IPA Protocol Commands}) and data to in-process agent, and then
32505in-process agent replies back with the return result of the command, or
32506some other information. The data sent to in-process agent is composed
32507of primitive data types, such as 4-byte or 8-byte type, and composite
32508types, which are called objects (@pxref{IPA Protocol Objects}).
32509
32510@menu
32511* IPA Protocol Objects::
32512* IPA Protocol Commands::
32513@end menu
32514
32515@node IPA Protocol Objects
32516@subsection IPA Protocol Objects
32517@cindex ipa protocol objects
32518
32519The commands sent to and results received from agent may contain some
32520complex data types called @dfn{objects}.
32521
32522The in-process agent is running on the same machine with @value{GDBN}
32523or GDBserver, so it doesn't have to handle as much differences between
32524two ends as remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}) tries to handle.
32525However, there are still some differences of two ends in two processes:
32526
32527@enumerate
32528@item
32529word size. On some 64-bit machines, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver can be
32530compiled as a 64-bit executable, while in-process agent is a 32-bit one.
32531@item
32532ABI. Some machines may have multiple types of ABI, @value{GDBN} or
32533GDBserver is compiled with one, and in-process agent is compiled with
32534the other one.
32535@end enumerate
32536
32537Here are the IPA Protocol Objects:
32538
32539@enumerate
32540@item
32541agent expression object. It represents an agent expression
32542(@pxref{Agent Expressions}).
32543@anchor{agent expression object}
32544@item
32545tracepoint action object. It represents a tracepoint action
32546(@pxref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}) to collect registers,
32547memory, static trace data and to evaluate expression.
32548@anchor{tracepoint action object}
32549@item
32550tracepoint object. It represents a tracepoint (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
32551@anchor{tracepoint object}
32552
32553@end enumerate
32554
32555The following table describes important attributes of each IPA protocol
32556object:
32557
32558@multitable @columnfractions .30 .20 .50
32559@headitem Name @tab Size @tab Description
32560@item @emph{agent expression object} @tab @tab
32561@item length @tab 4 @tab length of bytes code
32562@item byte code @tab @var{length} @tab contents of byte code
32563@item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting memory} @tab @tab
32564@item 'M' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
32565@item addr @tab 8 @tab if @var{basereg} is @samp{-1}, @var{addr} is the
32566address of the lowest byte to collect, otherwise @var{addr} is the offset
32567of @var{basereg} for memory collecting.
32568@item len @tab 8 @tab length of memory for collecting
32569@item basereg @tab 4 @tab the register number containing the starting
32570memory address for collecting.
32571@item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting registers} @tab @tab
32572@item 'R' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
32573@item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting static trace data} @tab @tab
32574@item 'L' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
32575@item @emph{tracepoint action for expression evaluation} @tab @tab
32576@item 'X' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
32577@item agent expression @tab length of @tab @ref{agent expression object}
32578@item @emph{tracepoint object} @tab @tab
32579@item number @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint
32580@item address @tab 8 @tab address of tracepoint inserted on
32581@item type @tab 4 @tab type of tracepoint
32582@item enabled @tab 1 @tab enable or disable of tracepoint
32583@item step_count @tab 8 @tab step
32584@item pass_count @tab 8 @tab pass
32585@item numactions @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint actions
32586@item hit count @tab 8 @tab hit count
32587@item trace frame usage @tab 8 @tab trace frame usage
32588@item compiled_cond @tab 8 @tab compiled condition
32589@item orig_size @tab 8 @tab orig size
32590@item condition @tab 4 if condition is NULL otherwise length of
32591@ref{agent expression object}
32592@tab zero if condition is NULL, otherwise is
32593@ref{agent expression object}
32594@item actions @tab variable
32595@tab numactions number of @ref{tracepoint action object}
32596@end multitable
32597
32598@node IPA Protocol Commands
32599@subsection IPA Protocol Commands
32600@cindex ipa protocol commands
32601
32602The spaces in each command are delimiters to ease reading this commands
32603specification. They don't exist in real commands.
32604
32605@table @samp
32606
32607@item FastTrace:@var{tracepoint_object} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}
32608Installs a new fast tracepoint described by @var{tracepoint_object}
32609(@pxref{tracepoint object}). The @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}, 8-byte long, is the
32610head of @dfn{jumppad}, which is used to jump to data collection routine
32611in IPA finally.
32612
32613Replies:
32614@table @samp
32615@item OK @var{target_address} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} @var{fjump_size} @var{fjump}
32616@var{target_address} is address of tracepoint in the inferior.
32617The @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} is updated head of jumppad. Both of
32618@var{target_address} and @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} are 8-byte long.
32619The @var{fjump} contains a sequence of instructions jump to jumppad entry.
32620The @var{fjump_size}, 4-byte long, is the size of @var{fjump}.
32621@item E @var{NN}
32622for an error
32623
32624@end table
32625
32626@item close
32627Closes the in-process agent. This command is sent when @value{GDBN} or GDBserver
32628is about to kill inferiors.
32629
32630@item qTfSTM
32631@xref{qTfSTM}.
32632@item qTsSTM
32633@xref{qTsSTM}.
32634@item qTSTMat
32635@xref{qTSTMat}.
32636@item probe_marker_at:@var{address}
32637Asks in-process agent to probe the marker at @var{address}.
32638
32639Replies:
32640@table @samp
32641@item E @var{NN}
32642for an error
32643@end table
32644@item unprobe_marker_at:@var{address}
32645Asks in-process agent to unprobe the marker at @var{address}.
32646@end table
32647
32648@node GDB Bugs
32649@chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
32650@cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
32651@cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
32652
32653Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
32654
32655Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
32656may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
32657the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
32658reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
32659
32660In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
32661information that enables us to fix the bug.
32662
32663@menu
32664* Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
32665* Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
32666@end menu
32667
32668@node Bug Criteria
32669@section Have You Found a Bug?
32670@cindex bug criteria
32671
32672If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
32673
32674@itemize @bullet
32675@cindex fatal signal
32676@cindex debugger crash
32677@cindex crash of debugger
32678@item
32679If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
32680@value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
32681
32682@cindex error on valid input
32683@item
32684If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
32685bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
32686somewhere in the connection to the target.)
32687
32688@cindex invalid input
32689@item
32690If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
32691that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
32692``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
32693for traditional practice''.
32694
32695@item
32696If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
32697for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
32698@end itemize
32699
32700@node Bug Reporting
32701@section How to Report Bugs
32702@cindex bug reports
32703@cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
32704
32705A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
32706If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
32707contact that organization first.
32708
32709You can find contact information for many support companies and
32710individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
32711distribution.
32712@c should add a web page ref...
32713
32714@ifset BUGURL
32715@ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
32716In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
32717@value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
32718@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
32719page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
32720be used.
32721
32722@strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
32723@samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
32724not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
32725@samp{bug-gdb}.
32726
32727The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
32728serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
32729the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
32730newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
32731problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
32732path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
32733we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
32734bug reports to the mailing list.
32735@end ifset
32736@ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
32737In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
32738@value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
32739@end ifclear
32740@end ifset
32741
32742The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
32743@strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
32744fact or leave it out, state it!
32745
32746Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
32747problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
32748assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
32749Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
32750stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
32751name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
32752of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
32753the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
32754easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
32755
32756Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
32757bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
32758you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
32759self-contained.
32760
32761Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
32762bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
32763@emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
32764bugs properly.
32765
32766To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
32767
32768@itemize @bullet
32769@item
32770The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
32771with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
32772version}.
32773
32774Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
32775the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
32776
32777@item
32778The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
32779version number.
32780
32781@item
32782The details of the @value{GDBN} build-time configuration.
32783@value{GDBN} shows these details if you invoke it with the
32784@option{--configuration} command-line option, or if you type
32785@code{show configuration} at @value{GDBN}'s prompt.
32786
32787@item
32788What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
32789``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
32790
32791@item
32792What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
32793debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
32794C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
32795to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
32796those compilers.
32797
32798@item
32799The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
32800observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
32801you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
32802Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
32803
32804If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
32805and then we might not encounter the bug.
32806
32807@item
32808A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
32809reproduce the bug.
32810
32811@item
32812A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
32813incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
32814
32815Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
32816will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
32817not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
32818a chance to make a mistake.
32819
32820Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
32821say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
32822copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
32823the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
32824crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
32825ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
32826us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
32827to draw any conclusion from our observations.
32828
32829@pindex script
32830@cindex recording a session script
32831To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
32832such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
32833Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
32834include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
32835
32836Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
32837inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
32838
32839@item
32840If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
32841diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
32842it by context, not by line number.
32843
32844The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
32845sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
32846
32847@end itemize
32848
32849Here are some things that are not necessary:
32850
32851@itemize @bullet
32852@item
32853A description of the envelope of the bug.
32854
32855Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
32856which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
32857changes will not affect it.
32858
32859This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
32860will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
32861with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
32862We recommend that you save your time for something else.
32863
32864Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
32865of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
32866output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
32867less time, and so on.
32868
32869However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
32870report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
32871
32872@item
32873A patch for the bug.
32874
32875A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
32876the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
32877a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
32878to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
32879
32880Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
32881construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
32882through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
32883to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
32884
32885And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
32886patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
32887help us to understand.
32888
32889@item
32890A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
32891
32892Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
32893things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
32894@end itemize
32895
32896@c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
32897@c and consists of the two following files:
32898@c rluser.texi
32899@c hsuser.texi
32900@c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
32901@c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
32902@ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
32903@include rluser.texi
32904@include hsuser.texi
32905@end ifclear
32906
32907@node In Memoriam
32908@appendix In Memoriam
32909
32910The @value{GDBN} project mourns the loss of the following long-time
32911contributors:
32912
32913@table @code
32914@item Fred Fish
32915Fred was a long-standing contributor to @value{GDBN} (1991-2006), and
32916to Free Software in general. Outside of @value{GDBN}, he was known in
32917the Amiga world for his series of Fish Disks, and the GeekGadget project.
32918
32919@item Michael Snyder
32920Michael was one of the Global Maintainers of the @value{GDBN} project,
32921with contributions recorded as early as 1996, until 2011. In addition
32922to his day to day participation, he was a large driving force behind
32923adding Reverse Debugging to @value{GDBN}.
32924@end table
32925
32926Beyond their technical contributions to the project, they were also
32927enjoyable members of the Free Software Community. We will miss them.
32928
32929@node Formatting Documentation
32930@appendix Formatting Documentation
32931
32932@cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
32933@cindex reference card
32934The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
32935for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
32936subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
32937@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
32938release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
32939you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
32940
32941The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
32942can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
32943
32944@smallexample
32945make refcard.dvi
32946@end smallexample
32947
32948The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
32949mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
32950that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
32951high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
32952your @sc{dvi} output program.
32953
32954@cindex documentation
32955
32956All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
32957distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
32958a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
32959on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
32960formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
32961and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
32962
32963@value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
32964version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
32965file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
32966subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
32967necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
32968but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
32969Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
32970@sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
32971
32972If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
32973Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
32974@code{makeinfo}.
32975
32976If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
32977@value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
32978version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
32979
32980@smallexample
32981cd gdb
32982make gdb.info
32983@end smallexample
32984
32985If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
32986a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
32987Texinfo definitions file.
32988
32989@TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
32990produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
32991document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
32992has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
32993command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
32994(for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
32995require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
32996
32997@TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
32998@file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
32999written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
33000typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
33001and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
33002directory.
33003
33004If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
33005typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
33006subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
33007@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
33008
33009@smallexample
33010make gdb.dvi
33011@end smallexample
33012
33013Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
33014
33015@node Installing GDB
33016@appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
33017@cindex installation
33018
33019@menu
33020* Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
33021* Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
33022* Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
33023* Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
33024* Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
33025* System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
33026@end menu
33027
33028@node Requirements
33029@section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
33030@cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
33031
33032Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
33033Other packages will be used only if they are found.
33034
33035@heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
33036@table @asis
33037@item ISO C90 compiler
33038@value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
33039working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
33040
33041@end table
33042
33043@heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
33044@table @asis
33045@item Expat
33046@anchor{Expat}
33047@value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
33048included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
33049can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
33050The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
33051standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
33052use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
33053
33054Expat is used for:
33055
33056@itemize @bullet
33057@item
33058Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
33059@item
33060Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
33061@item
33062Remote shared library lists (@xref{Library List Format},
33063or alternatively @pxref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets})
33064@item
33065MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
33066@item
33067Traceframe info (@pxref{Traceframe Info Format})
33068@item
33069Branch trace (@pxref{Branch Trace Format})
33070@end itemize
33071
33072@item zlib
33073@cindex compressed debug sections
33074@value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
33075compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
33076of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
33077is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
33078information in such binaries.
33079
33080The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
33081distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
33082@url{http://zlib.net}.
33083
33084@item iconv
33085@value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
33086Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
33087on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
33088other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
33089
33090If @value{GDBN} is using the @code{iconv} program which is installed
33091in a non-standard place, you will need to tell @value{GDBN} where to find it.
33092This is done with @option{--with-iconv-bin} which specifies the
33093directory that contains the @code{iconv} program.
33094
33095On systems without @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
33096have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
33097@option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
33098
33099@value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
33100arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
33101in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
33102if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
33103implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
33104by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
33105Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
33106Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
33107@end table
33108
33109@node Running Configure
33110@section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
33111@cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
33112@value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
33113of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
33114build the @code{gdb} program.
33115@iftex
33116@c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
33117@footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
33118look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
33119installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
33120@end iftex
33121
33122The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
33123@value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
33124appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
33125
33126For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
33127@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
33128
33129@table @code
33130@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
33131script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
33132
33133@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
33134the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
33135
33136@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
33137source for the Binary File Descriptor library
33138
33139@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
33140@sc{gnu} include files
33141
33142@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
33143source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
33144
33145@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
33146source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
33147
33148@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
33149source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
33150
33151@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
33152source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
33153
33154@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
33155source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
33156@end table
33157
33158The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
33159from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
33160this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
33161
33162First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
33163if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
33164identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
33165argument.
33166
33167For example:
33168
33169@smallexample
33170cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
33171./configure @var{host}
33172make
33173@end smallexample
33174
33175@noindent
33176where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
33177@samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
33178(You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
33179correct value by examining your system.)
33180
33181Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
33182@file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
33183libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
33184binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
33185
33186@need 750
33187@file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
33188system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
33189shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
33190
33191@smallexample
33192sh configure @var{host}
33193@end smallexample
33194
33195If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
33196directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
33197@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
33198@file{configure}
33199creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
33200you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
33201
33202You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
33203source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
33204@file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
33205that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
33206if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
33207of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
33208configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
33209directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
33210about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
33211
33212You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
33213However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
33214the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
33215that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
33216let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
33217
33218@node Separate Objdir
33219@section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
33220
33221If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
33222you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
33223host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
33224allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
33225rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
33226handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
33227@code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
33228program specified there.
33229
33230To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
33231with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
33232(You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
33233itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
33234would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
33235the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
33236
33237For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
33238separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
33239
33240@smallexample
33241@group
33242cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
33243mkdir ../gdb-sun4
33244cd ../gdb-sun4
33245../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
33246make
33247@end group
33248@end smallexample
33249
33250When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
33251directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
33252(and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
33253the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
33254directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
33255@file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
33256
33257Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
33258instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
33259like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
33260one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
33261build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
33262
33263One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
33264directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
33265@value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
33266programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
33267You specify a cross-debugging target by
33268giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
33269
33270When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
33271it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
33272called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
33273
33274The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
33275directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
33276directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
33277directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
33278will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
33279
33280When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
33281directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
33282if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
33283with each other.
33284
33285@node Config Names
33286@section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
33287
33288The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
33289script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
33290aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
33291of information in the following pattern:
33292
33293@smallexample
33294@var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
33295@end smallexample
33296
33297For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
33298or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
33299option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
33300
33301The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
33302any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
33303aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
33304@code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
33305script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
33306abbreviations---for example:
33307
33308@smallexample
33309% sh config.sub i386-linux
33310i386-pc-linux-gnu
33311% sh config.sub alpha-linux
33312alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
33313% sh config.sub hp9k700
33314hppa1.1-hp-hpux
33315% sh config.sub sun4
33316sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
33317% sh config.sub sun3
33318m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
33319% sh config.sub i986v
33320Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
33321@end smallexample
33322
33323@noindent
33324@code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
33325directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
33326
33327@node Configure Options
33328@section @file{configure} Options
33329
33330Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
33331are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
33332several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
33333Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
33334
33335@smallexample
33336configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
33337 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
33338 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
33339 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
33340 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
33341 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
33342 @var{host}
33343@end smallexample
33344
33345@noindent
33346You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
33347@samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
33348@samp{--}.
33349
33350@table @code
33351@item --help
33352Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
33353
33354@item --prefix=@var{dir}
33355Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
33356@file{@var{dir}}.
33357
33358@item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
33359Configure the source to install programs under directory
33360@file{@var{dir}}.
33361
33362@c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
33363@need 2000
33364@item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
33365@strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
33366@code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
33367Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
33368@value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
33369build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
33370directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
33371the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
33372directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
33373the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
33374@var{dirname}.
33375
33376@item --norecursion
33377Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
33378propagate configuration to subdirectories.
33379
33380@item --target=@var{target}
33381Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
33382@var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
33383programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
33384
33385There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
33386
33387@item @var{host} @dots{}
33388Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
33389
33390There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
33391@end table
33392
33393There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
33394needed for special purposes only.
33395
33396@node System-wide configuration
33397@section System-wide configuration and settings
33398@cindex system-wide init file
33399
33400@value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
33401this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
33402@value{GDBN} does during startup}).
33403
33404Here is the corresponding configure option:
33405
33406@table @code
33407@item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
33408Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
33409@var{file}.
33410@end table
33411
33412If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
33413it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
33414
33415@itemize @bullet
33416@item
33417If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
33418it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
33419are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
33420if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
33421init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
33422@file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
33423
33424@item
33425By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
33426it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
33427@option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
33428then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
33429wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
33430@end itemize
33431
33432If the configured location of the system-wide init file (as given by the
33433@option{--with-system-gdbinit} option at configure time) is in the
33434data-directory (as specified by @option{--with-gdb-datadir} at configure
33435time) or in one of its subdirectories, then @value{GDBN} will look for the
33436system-wide init file in the directory specified by the
33437@option{--data-directory} command-line option.
33438Note that the system-wide init file is only read once, during @value{GDBN}
33439initialization. If the data-directory is changed after @value{GDBN} has
33440started with the @code{set data-directory} command, the file will not be
33441reread.
33442
33443@menu
33444* System-wide Configuration Scripts:: Installed System-wide Configuration Scripts
33445@end menu
33446
33447@node System-wide Configuration Scripts
33448@subsection Installed System-wide Configuration Scripts
33449@cindex system-wide configuration scripts
33450
33451The @file{system-gdbinit} directory, located inside the data-directory
33452(as specified by @option{--with-gdb-datadir} at configure time) contains
33453a number of scripts which can be used as system-wide init files. To
33454automatically source those scripts at startup, @value{GDBN} should be
33455configured with @option{--with-system-gdbinit}. Otherwise, any user
33456should be able to source them by hand as needed.
33457
33458The following scripts are currently available:
33459@itemize @bullet
33460
33461@item @file{elinos.py}
33462@pindex elinos.py
33463@cindex ELinOS system-wide configuration script
33464This script is useful when debugging a program on an ELinOS target.
33465It takes advantage of the environment variables defined in a standard
33466ELinOS environment in order to determine the location of the system
33467shared libraries, and then sets the @samp{solib-absolute-prefix}
33468and @samp{solib-search-path} variables appropriately.
33469
33470@item @file{wrs-linux.py}
33471@pindex wrs-linux.py
33472@cindex Wind River Linux system-wide configuration script
33473This script is useful when debugging a program on a target running
33474Wind River Linux. It expects the @env{ENV_PREFIX} to be set to
33475the host-side sysroot used by the target system.
33476
33477@end itemize
33478
33479@node Maintenance Commands
33480@appendix Maintenance Commands
33481@cindex maintenance commands
33482@cindex internal commands
33483
33484In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
33485includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
33486that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
33487provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
33488messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
33489
33490@table @code
33491@kindex maint agent
33492@kindex maint agent-eval
33493@item maint agent @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
33494@itemx maint agent-eval @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
33495Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
33496This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
33497(@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
33498expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
33499@samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
33500to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
33501globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
33502of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
33503the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
33504addition and return the sum.
33505If @code{-at} is given, generate remote agent bytecode for @var{location}.
33506If not, generate remote agent bytecode for current frame PC address.
33507
33508@kindex maint agent-printf
33509@item maint agent-printf @var{format},@var{expr},...
33510Translate the given format string and list of argument expressions
33511into remote agent bytecodes and display them as a disassembled list.
33512This command is useful for debugging the agent version of dynamic
33513printf (@pxref{Dynamic Printf}).
33514
33515@kindex maint info breakpoints
33516@item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
33517Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
33518breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
33519internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
33520breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
33521is shown:
33522
33523@table @code
33524@item breakpoint
33525Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
33526
33527@item watchpoint
33528Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
33529
33530@item longjmp
33531Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
33532@code{longjmp} calls.
33533
33534@item longjmp resume
33535Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
33536
33537@item until
33538Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
33539
33540@item finish
33541Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
33542
33543@item shlib events
33544Shared library events.
33545
33546@end table
33547
33548@kindex maint info bfds
33549@item maint info bfds
33550This prints information about each @code{bfd} object that is known to
33551@value{GDBN}. @xref{Top, , BFD, bfd, The Binary File Descriptor Library}.
33552
33553@kindex set displaced-stepping
33554@kindex show displaced-stepping
33555@cindex displaced stepping support
33556@cindex out-of-line single-stepping
33557@item set displaced-stepping
33558@itemx show displaced-stepping
33559Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
33560if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
33561over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
33562an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
33563breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
33564
33565@table @code
33566@item set displaced-stepping on
33567If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
33568displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
33569
33570@item set displaced-stepping off
33571@value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
33572even if such is supported by the target architecture.
