* tui/tui-regs.c (tui_display_register): Add comment about
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / gdb / doc / gdb.texinfo
... / ...
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1\input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2@c Copyright (C) 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998,
3@c 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
4@c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
5@c
6@c %**start of header
7@c makeinfo ignores cmds prev to setfilename, so its arg cannot make use
8@c of @set vars. However, you can override filename with makeinfo -o.
9@setfilename gdb.info
10@c
11@include gdb-cfg.texi
12@c
13@settitle Debugging with @value{GDBN}
14@setchapternewpage odd
15@c %**end of header
16
17@iftex
18@c @smallbook
19@c @cropmarks
20@end iftex
21
22@finalout
23@syncodeindex ky cp
24@syncodeindex tp cp
25
26@c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
27@c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
28@syncodeindex vr cp
29@syncodeindex fn cp
30
31@c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
32@c This is updated by GNU Press.
33@set EDITION Ninth
34
35@c !!set GDB edit command default editor
36@set EDITOR /bin/ex
37
38@c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
39
40@c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
41@c manuals to an info tree.
42@dircategory Software development
43@direntry
44* Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
45@end direntry
46
47@copying
48Copyright @copyright{} 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,
491998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
50Free Software Foundation, Inc.
51
52Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
53under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or
54any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
55Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
56Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
57and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
58
59(a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
60this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
61developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
62@end copying
63
64@ifnottex
65This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
66
67This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
68@value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
69@ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
70@value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
71@end ifset
72Version @value{GDBVN}.
73
74@insertcopying
75@end ifnottex
76
77@titlepage
78@title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
79@subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
80@sp 1
81@subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
82@ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
83@sp 1
84@subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
85@end ifset
86@author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
87@page
88@tex
89{\parskip=0pt
90\hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
91\hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
92\hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
93}
94@end tex
95
96@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
97Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
9851 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
99Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
100ISBN 1-882114-77-9 @*
101
102@insertcopying
103@page
104This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
105Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
106software in general. We will miss him.
107@end titlepage
108@page
109
110@ifnottex
111@node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
112
113@top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
114
115This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
116
117This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN}
118@ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
119@value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
120@end ifset
121Version @value{GDBVN}.
122
123Copyright (C) 1988-2010 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
164* GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
165
166* Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
167* Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
168* Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
169* Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
170* Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
171* Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
172* Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
173* Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
174 @value{GDBN}
175* Operating System Information:: Getting additional information from
176 the operating system
177* Trace File Format:: GDB trace file format
178* Copying:: GNU General Public License says
179 how you can copy and share GDB
180* GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
181* Index:: Index
182@end menu
183
184@end ifnottex
185
186@contents
187
188@node Summary
189@unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
190
191The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
192going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
193program was doing at the moment it crashed.
194
195@value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
196these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
197
198@itemize @bullet
199@item
200Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
201
202@item
203Make your program stop on specified conditions.
204
205@item
206Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
207
208@item
209Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
210effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
211@end itemize
212
213You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
214For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
215For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
216
217@cindex Modula-2
218Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
219@ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
220
221@cindex Pascal
222Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
223nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
224entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
225syntax.
226
227@cindex Fortran
228@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
229it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
230underscore.
231
232@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
233using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
234
235@menu
236* Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
237* Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
238@end menu
239
240@node Free Software
241@unnumberedsec Free Software
242
243@value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
244General Public License
245(GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
246program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
247freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
248the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
249Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
250Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
251
252Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
253you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
254from anyone else.
255
256@unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
257
258The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
259the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
260include with the free software. Many of our most important
261programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
262texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
263when an important free software package does not come with a free
264manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
265gaps today.
266
267Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
268normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
269authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
270copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
271them from the free software world.
272
273That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
274from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
275manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
276only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
277contract to make it non-free.
278
279Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
280price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
281charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
282Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
283problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
284are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
285modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
286
287The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
288free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
289commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
290accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
291
292Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
293When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
294are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
295provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
296manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
297a changed version of the program is not really available to our
298community.
299
300Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
301acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
302author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
303authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
304to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
305may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
306with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
307are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
308of the manual.
309
310However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
311content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
312media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
313obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
314manual to replace it.
315
316Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
317lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
318free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
319the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
320realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
321the free software community.
322
323If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
324the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
325license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
326don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
327will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
328option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
329what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
330try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
331is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
332
333You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
334manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
335copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
336improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
337at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
338and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
339Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
340have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
341
342The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
343published by other publishers, at
344@url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
345
346@node Contributors
347@unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
348
349Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
350other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
351development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
352of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
353to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
354file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
355blow-by-blow account.
356
357Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
358
359@quotation
360@emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
361or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
362omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
363@end quotation
364
365So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
366particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
367releases:
368Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
369Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
370Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
371Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
372Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
373Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
374John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
375Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
376and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
377
378Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
379Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
380
381Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
382in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
383Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
384demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
385much general update work leading to release 3.0).
386
387@value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
388object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
389Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
390
391David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
392the original support for encapsulated COFF.
393
394Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
395
396Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
397Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
398support.
399Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
400Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
401Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
402David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
403Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
404Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
405Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
406Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
407Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
408Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
409Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
410Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
411Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
412Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
413Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
414Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
415
416Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
417
418Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
419libraries.
420
421Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
422about several machine instruction sets.
423
424Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
425remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
426contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
427and RDI targets, respectively.
428
429Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
430command-line editing and command history.
431
432Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
433Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
434
435Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
436He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
437symbols.
438
439Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
440H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
441
442NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
443
444Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
445processors.
446
447Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
448
449Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
450
451Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
452
453Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
454watchpoints.
455
456Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
457
458Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
459
460Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
461nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
462
463The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
464support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
465(narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
466compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
467Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
468Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
469provided HP-specific information in this manual.
470
471DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
472Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
473
474Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
475development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
476fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
477Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
478Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
479Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
480Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
481addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
482JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
483Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
484Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
485Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
486Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
487Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
488Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
489
490Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
491Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
492
493Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
494Hat.
495
496Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
497people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
498Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
499Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
500Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
501with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
502
503Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
504unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
505frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
506Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
507libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
508trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
509complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
510Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
511Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
512Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
513Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
514Weigand.
515
516Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
517Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
518who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
519Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
520
521Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
522Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
523
524@node Sample Session
525@chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
526
527You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
528However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
529debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
530
531@iftex
532In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
533to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
534@end iftex
535
536@c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
537@c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
538
539One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
540processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
541quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
542definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
543session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
544then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
545same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
546@code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
547procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
548
549@smallexample
550$ @b{cd gnu/m4}
551$ @b{./m4}
552@b{define(foo,0000)}
553
554@b{foo}
5550000
556@b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
557
558@b{bar}
5590000
560@b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
561
562@b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
563@b{baz}
564@b{Ctrl-d}
565m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
566@end smallexample
567
568@noindent
569Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
570
571@smallexample
572$ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
573@c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
574@c FIXME... format to come out better.
575@value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
576 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
577 the conditions.
578There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
579 for details.
580
581@value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
582(@value{GDBP})
583@end smallexample
584
585@noindent
586@value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
587rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
588We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
589that examples fit in this manual.
590
591@smallexample
592(@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
593@end smallexample
594
595@noindent
596We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
597Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
598@code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
599@code{break} command.
600
601@smallexample
602(@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
603Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
604@end smallexample
605
606@noindent
607Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
608control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
609subroutine, the program runs as usual:
610
611@smallexample
612(@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
613Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
614@b{define(foo,0000)}
615
616@b{foo}
6170000
618@end smallexample
619
620@noindent
621To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
622suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
623context where it stops.
624
625@smallexample
626@b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
627
628Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
629 at builtin.c:879
630879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
631@end smallexample
632
633@noindent
634Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
635the next line of the current function.
636
637@smallexample
638(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
639882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
640 : nil,
641@end smallexample
642
643@noindent
644@code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
645by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
646@code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
647subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
648
649@smallexample
650(@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
651set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
652 at input.c:530
653530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
654@end smallexample
655
656@noindent
657The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
658suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
659shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
660command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
661in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
662stack frame for each active subroutine.
663
664@smallexample
665(@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
666#0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
667 at input.c:530
668#1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
669 at builtin.c:882
670#2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
671#3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
672 at macro.c:71
673#4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
674#5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
675@end smallexample
676
677@noindent
678We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
679times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
680falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
681
682@smallexample
683(@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
6840x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
685(@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
6860x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
687def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
688(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
689536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
690 : xstrdup(rq);
691(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
692538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
693@end smallexample
694
695@noindent
696The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
697@code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
698and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
699(@code{print}) to see their values.
700
701@smallexample
702(@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
703$1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
704(@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
705$2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
706@end smallexample
707
708@noindent
709@code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
710To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
711surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
712
713@smallexample
714(@value{GDBP}) @b{l}
715533 xfree(rquote);
716534
717535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
718 : xstrdup (lq);
719536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
720 : xstrdup (rq);
721537
722538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
723539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
724540 @}
725541
726542 void
727@end smallexample
728
729@noindent
730Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
731@code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
732
733@smallexample
734(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
735539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
736(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
737540 @}
738(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
739$3 = 9
740(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
741$4 = 7
742@end smallexample
743
744@noindent
745That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
746@code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
747@code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
748the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
749any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
750assignments.
751
752@smallexample
753(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
754$5 = 7
755(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
756$6 = 9
757@end smallexample
758
759@noindent
760Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
761@code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
762executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
763example that caused trouble initially:
764
765@smallexample
766(@value{GDBP}) @b{c}
767Continuing.
768
769@b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
770
771baz
7720000
773@end smallexample
774
775@noindent
776Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
777problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
778lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
779
780@smallexample
781@b{Ctrl-d}
782Program exited normally.
783@end smallexample
784
785@noindent
786The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
787indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
788session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
789
790@smallexample
791(@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
792@end smallexample
793
794@node Invocation
795@chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
796
797This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
798The essentials are:
799@itemize @bullet
800@item
801type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
802@item
803type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
804@end itemize
805
806@menu
807* Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
808* Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
809* Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
810* Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
811@end menu
812
813@node Invoking GDB
814@section Invoking @value{GDBN}
815
816Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
817@value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
818
819You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
820to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
821
822The command-line options described here are designed
823to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
824options may effectively be unavailable.