33573
33574@cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
33575@item set displaced-stepping auto
33576This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
33577only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
33578architecture supports displaced stepping.
33579@end table
33580
33581@kindex maint check-psymtabs
33582@item maint check-psymtabs
33583Check the consistency of currently expanded psymtabs versus symtabs.
33584Use this to check, for example, whether a symbol is in one but not the other.
33585
33586@kindex maint check-symtabs
33587@item maint check-symtabs
33588Check the consistency of currently expanded symtabs.
33589
33590@kindex maint expand-symtabs
33591@item maint expand-symtabs [@var{regexp}]
33592Expand symbol tables.
33593If @var{regexp} is specified, only expand symbol tables for file
33594names matching @var{regexp}.
33595
33596@kindex maint set catch-demangler-crashes
33597@kindex maint show catch-demangler-crashes
33598@cindex demangler crashes
33599@item maint set catch-demangler-crashes [on|off]
33600@itemx maint show catch-demangler-crashes
33601Control whether @value{GDBN} should attempt to catch crashes in the
33602symbol name demangler. The default is to attempt to catch crashes.
33603If enabled, the first time a crash is caught, a core file is created,
33604the offending symbol is displayed and the user is presented with the
33605option to terminate the current session.
33606
33607@kindex maint cplus first_component
33608@item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
33609Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
33610
33611@kindex maint cplus namespace
33612@item maint cplus namespace
33613Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
33614
33615@kindex maint deprecate
33616@kindex maint undeprecate
33617@cindex deprecated commands
33618@item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
33619@itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
33620Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
33621cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
33622argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
33623favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
33624the replacement as part of the warning.
33625
33626@kindex maint dump-me
33627@item maint dump-me
33628@cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
33629Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
33630This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
33631with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
33632
33633@kindex maint internal-error
33634@kindex maint internal-warning
33635@kindex maint demangler-warning
33636@cindex demangler crashes
33637@item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
33638@itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
33639@itemx maint demangler-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
33640
33641Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error},
33642@code{internal_warning} or @code{demangler_warning} and hence behave
33643as though an internal problam has been detected. In addition to
33644reporting the internal problem, these functions give the user the
33645opportunity to either quit @value{GDBN} or (for @code{internal_error}
33646and @code{internal_warning}) create a core file of the current
33647@value{GDBN} session.
33648
33649These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
33650used as the text of the error or warning message.
33651
33652Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
33653
33654@smallexample
33655(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
33656@dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
33657A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
33658debugging may prove unreliable.
33659Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
33660Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
33661(@value{GDBP})
33662@end smallexample
33663
33664@cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
33665@cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
33666@cindex demangler crashes
33667
33668@kindex maint set internal-error
33669@kindex maint show internal-error
33670@kindex maint set internal-warning
33671@kindex maint show internal-warning
33672@kindex maint set demangler-warning
33673@kindex maint show demangler-warning
33674@item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
33675@itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
33676@itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
33677@itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
33678@itemx maint set demangler-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
33679@itemx maint show demangler-warning @var{action}
33680When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
33681gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
33682core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
33683override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
33684described in the table below.
33685
33686@table @samp
33687@item quit
33688You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
33689quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
33690
33691@item corefile
33692You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
33693create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do. Note
33694that there is no @code{corefile} option for @code{demangler-warning}:
33695demangler warnings always create a core file and this cannot be
33696disabled.
33697@end table
33698
33699@kindex maint packet
33700@item maint packet @var{text}
33701If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
33702then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
33703displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
33704@samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
33705checksum.
33706
33707@kindex maint print architecture
33708@item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33709Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
33710@var{file} names the file where the output goes.
33711
33712@kindex maint print c-tdesc
33713@item maint print c-tdesc
33714Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
33715a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
33716when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
33717
33718@kindex maint print dummy-frames
33719@item maint print dummy-frames
33720Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
33721
33722@smallexample
33723(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
33724@dots{}
33725(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
33726Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
3372758 return (a + b);
33728The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
33729@dots{}
33730(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
337310xa8206d8: id=@{stack=0xbfffe734,code=0xbfffe73f,!special@}, ptid=process 9353
33732(@value{GDBP})
33733@end smallexample
33734
33735Takes an optional file parameter.
33736
33737@kindex maint print registers
33738@kindex maint print raw-registers
33739@kindex maint print cooked-registers
33740@kindex maint print register-groups
33741@kindex maint print remote-registers
33742@item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33743@itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33744@itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33745@itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33746@itemx maint print remote-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33747Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
33748
33749The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
33750the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print
33751cooked-registers} includes the (cooked) value of all registers,
33752including registers which aren't available on the target nor visible
33753to user; the command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the
33754groups that each register is a member of; and the command @code{maint
33755print remote-registers} includes the remote target's register numbers
33756and offsets in the `G' packets.
33757
33758These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
33759write the information.
33760
33761@kindex maint print reggroups
33762@item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33763Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
33764optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
33765information.
33766
33767The register groups info looks like this:
33768
33769@smallexample
33770(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
33771 Group Type
33772 general user
33773 float user
33774 all user
33775 vector user
33776 system user
33777 save internal
33778 restore internal
33779@end smallexample
33780
33781@kindex flushregs
33782@item flushregs
33783This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
33784
33785@kindex maint print objfiles
33786@cindex info for known object files
33787@item maint print objfiles @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
33788Print a dump of all known object files.
33789If @var{regexp} is specified, only print object files whose names
33790match @var{regexp}. For each object file, this command prints its name,
33791address in memory, and all of its psymtabs and symtabs.
33792
33793@kindex maint print user-registers
33794@cindex user registers
33795@item maint print user-registers
33796List all currently available @dfn{user registers}. User registers
33797typically provide alternate names for actual hardware registers. They
33798include the four ``standard'' registers @code{$fp}, @code{$pc},
33799@code{$sp}, and @code{$ps}. @xref{standard registers}. User
33800registers can be used in expressions in the same way as the canonical
33801register names, but only the latter are listed by the @code{info
33802registers} and @code{maint print registers} commands.
33803
33804@kindex maint print section-scripts
33805@cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
33806@item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
33807Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
33808If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
33809matching @var{regexp}.
33810For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
33811and the full path if known.
33812@xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}.
33813
33814@kindex maint print statistics
33815@cindex bcache statistics
33816@item maint print statistics
33817This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
33818about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
33819statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
33820of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
33821defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
33822the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
33823used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
33824sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
33825average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
33826savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
33827lengths.
33828
33829@kindex maint print target-stack
33830@cindex target stack description
33831@item maint print target-stack
33832A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
33833kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
33834so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
33835In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
33836until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
33837address.
33838
33839This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
33840the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
33841
33842@kindex maint print type
33843@cindex type chain of a data type
33844@item maint print type @var{expr}
33845Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
33846can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
33847that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
33848a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
33849data structures, including its flags and contained types.
33850
33851@kindex maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
33852@kindex maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
33853@item maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
33854@item maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
33855Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
33856information.
33857
33858The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
33859describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
33860@code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
33861expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
33862too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
33863always see the disassembly form.
33864
33865Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
33866
33867@smallexample
33868(gdb) info addr argc
33869Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
33870 1: DW_OP_fbreg 0
33871@end smallexample
33872
33873For more information on these expressions, see
33874@uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
33875
33876@kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
33877@kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
33878@item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
33879@itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
33880Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
33881
33882@cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
33883In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
33884produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
33885reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
33886This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
33887cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
33888compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
33889memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
33890slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
33891
33892@kindex maint set profile
33893@kindex maint show profile
33894@cindex profiling GDB
33895@item maint set profile
33896@itemx maint show profile
33897Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
33898
33899Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
33900command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
33901collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
33902exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
33903if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
33904(often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
33905data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
33906
33907Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
33908compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
33909
33910@kindex maint set show-debug-regs
33911@kindex maint show show-debug-regs
33912@cindex hardware debug registers
33913@item maint set show-debug-regs
33914@itemx maint show show-debug-regs
33915Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
33916registers. Use @code{on} to enable, @code{off} to disable. If
33917enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
33918removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
33919triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
33920
33921@kindex maint set show-all-tib
33922@kindex maint show show-all-tib
33923@item maint set show-all-tib
33924@itemx maint show show-all-tib
33925Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
33926at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
33927command.
33928
33929@kindex maint set target-async
33930@kindex maint show target-async
33931@item maint set target-async
33932@itemx maint show target-async
33933This controls whether @value{GDBN} targets operate in synchronous or
33934asynchronous mode (@pxref{Background Execution}). Normally the
33935default is asynchronous, if it is available; but this can be changed
33936to more easily debug problems occurring only in synchronous mode.
33937
33938@kindex maint set per-command
33939@kindex maint show per-command
33940@item maint set per-command
33941@itemx maint show per-command
33942@cindex resources used by commands
33943
33944@value{GDBN} can display the resources used by each command.
33945This is useful in debugging performance problems.
33946
33947@table @code
33948@item maint set per-command space [on|off]
33949@itemx maint show per-command space
33950Enable or disable the printing of the memory used by GDB for each command.
33951If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
33952took, following the command's own output.
33953This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
33954@option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
33955
33956@item maint set per-command time [on|off]
33957@itemx maint show per-command time
33958Enable or disable the printing of the execution time of @value{GDBN}
33959for each command.
33960If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
33961took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
33962Both CPU time and wallclock time are printed.
33963Printing both is useful when trying to determine whether the cost is
33964CPU or, e.g., disk/network latency.
33965Note that the CPU time printed is for @value{GDBN} only, it does not include
33966the execution time of the inferior because there's no mechanism currently
33967to compute how much time was spent by @value{GDBN} and how much time was
33968spent by the program been debugged.
33969This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
33970@option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
33971
33972@item maint set per-command symtab [on|off]
33973@itemx maint show per-command symtab
33974Enable or disable the printing of basic symbol table statistics
33975for each command.
33976If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display the following information:
33977
33978@enumerate a
33979@item
33980number of symbol tables
33981@item
33982number of primary symbol tables
33983@item
33984number of blocks in the blockvector
33985@end enumerate
33986@end table
33987
33988@kindex maint space
33989@cindex memory used by commands
33990@item maint space @var{value}
33991An alias for @code{maint set per-command space}.
33992A non-zero value enables it, zero disables it.
33993
33994@kindex maint time
33995@cindex time of command execution
33996@item maint time @var{value}
33997An alias for @code{maint set per-command time}.
33998A non-zero value enables it, zero disables it.
33999
34000@kindex maint translate-address
34001@item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
34002Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
34003@var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
34004@value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
34005the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
34006the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
34007command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
34008
34009If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
34010is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
34011executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
34012
34013@end table
34014
34015The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
34016@value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
34017
34018@table @code
34019@item set watchdog @var{nsec}
34020@kindex set watchdog
34021@cindex watchdog timer
34022@cindex timeout for commands
34023Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
34024target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
34025reports and error and the command is aborted.
34026
34027@item show watchdog
34028Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
34029@end table
34030
34031@node Remote Protocol
34032@appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
34033
34034@menu
34035* Overview::
34036* Packets::
34037* Stop Reply Packets::
34038* General Query Packets::
34039* Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
34040* Tracepoint Packets::
34041* Host I/O Packets::
34042* Interrupts::
34043* Notification Packets::
34044* Remote Non-Stop::
34045* Packet Acknowledgment::
34046* Examples::
34047* File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
34048* Library List Format::
34049* Library List Format for SVR4 Targets::
34050* Memory Map Format::
34051* Thread List Format::
34052* Traceframe Info Format::
34053* Branch Trace Format::
34054@end menu
34055
34056@node Overview
34057@section Overview
34058
34059There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
34060protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
34061machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
34062recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
34063
34064In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
34065transmitted and received data, respectively.
34066
34067@cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
34068@cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
34069@cindex remote serial protocol
34070All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
34071and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
34072@var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
34073@samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
34074@samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
34075
34076@smallexample
34077@code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
34078@end smallexample
34079@noindent
34080
34081@cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
34082@noindent
34083The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
34084characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
34085eight bit unsigned checksum).
34086
34087Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
34088specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
34089
34090@smallexample
34091@code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
34092@end smallexample
34093
34094@cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
34095@noindent
34096That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
34097has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
34098since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
34099
34100When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
34101response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
34102the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
34103retransmission):
34104
34105@smallexample
34106-> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
34107<- @code{+}
34108@end smallexample
34109@noindent
34110
34111The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
34112once a connection is established.
34113@xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
34114
34115The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
34116debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
34117the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
34118when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
34119threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
34120behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
34121execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
34122
34123@var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
34124exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
34125exceptions).
34126
34127@cindex remote protocol, field separator
34128Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
34129@samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
34130@sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
34131
34132Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
34133@samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
34134would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
34135
34136@cindex remote protocol, binary data
34137@anchor{Binary Data}
34138Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
34139digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
34140protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
34141Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
34142connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
34143binary data.
34144
34145The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
34146as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
34147character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
34148For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
34149bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
34150@code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
34151@samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
34152must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
34153is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
34154(described next).
34155
34156Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
34157Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
34158instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
34159repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
34160binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
34161@code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
34162produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
34163code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
34164encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
34165@samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
34166after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
341673}} more times.
34168
34169The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
34170greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
34171seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
34172five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
34173@samp{0*"00}.
34174
34175The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
34176error number. That number is not well defined.
34177
34178@cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
34179For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
34180(@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
34181protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
34182on that response.
34183
34184At a minimum, a stub is required to support the @samp{g} and @samp{G}
34185commands for register access, and the @samp{m} and @samp{M} commands
34186for memory access. Stubs that only control single-threaded targets
34187can implement run control with the @samp{c} (continue), and @samp{s}
34188(step) commands. Stubs that support multi-threading targets should
34189support the @samp{vCont} command. All other commands are optional.
34190
34191@node Packets
34192@section Packets
34193
34194The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
34195@var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
34196@xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
34197I/O extension of the remote protocol.
34198
34199Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
34200syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
34201include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
34202part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
34203separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
34204@var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
34205bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
34206@var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
34207@samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
34208@var{baz}.
34209
34210@cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
34211@anchor{thread-id syntax}
34212Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
34213a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
34214interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
34215can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
34216pick any thread.
34217
34218In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
34219which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
34220process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
34221The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
34222format described above: a positive number with target-specific
34223interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
34224to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
34225indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
34226@samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
34227error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
34228@samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
34229for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
34230ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
34231
34232The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
34233@value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
34234feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
34235more information.
34236
34237Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
34238letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
34239
34240Here are the packet descriptions.
34241
34242@table @samp
34243
34244@item !
34245@cindex @samp{!} packet
34246@anchor{extended mode}
34247Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
34248persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
34249debugged.
34250
34251Reply:
34252@table @samp
34253@item OK
34254The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
34255@end table
34256
34257@item ?
34258@cindex @samp{?} packet
34259@anchor{? packet}
34260Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
34261step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
34262target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
34263
34264Reply:
34265@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34266
34267@item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
34268@cindex @samp{A} packet
34269Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
34270specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
34271@var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
34272
34273Reply:
34274@table @samp
34275@item OK
34276The arguments were set.
34277@item E @var{NN}
34278An error occurred.
34279@end table
34280
34281@item b @var{baud}
34282@cindex @samp{b} packet
34283(Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
34284Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
34285
34286JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
34287received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
34288problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
34289
34290Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
34291it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
34292some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
34293switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
34294of view, nothing actually happened.}
34295
34296@item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
34297@cindex @samp{B} packet
34298Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
34299breakpoint at @var{addr}.
34300
34301Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
34302(@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
34303
34304@cindex @samp{bc} packet
34305@anchor{bc}
34306@item bc
34307Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
34308@xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
34309
34310Reply:
34311@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34312
34313@cindex @samp{bs} packet
34314@anchor{bs}
34315@item bs
34316Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
34317@xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
34318
34319Reply:
34320@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34321
34322@item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
34323@cindex @samp{c} packet
34324Continue at @var{addr}, which is the address to resume. If @var{addr}
34325is omitted, resume at current address.
34326
34327This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
34328packet}.
34329
34330Reply:
34331@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34332
34333@item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
34334@cindex @samp{C} packet
34335Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
34336@samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
34337
34338This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
34339packet}.
34340
34341Reply:
34342@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34343
34344@item d
34345@cindex @samp{d} packet
34346Toggle debug flag.
34347
34348Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
34349(@pxref{General Query Packets}).
34350
34351@item D
34352@itemx D;@var{pid}
34353@cindex @samp{D} packet
34354The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
34355remote system. It is sent to the remote target
34356before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
34357
34358The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
34359protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
34360detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
34361big-endian hex string.
34362
34363Reply:
34364@table @samp
34365@item OK
34366for success
34367@item E @var{NN}
34368for an error
34369@end table
34370
34371@item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
34372@cindex @samp{F} packet
34373A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
34374This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
34375Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
34376
34377@item g
34378@anchor{read registers packet}
34379@cindex @samp{g} packet
34380Read general registers.
34381
34382Reply:
34383@table @samp
34384@item @var{XX@dots{}}
34385Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
34386with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
34387each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
34388determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
34389@code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
34390specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
34391
34392When reading registers from a trace frame (@pxref{Analyze Collected
34393Data,,Using the Collected Data}), the stub may also return a string of
34394literal @samp{x}'s in place of the register data digits, to indicate
34395that the corresponding register has not been collected, thus its value
34396is unavailable. For example, for an architecture with 4 registers of
343974 bytes each, the following reply indicates to @value{GDBN} that
34398registers 0 and 2 have not been collected, while registers 1 and 3
34399have been collected, and both have zero value:
34400
34401@smallexample
34402-> @code{g}
34403<- @code{xxxxxxxx00000000xxxxxxxx00000000}
34404@end smallexample
34405
34406@item E @var{NN}
34407for an error.
34408@end table
34409
34410@item G @var{XX@dots{}}
34411@cindex @samp{G} packet
34412Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
34413description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
34414
34415Reply:
34416@table @samp
34417@item OK
34418for success
34419@item E @var{NN}
34420for an error
34421@end table
34422
34423@item H @var{op} @var{thread-id}
34424@cindex @samp{H} packet
34425Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
34426@samp{G}, et.al.). Depending on the operation to be performed, @var{op}
34427should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations (note that this
34428is deprecated, supporting the @samp{vCont} command is a better
34429option), and @samp{g} for other operations. The thread designator
34430@var{thread-id} has the format and interpretation described in
34431@ref{thread-id syntax}.
34432
34433Reply:
34434@table @samp
34435@item OK
34436for success
34437@item E @var{NN}
34438for an error
34439@end table
34440
34441@c FIXME: JTC:
34442@c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
34443@c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
34444@c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
34445@c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
34446@c described. For example:
34447@c
34448@c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
34449@c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
34450@c otherwise returns current registers.
34451@c
34452@c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
34453@c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
34454@c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
34455
34456@item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
34457@anchor{cycle step packet}
34458@cindex @samp{i} packet
34459Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
34460present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
34461step starting at that address.
34462
34463@item I
34464@cindex @samp{I} packet
34465Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
34466step packet}.
34467
34468@item k
34469@cindex @samp{k} packet
34470Kill request.
34471
34472The exact effect of this packet is not specified.
34473
34474For a bare-metal target, it may power cycle or reset the target
34475system. For that reason, the @samp{k} packet has no reply.
34476
34477For a single-process target, it may kill that process if possible.
34478
34479A multiple-process target may choose to kill just one process, or all
34480that are under @value{GDBN}'s control. For more precise control, use
34481the vKill packet (@pxref{vKill packet}).
34482
34483If the target system immediately closes the connection in response to
34484@samp{k}, @value{GDBN} does not consider the lack of packet
34485acknowledgment to be an error, and assumes the kill was successful.
34486
34487If connected using @kbd{target extended-remote}, and the target does
34488not close the connection in response to a kill request, @value{GDBN}
34489probes the target state as if a new connection was opened
34490(@pxref{? packet}).
34491
34492@item m @var{addr},@var{length}
34493@cindex @samp{m} packet
34494Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
34495Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
34496
34497The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
34498data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
34499and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
34500use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
34501suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
34502@cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
34503@cindex size of remote memory accesses
34504@cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
34505
34506Reply:
34507@table @samp
34508@item @var{XX@dots{}}
34509Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
34510number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
34511server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
34512@item E @var{NN}
34513@var{NN} is errno
34514@end table
34515
34516@item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
34517@cindex @samp{M} packet
34518Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
34519The data is given by @var{XX@dots{}}; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
34520hexadecimal number.
34521
34522Reply:
34523@table @samp
34524@item OK
34525for success
34526@item E @var{NN}
34527for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
34528written).
34529@end table
34530
34531@item p @var{n}
34532@cindex @samp{p} packet
34533Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
34534@xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
34535register value is encoded.
34536
34537Reply:
34538@table @samp
34539@item @var{XX@dots{}}
34540the register's value
34541@item E @var{NN}
34542for an error
34543@item @w{}
34544Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
34545@end table
34546
34547@item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
34548@anchor{write register packet}
34549@cindex @samp{P} packet
34550Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
34551number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
34552digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
34553
34554Reply:
34555@table @samp
34556@item OK
34557for success
34558@item E @var{NN}
34559for an error
34560@end table
34561
34562@item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
34563@itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
34564@cindex @samp{q} packet
34565@cindex @samp{Q} packet
34566General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
34567described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
34568
34569@item r
34570@cindex @samp{r} packet
34571Reset the entire system.
34572
34573Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
34574
34575@item R @var{XX}
34576@cindex @samp{R} packet
34577Restart the program being debugged. The @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
34578This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
34579
34580The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
34581
34582@item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
34583@cindex @samp{s} packet
34584Single step, resuming at @var{addr}. If
34585@var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
34586
34587This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
34588packet}.
34589
34590Reply:
34591@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34592
34593@item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
34594@anchor{step with signal packet}
34595@cindex @samp{S} packet
34596Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
34597requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
34598
34599This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
34600packet}.
34601
34602Reply:
34603@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34604
34605@item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
34606@cindex @samp{t} packet
34607Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
34608@var{PP} and mask @var{MM}, both of which are are 4 byte long.
34609There must be at least 3 digits in @var{addr}.
34610
34611@item T @var{thread-id}
34612@cindex @samp{T} packet
34613Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
34614
34615Reply:
34616@table @samp
34617@item OK
34618thread is still alive
34619@item E @var{NN}
34620thread is dead
34621@end table
34622
34623@item v
34624Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
34625up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
34626
34627@item vAttach;@var{pid}
34628@cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
34629Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
34630The process ID is a
34631hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
34632threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
34633attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
34634
34635@c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
34636@c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
34637@c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
34638@c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
34639@c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
34640@c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
34641@c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
34642@c stopping or restarting threads.
34643
34644This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
34645
34646Reply:
34647@table @samp
34648@item E @var{nn}
34649for an error
34650@item @r{Any stop packet}
34651for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
34652@item OK
34653for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
34654@end table
34655
34656@item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
34657@cindex @samp{vCont} packet
34658@anchor{vCont packet}
34659Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
34660If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
34661threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
34662specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
34663in their current state in non-stop mode.
34664Specifying multiple
34665default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
34666Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
34667
34668Currently supported actions are:
34669
34670@table @samp
34671@item c
34672Continue.
34673@item C @var{sig}
34674Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
34675@item s
34676Step.
34677@item S @var{sig}
34678Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
34679@item t
34680Stop.
34681@item r @var{start},@var{end}
34682Step once, and then keep stepping as long as the thread stops at
34683addresses between @var{start} (inclusive) and @var{end} (exclusive).
34684The remote stub reports a stop reply when either the thread goes out
34685of the range or is stopped due to an unrelated reason, such as hitting
34686a breakpoint. @xref{range stepping}.
34687
34688If the range is empty (@var{start} == @var{end}), then the action
34689becomes equivalent to the @samp{s} action. In other words,
34690single-step once, and report the stop (even if the stepped instruction
34691jumps to @var{start}).
34692
34693(A stop reply may be sent at any point even if the PC is still within
34694the stepping range; for example, it is valid to implement this packet
34695in a degenerate way as a single instruction step operation.)
34696
34697@end table
34698
34699The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
34700@samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
34701not supported in @samp{vCont}.
34702
34703The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
34704(@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
34705A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
34706When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
34707the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
34708signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
34709as an implementation detail.
34710
34711The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
34712multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
34713this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
34714in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
34715@var{thread-id}.
34716
34717Reply:
34718@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34719
34720@item vCont?
34721@cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
34722Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
34723
34724Reply:
34725@table @samp
34726@item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
34727The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
34728command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
34729@item @w{}
34730The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
34731@end table
34732
34733@item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
34734@cindex @samp{vFile} packet
34735Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
34736see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
34737
34738@item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
34739@cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
34740Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
34741@var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
34742its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
34743flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
34744Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
34745together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
34746stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
34747packet is received.
34748
34749Reply:
34750@table @samp
34751@item OK
34752for success
34753@item E @var{NN}
34754for an error
34755@end table
34756
34757@item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
34758@cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
34759Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
34760is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
34761packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
34762@samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
34763not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
34764(although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
34765have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
34766@samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
34767neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
34768target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
34769
34770
34771Reply:
34772@table @samp
34773@item OK
34774for success
34775@item E.memtype
34776for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
34777@item E @var{NN}
34778for an error
34779@end table
34780
34781@item vFlashDone
34782@cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
34783Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
34784The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
34785@samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
34786@samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
34787regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
34788request is completed.
34789
34790@item vKill;@var{pid}
34791@cindex @samp{vKill} packet
34792@anchor{vKill packet}
34793Kill the process with the specified process ID @var{pid}, which is a
34794hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
34795preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
34796supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
34797
34798Reply:
34799@table @samp
34800@item E @var{nn}
34801for an error
34802@item OK
34803for success
34804@end table
34805
34806@item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
34807@cindex @samp{vRun} packet
34808Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
34809command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
34810@var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
34811(e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
34812state.
34813
34814@c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
34815
34816This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
34817
34818Reply:
34819@table @samp
34820@item E @var{nn}
34821for an error
34822@item @r{Any stop packet}
34823for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
34824@end table
34825
34826@item vStopped
34827@cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
34828@xref{Notification Packets}.
34829
34830@item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
34831@anchor{X packet}
34832@cindex @samp{X} packet
34833Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
34834Memory is specified by its address @var{addr} and number of bytes @var{length};
34835@samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
34836
34837Reply:
34838@table @samp
34839@item OK
34840for success
34841@item E @var{NN}
34842for an error
34843@end table
34844
34845@item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
34846@itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
34847@anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
34848@cindex @samp{z} packet
34849@cindex @samp{Z} packets
34850Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
34851watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
34852
34853Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
34854separately.
34855
34856@emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
34857for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
34858remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
34859@samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
34860avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
34861be implemented in an idempotent way.}
34862
34863@item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34864@itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}@r{[};cmds:@var{persist},@var{cmd_list}@dots{}@r{]}
34865@cindex @samp{z0} packet
34866@cindex @samp{Z0} packet
34867Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
34868@var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
34869
34870A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
34871@var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
34872@var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
34873the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
34874and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
34875architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
34876@var{cond_list} is an optional list of conditional expressions in bytecode
34877form that should be evaluated on the target's side. These are the
34878conditions that should be taken into consideration when deciding if
34879the breakpoint trigger should be reported back to @var{GDBN}.
34880
34881The @var{cond_list} parameter is comprised of a series of expressions,
34882concatenated without separators. Each expression has the following form:
34883
34884@table @samp
34885
34886@item X @var{len},@var{expr}
34887@var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
34888actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
34889
34890@end table
34891
34892The optional @var{cmd_list} parameter introduces commands that may be
34893run on the target, rather than being reported back to @value{GDBN}.
34894The parameter starts with a numeric flag @var{persist}; if the flag is
34895nonzero, then the breakpoint may remain active and the commands
34896continue to be run even when @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target.
34897Following this flag is a series of expressions concatenated with no
34898separators. Each expression has the following form:
34899
34900@table @samp
34901
34902@item X @var{len},@var{expr}
34903@var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
34904actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
34905
34906@end table
34907
34908see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
34909
34910@emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
34911code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
34912overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
34913target, is not defined.}
34914
34915Reply:
34916@table @samp
34917@item OK
34918success
34919@item @w{}
34920not supported
34921@item E @var{NN}
34922for an error
34923@end table
34924
34925@item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34926@itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}
34927@cindex @samp{z1} packet
34928@cindex @samp{Z1} packet
34929Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
34930address @var{addr}.
34931
34932A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
34933dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. The @var{kind}
34934and @var{cond_list} have the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
34935
34936@emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
34937movement.}
34938
34939Reply:
34940@table @samp
34941@item OK
34942success
34943@item @w{}
34944not supported
34945@item E @var{NN}
34946for an error
34947@end table
34948
34949@item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34950@itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34951@cindex @samp{z2} packet
34952@cindex @samp{Z2} packet
34953Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
34954The number of bytes to watch is specified by @var{kind}.
34955
34956Reply:
34957@table @samp
34958@item OK
34959success
34960@item @w{}
34961not supported
34962@item E @var{NN}
34963for an error
34964@end table
34965
34966@item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34967@itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34968@cindex @samp{z3} packet
34969@cindex @samp{Z3} packet
34970Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
34971The number of bytes to watch is specified by @var{kind}.
34972
34973Reply:
34974@table @samp
34975@item OK
34976success
34977@item @w{}
34978not supported
34979@item E @var{NN}
34980for an error
34981@end table
34982
34983@item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34984@itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34985@cindex @samp{z4} packet
34986@cindex @samp{Z4} packet
34987Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
34988The number of bytes to watch is specified by @var{kind}.
34989
34990Reply:
34991@table @samp
34992@item OK
34993success
34994@item @w{}
34995not supported
34996@item E @var{NN}
34997for an error
34998@end table
34999
35000@end table
35001
35002@node Stop Reply Packets
35003@section Stop Reply Packets
35004@cindex stop reply packets
35005
35006The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
35007@samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
35008receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
35009and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
35010when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
35011number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
35012@value{GDBN} source code.
35013
35014As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
35015reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
35016syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
35017components.
35018
35019@table @samp
35020
35021@item S @var{AA}
35022The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
35023number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
35024@var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
35025
35026@item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
35027@cindex @samp{T} packet reply
35028The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
35029number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
35030@samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
35031and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
35032round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
35033this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
35034
35035@itemize @bullet
35036@item
35037If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
35038corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. The data @var{r} is a
35039series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
35040two-digit hex number.
35041
35042@item
35043If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
35044the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
35045
35046@item
35047If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
35048the core on which the stop event was detected.
35049
35050@item
35051If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
35052specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
35053reasons are listed below. The @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
35054signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
35055
35056@item
35057Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
35058and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
35059future.
35060@end itemize
35061
35062The currently defined stop reasons are:
35063
35064@table @samp
35065@item watch
35066@itemx rwatch
35067@itemx awatch
35068The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
35069hex.
35070
35071@cindex shared library events, remote reply
35072@item library
35073The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
35074@value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
35075list of loaded libraries. The @var{r} part is ignored.
35076
35077@cindex replay log events, remote reply
35078@item replaylog
35079The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
35080logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
35081beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
35082will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
35083for more information.
35084@end table
35085
35086@item W @var{AA}
35087@itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
35088The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
35089applicable to certain targets.
35090
35091The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
35092process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
35093multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
35094The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
35095
35096@item X @var{AA}
35097@itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
35098The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
35099
35100The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
35101terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
35102support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
35103extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
35104
35105@item O @var{XX}@dots{}
35106@samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
35107written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
35108while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
35109for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
35110
35111@item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
35112@var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
35113be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
35114correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
35115@xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
35116system calls.
35117
35118@samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
35119this very system call.
35120
35121The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
35122call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
35123with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
35124reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
35125or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
35126Protocol Extension}, for more details.
35127
35128@end table
35129
35130@node General Query Packets
35131@section General Query Packets
35132@cindex remote query requests
35133
35134Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
35135packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
35136query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
35137sending information to and from the stub.
35138
35139The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
35140indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
35141@value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
35142definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
35143conventions:
35144
35145@itemize @bullet
35146@item
35147The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
35148@item
35149Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
35150letter.
35151@item
35152The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
35153lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
35154the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
35155foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
35156@end itemize
35157
35158The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
35159parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
35160separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
35161full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
35162in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
35163with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
35164packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
35165for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
35166are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
35167existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
35168packet.}.
35169
35170Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
35171has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
35172explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
35173templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
35174@value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
35175
35176Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
35177
35178@table @samp
35179
35180@item QAgent:1
35181@itemx QAgent:0
35182Turn on or off the agent as a helper to perform some debugging operations
35183delegated from @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Control Agent}).
35184
35185@item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
35186@cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
35187Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
35188target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
35189pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
35190@samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
35191@samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
35192indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
35193indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
35194own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
35195insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
35196
35197@item qC
35198@cindex current thread, remote request
35199@cindex @samp{qC} packet
35200Return the current thread ID.
35201
35202Reply:
35203@table @samp
35204@item QC @var{thread-id}
35205Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
35206@ref{thread-id syntax}.
35207@item @r{(anything else)}
35208Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
35209@end table
35210
35211@item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
35212@cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
35213@cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
35214@anchor{qCRC packet}
35215Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
35216IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
35217significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
35218@code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
35219
35220@emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
35221files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
35222Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
35223separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
35224significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
35225detect trailing zeros.
35226
35227Reply:
35228@table @samp
35229@item E @var{NN}
35230An error (such as memory fault)
35231@item C @var{crc32}
35232The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
35233@end table
35234
35235@item QDisableRandomization:@var{value}
35236@cindex disable address space randomization, remote request
35237@cindex @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet
35238Some target operating systems will randomize the virtual address space
35239of the inferior process as a security feature, but provide a feature
35240to disable such randomization, e.g.@: to allow for a more deterministic
35241debugging experience. On such systems, this packet with a @var{value}
35242of 1 directs the target to disable address space randomization for
35243processes subsequently started via @samp{vRun} packets, while a packet
35244with a @var{value} of 0 tells the target to enable address space
35245randomization.
35246
35247This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
35248
35249Reply:
35250@table @samp
35251@item OK
35252The request succeeded.
35253
35254@item E @var{nn}
35255An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
35256
35257@item @w{}
35258An empty reply indicates that @samp{QDisableRandomization} is not supported
35259by the stub.
35260@end table
35261
35262This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35263by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35264This should only be done on targets that actually support disabling
35265address space randomization.
35266
35267@item qfThreadInfo
35268@itemx qsThreadInfo
35269@cindex list active threads, remote request
35270@cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
35271@cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
35272Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
35273may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
35274works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
35275obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
35276be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
35277sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
35278
35279NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
35280
35281Reply:
35282@table @samp
35283@item m @var{thread-id}
35284A single thread ID
35285@item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
35286a comma-separated list of thread IDs
35287@item l
35288(lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
35289@end table
35290
35291In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
35292more thread IDs, separated by commas.
35293@value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
35294ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
35295with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for @dfn{last}).
35296Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
35297fields.
35298
35299@emph{Note: @value{GDBN} will send the @code{qfThreadInfo} query during the
35300initial connection with the remote target, and the very first thread ID
35301mentioned in the reply will be stopped by @value{GDBN} in a subsequent
35302message. Therefore, the stub should ensure that the first thread ID in
35303the @code{qfThreadInfo} reply is suitable for being stopped by @value{GDBN}.}
35304
35305@item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
35306@cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
35307@cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
35308Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
35309by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
35310
35311@var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
35312thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
35313
35314@var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
35315thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
35316information associated with the variable.)
35317
35318@var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
35319load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
35320a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
35321object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
35322Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
35323differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
35324
35325Reply:
35326@table @samp
35327@item @var{XX}@dots{}
35328Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
35329local storage requested.
35330
35331@item E @var{nn}
35332An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
35333
35334@item @w{}
35335An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
35336@end table
35337
35338@item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
35339@cindex get thread information block address
35340@cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
35341Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
35342
35343@var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
35344
35345Reply:
35346@table @samp
35347@item @var{XX}@dots{}
35348Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
35349thread information block.
35350
35351@item E @var{nn}
35352An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
35353address could not be retrieved.
35354
35355@item @w{}
35356An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
35357@end table
35358
35359@item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
35360Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
35361digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
35362subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
35363number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
35364(eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
35365returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
35366
35367Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
35368
35369Reply:
35370@table @samp
35371@item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
35372Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
35373returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
35374and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
35375digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
35376is a sequence of thread IDs, @var{threadid} (eight hex
35377digits), from the target. See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
35378@end table
35379
35380@item qOffsets
35381@cindex section offsets, remote request
35382@cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
35383Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
35384image.
35385
35386Reply:
35387@table @samp
35388@item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
35389Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
35390Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
35391If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
35392@samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
35393segments by the supplied offsets.
35394
35395@emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
35396@value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
35397to the @code{Bss} section.}
35398
35399@item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
35400Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
35401contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
35402@samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
35403conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
35404@var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
35405does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
35406as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
35407kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
35408@end table
35409
35410@item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
35411@cindex thread information, remote request
35412@cindex @samp{qP} packet
35413Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
35414encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
35415(@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
35416
35417Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
35418(see below).
35419
35420Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
35421
35422@item QNonStop:1
35423@itemx QNonStop:0
35424@cindex non-stop mode, remote request
35425@cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
35426@anchor{QNonStop}
35427Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
35428@xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
35429
35430Reply:
35431@table @samp
35432@item OK
35433The request succeeded.
35434
35435@item E @var{nn}
35436An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
35437
35438@item @w{}
35439An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
35440the stub.
35441@end table
35442
35443This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35444by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35445Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
35446@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
35447
35448@item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
35449@cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
35450@cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
35451@anchor{QPassSignals}
35452Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
35453Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
35454(@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
35455strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
35456the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
35457reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
35458combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
35459new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
35460@var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
35461
35462Reply:
35463@table @samp
35464@item OK
35465The request succeeded.
35466
35467@item E @var{nn}
35468An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
35469
35470@item @w{}
35471An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
35472the stub.
35473@end table
35474
35475Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
35476command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
35477This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35478by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35479
35480@item QProgramSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
35481@cindex signals the inferior may see, remote request
35482@cindex @samp{QProgramSignals} packet
35483@anchor{QProgramSignals}
35484Each listed @var{signal} may be delivered to the inferior process.
35485Others should be silently discarded.
35486
35487In some cases, the remote stub may need to decide whether to deliver a
35488signal to the program or not without @value{GDBN} involvement. One
35489example of that is while detaching --- the program's threads may have
35490stopped for signals that haven't yet had a chance of being reported to
35491@value{GDBN}, and so the remote stub can use the signal list specified
35492by this packet to know whether to deliver or ignore those pending
35493signals.
35494
35495This does not influence whether to deliver a signal as requested by a
35496resumption packet (@pxref{vCont packet}).
35497
35498Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
35499(@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
35500strictly greater than the previous item. Multiple
35501@samp{QProgramSignals} packets do not combine; any earlier
35502@samp{QProgramSignals} list is completely replaced by the new list.
35503
35504Reply:
35505@table @samp
35506@item OK
35507The request succeeded.
35508
35509@item E @var{nn}
35510An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
35511
35512@item @w{}
35513An empty reply indicates that @samp{QProgramSignals} is not supported
35514by the stub.
35515@end table
35516
35517Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote program-signals}
35518command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote program-signals}).
35519This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35520by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35521
35522@item qRcmd,@var{command}
35523@cindex execute remote command, remote request
35524@cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
35525@var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
35526execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
35527string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
35528with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
35529packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
35530stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
35531
35532Reply:
35533@table @samp
35534@item OK
35535A command response with no output.
35536@item @var{OUTPUT}
35537A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
35538@item E @var{NN}
35539Indicate a badly formed request.
35540@item @w{}
35541An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
35542@end table
35543
35544(Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
35545command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
35546conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
35547packets.)
35548
35549@item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
35550@cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
35551@ifnotinfo
35552@cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
35553@end ifnotinfo
35554@cindex @samp{qSearch memory} packet
35555@anchor{qSearch memory}
35556Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
35557Both @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex;
35558@var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, also hex encoded.
35559
35560Reply:
35561@table @samp
35562@item 0
35563The pattern was not found.
35564@item 1,address
35565The pattern was found at @var{address}.
35566@item E @var{NN}
35567A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
35568@item @w{}
35569An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
35570@end table
35571
35572@item QStartNoAckMode
35573@cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
35574@anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
35575Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
35576protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
35577
35578Reply:
35579@table @samp
35580@item OK
35581The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
35582@value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
35583but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
35584@samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
35585@item @w{}
35586An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
35587@end table
35588
35589@item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
35590@cindex supported packets, remote query
35591@cindex features of the remote protocol
35592@cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
35593@anchor{qSupported}
35594Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
35595query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
35596@value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
35597features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
35598at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
35599packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
35600high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
35601be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
35602stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
35603automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
35604reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
35605unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
35606helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
35607versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
35608
35609Reply:
35610@table @samp
35611@item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
35612The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
35613depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
35614possible forms).
35615@item @w{}
35616An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
35617or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
35618@end table
35619
35620The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
35621@samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
35622are:
35623
35624@table @samp
35625@item @var{name}=@var{value}
35626The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
35627with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
35628on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
35629@item @var{name}+
35630The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
35631need an associated value.
35632@item @var{name}-
35633The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
35634@item @var{name}?
35635The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
35636@value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
35637needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
35638but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
35639@end table
35640
35641Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
35642supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
35643request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
35644state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
35645a different version of @value{GDBN}.
35646
35647The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
35648are defined:
35649
35650@table @samp
35651@item multiprocess
35652This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
35653extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
35654extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
35655including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
35656@xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
35657
35658@item xmlRegisters
35659This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
35660description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
35661specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
35662description.
35663
35664@item qRelocInsn
35665This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
35666@samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
35667instruction reply packet}).
35668@end table
35669
35670Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
35671@var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
35672packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
35673versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
35674for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
35675advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
35676improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
35677an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
35678of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
35679describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
35680all the features it supports.
35681
35682Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
35683responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
35684
35685Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
35686should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
35687require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
35688form response.
35689
35690Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
35691@samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
35692in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
35693stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
35694
35695Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
35696mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
35697architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
35698about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
35699stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
35700
35701These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
35702
35703@multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
35704@c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
35705@c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
35706@item Feature Name
35707@tab Value Required
35708@tab Default
35709@tab Probe Allowed
35710
35711@item @samp{PacketSize}
35712@tab Yes
35713@tab @samp{-}
35714@tab No
35715
35716@item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
35717@tab No
35718@tab @samp{-}
35719@tab Yes
35720
35721@item @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
35722@tab No
35723@tab @samp{-}
35724@tab Yes
35725
35726@item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
35727@tab No
35728@tab @samp{-}
35729@tab Yes
35730
35731@item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
35732@tab No
35733@tab @samp{-}
35734@tab Yes
35735
35736@item @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read}
35737@tab No
35738@tab @samp{-}
35739@tab Yes
35740
35741@item @samp{augmented-libraries-svr4-read}
35742@tab No
35743@tab @samp{-}
35744@tab No
35745
35746@item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
35747@tab No
35748@tab @samp{-}
35749@tab Yes
35750
35751@item @samp{qXfer:sdata:read}
35752@tab No
35753@tab @samp{-}
35754@tab Yes
35755
35756@item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
35757@tab No
35758@tab @samp{-}
35759@tab Yes
35760
35761@item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
35762@tab No
35763@tab @samp{-}
35764@tab Yes
35765
35766@item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
35767@tab No
35768@tab @samp{-}
35769@tab Yes
35770
35771@item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
35772@tab No
35773@tab @samp{-}
35774@tab Yes
35775
35776@item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
35777@tab No
35778@tab @samp{-}
35779@tab Yes
35780
35781@item @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
35782@tab No
35783@tab @samp{-}
35784@tab Yes
35785
35786@item @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
35787@tab No
35788@tab @samp{-}
35789@tab Yes
35790
35791@item @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
35792@tab No
35793@tab @samp{-}
35794@tab Yes
35795
35796@item @samp{Qbtrace:off}
35797@tab Yes
35798@tab @samp{-}
35799@tab Yes
35800
35801@item @samp{Qbtrace:bts}
35802@tab Yes
35803@tab @samp{-}
35804@tab Yes
35805
35806@item @samp{QNonStop}
35807@tab No
35808@tab @samp{-}
35809@tab Yes
35810
35811@item @samp{QPassSignals}
35812@tab No
35813@tab @samp{-}
35814@tab Yes
35815
35816@item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
35817@tab No
35818@tab @samp{-}
35819@tab Yes
35820
35821@item @samp{multiprocess}
35822@tab No
35823@tab @samp{-}
35824@tab No
35825
35826@item @samp{ConditionalBreakpoints}
35827@tab No
35828@tab @samp{-}
35829@tab No
35830
35831@item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
35832@tab No
35833@tab @samp{-}
35834@tab No
35835
35836@item @samp{ReverseContinue}
35837@tab No
35838@tab @samp{-}
35839@tab No
35840
35841@item @samp{ReverseStep}
35842@tab No
35843@tab @samp{-}
35844@tab No
35845
35846@item @samp{TracepointSource}
35847@tab No
35848@tab @samp{-}
35849@tab No
35850
35851@item @samp{QAgent}
35852@tab No
35853@tab @samp{-}
35854@tab No
35855
35856@item @samp{QAllow}
35857@tab No
35858@tab @samp{-}
35859@tab No
35860
35861@item @samp{QDisableRandomization}
35862@tab No
35863@tab @samp{-}
35864@tab No
35865
35866@item @samp{EnableDisableTracepoints}
35867@tab No
35868@tab @samp{-}
35869@tab No
35870
35871@item @samp{QTBuffer:size}
35872@tab No
35873@tab @samp{-}
35874@tab No
35875
35876@item @samp{tracenz}
35877@tab No
35878@tab @samp{-}
35879@tab No
35880
35881@item @samp{BreakpointCommands}
35882@tab No
35883@tab @samp{-}
35884@tab No
35885
35886@end multitable
35887
35888These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
35889
35890@table @samp
35891@cindex packet size, remote protocol
35892@item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
35893The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
35894length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
35895transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
35896data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
35897There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
35898stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
35899byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
35900@value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
35901
35902@item qXfer:auxv:read
35903The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
35904(@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
35905
35906@item qXfer:btrace:read
35907The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
35908packet (@pxref{qXfer btrace read}).
35909
35910@item qXfer:features:read
35911The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
35912(@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
35913
35914@item qXfer:libraries:read
35915The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
35916(@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
35917
35918@item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read
35919The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
35920(@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
35921
35922@item augmented-libraries-svr4-read
35923The remote stub understands the augmented form of the
35924@samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
35925(@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
35926
35927@item qXfer:memory-map:read
35928The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
35929(@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
35930
35931@item qXfer:sdata:read
35932The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:sdata:read} packet
35933(@pxref{qXfer sdata read}).
35934
35935@item qXfer:spu:read
35936The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
35937(@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
35938
35939@item qXfer:spu:write
35940The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
35941(@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
35942
35943@item qXfer:siginfo:read
35944The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
35945(@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
35946
35947@item qXfer:siginfo:write
35948The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
35949(@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
35950
35951@item qXfer:threads:read
35952The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
35953(@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
35954
35955@item qXfer:traceframe-info:read
35956The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
35957packet (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}).
35958
35959@item qXfer:uib:read
35960The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
35961packet (@pxref{qXfer unwind info block}).
35962
35963@item qXfer:fdpic:read
35964The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
35965packet (@pxref{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}).
35966
35967@item QNonStop
35968The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
35969(@pxref{QNonStop}).
35970
35971@item QPassSignals
35972The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
35973(@pxref{QPassSignals}).
35974
35975@item QStartNoAckMode
35976The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
35977prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
35978
35979@item multiprocess
35980@anchor{multiprocess extensions}
35981@cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
35982The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
35983protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
35984thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
35985add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
35986replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
35987syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
35988debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
35989multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
35990indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
35991
35992@item qXfer:osdata:read
35993The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
35994((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
35995
35996@item ConditionalBreakpoints
35997The target accepts and implements evaluation of conditional expressions
35998defined for breakpoints. The target will only report breakpoint triggers
35999when such conditions are true (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
36000
36001@item ConditionalTracepoints
36002The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
36003for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
36004
36005@item ReverseContinue
36006The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
36007(@pxref{bc}).
36008
36009@item ReverseStep
36010The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
36011(@pxref{bs}).
36012
36013@item TracepointSource
36014The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
36015the source form of tracepoint definitions.
36016
36017@item QAgent
36018The remote stub understands the @samp{QAgent} packet.
36019
36020@item QAllow
36021The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
36022
36023@item QDisableRandomization
36024The remote stub understands the @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet.
36025
36026@item StaticTracepoint
36027@cindex static tracepoints, in remote protocol
36028The remote stub supports static tracepoints.
36029
36030@item InstallInTrace
36031@anchor{install tracepoint in tracing}
36032The remote stub supports installing tracepoint in tracing.
36033
36034@item EnableDisableTracepoints
36035The remote stub supports the @samp{QTEnable} (@pxref{QTEnable}) and
36036@samp{QTDisable} (@pxref{QTDisable}) packets that allow tracepoints
36037to be enabled and disabled while a trace experiment is running.
36038
36039@item QTBuffer:size
36040The remote stub supports the @samp{QTBuffer:size} (@pxref{QTBuffer-size})
36041packet that allows to change the size of the trace buffer.
36042
36043@item tracenz
36044@cindex string tracing, in remote protocol
36045The remote stub supports the @samp{tracenz} bytecode for collecting strings.
36046See @ref{Bytecode Descriptions} for details about the bytecode.
36047
36048@item BreakpointCommands
36049@cindex breakpoint commands, in remote protocol
36050The remote stub supports running a breakpoint's command list itself,
36051rather than reporting the hit to @value{GDBN}.
36052
36053@item Qbtrace:off
36054The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:off} packet.
36055
36056@item Qbtrace:bts
36057The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:bts} packet.
36058
36059@end table
36060
36061@item qSymbol::
36062@cindex symbol lookup, remote request
36063@cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
36064Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
36065requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
36066
36067Reply:
36068@table @samp
36069@item OK
36070The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
36071@item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
36072The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
36073@value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
36074@samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
36075below.
36076@end table
36077
36078@item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
36079Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
36080
36081@var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
36082target has previously requested.
36083
36084@var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
36085@value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
36086will be empty.
36087
36088Reply:
36089@table @samp
36090@item OK
36091The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
36092@item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
36093The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
36094encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
36095(if available), until the target ceases to request them.
36096@end table
36097
36098@item qTBuffer
36099@itemx QTBuffer
36100@itemx QTDisconnected
36101@itemx QTDP
36102@itemx QTDPsrc
36103@itemx QTDV
36104@itemx qTfP
36105@itemx qTfV
36106@itemx QTFrame
36107@itemx qTMinFTPILen
36108
36109@xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
36110
36111@item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
36112@cindex thread attributes info, remote request
36113@cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
36114Obtain from the target OS a printable string description of thread
36115attributes for the thread @var{thread-id}; see @ref{thread-id syntax},
36116for the forms of @var{thread-id}. This
36117string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
36118for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
36119displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
36120examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
36121@samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
36122
36123Reply:
36124@table @samp
36125@item @var{XX}@dots{}
36126Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
36127comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
36128the thread's attributes.
36129@end table
36130
36131(Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
36132the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
36133conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
36134packets.)
36135
36136@item QTNotes
36137@itemx qTP
36138@itemx QTSave
36139@itemx qTsP
36140@itemx qTsV
36141@itemx QTStart
36142@itemx QTStop
36143@itemx QTEnable
36144@itemx QTDisable
36145@itemx QTinit
36146@itemx QTro
36147@itemx qTStatus
36148@itemx qTV
36149@itemx qTfSTM
36150@itemx qTsSTM
36151@itemx qTSTMat
36152@xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
36153
36154@item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36155@cindex read special object, remote request
36156@cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
36157@anchor{qXfer read}
36158Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
36159identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
36160starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
36161encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
36162additional details about what data to access.
36163
36164Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
36165@samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
36166formats, listed below.
36167
36168@table @samp
36169@item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36170@anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
36171Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
36172auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
36173
36174This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36175by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36176
36177@item qXfer:btrace:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36178@anchor{qXfer btrace read}
36179
36180Return a description of the current branch trace.
36181@xref{Branch Trace Format}. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer}
36182packet may have one of the following values:
36183
36184@table @code
36185@item all
36186Returns all available branch trace.
36187
36188@item new
36189Returns all available branch trace if the branch trace changed since
36190the last read request.
36191
36192@item delta
36193Returns the new branch trace since the last read request. Adds a new
36194block to the end of the trace that begins at zero and ends at the source
36195location of the first branch in the trace buffer. This extra block is
36196used to stitch traces together.
36197
36198If the trace buffer overflowed, returns an error indicating the overflow.
36199@end table
36200
36201This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it
36202by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36203
36204@item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36205@anchor{qXfer target description read}
36206Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
36207annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
36208always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
36209
36210This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36211by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36212
36213@item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36214@anchor{qXfer library list read}
36215Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
36216The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
36217(@pxref{qXfer read}).
36218
36219Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
36220not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
36221the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
36222
36223This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36224by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36225
36226@item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36227@anchor{qXfer svr4 library list read}
36228Access the target's list of loaded libraries when the target is an SVR4
36229platform. @xref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets}. The annex part
36230of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty unless the remote
36231stub indicated it supports the augmented form of this packet
36232by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
36233(@pxref{qXfer read}, @ref{qSupported}).
36234
36235This packet is optional for better performance on SVR4 targets.
36236@value{GDBN} uses memory read packets to read the SVR4 library list otherwise.
36237
36238This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36239by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36240
36241If the remote stub indicates it supports the augmented form of this
36242packet then the annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet may
36243contain a semicolon-separated list of @samp{@var{name}=@var{value}}
36244arguments. The currently supported arguments are:
36245
36246@table @code
36247@item start=@var{address}
36248A hexadecimal number specifying the address of the @samp{struct
36249link_map} to start reading the library list from. If unset or zero
36250then the first @samp{struct link_map} in the library list will be
36251chosen as the starting point.
36252
36253@item prev=@var{address}
36254A hexadecimal number specifying the address of the @samp{struct
36255link_map} immediately preceding the @samp{struct link_map}
36256specified by the @samp{start} argument. If unset or zero then
36257the remote stub will expect that no @samp{struct link_map}
36258exists prior to the starting point.
36259
36260@end table
36261
36262Arguments that are not understood by the remote stub will be silently
36263ignored.
36264
36265@item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36266@anchor{qXfer memory map read}
36267Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
36268annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
36269(@pxref{qXfer read}).
36270
36271This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36272by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36273
36274@item qXfer:sdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36275@anchor{qXfer sdata read}
36276
36277Read contents of the extra collected static tracepoint marker
36278information. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must
36279be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}). @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint
36280Action Lists}.
36281
36282This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36283by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
36284(@pxref{qSupported}).
36285
36286@item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36287@anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
36288Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
36289system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
36290empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
36291
36292This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36293by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
36294(@pxref{qSupported}).
36295
36296@item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36297@anchor{qXfer spu read}
36298Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
36299annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
36300@file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
36301in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
36302in that context to be accessed.
36303
36304This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36305by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
36306(@pxref{qSupported}).
36307
36308@item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36309@anchor{qXfer threads read}
36310Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
36311annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
36312(@pxref{qXfer read}).
36313
36314This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36315by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36316
36317@item qXfer:traceframe-info:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36318@anchor{qXfer traceframe info read}
36319
36320Return a description of the current traceframe's contents.
36321@xref{Traceframe Info Format}. The annex part of the generic
36322@samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
36323
36324This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36325by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36326
36327@item qXfer:uib:read:@var{pc}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36328@anchor{qXfer unwind info block}
36329
36330Return the unwind information block for @var{pc}. This packet is used
36331on OpenVMS/ia64 to ask the kernel unwind information.
36332
36333This packet is not probed by default.
36334
36335@item qXfer:fdpic:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36336@anchor{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}
36337Read contents of @code{loadmap}s on the target system. The
36338annex, either @samp{exec} or @samp{interp}, specifies which @code{loadmap},
36339executable @code{loadmap} or interpreter @code{loadmap} to read.
36340
36341This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36342by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36343
36344@item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36345@anchor{qXfer osdata read}
36346Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
36347@xref{Operating System Information}.
36348
36349@end table
36350
36351Reply:
36352@table @samp
36353@item m @var{data}
36354Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
36355target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
36356it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
36357block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
36358It is possible for @var{data} to have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
36359request.
36360
36361@item l @var{data}
36362Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
36363There is no more data to be read. It is possible for @var{data} to
36364have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the request.
36365
36366@item l
36367The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
36368There is no more data to be read.
36369
36370@item E00
36371The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
36372
36373@item E @var{nn}
36374The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
36375The @var{nn} part is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
36376
36377@item @w{}
36378An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
36379the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
36380@end table
36381
36382@item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
36383@cindex write data into object, remote request
36384@anchor{qXfer write}
36385Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
36386identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
36387into the data. The binary-encoded data (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be
36388written is given by @var{data}@dots{}. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
36389is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
36390to access.
36391
36392Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
36393@samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
36394formats, listed below.
36395
36396@table @samp
36397@item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
36398@anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
36399Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
36400The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
36401empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
36402
36403This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36404by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
36405(@pxref{qSupported}).
36406
36407@item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
36408@anchor{qXfer spu write}
36409Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
36410annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
36411@file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
36412in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
36413in that context to be accessed.
36414
36415This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36416by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36417@end table
36418
36419Reply:
36420@table @samp
36421@item @var{nn}
36422@var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
36423This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
36424
36425@item E00
36426The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
36427
36428@item E @var{nn}
36429The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
36430The @var{nn} part is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
36431
36432@item @w{}
36433An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
36434recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
36435@end table
36436
36437@item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
36438Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
36439not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
36440@var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
36441must respond with an empty packet.
36442
36443@item qAttached:@var{pid}
36444@cindex query attached, remote request
36445@cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
36446Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
36447existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
36448protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
36449@var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
36450process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
36451the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
36452
36453This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
36454should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
36455the @code{quit} command.
36456
36457Reply:
36458@table @samp
36459@item 1
36460The remote server attached to an existing process.
36461@item 0
36462The remote server created a new process.
36463@item E @var{NN}
36464A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
36465@end table
36466
36467@item Qbtrace:bts
36468Enable branch tracing for the current thread using bts tracing.
36469
36470Reply:
36471@table @samp
36472@item OK
36473Branch tracing has been enabled.
36474@item E.errtext
36475A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
36476@end table
36477
36478@item Qbtrace:off
36479Disable branch tracing for the current thread.
36480
36481Reply:
36482@table @samp
36483@item OK
36484Branch tracing has been disabled.
36485@item E.errtext
36486A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
36487@end table
36488
36489@end table
36490
36491@node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
36492@section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
36493
36494This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
36495target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
36496details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
36497
36498@menu
36499* ARM-Specific Protocol Details::
36500* MIPS-Specific Protocol Details::
36501@end menu
36502
36503@node ARM-Specific Protocol Details
36504@subsection @acronym{ARM}-specific Protocol Details
36505
36506@menu
36507* ARM Breakpoint Kinds::
36508@end menu
36509
36510@node ARM Breakpoint Kinds
36511@subsubsection @acronym{ARM} Breakpoint Kinds
36512@cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{ARM}
36513
36514These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
36515
36516@table @r
36517
36518@item 2
3651916-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
36520
36521@item 3
3652232-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
36523
36524@item 4
3652532-bit @acronym{ARM} mode breakpoint.
36526
36527@end table
36528
36529@node MIPS-Specific Protocol Details
36530@subsection @acronym{MIPS}-specific Protocol Details
36531
36532@menu
36533* MIPS Register packet Format::
36534* MIPS Breakpoint Kinds::
36535@end menu
36536
36537@node MIPS Register packet Format
36538@subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Register Packet Format
36539@cindex register packet format, @acronym{MIPS}
36540
36541The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
36542In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
36543sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
36544to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
36545byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
36546most-significant -- least-significant.
36547
36548@table @r
36549
36550@item MIPS32
36551All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
3655232 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
36553registers; fsr; fir; fp.
36554
36555@item MIPS64
36556All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
36557thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
36558as @code{MIPS32}.
36559
36560@end table
36561
36562@node MIPS Breakpoint Kinds
36563@subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Breakpoint Kinds
36564@cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{MIPS}
36565
36566These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
36567
36568@table @r
36569
36570@item 2
3657116-bit @acronym{MIPS16} mode breakpoint.
36572
36573@item 3
3657416-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
36575
36576@item 4
3657732-bit standard @acronym{MIPS} mode breakpoint.
36578
36579@item 5
3658032-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
36581
36582@end table
36583
36584@node Tracepoint Packets
36585@section Tracepoint Packets
36586@cindex tracepoint packets
36587@cindex packets, tracepoint
36588
36589Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
36590tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
36591
36592@table @samp
36593
36594@item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
36595@cindex @samp{QTDP} packet
36596Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
36597is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
36598the tracepoint is disabled. The @var{step} gives the tracepoint's step
36599count, and @var{pass} gives its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
36600then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
36601the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
36602for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
36603tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
36604by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
36605encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
36606further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
36607actions.
36608
36609Replies:
36610@table @samp
36611@item OK
36612The packet was understood and carried out.
36613@item qRelocInsn
36614@xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
36615@item @w{}
36616The packet was not recognized.
36617@end table
36618
36619@item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
36620Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. The @var{n} and
36621@var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
36622this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
36623another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
36624trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
36625specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
36626
36627In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
36628can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
36629is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
36630actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
36631taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
36632@samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
36633tracepoint actions.
36634
36635The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
36636actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
36637following forms:
36638
36639@table @samp
36640
36641@item R @var{mask}
36642Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask},
36643a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
36644@var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
36645zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
36646not fit in a 32-bit word.
36647
36648@item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
36649Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
36650number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
36651@samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
36652address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
36653@var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
36654values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
36655
36656@item X @var{len},@var{expr}
36657Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
36658it directs. The agent expression @var{expr} is as described in
36659@ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
36660two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
36661in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
36662packet).
36663
36664@end table
36665
36666Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
36667packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
36668length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
36669action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
36670actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
36671must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
36672``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
36673separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
36674
36675Replies:
36676@table @samp
36677@item OK
36678The packet was understood and carried out.
36679@item qRelocInsn
36680@xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
36681@item @w{}
36682The packet was not recognized.
36683@end table
36684
36685@item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
36686@cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
36687Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
36688This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
36689originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. The @var{type}
36690is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
36691tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
36692@var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
36693
36694@var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
36695string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
36696This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
36697fit in a single packet.
36698@c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
36699@c tracepoint descriptions section.
36700
36701The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
36702@samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
36703@value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
36704list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
36705
36706The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
36707report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
36708query packets.
36709
36710Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
36711if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
36712Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
36713much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
36714tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
36715the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
36716could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
36717be found.
36718
36719@item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}
36720@cindex define trace state variable, remote request
36721@cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
36722Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
36723value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
36724and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
36725the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
36726target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
36727mentioned in expressions.
36728
36729@item QTFrame:@var{n}
36730@cindex @samp{QTFrame} packet
36731Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
36732register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
36733request packets from @value{GDBN}.
36734
36735A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
36736requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
36737without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
36738one of the following forms:
36739
36740@table @samp
36741@item F @var{f}
36742The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
36743@var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
36744was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
36745
36746@item T @var{t}
36747The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
36748@var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
36749
36750@end table
36751
36752@item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
36753Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
36754currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
36755@var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
36756
36757@item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
36758Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
36759currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
36760is a hexadecimal number.
36761
36762@item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
36763Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
36764currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
36765and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
36766numbers.
36767
36768@item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
36769Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
36770frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
36771
36772@item qTMinFTPILen
36773@cindex @samp{qTMinFTPILen} packet
36774This packet requests the minimum length of instruction at which a fast
36775tracepoint (@pxref{Set Tracepoints}) may be placed. For instance, on
36776the 32-bit x86 architecture, it is possible to use a 4-byte jump, but
36777it depends on the target system being able to create trampolines in
36778the first 64K of memory, which might or might not be possible for that
36779system. So the reply to this packet will be 4 if it is able to
36780arrange for that.
36781
36782Replies:
36783
36784@table @samp
36785@item 0
36786The minimum instruction length is currently unknown.
36787@item @var{length}
36788The minimum instruction length is @var{length}, where @var{length}
36789is a hexadecimal number greater or equal to 1. A reply
36790of 1 means that a fast tracepoint may be placed on any instruction
36791regardless of size.
36792@item E
36793An error has occurred.
36794@item @w{}
36795An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the stub.
36796@end table
36797
36798@item QTStart
36799@cindex @samp{QTStart} packet
36800Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
36801tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
36802@samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
36803instruction reply packet}).
36804
36805@item QTStop
36806@cindex @samp{QTStop} packet
36807End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
36808
36809@item QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
36810@anchor{QTEnable}
36811@cindex @samp{QTEnable} packet
36812Enable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
36813experiment. If the tracepoint was previously disabled, then collection
36814of data from it will resume.
36815
36816@item QTDisable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
36817@anchor{QTDisable}
36818@cindex @samp{QTDisable} packet
36819Disable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
36820experiment. No more data will be collected from the tracepoint unless
36821@samp{QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}} is subsequently issued.
36822
36823@item QTinit
36824@cindex @samp{QTinit} packet
36825Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
36826
36827@item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
36828@cindex @samp{QTro} packet
36829Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
36830will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
36831if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
36832
36833@value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
36834containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
36835still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
36836there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
36837
36838@item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
36839@cindex @samp{QTDisconnected} packet
36840Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
36841disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
36842continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
36843@value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
36844
36845@item qTStatus
36846@cindex @samp{qTStatus} packet
36847Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
36848
36849The reply has the form:
36850
36851@table @samp
36852
36853@item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
36854@var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
36855running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
36856optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
36857
36858@end table
36859
36860If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
36861explanations as one of the optional fields:
36862
36863@table @samp
36864
36865@item tnotrun:0
36866No trace has been run yet.
36867
36868@item tstop[:@var{text}]:0
36869The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command. The optional
36870@var{text} field is a user-supplied string supplied as part of the
36871stop command (for instance, an explanation of why the trace was
36872stopped manually). It is hex-encoded.
36873
36874@item tfull:0
36875The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
36876
36877@item tdisconnected:0
36878The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
36879
36880@item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
36881The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
36882
36883@item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
36884The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
36885string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
36886(for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression); it
36887is hex encoded.
36888
36889@item tunknown:0
36890The trace stopped for some other reason.
36891
36892@end table
36893
36894Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
36895Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
36896the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
36897numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
36898trace.
36899
36900@table @samp
36901
36902@item tframes:@var{n}
36903The number of trace frames in the buffer.
36904
36905@item tcreated:@var{n}
36906The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
36907be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
36908
36909@item tsize:@var{n}
36910The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
36911
36912@item tfree:@var{n}
36913The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
36914
36915@item circular:@var{n}
36916The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
36917trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
36918necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
36919and may fill up.
36920
36921@item disconn:@var{n}
36922The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
36923tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
36924that the trace run will stop.
36925
36926@end table
36927
36928@item qTP:@var{tp}:@var{addr}
36929@cindex tracepoint status, remote request
36930@cindex @samp{qTP} packet
36931Ask the stub for the current state of tracepoint number @var{tp} at
36932address @var{addr}.
36933
36934Replies:
36935@table @samp
36936@item V@var{hits}:@var{usage}
36937The tracepoint has been hit @var{hits} times so far during the trace
36938run, and accounts for @var{usage} in the trace buffer. Note that
36939@code{while-stepping} steps are not counted as separate hits, but the
36940steps' space consumption is added into the usage number.
36941
36942@end table
36943
36944@item qTV:@var{var}
36945@cindex trace state variable value, remote request
36946@cindex @samp{qTV} packet
36947Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
36948
36949Replies:
36950@table @samp
36951@item V@var{value}
36952The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
36953value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
36954saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
36955user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
36956different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
36957program is running.
36958
36959@item U
36960The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
36961if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
36962was not collected.
36963@end table
36964
36965@item qTfP
36966@cindex @samp{qTfP} packet
36967@itemx qTsP
36968@cindex @samp{qTsP} packet
36969These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
36970the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
36971of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
36972to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
36973that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
36974
36975@item qTfV
36976@cindex @samp{qTfV} packet
36977@itemx qTsV
36978@cindex @samp{qTsV} packet
36979These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
36980target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
36981and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
36982these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
36983trace state variables.
36984
36985@item qTfSTM
36986@itemx qTsSTM
36987@anchor{qTfSTM}
36988@anchor{qTsSTM}
36989@cindex @samp{qTfSTM} packet
36990@cindex @samp{qTsSTM} packet
36991These packets request data about static tracepoint markers that exist
36992in the target program. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfSTM} to get the
36993first piece of data, and multiple @code{qTsSTM} to get additional
36994pieces. Replies to these packets take the following form:
36995
36996Reply:
36997@table @samp
36998@item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}
36999A single marker
37000@item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra},@var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}@dots{}
37001a comma-separated list of markers
37002@item l
37003(lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
37004@item E @var{nn}
37005An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
37006@item @w{}
37007An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the
37008stub.
37009@end table
37010
37011The @var{address} is encoded in hex;
37012@var{id} and @var{extra} are strings encoded in hex.
37013
37014In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
37015more markers, separated by commas. @value{GDBN} will respond to each
37016reply with a request for more markers (using the @samp{qs} form of the
37017query), until the target responds with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for
37018@dfn{last}).
37019
37020@item qTSTMat:@var{address}
37021@anchor{qTSTMat}
37022@cindex @samp{qTSTMat} packet
37023This packets requests data about static tracepoint markers in the
37024target program at @var{address}. Replies to this packet follow the
37025syntax of the @samp{qTfSTM} and @code{qTsSTM} packets that list static
37026tracepoint markers.
37027
37028@item QTSave:@var{filename}
37029@cindex @samp{QTSave} packet
37030This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
37031@var{filename} in the target's filesystem. The @var{filename} is encoded
37032as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
37033absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
37034
37035@item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
37036@cindex @samp{qTBuffer} packet
37037Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
37038starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
37039a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
37040The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
37041in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
37042A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
37043available.
37044
37045@item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
37046This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
37047@var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
37048
37049@item QTBuffer:size:@var{size}
37050@anchor{QTBuffer-size}
37051@cindex @samp{QTBuffer size} packet
37052This packet directs the target to make the trace buffer be of size
37053@var{size} if possible. A value of @code{-1} tells the target to
37054use whatever size it prefers.
37055
37056@item QTNotes:@r{[}@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@r{[};@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@dots{}
37057@cindex @samp{QTNotes} packet
37058This packet adds optional textual notes to the trace run. Allowable
37059types include @code{user}, @code{notes}, and @code{tstop}, the
37060@var{text} fields are arbitrary strings, hex-encoded.
37061
37062@end table
37063
37064@subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
37065When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
37066relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
37067different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
37068enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
37069return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
37070PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
37071of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
37072it had executed in the original location.
37073
37074In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
37075respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
37076packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
37077this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
37078documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
37079descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
37080format of the request is:
37081
37082@table @samp
37083@item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
37084
37085This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
37086to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
37087instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
37088@var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
37089memory starting at @var{to}.
37090@end table
37091
37092Replies:
37093@table @samp
37094@item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
37095Informs the stub the relocation is complete. The @var{adjusted_size} is
37096the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
37097@item E @var{NN}
37098A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
37099relocating the instruction.
37100@end table
37101
37102@node Host I/O Packets
37103@section Host I/O Packets
37104@cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
37105@cindex file transfer, remote protocol
37106
37107The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
37108operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
37109used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
37110filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
37111layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
37112Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
37113protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
37114Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
37115target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
37116Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
37117
37118The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
37119its arguments. They have this format:
37120
37121@table @samp
37122
37123@item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
37124@var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
37125should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
37126for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
37127the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
37128numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
37129used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
37130hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
37131buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
37132
37133@end table
37134
37135The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
37136
37137@table @samp
37138
37139@item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
37140@var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
37141non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
37142@var{errno} will be included in the result specifying a
37143value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
37144operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
37145binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
37146normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
37147documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
37148@var{attachment}.
37149
37150@item @w{}
37151An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
37152
37153@end table
37154
37155These are the supported Host I/O operations:
37156
37157@table @samp
37158@item vFile:open: @var{filename}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
37159Open a file at @var{filename} and return a file descriptor for it, or
37160return -1 if an error occurs. The @var{filename} is a string,
37161@var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
37162(@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
37163of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
37164@xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
37165
37166@item vFile:close: @var{fd}
37167Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
37168-1 if an error occurs.
37169
37170@item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
37171Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
37172@var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
37173relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
37174common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
37175condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
37176returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
37177@var{count} was zero.
37178
37179The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
37180If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
37181attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
37182number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
37183some characters were escaped.
37184
37185@item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
37186Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
37187to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
37188file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
37189separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
37190packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
37191which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
37192error occurred.
37193
37194@item vFile:unlink: @var{filename}
37195Delete the file at @var{filename} on the target. Return 0,
37196or -1 if an error occurs. The @var{filename} is a string.
37197
37198@item vFile:readlink: @var{filename}
37199Read value of symbolic link @var{filename} on the target. Return
37200the number of bytes read, or -1 if an error occurs.
37201
37202The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
37203If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
37204attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
37205number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
37206some characters were escaped.
37207
37208@end table
37209
37210@node Interrupts
37211@section Interrupts
37212@cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
37213
37214When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
37215attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or
37216a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g},
37217control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
37218
37219The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
37220mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
37221currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
37222interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
37223@code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
37224
37225@samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
37226transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
37227@code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
37228the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
37229transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
37230and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
37231(@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
37232@code{0x03} as part of its packet.
37233
37234@code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
37235When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
37236it stops execution and connects to gdb.
37237
37238Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
37239precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
37240implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
37241threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
37242currently-executing threads and processes.
37243If the stub is successful at interrupting the
37244running program, it should send one of the stop
37245reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
37246of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
37247for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
37248Interrupts received while the
37249program is stopped are discarded.
37250
37251@node Notification Packets
37252@section Notification Packets
37253@cindex notification packets
37254@cindex packets, notification
37255
37256The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
37257packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
37258may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
37259present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
37260without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
37261are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
37262is not a problem.
37263
37264A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
37265@var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
37266and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
37267as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
37268never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
37269receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
37270to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
37271
37272Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
37273colon characters, followed by a colon character.
37274
37275Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
37276notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
37277timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
37278not they understand it.
37279
37280Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
37281protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
37282future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
37283new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
37284recipients.
37285
37286(Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
37287the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
37288transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
37289are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
37290assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
37291
37292Each notification is comprised of three parts:
37293@table @samp
37294@item @var{name}:@var{event}
37295The notification packet is sent by the side that initiates the
37296exchange (currently, only the stub does that), with @var{event}
37297carrying the specific information about the notification, and
37298@var{name} specifying the name of the notification.
37299@item @var{ack}
37300The acknowledge sent by the other side, usually @value{GDBN}, to
37301acknowledge the exchange and request the event.
37302@end table
37303
37304The purpose of an asynchronous notification mechanism is to report to
37305@value{GDBN} that something interesting happened in the remote stub.
37306
37307The remote stub may send notification @var{name}:@var{event}
37308at any time, but @value{GDBN} acknowledges the notification when
37309appropriate. The notification event is pending before @value{GDBN}
37310acknowledges. Only one notification at a time may be pending; if
37311additional events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
37312previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
37313synchronous transmission in response to @var{ack} packets from
37314@value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
37315the stub is permitted to resend a notification if it believes
37316@value{GDBN} may not have received it.
37317
37318Specifically, notifications may appear when @value{GDBN} is not
37319otherwise reading input from the stub, or when @value{GDBN} is
37320expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
37321@samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
37322Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
37323the stub so there is no ambiguity.
37324
37325After receiving a notification, @value{GDBN} shall acknowledge it by
37326sending a @var{ack} packet as a regular, synchronous request to the
37327stub. Such acknowledgment is not required to happen immediately, as
37328@value{GDBN} is permitted to send other, unrelated packets to the
37329stub first, which the stub should process normally.
37330
37331Upon receiving a @var{ack} packet, if the stub has other queued
37332events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
37333normal @var{event}. @value{GDBN} shall then send another @var{ack}
37334packet to solicit further responses; again, it is permitted to send
37335other, unrelated packets as well which the stub should process
37336normally.
37337
37338If the stub receives a @var{ack} packet and there are no additional
37339@var{event} to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK} response.
37340At this point, @value{GDBN} has finished processing a notification
37341and the stub has completed sending any queued events. @value{GDBN}
37342won't accept any new notifications until the final @samp{OK} is
37343received . If further notification events occur, the stub shall send
37344a new notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the notification, and
37345the process shall be repeated.
37346
37347The process of asynchronous notification can be illustrated by the
37348following example:
37349@smallexample
37350<- @code{%%Stop:T0505:98e7ffbf;04:4ce6ffbf;08:b1b6e54c;thread:p7526.7526;core:0;}
37351@code{...}
37352-> @code{vStopped}
37353<- @code{T0505:68f37db7;04:40f37db7;08:63850408;thread:p7526.7528;core:0;}
37354-> @code{vStopped}
37355<- @code{T0505:68e3fdb6;04:40e3fdb6;08:63850408;thread:p7526.7529;core:0;}
37356-> @code{vStopped}
37357<- @code{OK}
37358@end smallexample
37359
37360The following notifications are defined:
37361@multitable @columnfractions 0.12 0.12 0.38 0.38
37362
37363@item Notification
37364@tab Ack
37365@tab Event
37366@tab Description
37367
37368@item Stop
37369@tab vStopped
37370@tab @var{reply}. The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
37371described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
37372for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
37373@value{GDBN}.
37374@tab Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
37375
37376@end multitable
37377
37378@node Remote Non-Stop
37379@section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
37380
37381@value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
37382multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
37383supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
37384@samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37385
37386@value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
37387establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
37388does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
37389must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
37390all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
37391probe the target state after a mode change.
37392
37393In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
37394would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
37395asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
37396inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
37397in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
37398mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
37399when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
37400of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
37401affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
37402to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
37403threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
37404
37405In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
37406follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
37407sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
37408sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
37409it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
37410stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
37411subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
37412using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
37413asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
37414If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
37415or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
37416@samp{OK}.
37417
37418@node Packet Acknowledgment
37419@section Packet Acknowledgment
37420
37421@cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
37422@cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
37423By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
37424the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
37425the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
37426This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
37427unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
37428
37429In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
37430TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
37431It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
37432overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
37433@samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
37434
37435When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
37436expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
37437and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
37438@ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
37439
37440If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
37441no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
37442by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
37443@pxref{qSupported}.
37444If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
37445disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
37446(@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
37447@value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
37448Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
37449@value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
37450response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
37451
37452Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
37453between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
37454it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
37455connection.
37456Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
37457new connection is established,
37458there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
37459for the current connection, once disabled.
37460
37461@node Examples
37462@section Examples
37463
37464Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
37465does not get any direct output:
37466
37467@smallexample
37468-> @code{R00}
37469<- @code{+}
37470@emph{target restarts}
37471-> @code{?}
37472<- @code{+}
37473<- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
37474-> @code{+}
37475@end smallexample
37476
37477Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
37478
37479@smallexample
37480-> @code{G1445@dots{}}
37481<- @code{+}
37482-> @code{s}
37483<- @code{+}
37484@emph{time passes}
37485<- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
37486-> @code{+}
37487-> @code{g}
37488<- @code{+}
37489<- @code{1455@dots{}}
37490-> @code{+}
37491@end smallexample
37492
37493@node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
37494@section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
37495@cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
37496
37497@menu
37498* File-I/O Overview::
37499* Protocol Basics::
37500* The F Request Packet::
37501* The F Reply Packet::
37502* The Ctrl-C Message::
37503* Console I/O::
37504* List of Supported Calls::
37505* Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
37506* Constants::
37507* File-I/O Examples::
37508@end menu
37509
37510@node File-I/O Overview
37511@subsection File-I/O Overview
37512@cindex file-i/o overview
37513
37514The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
37515target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
37516system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
37517remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
37518actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
37519This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
37520
37521The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
37522It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
37523@value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
37524translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
37525protocol representations when data is transmitted.
37526
37527The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
37528@value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
37529or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
37530the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
37531memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
37532the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
37533(@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
37534
37535The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
37536the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
37537after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
37538previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
37539request from @value{GDBN} is required.
37540
37541@smallexample
37542(@value{GDBP}) continue
37543 <- target requests 'system call X'
37544 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
37545 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
37546 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
37547 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
37548@end smallexample
37549
37550The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
37551the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
37552named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
37553system are not supported by this protocol.
37554
37555File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
37556
37557@node Protocol Basics
37558@subsection Protocol Basics
37559@cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
37560
37561The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
37562as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
37563@value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
37564the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
37565of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
37566This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
37567to call the appropriate host system call:
37568
37569@itemize @bullet
37570@item
37571A unique identifier for the requested system call.
37572
37573@item
37574All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
37575in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
37576pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
37577Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
37578
37579@end itemize
37580
37581At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
37582
37583@itemize @bullet
37584@item
37585If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
37586system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
37587standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
37588expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
37589packet.
37590
37591@item
37592@value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
37593representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
37594
37595@item
37596@value{GDBN} calls the system call.
37597
37598@item
37599It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
37600
37601@item
37602If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
37603by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
37604target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
37605by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
37606packet.
37607
37608@end itemize
37609
37610Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
37611necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
37612
37613@itemize @bullet
37614@item
37615Return value.
37616
37617@item
37618@code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
37619
37620@item
37621``Ctrl-C'' flag.
37622
37623@end itemize
37624
37625After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
37626the latest continue or step action.
37627
37628@node The F Request Packet
37629@subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
37630@cindex file-i/o request packet
37631@cindex @code{F} request packet
37632
37633The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
37634
37635@table @samp
37636@item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
37637
37638@var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
37639This is just the name of the function.
37640
37641@var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
37642Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
37643of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
37644datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
37645of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
37646comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
37647string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
37648
37649@end table
37650
37651
37652
37653@node The F Reply Packet
37654@subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
37655@cindex file-i/o reply packet
37656@cindex @code{F} reply packet
37657
37658The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
37659
37660@table @samp
37661
37662@item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
37663
37664@var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
37665
37666@var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
37667representation.
37668This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
37669
37670@var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
37671case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
37672The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
37673
37674@smallexample
37675F0,0,C
37676@end smallexample
37677
37678@noindent
37679or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
37680
37681@smallexample
37682F-1,4,C
37683@end smallexample
37684
37685@noindent
37686assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
37687
37688@end table
37689
37690
37691@node The Ctrl-C Message
37692@subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
37693@cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
37694
37695If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
37696reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
37697the target should behave as if it had
37698gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
37699interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
37700(as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
37701packet.
37702
37703It's important for the target to know in which
37704state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
37705
37706@itemize @bullet
37707@item
37708The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
37709
37710@item
37711The system call on the host has been finished.
37712
37713@end itemize
37714
37715These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
37716returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
37717call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
37718on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
37719system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
37720as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
37721
37722@value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
37723yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
37724@code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
37725before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
37726@value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
37727The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
37728or the full action has been completed.
37729
37730@node Console I/O
37731@subsection Console I/O
37732@cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
37733
37734By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
37735descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
37736on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
37737(@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
37738by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
377390 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
37740conditions is met:
37741
37742@itemize @bullet
37743@item
37744The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
37745@code{read}
37746system call is treated as finished.
37747
37748@item
37749The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
37750newline.
37751
37752@item
37753The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
37754character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
37755
37756@end itemize
37757
37758If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
37759the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
37760either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
37761is stopped at the user's request.
37762
37763
37764@node List of Supported Calls
37765@subsection List of Supported Calls
37766@cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
37767
37768@menu
37769* open::
37770* close::
37771* read::
37772* write::
37773* lseek::
37774* rename::
37775* unlink::
37776* stat/fstat::
37777* gettimeofday::
37778* isatty::
37779* system::
37780@end menu
37781
37782@node open
37783@unnumberedsubsubsec open
37784@cindex open, file-i/o system call
37785
37786@table @asis
37787@item Synopsis:
37788@smallexample
37789int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
37790int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
37791@end smallexample
37792
37793@item Request:
37794@samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
37795
37796@noindent
37797@var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
37798
37799@table @code
37800@item O_CREAT
37801If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
37802rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
37803are concerned.
37804
37805@item O_EXCL
37806When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
37807an error and open() fails.
37808
37809@item O_TRUNC
37810If the file already exists and the open mode allows
37811writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
37812truncated to zero length.
37813
37814@item O_APPEND
37815The file is opened in append mode.
37816
37817@item O_RDONLY
37818The file is opened for reading only.
37819
37820@item O_WRONLY
37821The file is opened for writing only.
37822
37823@item O_RDWR
37824The file is opened for reading and writing.
37825@end table
37826
37827@noindent
37828Other bits are silently ignored.
37829
37830
37831@noindent
37832@var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
37833
37834@table @code
37835@item S_IRUSR
37836User has read permission.
37837
37838@item S_IWUSR
37839User has write permission.
37840
37841@item S_IRGRP
37842Group has read permission.
37843
37844@item S_IWGRP
37845Group has write permission.
37846
37847@item S_IROTH
37848Others have read permission.
37849
37850@item S_IWOTH
37851Others have write permission.
37852@end table
37853
37854@noindent
37855Other bits are silently ignored.
37856
37857
37858@item Return value:
37859@code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
37860occurred.
37861
37862@item Errors:
37863
37864@table @code
37865@item EEXIST
37866@var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
37867
37868@item EISDIR
37869@var{pathname} refers to a directory.
37870
37871@item EACCES
37872The requested access is not allowed.
37873
37874@item ENAMETOOLONG
37875@var{pathname} was too long.
37876
37877@item ENOENT
37878A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
37879
37880@item ENODEV
37881@var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
37882
37883@item EROFS
37884@var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
37885write access was requested.
37886
37887@item EFAULT
37888@var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
37889
37890@item ENOSPC
37891No space on device to create the file.
37892
37893@item EMFILE
37894The process already has the maximum number of files open.
37895
37896@item ENFILE
37897The limit on the total number of files open on the system
37898has been reached.
37899
37900@item EINTR
37901The call was interrupted by the user.
37902@end table
37903
37904@end table
37905
37906@node close
37907@unnumberedsubsubsec close
37908@cindex close, file-i/o system call
37909
37910@table @asis
37911@item Synopsis:
37912@smallexample
37913int close(int fd);
37914@end smallexample
37915
37916@item Request:
37917@samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
37918
37919@item Return value:
37920@code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
37921
37922@item Errors:
37923
37924@table @code
37925@item EBADF
37926@var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
37927
37928@item EINTR
37929The call was interrupted by the user.
37930@end table
37931
37932@end table
37933
37934@node read
37935@unnumberedsubsubsec read
37936@cindex read, file-i/o system call
37937
37938@table @asis
37939@item Synopsis:
37940@smallexample
37941int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
37942@end smallexample
37943
37944@item Request:
37945@samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
37946
37947@item Return value:
37948On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
37949Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
37950returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
37951
37952@item Errors:
37953
37954@table @code
37955@item EBADF
37956@var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
37957reading.
37958
37959@item EFAULT
37960@var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
37961
37962@item EINTR
37963The call was interrupted by the user.
37964@end table
37965
37966@end table
37967
37968@node write
37969@unnumberedsubsubsec write
37970@cindex write, file-i/o system call
37971
37972@table @asis
37973@item Synopsis:
37974@smallexample
37975int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
37976@end smallexample
37977
37978@item Request:
37979@samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
37980
37981@item Return value:
37982On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
37983Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
37984is returned.
37985
37986@item Errors:
37987
37988@table @code
37989@item EBADF
37990@var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
37991writing.
37992
37993@item EFAULT
37994@var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
37995
37996@item EFBIG
37997An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
37998host-specific maximum file size allowed.
37999
38000@item ENOSPC
38001No space on device to write the data.
38002
38003@item EINTR
38004The call was interrupted by the user.
38005@end table
38006
38007@end table
38008
38009@node lseek
38010@unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
38011@cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
38012
38013@table @asis
38014@item Synopsis:
38015@smallexample
38016long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
38017@end smallexample
38018
38019@item Request:
38020@samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
38021
38022@var{flag} is one of:
38023
38024@table @code
38025@item SEEK_SET
38026The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
38027
38028@item SEEK_CUR
38029The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
38030bytes.
38031
38032@item SEEK_END
38033The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
38034bytes.
38035@end table
38036
38037@item Return value:
38038On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
38039the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
38040value of -1 is returned.
38041
38042@item Errors:
38043
38044@table @code
38045@item EBADF
38046@var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
38047
38048@item ESPIPE
38049@var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
38050
38051@item EINVAL
38052@var{flag} is not a proper value.
38053
38054@item EINTR
38055The call was interrupted by the user.
38056@end table
38057
38058@end table
38059
38060@node rename
38061@unnumberedsubsubsec rename
38062@cindex rename, file-i/o system call
38063
38064@table @asis
38065@item Synopsis:
38066@smallexample
38067int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
38068@end smallexample
38069
38070@item Request:
38071@samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
38072
38073@item Return value:
38074On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
38075
38076@item Errors:
38077
38078@table @code
38079@item EISDIR
38080@var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
38081directory.
38082
38083@item EEXIST
38084@var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
38085
38086@item EBUSY
38087@var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
38088process.
38089
38090@item EINVAL
38091An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
38092of itself.
38093
38094@item ENOTDIR
38095A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
38096path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
38097and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
38098
38099@item EFAULT
38100@var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
38101
38102@item EACCES
38103No access to the file or the path of the file.
38104
38105@item ENAMETOOLONG
38106
38107@var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
38108
38109@item ENOENT
38110A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
38111
38112@item EROFS
38113The file is on a read-only filesystem.
38114
38115@item ENOSPC
38116The device containing the file has no room for the new
38117directory entry.
38118
38119@item EINTR
38120The call was interrupted by the user.
38121@end table
38122
38123@end table
38124
38125@node unlink
38126@unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
38127@cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
38128
38129@table @asis
38130@item Synopsis:
38131@smallexample
38132int unlink(const char *pathname);
38133@end smallexample
38134
38135@item Request:
38136@samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
38137
38138@item Return value:
38139On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
38140
38141@item Errors:
38142
38143@table @code
38144@item EACCES
38145No access to the file or the path of the file.
38146
38147@item EPERM
38148The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
38149
38150@item EBUSY
38151The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
38152being used by another process.
38153
38154@item EFAULT
38155@var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
38156
38157@item ENAMETOOLONG
38158@var{pathname} was too long.
38159
38160@item ENOENT
38161A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
38162
38163@item ENOTDIR
38164A component of the path is not a directory.
38165
38166@item EROFS
38167The file is on a read-only filesystem.
38168
38169@item EINTR
38170The call was interrupted by the user.
38171@end table
38172
38173@end table
38174
38175@node stat/fstat
38176@unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
38177@cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
38178@cindex stat, file-i/o system call
38179
38180@table @asis
38181@item Synopsis:
38182@smallexample
38183int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
38184int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
38185@end smallexample
38186
38187@item Request:
38188@samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
38189@samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
38190
38191@item Return value:
38192On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
38193
38194@item Errors:
38195
38196@table @code
38197@item EBADF
38198@var{fd} is not a valid open file.
38199
38200@item ENOENT
38201A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
38202path is an empty string.
38203
38204@item ENOTDIR
38205A component of the path is not a directory.
38206
38207@item EFAULT
38208@var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
38209
38210@item EACCES
38211No access to the file or the path of the file.
38212
38213@item ENAMETOOLONG
38214@var{pathname} was too long.
38215
38216@item EINTR
38217The call was interrupted by the user.
38218@end table
38219
38220@end table
38221
38222@node gettimeofday
38223@unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
38224@cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
38225
38226@table @asis
38227@item Synopsis:
38228@smallexample
38229int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
38230@end smallexample
38231
38232@item Request:
38233@samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
38234
38235@item Return value:
38236On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
38237
38238@item Errors:
38239
38240@table @code
38241@item EINVAL
38242@var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
38243
38244@item EFAULT
38245@var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
38246@end table
38247
38248@end table
38249
38250@node isatty
38251@unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
38252@cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
38253
38254@table @asis
38255@item Synopsis:
38256@smallexample
38257int isatty(int fd);
38258@end smallexample
38259
38260@item Request:
38261@samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
38262
38263@item Return value:
38264Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
38265
38266@item Errors:
38267
38268@table @code
38269@item EINTR
38270The call was interrupted by the user.
38271@end table
38272
38273@end table
38274
38275Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
382761 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
38277to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
38278would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
38279needed.
38280
38281
38282@node system
38283@unnumberedsubsubsec system
38284@cindex system, file-i/o system call
38285
38286@table @asis
38287@item Synopsis:
38288@smallexample
38289int system(const char *command);
38290@end smallexample
38291
38292@item Request:
38293@samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
38294
38295@item Return value:
38296If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
38297available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
38298For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
38299return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
38300command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
38301return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
38302@file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
38303
38304@item Errors:
38305
38306@table @code
38307@item EINTR
38308The call was interrupted by the user.
38309@end table
38310
38311@end table
38312
38313@value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
38314to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
38315the host is simplified before it's returned
38316to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
38317is discarded, and the return value consists
38318entirely of the exit status of the called command.
38319
38320Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
38321by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
38322@code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
38323
38324@table @code
38325@item set remote system-call-allowed
38326@kindex set remote system-call-allowed
38327Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
38328protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
38329
38330@item show remote system-call-allowed
38331@kindex show remote system-call-allowed
38332Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
38333protocol.
38334@end table
38335
38336@node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
38337@subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
38338@cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
38339
38340@menu
38341* Integral Datatypes::
38342* Pointer Values::
38343* Memory Transfer::
38344* struct stat::
38345* struct timeval::
38346@end menu
38347
38348@node Integral Datatypes
38349@unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
38350@cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
38351
38352The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
38353@code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
38354@code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
38355
38356@code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
38357implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
38358
38359@code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
38360
38361@xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
38362in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
38363
38364@code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
38365
38366All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
38367structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
38368byte order.
38369
38370@node Pointer Values
38371@unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
38372@cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
38373
38374Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
38375is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
38376transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
38377are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
38378
38379@smallexample
38380@code{1aaf/12}
38381@end smallexample
38382
38383@noindent
38384which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
38385The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
38386the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
38387at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
38388
38389@smallexample
38390@code{123456/d}
38391@end smallexample
38392
38393@node Memory Transfer
38394@unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
38395@cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
38396
38397Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
38398example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
38399with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
38400this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
38401packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
38402it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
38403data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
38404
38405
38406@node struct stat
38407@unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
38408@cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
38409
38410The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
38411is defined as follows:
38412
38413@smallexample
38414struct stat @{
38415 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
38416 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
38417 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
38418 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
38419 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
38420 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
38421 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
38422 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
38423 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
38424 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
38425 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
38426 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
38427 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
38428@};
38429@end smallexample
38430
38431The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
38432appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
38433structure is of size 64 bytes.
38434
38435The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
38436range of values.
38437
38438@table @code
38439
38440@item st_dev
38441A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
38442
38443@item st_ino
38444No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
38445
38446@item st_mode
38447Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
38448bits have currently no meaning for the target.
38449
38450@item st_uid
38451@itemx st_gid
38452@itemx st_rdev
38453No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
38454
38455@item st_atime
38456@itemx st_mtime
38457@itemx st_ctime
38458These values have a host and file system dependent
38459accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
38460support exact timing values.
38461@end table
38462
38463The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
38464responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
38465continuing.
38466
38467Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
38468representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
38469get truncated on the target.
38470
38471@node struct timeval
38472@unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
38473@cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
38474
38475The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
38476is defined as follows:
38477
38478@smallexample
38479struct timeval @{
38480 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
38481 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
38482@};
38483@end smallexample
38484
38485The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
38486appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
38487structure is of size 8 bytes.
38488
38489@node Constants
38490@subsection Constants
38491@cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
38492
38493The following values are used for the constants inside of the
38494protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
38495values before and after the call as needed.
38496
38497@menu
38498* Open Flags::
38499* mode_t Values::
38500* Errno Values::
38501* Lseek Flags::
38502* Limits::
38503@end menu
38504
38505@node Open Flags
38506@unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
38507@cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
38508
38509All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
38510
38511@smallexample
38512 O_RDONLY 0x0
38513 O_WRONLY 0x1
38514 O_RDWR 0x2
38515 O_APPEND 0x8
38516 O_CREAT 0x200
38517 O_TRUNC 0x400
38518 O_EXCL 0x800
38519@end smallexample
38520
38521@node mode_t Values
38522@unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
38523@cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
38524
38525All values are given in octal representation.
38526
38527@smallexample
38528 S_IFREG 0100000
38529 S_IFDIR 040000
38530 S_IRUSR 0400
38531 S_IWUSR 0200
38532 S_IXUSR 0100
38533 S_IRGRP 040
38534 S_IWGRP 020
38535 S_IXGRP 010
38536 S_IROTH 04
38537 S_IWOTH 02
38538 S_IXOTH 01
38539@end smallexample
38540
38541@node Errno Values
38542@unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
38543@cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
38544
38545All values are given in decimal representation.
38546
38547@smallexample
38548 EPERM 1
38549 ENOENT 2
38550 EINTR 4
38551 EBADF 9
38552 EACCES 13
38553 EFAULT 14
38554 EBUSY 16
38555 EEXIST 17
38556 ENODEV 19
38557 ENOTDIR 20
38558 EISDIR 21
38559 EINVAL 22
38560 ENFILE 23
38561 EMFILE 24
38562 EFBIG 27
38563 ENOSPC 28
38564 ESPIPE 29
38565 EROFS 30
38566 ENAMETOOLONG 91
38567 EUNKNOWN 9999
38568@end smallexample
38569
38570 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
38571 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
38572
38573@node Lseek Flags
38574@unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
38575@cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
38576
38577@smallexample
38578 SEEK_SET 0
38579 SEEK_CUR 1
38580 SEEK_END 2
38581@end smallexample
38582
38583@node Limits
38584@unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
38585@cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
38586
38587All values are given in decimal representation.
38588
38589@smallexample
38590 INT_MIN -2147483648
38591 INT_MAX 2147483647
38592 UINT_MAX 4294967295
38593 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
38594 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
38595 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
38596@end smallexample
38597
38598@node File-I/O Examples
38599@subsection File-I/O Examples
38600@cindex file-i/o examples
38601
38602Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
38603address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
38604
38605@smallexample
38606<- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
38607@emph{request memory read from target}
38608-> @code{m1234,6}
38609<- XXXXXX
38610@emph{return "6 bytes written"}
38611-> @code{F6}
38612@end smallexample
38613
38614Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
38615address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
38616
38617@smallexample
38618<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
38619@emph{request memory write to target}
38620-> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
38621@emph{return "6 bytes read"}
38622-> @code{F6}
38623@end smallexample
38624
38625Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
38626file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
38627
38628@smallexample
38629<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
38630-> @code{F-1,9}
38631@end smallexample
38632
38633Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
38634host is called:
38635
38636@smallexample
38637<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
38638-> @code{F-1,4,C}
38639<- @code{T02}
38640@end smallexample
38641
38642Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
38643host is called:
38644
38645@smallexample
38646<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
38647-> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
38648<- @code{T02}
38649@end smallexample
38650
38651@node Library List Format
38652@section Library List Format
38653@cindex library list format, remote protocol
38654
38655On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
38656same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
38657@value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
38658operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
38659platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
38660@value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
38661through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
38662packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
38663queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
38664are loaded.
38665
38666The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
38667lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
38668associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
38669which report where the library was loaded in memory.
38670
38671For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
38672library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
38673dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
38674should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
38675section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
38676depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
38677
38678@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
38679library lists. @xref{Expat}.
38680
38681A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
38682offset, looks like this:
38683
38684@smallexample
38685<library-list>
38686 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
38687 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
38688 </library>
38689</library-list>
38690@end smallexample
38691
38692Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
38693allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
38694
38695@smallexample
38696<library-list>
38697 <library name="sharedlib.o">
38698 <section address="0x10000000"/>
38699 <section address="0x20000000"/>
38700 <section address="0x30000000"/>
38701 </library>
38702</library-list>
38703@end smallexample
38704
38705The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
38706
38707@smallexample
38708<!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
38709<!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
38710<!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
38711<!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
38712<!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
38713<!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
38714<!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
38715<!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
38716<!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
38717@end smallexample
38718
38719In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
38720single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
38721section for each library.
38722
38723@node Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
38724@section Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
38725@cindex library list format, remote protocol
38726
38727On SVR4 platforms @value{GDBN} can use the symbol table of a dynamic loader
38728(e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) and normal memory operations to maintain a list of
38729shared libraries. Still a special library list provided by this packet is
38730more efficient for the @value{GDBN} remote protocol.
38731
38732The @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet returns an XML document which lists
38733loaded libraries and their SVR4 linker parameters. For each library on SVR4
38734target, the following parameters are reported:
38735
38736@itemize @minus
38737@item
38738@code{name}, the absolute file name from the @code{l_name} field of
38739@code{struct link_map}.
38740@item
38741@code{lm} with address of @code{struct link_map} used for TLS
38742(Thread Local Storage) access.
38743@item
38744@code{l_addr}, the displacement as read from the field @code{l_addr} of
38745@code{struct link_map}. For prelinked libraries this is not an absolute
38746memory address. It is a displacement of absolute memory address against
38747address the file was prelinked to during the library load.
38748@item
38749@code{l_ld}, which is memory address of the @code{PT_DYNAMIC} segment
38750@end itemize
38751
38752Additionally the single @code{main-lm} attribute specifies address of
38753@code{struct link_map} used for the main executable. This parameter is used
38754for TLS access and its presence is optional.
38755
38756@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
38757SVR4 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
38758
38759A simple memory map, with two loaded libraries (which do not use prelink),
38760looks like this:
38761
38762@smallexample
38763<library-list-svr4 version="1.0" main-lm="0xe4f8f8">
38764 <library name="/lib/ld-linux.so.2" lm="0xe4f51c" l_addr="0xe2d000"
38765 l_ld="0xe4eefc"/>
38766 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6" lm="0xe4fbe8" l_addr="0x154000"
38767 l_ld="0x152350"/>
38768</library-list-svr>
38769@end smallexample
38770
38771The format of an SVR4 library list is described by this DTD:
38772
38773@smallexample
38774<!-- library-list-svr4: Root element with versioning -->
38775<!ELEMENT library-list-svr4 (library)*>
38776<!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
38777<!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 main-lm CDATA #IMPLIED>
38778<!ELEMENT library EMPTY>
38779<!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
38780<!ATTLIST library lm CDATA #REQUIRED>
38781<!ATTLIST library l_addr CDATA #REQUIRED>
38782<!ATTLIST library l_ld CDATA #REQUIRED>
38783@end smallexample
38784
38785@node Memory Map Format
38786@section Memory Map Format
38787@cindex memory map format
38788
38789To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
38790memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
38791memory map.
38792
38793The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
38794(@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
38795lists memory regions.
38796
38797@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
38798memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
38799
38800The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
38801
38802@smallexample
38803<?xml version="1.0"?>
38804<!DOCTYPE memory-map
38805 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
38806 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
38807<memory-map>
38808 region...
38809</memory-map>
38810@end smallexample
38811
38812Each region can be either:
38813
38814@itemize
38815
38816@item
38817A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
38818bytes from there:
38819
38820@smallexample
38821<memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
38822@end smallexample
38823
38824
38825@item
38826A region of read-only memory:
38827
38828@smallexample
38829<memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
38830@end smallexample
38831
38832
38833@item
38834A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
38835bytes in length:
38836
38837@smallexample
38838<memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
38839 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
38840</memory>
38841@end smallexample
38842
38843@end itemize
38844
38845Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
38846by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
38847packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
38848
38849The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
38850
38851@smallexample
38852<!-- ................................................... -->
38853<!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
38854<!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
38855<!-- .................................... .............. -->
38856<!-- memory-map.dtd -->
38857<!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
38858<!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
38859<!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
38860<!ELEMENT memory (property)>
38861<!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
38862 and its type, or device. -->
38863<!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
38864 start CDATA #REQUIRED
38865 length CDATA #REQUIRED
38866 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
38867<!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
38868<!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
38869<!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
38870@end smallexample
38871
38872@node Thread List Format
38873@section Thread List Format
38874@cindex thread list format
38875
38876To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
38877@value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
38878(@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
38879the following structure:
38880
38881@smallexample
38882<?xml version="1.0"?>
38883<threads>
38884 <thread id="id" core="0">
38885 ... description ...
38886 </thread>
38887</threads>
38888@end smallexample
38889
38890Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
38891identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
38892@samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
38893the thread was last executing on. The content of the of @samp{thread}
38894element is interpreted as human-readable auxilliary information.
38895
38896@node Traceframe Info Format
38897@section Traceframe Info Format
38898@cindex traceframe info format
38899
38900To be able to know which objects in the inferior can be examined when
38901inspecting a tracepoint hit, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of
38902memory ranges, registers and trace state variables that have been
38903collected in a traceframe.
38904
38905This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
38906(@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}) packet and is an XML document.
38907
38908@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
38909traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
38910
38911The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
38912
38913@smallexample
38914<?xml version="1.0"?>
38915<!DOCTYPE traceframe-info
38916 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
38917 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-traceframe-info.dtd">
38918<traceframe-info>
38919 block...
38920</traceframe-info>
38921@end smallexample
38922
38923Each traceframe block can be either:
38924
38925@itemize
38926
38927@item
38928A region of collected memory starting at @var{addr} and extending for
38929@var{length} bytes from there:
38930
38931@smallexample
38932<memory start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
38933@end smallexample
38934
38935@item
38936A block indicating trace state variable numbered @var{number} has been
38937collected:
38938
38939@smallexample
38940<tvar id="@var{number}"/>
38941@end smallexample
38942
38943@end itemize
38944
38945The formal DTD for the traceframe info format is given below:
38946
38947@smallexample
38948<!ELEMENT traceframe-info (memory | tvar)* >
38949<!ATTLIST traceframe-info version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
38950
38951<!ELEMENT memory EMPTY>
38952<!ATTLIST memory start CDATA #REQUIRED
38953 length CDATA #REQUIRED>
38954<!ELEMENT tvar>
38955<!ATTLIST tvar id CDATA #REQUIRED>
38956@end smallexample
38957
38958@node Branch Trace Format
38959@section Branch Trace Format
38960@cindex branch trace format
38961
38962In order to display the branch trace of an inferior thread,
38963@value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of branches. This list is
38964represented as list of sequential code blocks that are connected via
38965branches. The code in each block has been executed sequentially.
38966
38967This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
38968(@pxref{qXfer btrace read}) packet and is an XML document.
38969
38970@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
38971traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
38972
38973The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
38974
38975@smallexample
38976<?xml version="1.0"?>
38977<!DOCTYPE btrace
38978 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Branch Trace V1.0//EN"
38979 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-btrace.dtd">
38980<btrace>
38981 block...
38982</btrace>
38983@end smallexample
38984
38985@itemize
38986
38987@item
38988A block of sequentially executed instructions starting at @var{begin}
38989and ending at @var{end}:
38990
38991@smallexample
38992<block begin="@var{begin}" end="@var{end}"/>
38993@end smallexample
38994
38995@end itemize
38996
38997The formal DTD for the branch trace format is given below:
38998
38999@smallexample
39000<!ELEMENT btrace (block)* >
39001<!ATTLIST btrace version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
39002
39003<!ELEMENT block EMPTY>
39004<!ATTLIST block begin CDATA #REQUIRED
39005 end CDATA #REQUIRED>
39006@end smallexample
39007
39008@include agentexpr.texi
39009
39010@node Target Descriptions
39011@appendix Target Descriptions
39012@cindex target descriptions
39013
39014One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
39015is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
39016architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
39017a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or @acronym{MIPS}, for example ---
39018and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
39019architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
39020vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
39021
39022@itemize @bullet
39023@item
39024With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
39025the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
39026@item
39027Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
39028audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
39029variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
39030@item
39031When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
39032at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
39033@command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
39034@end itemize
39035
39036To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
39037target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
39038actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
39039processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
39040descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
39041
39042@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
39043target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
39044
39045@menu
39046* Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
39047* Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
39048* Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
39049 descriptions.
39050* Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
39051@end menu
39052
39053@node Retrieving Descriptions
39054@section Retrieving Descriptions
39055
39056Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
39057specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
39058description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
39059protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
39060qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
39061@samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
39062XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
39063Format}.
39064
39065Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
39066If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
39067specify a file are:
39068
39069@table @code
39070@cindex set tdesc filename
39071@item set tdesc filename @var{path}
39072Read the target description from @var{path}.
39073
39074@cindex unset tdesc filename
39075@item unset tdesc filename
39076Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
39077will use the description supplied by the current target.
39078
39079@cindex show tdesc filename
39080@item show tdesc filename
39081Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
39082@end table
39083
39084
39085@node Target Description Format
39086@section Target Description Format
39087@cindex target descriptions, XML format
39088
39089A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
39090document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
39091the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
39092means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
39093check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
39094However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
39095their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
39096
39097Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
39098and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
39099sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
39100@value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
39101target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
39102
39103Here is a simple target description:
39104
39105@smallexample
39106<target version="1.0">
39107 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
39108</target>
39109@end smallexample
39110
39111@noindent
39112This minimal description only says that the target uses
39113the x86-64 architecture.
39114
39115A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
39116optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
39117are explained further below.
39118
39119@smallexample
39120<?xml version="1.0"?>
39121<!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
39122<target version="1.0">
39123 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
39124 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
39125 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
39126 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
39127</target>
39128@end smallexample
39129
39130@noindent
39131The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
39132breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
39133declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
39134(@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
39135useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
39136@samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
39137including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
39138revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
39139the version mismatch.
39140
39141@subsection Inclusion
39142@cindex target descriptions, inclusion
39143@cindex XInclude
39144@ifnotinfo
39145@cindex <xi:include>
39146@end ifnotinfo
39147
39148It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
39149several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
39150share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
39151divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
39152the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
39153
39154@smallexample
39155<xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
39156@end smallexample
39157
39158@noindent
39159When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
39160the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
39161the contents of that document. If the current description was read
39162using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
39163@var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
39164current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
39165@var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
39166original description.
39167
39168@subsection Architecture
39169@cindex <architecture>
39170
39171An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
39172
39173@smallexample
39174 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
39175@end smallexample
39176
39177@var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
39178@code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
39179
39180@subsection OS ABI
39181@cindex @code{<osabi>}
39182
39183This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
39184Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
39185
39186An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
39187
39188@smallexample
39189 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
39190@end smallexample
39191
39192@var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
39193@w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
39194
39195@subsection Compatible Architecture
39196@cindex @code{<compatible>}
39197
39198This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
39199Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
39200
39201A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
39202
39203@smallexample
39204 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
39205@end smallexample
39206
39207@var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
39208@code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
39209
39210A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
39211is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
39212given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
39213Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
39214or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
39215in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
39216capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
39217
39218@smallexample
39219 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
39220 <compatible>spu</compatible>
39221@end smallexample
39222
39223@subsection Features
39224@cindex <feature>
39225
39226Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
39227system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
39228registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
39229has this form:
39230
39231@smallexample
39232<feature name="@var{name}">
39233 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
39234 @var{reg}@dots{}
39235</feature>
39236@end smallexample
39237
39238@noindent
39239Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
39240of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
39241knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
39242should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
39243
39244@subsection Types
39245
39246Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
39247interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
39248but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
39249Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
39250Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
39251
39252Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
39253a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
39254Types must be defined before they are used.
39255
39256@cindex <vector>
39257Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
39258of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
39259specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
39260@var{count}:
39261
39262@smallexample
39263<vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
39264@end smallexample
39265
39266@cindex <union>
39267If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
39268with a union type containing the useful representations. The
39269@samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
39270each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
39271
39272@smallexample
39273<union id="@var{id}">
39274 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
39275 @dots{}
39276</union>
39277@end smallexample
39278
39279@cindex <struct>
39280If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
39281it with a structure type. There are two forms of the @samp{<struct>}
39282element; a @samp{<struct>} element must either contain only bitfields
39283or contain no bitfields. If the structure contains only bitfields,
39284its total size in bytes must be specified, each bitfield must have an
39285explicit start and end, and bitfields are automatically assigned an
39286integer type. The field's @var{start} should be less than or
39287equal to its @var{end}, and zero represents the least significant bit.
39288
39289@smallexample
39290<struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
39291 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
39292 @dots{}
39293</struct>
39294@end smallexample
39295
39296If the structure contains no bitfields, then each field has an
39297explicit type, and no implicit padding is added.
39298
39299@smallexample
39300<struct id="@var{id}">
39301 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
39302 @dots{}
39303</struct>
39304@end smallexample
39305
39306@cindex <flags>
39307If a register's value is a series of single-bit flags, define it with
39308a flags type. The @samp{<flags>} element has an explicit @var{size}
39309and contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements. Each field has a
39310@var{name}, a @var{start}, and an @var{end}. Only single-bit flags
39311are supported.
39312
39313@smallexample
39314<flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
39315 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
39316 @dots{}
39317</flags>
39318@end smallexample
39319
39320@subsection Registers
39321@cindex <reg>
39322
39323Each register is represented as an element with this form:
39324
39325@smallexample
39326<reg name="@var{name}"
39327 bitsize="@var{size}"
39328 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
39329 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
39330 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
39331 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
39332@end smallexample
39333
39334@noindent
39335The components are as follows:
39336
39337@table @var
39338
39339@item name
39340The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
39341
39342@item bitsize
39343The register's size, in bits.
39344
39345@item regnum
39346The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
39347than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
39348a preceding feature); the first register in the target description
39349defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
39350the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
39351packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
39352in order of increasing register number.
39353
39354@item save-restore
39355Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
39356calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
39357@code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
39358some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
39359ABI.
39360
39361@item type
39362The type of the register. It may be a predefined type, a type
39363defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
39364and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
39365for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
39366architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
39367@var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
39368
39369@item group
39370The register group to which this register belongs. It must
39371be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
39372@var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
39373in @code{info registers}.
39374
39375@end table
39376
39377@node Predefined Target Types
39378@section Predefined Target Types
39379@cindex target descriptions, predefined types
39380
39381Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
39382from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
39383standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
39384types. The currently supported types are:
39385
39386@table @code
39387
39388@item int8
39389@itemx int16
39390@itemx int32
39391@itemx int64
39392@itemx int128
39393Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
39394
39395@item uint8
39396@itemx uint16
39397@itemx uint32
39398@itemx uint64
39399@itemx uint128
39400Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
39401
39402@item code_ptr
39403@itemx data_ptr
39404Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
39405any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
39406pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
39407address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
39408may be marked as data pointers.
39409
39410@item ieee_single
39411Single precision IEEE floating point.
39412
39413@item ieee_double
39414Double precision IEEE floating point.
39415
39416@item arm_fpa_ext
39417The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
39418
39419@item i387_ext
39420The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
39421
39422@item i386_eflags
3942332bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
39424
39425@item i386_mxcsr
3942632bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
39427
39428@end table
39429
39430@node Standard Target Features
39431@section Standard Target Features
39432@cindex target descriptions, standard features
39433
39434A target description must contain either no registers or all the
39435target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
39436@value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
39437the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
39438default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
39439described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
39440can recognize them.
39441
39442This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
39443which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
39444with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
39445if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
39446feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
39447description. You can add additional registers to any of the
39448standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
39449they were added to an unrecognized feature.
39450
39451This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
39452Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
39453@value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
39454
39455Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
39456company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
39457architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
39458containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
39459
39460The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
39461of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
39462registers using the capitalization used in the description.
39463
39464@menu
39465* AArch64 Features::
39466* ARM Features::
39467* i386 Features::
39468* MicroBlaze Features::
39469* MIPS Features::
39470* M68K Features::
39471* Nios II Features::
39472* PowerPC Features::
39473* S/390 and System z Features::
39474* TIC6x Features::
39475@end menu
39476
39477
39478@node AArch64 Features
39479@subsection AArch64 Features
39480@cindex target descriptions, AArch64 features
39481
39482The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.aarch64.core} feature is required for AArch64
39483targets. It should contain registers @samp{x0} through @samp{x30},
39484@samp{sp}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
39485
39486The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.aarch64.fpu} feature is optional. If present,
39487it should contain registers @samp{v0} through @samp{v31}, @samp{fpsr},
39488and @samp{fpcr}.
39489
39490@node ARM Features
39491@subsection ARM Features
39492@cindex target descriptions, ARM features
39493
39494The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for non-M-profile
39495ARM targets.
39496It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
39497@samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
39498
39499For M-profile targets (e.g. Cortex-M3), the @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}
39500feature is replaced by @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.m-profile}. It should contain
39501registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp}, @samp{lr}, @samp{pc},
39502and @samp{xpsr}.
39503
39504The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
39505should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
39506
39507The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
39508it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
39509@samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
39510@samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
39511
39512The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
39513should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
39514they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
39515@value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
39516halves of the double-precision registers.
39517
39518The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
39519need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
39520VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
39521quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
39522If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
39523be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
39524
39525@node i386 Features
39526@subsection i386 Features
39527@cindex target descriptions, i386 features
39528
39529The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
39530targets. It should describe the following registers:
39531
39532@itemize @minus
39533@item
39534@samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
39535@item
39536@samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
39537@item
39538@samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
39539@samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
39540@item
39541@samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
39542@item
39543@samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
39544@samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
39545@end itemize
39546
39547The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
39548
39549The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
39550describe registers:
39551
39552@itemize @minus
39553@item
39554@samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
39555@item
39556@samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
39557@item
39558@samp{mxcsr}
39559@end itemize
39560
39561The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
39562@samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
39563describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
39564
39565@itemize @minus
39566@item
39567@samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
39568@item
39569@samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
39570@end itemize
39571
39572The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.mpx} is an optional feature representing Intel(R)
39573Memory Protection Extension (MPX). It should describe the following registers:
39574
39575@itemize @minus
39576@item
39577@samp{bnd0raw} through @samp{bnd3raw} for i386 and amd64.
39578@item
39579@samp{bndcfgu} and @samp{bndstatus} for i386 and amd64.
39580@end itemize
39581
39582The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
39583describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
39584
39585The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx512} feature is optional and requires the
39586@samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature. It should
39587describe additional @sc{xmm} registers:
39588
39589@itemize @minus
39590@item
39591@samp{xmm16h} through @samp{xmm31h}, only valid for amd64.
39592@end itemize
39593
39594It should describe the upper 128 bits of additional @sc{ymm} registers:
39595
39596@itemize @minus
39597@item
39598@samp{ymm16h} through @samp{ymm31h}, only valid for amd64.
39599@end itemize
39600
39601It should
39602describe the upper 256 bits of @sc{zmm} registers:
39603
39604@itemize @minus
39605@item
39606@samp{zmm0h} through @samp{zmm7h} for i386.
39607@item
39608@samp{zmm0h} through @samp{zmm15h} for amd64.
39609@end itemize
39610
39611It should
39612describe the additional @sc{zmm} registers:
39613
39614@itemize @minus
39615@item
39616@samp{zmm16h} through @samp{zmm31h}, only valid for amd64.
39617@end itemize
39618
39619@node MicroBlaze Features
39620@subsection MicroBlaze Features
39621@cindex target descriptions, MicroBlaze features
39622
39623The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.microblaze.core} feature is required for MicroBlaze
39624targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
39625@samp{rpc}, @samp{rmsr}, @samp{rear}, @samp{resr}, @samp{rfsr}, @samp{rbtr},
39626@samp{rpvr}, @samp{rpvr1} through @samp{rpvr11}, @samp{redr}, @samp{rpid},
39627@samp{rzpr}, @samp{rtlbx}, @samp{rtlbsx}, @samp{rtlblo}, and @samp{rtlbhi}.
39628
39629The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.microblaze.stack-protect} feature is optional.
39630If present, it should contain registers @samp{rshr} and @samp{rslr}
39631
39632@node MIPS Features
39633@subsection @acronym{MIPS} Features
39634@cindex target descriptions, @acronym{MIPS} features
39635
39636The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for @acronym{MIPS} targets.
39637It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
39638@samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
39639on the target.
39640
39641The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
39642contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
39643registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
39644
39645The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
39646it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
39647contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
39648@samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
39649
39650The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.dsp} feature is optional. It should
39651contain registers @samp{hi1} through @samp{hi3}, @samp{lo1} through
39652@samp{lo3}, and @samp{dspctl}. The @samp{dspctl} register should
39653be 32-bit and the rest may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
39654
39655The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
39656contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
39657Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
39658
39659@node M68K Features
39660@subsection M68K Features
39661@cindex target descriptions, M68K features
39662
39663@table @code
39664@item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
39665@itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
39666@itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
39667One of those features must be always present.
39668The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
39669used. The feature that is present should contain registers
39670@samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
39671@samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
39672
39673@item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
39674This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
39675@samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
39676@samp{fpiaddr}.
39677@end table
39678
39679@node Nios II Features
39680@subsection Nios II Features
39681@cindex target descriptions, Nios II features
39682
39683The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.nios2.cpu} feature is required for Nios II
39684targets. It should contain the 32 core registers (@samp{zero},
39685@samp{at}, @samp{r2} through @samp{r23}, @samp{et} through @samp{ra}),
39686@samp{pc}, and the 16 control registers (@samp{status} through
39687@samp{mpuacc}).
39688
39689@node PowerPC Features
39690@subsection PowerPC Features
39691@cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
39692
39693The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
39694targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
39695@samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
39696@samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
39697
39698The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
39699contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
39700
39701The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
39702contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
39703and @samp{vrsave}.
39704
39705The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
39706contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
39707will combine these registers with the floating point registers
39708(@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
39709through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
39710through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
39711
39712The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
39713contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
39714@samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
39715@samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
39716@samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
39717these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
39718user.
39719
39720@node S/390 and System z Features
39721@subsection S/390 and System z Features
39722@cindex target descriptions, S/390 features
39723@cindex target descriptions, System z features
39724
39725The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.core} feature is required for S/390 and
39726System z targets. It should contain the PSW and the 16 general
39727registers. In particular, System z targets should provide the 64-bit
39728registers @samp{pswm}, @samp{pswa}, and @samp{r0} through @samp{r15}.
39729S/390 targets should provide the 32-bit versions of these registers.
39730A System z target that runs in 31-bit addressing mode should provide
3973132-bit versions of @samp{pswm} and @samp{pswa}, as well as the general
39732register's upper halves @samp{r0h} through @samp{r15h}, and their
39733lower halves @samp{r0l} through @samp{r15l}.
39734
39735The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.fpr} feature is required. It should
39736contain the 64-bit registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f15}, and
39737@samp{fpc}.
39738
39739The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.acr} feature is required. It should
39740contain the 32-bit registers @samp{acr0} through @samp{acr15}.
39741
39742The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.linux} feature is optional. It should
39743contain the register @samp{orig_r2}, which is 64-bit wide on System z
39744targets and 32-bit otherwise. In addition, the feature may contain
39745the @samp{last_break} register, whose width depends on the addressing
39746mode, as well as the @samp{system_call} register, which is always
3974732-bit wide.
39748
39749The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.tdb} feature is optional. It should
39750contain the 64-bit registers @samp{tdb0}, @samp{tac}, @samp{tct},
39751@samp{atia}, and @samp{tr0} through @samp{tr15}.
39752
39753@node TIC6x Features
39754@subsection TMS320C6x Features
39755@cindex target descriptions, TIC6x features
39756@cindex target descriptions, TMS320C6x features
39757The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.core} feature is required for TMS320C6x
39758targets. It should contain registers @samp{A0} through @samp{A15},
39759registers @samp{B0} through @samp{B15}, @samp{CSR} and @samp{PC}.
39760
39761The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.gp} feature is optional. It should
39762contain registers @samp{A16} through @samp{A31} and @samp{B16}
39763through @samp{B31}.
39764
39765The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.c6xp} feature is optional. It should
39766contain registers @samp{TSR}, @samp{ILC} and @samp{RILC}.
39767
39768@node Operating System Information
39769@appendix Operating System Information
39770@cindex operating system information
39771
39772@menu
39773* Process list::
39774@end menu
39775
39776Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
39777the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
39778processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
39779mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
39780target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
39781on a different aspect of target.
39782
39783Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
39784remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
39785read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
39786the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
39787
39788@node Process list
39789@appendixsection Process list
39790@cindex operating system information, process list
39791
39792When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
39793@samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
39794an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
39795@file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
39796
39797An example document is:
39798
39799@smallexample
39800<?xml version="1.0"?>
39801<!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
39802<osdata type="processes">
39803 <item>
39804 <column name="pid">1</column>
39805 <column name="user">root</column>
39806 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
39807 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
39808 </item>
39809</osdata>
39810@end smallexample
39811
39812Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
39813of that column should identify the process on the target. The
39814@samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
39815displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
39816should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
39817is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
39818which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
39819
39820@node Trace File Format
39821@appendix Trace File Format
39822@cindex trace file format
39823
39824The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
39825section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
39826
39827The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
39828@code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
39829while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
39830in the future.
39831
39832The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
39833separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
39834variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
39835as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
39836ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
39837of this section.
39838
39839@c FIXME add some specific types of data
39840
39841The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
39842Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
39843four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
39844the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
39845character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
39846state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
39847hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
39848endianness.
39849
39850@c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
39851
39852@table @code
39853@item R @var{bytes}
39854Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
39855@code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
39856actual bytes, in target order and @value{GDBN} register order, not a
39857hexadecimal encoding.
39858
39859@item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
39860Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
39861address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
39862@var{length} bytes.
39863
39864@item V @var{number} @var{value}
39865Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
39866@var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
39867
39868@end table
39869
39870Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
39871of blocks.
39872
39873@node Index Section Format
39874@appendix @code{.gdb_index} section format
39875@cindex .gdb_index section format
39876@cindex index section format
39877
39878This section documents the index section that is created by @code{save
39879gdb-index} (@pxref{Index Files}). The index section is
39880DWARF-specific; some knowledge of DWARF is assumed in this
39881description.
39882
39883The mapped index file format is designed to be directly
39884@code{mmap}able on any architecture. In most cases, a datum is
39885represented using a little-endian 32-bit integer value, called an
39886@code{offset_type}. Big endian machines must byte-swap the values
39887before using them. Exceptions to this rule are noted. The data is
39888laid out such that alignment is always respected.
39889
39890A mapped index consists of several areas, laid out in order.
39891
39892@enumerate
39893@item
39894The file header. This is a sequence of values, of @code{offset_type}
39895unless otherwise noted:
39896
39897@enumerate
39898@item
39899The version number, currently 8. Versions 1, 2 and 3 are obsolete.
39900Version 4 uses a different hashing function from versions 5 and 6.
39901Version 6 includes symbols for inlined functions, whereas versions 4
39902and 5 do not. Version 7 adds attributes to the CU indices in the
39903symbol table. Version 8 specifies that symbols from DWARF type units
39904(@samp{DW_TAG_type_unit}) refer to the type unit's symbol table and not the
39905compilation unit (@samp{DW_TAG_comp_unit}) using the type.
39906
39907@value{GDBN} will only read version 4, 5, or 6 indices
39908by specifying @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
39909GDB has a workaround for potentially broken version 7 indices so it is
39910currently not flagged as deprecated.
39911
39912@item
39913The offset, from the start of the file, of the CU list.
39914
39915@item
39916The offset, from the start of the file, of the types CU list. Note
39917that this area can be empty, in which case this offset will be equal
39918to the next offset.
39919
39920@item
39921The offset, from the start of the file, of the address area.
39922
39923@item
39924The offset, from the start of the file, of the symbol table.
39925
39926@item
39927The offset, from the start of the file, of the constant pool.
39928@end enumerate
39929
39930@item
39931The CU list. This is a sequence of pairs of 64-bit little-endian
39932values, sorted by the CU offset. The first element in each pair is
39933the offset of a CU in the @code{.debug_info} section. The second
39934element in each pair is the length of that CU. References to a CU
39935elsewhere in the map are done using a CU index, which is just the
399360-based index into this table. Note that if there are type CUs, then
39937conceptually CUs and type CUs form a single list for the purposes of
39938CU indices.
39939
39940@item
39941The types CU list. This is a sequence of triplets of 64-bit
39942little-endian values. In a triplet, the first value is the CU offset,
39943the second value is the type offset in the CU, and the third value is
39944the type signature. The types CU list is not sorted.
39945
39946@item
39947The address area. The address area consists of a sequence of address
39948entries. Each address entry has three elements:
39949
39950@enumerate
39951@item
39952The low address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value.
39953
39954@item
39955The high address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value. Like
39956@code{DW_AT_high_pc}, the value is one byte beyond the end.
39957
39958@item
39959The CU index. This is an @code{offset_type} value.
39960@end enumerate
39961
39962@item
39963The symbol table. This is an open-addressed hash table. The size of
39964the hash table is always a power of 2.
39965
39966Each slot in the hash table consists of a pair of @code{offset_type}
39967values. The first value is the offset of the symbol's name in the
39968constant pool. The second value is the offset of the CU vector in the
39969constant pool.
39970
39971If both values are 0, then this slot in the hash table is empty. This
39972is ok because while 0 is a valid constant pool index, it cannot be a
39973valid index for both a string and a CU vector.
39974
39975The hash value for a table entry is computed by applying an
39976iterative hash function to the symbol's name. Starting with an
39977initial value of @code{r = 0}, each (unsigned) character @samp{c} in
39978the string is incorporated into the hash using the formula depending on the
39979index version:
39980
39981@table @asis
39982@item Version 4
39983The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + c - 113}.
39984
39985@item Versions 5 to 7
39986The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + tolower (c) - 113}.
39987@end table
39988
39989The terminating @samp{\0} is not incorporated into the hash.
39990
39991The step size used in the hash table is computed via
39992@code{((hash * 17) & (size - 1)) | 1}, where @samp{hash} is the hash
39993value, and @samp{size} is the size of the hash table. The step size
39994is used to find the next candidate slot when handling a hash
39995collision.
39996
39997The names of C@t{++} symbols in the hash table are canonicalized. We
39998don't currently have a simple description of the canonicalization
39999algorithm; if you intend to create new index sections, you must read
40000the code.
40001
40002@item
40003The constant pool. This is simply a bunch of bytes. It is organized
40004so that alignment is correct: CU vectors are stored first, followed by
40005strings.
40006
40007A CU vector in the constant pool is a sequence of @code{offset_type}
40008values. The first value is the number of CU indices in the vector.
40009Each subsequent value is the index and symbol attributes of a CU in
40010the CU list. This element in the hash table is used to indicate which
40011CUs define the symbol and how the symbol is used.
40012See below for the format of each CU index+attributes entry.
40013
40014A string in the constant pool is zero-terminated.
40015@end enumerate
40016
40017Attributes were added to CU index values in @code{.gdb_index} version 7.
40018If a symbol has multiple uses within a CU then there is one
40019CU index+attributes value for each use.
40020
40021The format of each CU index+attributes entry is as follows
40022(bit 0 = LSB):
40023
40024@table @asis
40025
40026@item Bits 0-23
40027This is the index of the CU in the CU list.
40028@item Bits 24-27
40029These bits are reserved for future purposes and must be zero.
40030@item Bits 28-30
40031The kind of the symbol in the CU.
40032
40033@table @asis
40034@item 0
40035This value is reserved and should not be used.
40036By reserving zero the full @code{offset_type} value is backwards compatible
40037with previous versions of the index.
40038@item 1
40039The symbol is a type.
40040@item 2
40041The symbol is a variable or an enum value.
40042@item 3
40043The symbol is a function.
40044@item 4
40045Any other kind of symbol.
40046@item 5,6,7
40047These values are reserved.
40048@end table
40049
40050@item Bit 31
40051This bit is zero if the value is global and one if it is static.
40052
40053The determination of whether a symbol is global or static is complicated.
40054The authorative reference is the file @file{dwarf2read.c} in
40055@value{GDBN} sources.
40056
40057@end table
40058
40059This pseudo-code describes the computation of a symbol's kind and
40060global/static attributes in the index.
40061
40062@smallexample
40063is_external = get_attribute (die, DW_AT_external);
40064language = get_attribute (cu_die, DW_AT_language);
40065switch (die->tag)
40066 @{
40067 case DW_TAG_typedef:
40068 case DW_TAG_base_type:
40069 case DW_TAG_subrange_type:
40070 kind = TYPE;
40071 is_static = 1;
40072 break;
40073 case DW_TAG_enumerator:
40074 kind = VARIABLE;
40075 is_static = (language != CPLUS && language != JAVA);
40076 break;
40077 case DW_TAG_subprogram:
40078 kind = FUNCTION;
40079 is_static = ! (is_external || language == ADA);
40080 break;
40081 case DW_TAG_constant:
40082 kind = VARIABLE;
40083 is_static = ! is_external;
40084 break;
40085 case DW_TAG_variable:
40086 kind = VARIABLE;
40087 is_static = ! is_external;
40088 break;
40089 case DW_TAG_namespace:
40090 kind = TYPE;
40091 is_static = 0;
40092 break;
40093 case DW_TAG_class_type:
40094 case DW_TAG_interface_type:
40095 case DW_TAG_structure_type:
40096 case DW_TAG_union_type:
40097 case DW_TAG_enumeration_type:
40098 kind = TYPE;
40099 is_static = (language != CPLUS && language != JAVA);
40100 break;
40101 default:
40102 assert (0);
40103 @}
40104@end smallexample
40105
40106@node Man Pages
40107@appendix Manual pages
40108@cindex Man pages
40109
40110@menu
40111* gdb man:: The GNU Debugger man page
40112* gdbserver man:: Remote Server for the GNU Debugger man page
40113* gcore man:: Generate a core file of a running program
40114* gdbinit man:: gdbinit scripts
40115@end menu
40116
40117@node gdb man
40118@heading gdb man
40119
40120@c man title gdb The GNU Debugger
40121
40122@c man begin SYNOPSIS gdb
40123gdb [@option{-help}] [@option{-nh}] [@option{-nx}] [@option{-q}]
40124[@option{-batch}] [@option{-cd=}@var{dir}] [@option{-f}]
40125[@option{-b}@w{ }@var{bps}]
40126 [@option{-tty=}@var{dev}] [@option{-s} @var{symfile}]
40127[@option{-e}@w{ }@var{prog}] [@option{-se}@w{ }@var{prog}]
40128[@option{-c}@w{ }@var{core}] [@option{-p}@w{ }@var{procID}]
40129 [@option{-x}@w{ }@var{cmds}] [@option{-d}@w{ }@var{dir}]
40130[@var{prog}|@var{prog} @var{procID}|@var{prog} @var{core}]
40131@c man end
40132
40133@c man begin DESCRIPTION gdb
40134The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
40135going on ``inside'' another program while it executes -- or what another
40136program was doing at the moment it crashed.
40137
40138@value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
40139these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
40140
40141@itemize @bullet
40142@item
40143Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
40144
40145@item
40146Make your program stop on specified conditions.
40147
40148@item
40149Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
40150
40151@item
40152Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
40153effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
40154@end itemize
40155
40156You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C, C@t{++}, Fortran and
40157Modula-2.
40158
40159@value{GDBN} is invoked with the shell command @code{gdb}. Once started, it reads
40160commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit with the @value{GDBN}
40161command @code{quit}. You can get online help from @value{GDBN} itself
40162by using the command @code{help}.
40163
40164You can run @code{gdb} with no arguments or options; but the most
40165usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument or two, specifying an
40166executable program as the argument:
40167
40168@smallexample
40169gdb program
40170@end smallexample
40171
40172You can also start with both an executable program and a core file specified:
40173
40174@smallexample
40175gdb program core
40176@end smallexample
40177
40178You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
40179to debug a running process:
40180
40181@smallexample
40182gdb program 1234
40183gdb -p 1234
40184@end smallexample
40185
40186@noindent
40187would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
40188named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
40189With option @option{-p} you can omit the @var{program} filename.
40190
40191Here are some of the most frequently needed @value{GDBN} commands:
40192
40193@c pod2man highlights the right hand side of the @item lines.
40194@table @env
40195@item break [@var{file}:]@var{functiop}
40196Set a breakpoint at @var{function} (in @var{file}).
40197
40198@item run [@var{arglist}]
40199Start your program (with @var{arglist}, if specified).
40200
40201@item bt
40202Backtrace: display the program stack.
40203
40204@item print @var{expr}
40205Display the value of an expression.
40206
40207@item c
40208Continue running your program (after stopping, e.g. at a breakpoint).
40209
40210@item next
40211Execute next program line (after stopping); step @emph{over} any
40212function calls in the line.
40213
40214@item edit [@var{file}:]@var{function}
40215look at the program line where it is presently stopped.
40216
40217@item list [@var{file}:]@var{function}
40218type the text of the program in the vicinity of where it is presently stopped.
40219
40220@item step
40221Execute next program line (after stopping); step @emph{into} any
40222function calls in the line.
40223
40224@item help [@var{name}]
40225Show information about @value{GDBN} command @var{name}, or general information
40226about using @value{GDBN}.
40227
40228@item quit
40229Exit from @value{GDBN}.
40230@end table
40231
40232@ifset man
40233For full details on @value{GDBN},
40234see @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
40235by Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch. The same text is available online
40236as the @code{gdb} entry in the @code{info} program.
40237@end ifset
40238@c man end
40239
40240@c man begin OPTIONS gdb
40241Any arguments other than options specify an executable
40242file and core file (or process ID); that is, the first argument
40243encountered with no
40244associated option flag is equivalent to a @option{-se} option, and the second,
40245if any, is equivalent to a @option{-c} option if it's the name of a file.
40246Many options have
40247both long and short forms; both are shown here. The long forms are also
40248recognized if you truncate them, so long as enough of the option is
40249present to be unambiguous. (If you prefer, you can flag option
40250arguments with @option{+} rather than @option{-}, though we illustrate the
40251more usual convention.)
40252
40253All the options and command line arguments you give are processed
40254in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the @option{-x}
40255option is used.
40256
40257@table @env
40258@item -help
40259@itemx -h
40260List all options, with brief explanations.
40261
40262@item -symbols=@var{file}
40263@itemx -s @var{file}
40264Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
40265
40266@item -write
40267Enable writing into executable and core files.
40268
40269@item -exec=@var{file}
40270@itemx -e @var{file}
40271Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when
40272appropriate, and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core
40273dump.
40274
40275@item -se=@var{file}
40276Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
40277file.
40278
40279@item -core=@var{file}
40280@itemx -c @var{file}
40281Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
40282
40283@item -command=@var{file}
40284@itemx -x @var{file}
40285Execute @value{GDBN} commands from file @var{file}.
40286
40287@item -ex @var{command}
40288Execute given @value{GDBN} @var{command}.
40289
40290@item -directory=@var{directory}
40291@itemx -d @var{directory}
40292Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source files.
40293
40294@item -nh
40295Do not execute commands from @file{~/.gdbinit}.
40296
40297@item -nx
40298@itemx -n
40299Do not execute commands from any @file{.gdbinit} initialization files.
40300
40301@item -quiet
40302@itemx -q
40303``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
40304messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
40305
40306@item -batch
40307Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the command
40308files specified with @option{-x} (and @file{.gdbinit}, if not inhibited).
40309Exit with nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN}
40310commands in the command files.
40311
40312Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for example to
40313download and run a program on another computer; in order to make this
40314more useful, the message
40315
40316@smallexample
40317Program exited normally.
40318@end smallexample
40319
40320@noindent
40321(which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under @value{GDBN} control
40322terminates) is not issued when running in batch mode.
40323
40324@item -cd=@var{directory}
40325Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
40326instead of the current directory.
40327
40328@item -fullname
40329@itemx -f
40330Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells
40331@value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line number in a standard,
40332recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is displayed (which
40333includes each time the program stops). This recognizable format looks
40334like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by the file name, line number
40335and character position separated by colons, and a newline. The
40336Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two @samp{\032}
40337characters as a signal to display the source code for the frame.
40338
40339@item -b @var{bps}
40340Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
40341interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
40342
40343@item -tty=@var{device}
40344Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
40345@end table
40346@c man end
40347
40348@c man begin SEEALSO gdb
40349@ifset man
40350The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
40351If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
40352documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
40353
40354@smallexample
40355info gdb
40356@end smallexample
40357
40358@noindent
40359should give you access to the complete manual.
40360
40361@cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
40362Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
40363@end ifset
40364@c man end
40365
40366@node gdbserver man
40367@heading gdbserver man
40368
40369@c man title gdbserver Remote Server for the GNU Debugger
40370@format
40371@c man begin SYNOPSIS gdbserver
40372gdbserver @var{comm} @var{prog} [@var{args}@dots{}]
40373
40374gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
40375
40376gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
40377@c man end
40378@end format
40379
40380@c man begin DESCRIPTION gdbserver
40381@command{gdbserver} is a program that allows you to run @value{GDBN} on a different machine
40382than the one which is running the program being debugged.
40383
40384@ifclear man
40385@subheading Usage (server (target) side)
40386@end ifclear
40387@ifset man
40388Usage (server (target) side):
40389@end ifset
40390
40391First, you need to have a copy of the program you want to debug put onto
40392the target system. The program can be stripped to save space if needed, as
40393@command{gdbserver} doesn't care about symbols. All symbol handling is taken care of by
40394the @value{GDBN} running on the host system.
40395
40396To use the server, you log on to the target system, and run the @command{gdbserver}
40397program. You must tell it (a) how to communicate with @value{GDBN}, (b) the name of
40398your program, and (c) its arguments. The general syntax is:
40399
40400@smallexample
40401target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [@var{args} ...]
40402@end smallexample
40403
40404For example, using a serial port, you might say:
40405
40406@smallexample
40407@ifset man
40408@c @file would wrap it as F</dev/com1>.
40409target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
40410@end ifset
40411@ifclear man
40412target> gdbserver @file{/dev/com1} emacs foo.txt
40413@end ifclear
40414@end smallexample
40415
40416This tells @command{gdbserver} to debug emacs with an argument of foo.txt, and
40417to communicate with @value{GDBN} via @file{/dev/com1}. @command{gdbserver} now
40418waits patiently for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate with it.
40419
40420To use a TCP connection, you could say:
40421
40422@smallexample
40423target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
40424@end smallexample
40425
40426This says pretty much the same thing as the last example, except that we are
40427going to communicate with the @code{host} @value{GDBN} via TCP. The @code{host:2345} argument means
40428that we are expecting to see a TCP connection from @code{host} to local TCP port
404292345. (Currently, the @code{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number you
40430want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any existing TCP
40431ports on the target system. This same port number must be used in the host
40432@value{GDBN}s @code{target remote} command, which will be described shortly. Note that if
40433you chose a port number that conflicts with another service, @command{gdbserver} will
40434print an error message and exit.
40435
40436@command{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
40437This is accomplished via the @option{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
40438
40439@smallexample
40440target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
40441@end smallexample
40442
40443@var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
40444necessary to point @command{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
40445
40446To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
40447or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
40448In such case you should connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} to start
40449the program you want to debug.
40450
40451@smallexample
40452target> gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
40453@end smallexample
40454
40455@ifclear man
40456@subheading Usage (host side)
40457@end ifclear
40458@ifset man
40459Usage (host side):
40460@end ifset
40461
40462You need an unstripped copy of the target program on your host system, since
40463@value{GDBN} needs to examine it's symbol tables and such. Start up @value{GDBN} as you normally
40464would, with the target program as the first argument. (You may need to use the
40465@option{--baud} option if the serial line is running at anything except 9600 baud.)
40466That is @code{gdb TARGET-PROG}, or @code{gdb --baud BAUD TARGET-PROG}. After that, the only
40467new command you need to know about is @code{target remote}
40468(or @code{target extended-remote}). Its argument is either
40469a device name (usually a serial device, like @file{/dev/ttyb}), or a @code{HOST:PORT}
40470descriptor. For example:
40471
40472@smallexample
40473@ifset man
40474@c @file would wrap it as F</dev/ttyb>.
40475(gdb) target remote /dev/ttyb
40476@end ifset
40477@ifclear man
40478(gdb) target remote @file{/dev/ttyb}
40479@end ifclear
40480@end smallexample
40481
40482@noindent
40483communicates with the server via serial line @file{/dev/ttyb}, and:
40484
40485@smallexample
40486(gdb) target remote the-target:2345
40487@end smallexample
40488
40489@noindent
40490communicates via a TCP connection to port 2345 on host `the-target', where
40491you previously started up @command{gdbserver} with the same port number. Note that for
40492TCP connections, you must start up @command{gdbserver} prior to using the `target remote'
40493command, otherwise you may get an error that looks something like
40494`Connection refused'.
40495
40496@command{gdbserver} can also debug multiple inferiors at once,
40497described in
40498@ifset man
40499the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Inferiors and Programs}
40500-- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'Inferiors and Programs'}.
40501@end ifset
40502@ifclear man
40503@ref{Inferiors and Programs}.
40504@end ifclear
40505In such case use the @code{extended-remote} @value{GDBN} command variant:
40506
40507@smallexample
40508(gdb) target extended-remote the-target:2345
40509@end smallexample
40510
40511The @command{gdbserver} option @option{--multi} may or may not be used in such
40512case.
40513@c man end
40514
40515@c man begin OPTIONS gdbserver
40516There are three different modes for invoking @command{gdbserver}:
40517
40518@itemize @bullet
40519
40520@item
40521Debug a specific program specified by its program name:
40522
40523@smallexample
40524gdbserver @var{comm} @var{prog} [@var{args}@dots{}]
40525@end smallexample
40526
40527The @var{comm} parameter specifies how should the server communicate
40528with @value{GDBN}; it is either a device name (to use a serial line),
40529a TCP port number (@code{:1234}), or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
40530stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}. Specify the name of the program to
40531debug in @var{prog}. Any remaining arguments will be passed to the
40532program verbatim. When the program exits, @value{GDBN} will close the
40533connection, and @code{gdbserver} will exit.
40534
40535@item
40536Debug a specific program by specifying the process ID of a running
40537program:
40538
40539@smallexample
40540gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
40541@end smallexample
40542
40543The @var{comm} parameter is as described above. Supply the process ID
40544of a running program in @var{pid}; @value{GDBN} will do everything
40545else. Like with the previous mode, when the process @var{pid} exits,
40546@value{GDBN} will close the connection, and @code{gdbserver} will exit.
40547
40548@item
40549Multi-process mode -- debug more than one program/process:
40550
40551@smallexample
40552gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
40553@end smallexample
40554
40555In this mode, @value{GDBN} can instruct @command{gdbserver} which
40556command(s) to run. Unlike the other 2 modes, @value{GDBN} will not
40557close the connection when a process being debugged exits, so you can
40558debug several processes in the same session.
40559@end itemize
40560
40561In each of the modes you may specify these options:
40562
40563@table @env
40564
40565@item --help
40566List all options, with brief explanations.
40567
40568@item --version
40569This option causes @command{gdbserver} to print its version number and exit.
40570
40571@item --attach
40572@command{gdbserver} will attach to a running program. The syntax is:
40573
40574@smallexample
40575target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
40576@end smallexample
40577
40578@var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
40579necessary to point @command{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
40580
40581@item --multi
40582To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
40583or process ID to attach, use this command line option.
40584Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
40585the program you want to debug. The syntax is:
40586
40587@smallexample
40588target> gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
40589@end smallexample
40590
40591@item --debug
40592Instruct @code{gdbserver} to display extra status information about the debugging
40593process.
40594This option is intended for @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to
40595the developers.
40596
40597@item --remote-debug
40598Instruct @code{gdbserver} to display remote protocol debug output.
40599This option is intended for @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to
40600the developers.
40601
40602@item --debug-format=option1@r{[},option2,...@r{]}
40603Instruct @code{gdbserver} to include extra information in each line
40604of debugging output.
40605@xref{Other Command-Line Arguments for gdbserver}.
40606
40607@item --wrapper
40608Specify a wrapper to launch programs
40609for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
40610wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
40611@kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
40612
40613@item --once
40614By default, @command{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
40615additional connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
40616with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
40617connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session.
40618
40619@c --disable-packet is not documented for users.
40620
40621@c --disable-randomization and --no-disable-randomization are superseded by
40622@c QDisableRandomization.
40623
40624@end table
40625@c man end
40626
40627@c man begin SEEALSO gdbserver
40628@ifset man
40629The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
40630If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
40631documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
40632
40633@smallexample
40634info gdb
40635@end smallexample
40636
40637should give you access to the complete manual.
40638
40639@cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
40640Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
40641@end ifset
40642@c man end
40643
40644@node gcore man
40645@heading gcore
40646
40647@c man title gcore Generate a core file of a running program
40648
40649@format
40650@c man begin SYNOPSIS gcore
40651gcore [-o @var{filename}] @var{pid}
40652@c man end
40653@end format
40654
40655@c man begin DESCRIPTION gcore
40656Generate a core dump of a running program with process ID @var{pid}.
40657Produced file is equivalent to a kernel produced core file as if the process
40658crashed (and if @kbd{ulimit -c} were used to set up an appropriate core dump
40659limit). Unlike after a crash, after @command{gcore} the program remains
40660running without any change.
40661@c man end
40662
40663@c man begin OPTIONS gcore
40664@table @env
40665@item -o @var{filename}
40666The optional argument
40667@var{filename} specifies the file name where to put the core dump.
40668If not specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}},
40669where @var{pid} is the running program process ID.
40670@end table
40671@c man end
40672
40673@c man begin SEEALSO gcore
40674@ifset man
40675The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
40676If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
40677documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
40678
40679@smallexample
40680info gdb
40681@end smallexample
40682
40683@noindent
40684should give you access to the complete manual.
40685
40686@cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
40687Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
40688@end ifset
40689@c man end
40690
40691@node gdbinit man
40692@heading gdbinit
40693
40694@c man title gdbinit GDB initialization scripts
40695
40696@format
40697@c man begin SYNOPSIS gdbinit
40698@ifset SYSTEM_GDBINIT
40699@value{SYSTEM_GDBINIT}
40700@end ifset
40701
40702~/.gdbinit
40703
40704./.gdbinit
40705@c man end
40706@end format
40707
40708@c man begin DESCRIPTION gdbinit
40709These files contain @value{GDBN} commands to automatically execute during
40710@value{GDBN} startup. The lines of contents are canned sequences of commands,
40711described in
40712@ifset man
40713the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Sequences}
40714-- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n Sequences}.
40715@end ifset
40716@ifclear man
40717@ref{Sequences}.
40718@end ifclear
40719
40720Please read more in
40721@ifset man
40722the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Startup}
40723-- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n Startup}.
40724@end ifset
40725@ifclear man
40726@ref{Startup}.
40727@end ifclear
40728
40729@table @env
40730@ifset SYSTEM_GDBINIT
40731@item @value{SYSTEM_GDBINIT}
40732@end ifset
40733@ifclear SYSTEM_GDBINIT
40734@item (not enabled with @code{--with-system-gdbinit} during compilation)
40735@end ifclear
40736System-wide initialization file. It is executed unless user specified
40737@value{GDBN} option @code{-nx} or @code{-n}.
40738See more in
40739@ifset man
40740the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{System-wide configuration}
40741-- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'System-wide configuration'}.
40742@end ifset
40743@ifclear man
40744@ref{System-wide configuration}.
40745@end ifclear
40746
40747@item ~/.gdbinit
40748User initialization file. It is executed unless user specified
40749@value{GDBN} options @code{-nx}, @code{-n} or @code{-nh}.
40750
40751@item ./.gdbinit
40752Initialization file for current directory. It may need to be enabled with
40753@value{GDBN} security command @code{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
40754See more in
40755@ifset man
40756the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Init File in the Current Directory}
40757-- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'Init File in the Current Directory'}.
40758@end ifset
40759@ifclear man
40760@ref{Init File in the Current Directory}.
40761@end ifclear
40762@end table
40763@c man end
40764
40765@c man begin SEEALSO gdbinit
40766@ifset man
40767gdb(1), @code{info -f gdb -n Startup}
40768
40769The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
40770If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
40771documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
40772
40773@smallexample
40774info gdb
40775@end smallexample
40776
40777should give you access to the complete manual.
40778
40779@cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
40780Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
40781@end ifset
40782@c man end
40783
40784@include gpl.texi
40785
40786@node GNU Free Documentation License
40787@appendix GNU Free Documentation License
40788@include fdl.texi
40789
40790@node Concept Index
40791@unnumbered Concept Index
40792
40793@printindex cp
40794
40795@node Command and Variable Index
40796@unnumbered Command, Variable, and Function Index
40797
40798@printindex fn
40799
40800@tex
40801% I think something like @@colophon should be in texinfo. In the
40802% meantime:
40803\long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
40804\centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
40805\centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
40806\centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
40807\centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
40808\centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
40809\centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
40810\centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
40811\centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
40812\page\colophon
40813% Blame: doc@@cygnus.com, 1991.
40814@end tex
40815
40816@bye
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