825
826The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
827specifying an executable program:
828
829@smallexample
830@value{GDBP} @var{program}
831@end smallexample
832
833@noindent
834You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
835specified:
836
837@smallexample
838@value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
839@end smallexample
840
841You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
842to debug a running process:
843
844@smallexample
845@value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
846@end smallexample
847
848@noindent
849would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
850named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
851
852Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
853complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
854debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
855``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
856will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
857
858You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
859executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
860option processing.
861@smallexample
862@value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
863@end smallexample
864This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
865@code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
866
867You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
868@value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
869
870@smallexample
871@value{GDBP} -silent
872@end smallexample
873
874@noindent
875You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
876options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
877
878@noindent
879Type
880
881@smallexample
882@value{GDBP} -help
883@end smallexample
884
885@noindent
886to display all available options and briefly describe their use
887(@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
888
889All options and command line arguments you give are processed
890in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
891@samp{-x} option is used.
892
893
894@menu
895* File Options:: Choosing files
896* Mode Options:: Choosing modes
897* Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
898@end menu
899
900@node File Options
901@subsection Choosing Files
902
903When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
904specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
905the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
906@samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
907first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
908equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
909second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
910equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
911If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
912first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
913to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
914a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
915prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
916
917If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
918such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
919argument and ignore it.
920
921Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
922following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
923them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
924(If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
925than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
926
927@c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
928@c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
929@c it.
930
931@table @code
932@item -symbols @var{file}
933@itemx -s @var{file}
934@cindex @code{--symbols}
935@cindex @code{-s}
936Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
937
938@item -exec @var{file}
939@itemx -e @var{file}
940@cindex @code{--exec}
941@cindex @code{-e}
942Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
943and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
944
945@item -se @var{file}
946@cindex @code{--se}
947Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
948file.
949
950@item -core @var{file}
951@itemx -c @var{file}
952@cindex @code{--core}
953@cindex @code{-c}
954Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
955
956@item -pid @var{number}
957@itemx -p @var{number}
958@cindex @code{--pid}
959@cindex @code{-p}
960Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
961
962@item -command @var{file}
963@itemx -x @var{file}
964@cindex @code{--command}
965@cindex @code{-x}
966Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
967evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
968@xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
969
970@item -eval-command @var{command}
971@itemx -ex @var{command}
972@cindex @code{--eval-command}
973@cindex @code{-ex}
974Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
975
976This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
977also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
978
979@smallexample
980@value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
981 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
982@end smallexample
983
984@item -directory @var{directory}
985@itemx -d @var{directory}
986@cindex @code{--directory}
987@cindex @code{-d}
988Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
989
990@item -r
991@itemx -readnow
992@cindex @code{--readnow}
993@cindex @code{-r}
994Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
995the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
996This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
997
998@end table
999
1000@node Mode Options
1001@subsection Choosing Modes
1002
1003You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1004batch mode or quiet mode.
1005
1006@table @code
1007@item -nx
1008@itemx -n
1009@cindex @code{--nx}
1010@cindex @code{-n}
1011Do not execute commands found in any initialization files. Normally,
1012@value{GDBN} executes the commands in these files after all the command
1013options and arguments have been processed. @xref{Command Files,,Command
1014Files}.
1015
1016@item -quiet
1017@itemx -silent
1018@itemx -q
1019@cindex @code{--quiet}
1020@cindex @code{--silent}
1021@cindex @code{-q}
1022``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1023messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1024
1025@item -batch
1026@cindex @code{--batch}
1027Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1028command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1029initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1030nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1031in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination;
1032@pxref{Screen Size} and acts as if @kbd{set confirm off} were in
1033effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1034
1035Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1036example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1037make this more useful, the message
1038
1039@smallexample
1040Program exited normally.
1041@end smallexample
1042
1043@noindent
1044(which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1045@value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1046mode.
1047
1048@item -batch-silent
1049@cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1050Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1051@value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1052unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1053for an interactive session.
1054
1055This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1056messages, for example.
1057
1058Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1059writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1060
1061@item -return-child-result
1062@cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1063The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1064process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1065
1066@itemize @bullet
1067@item
1068@value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1069internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1070without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1071@item
1072The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1073@item
1074The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1075the exit code will be -1.
1076@end itemize
1077
1078This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1079when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1080interface.
1081
1082@item -nowindows
1083@itemx -nw
1084@cindex @code{--nowindows}
1085@cindex @code{-nw}
1086``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1087(GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1088interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1089
1090@item -windows
1091@itemx -w
1092@cindex @code{--windows}
1093@cindex @code{-w}
1094If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1095used if possible.
1096
1097@item -cd @var{directory}
1098@cindex @code{--cd}
1099Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1100instead of the current directory.
1101
1102@item -fullname
1103@itemx -f
1104@cindex @code{--fullname}
1105@cindex @code{-f}
1106@sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1107subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1108number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1109displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1110recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1111the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1112and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1113@samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1114frame.
1115
1116@item -epoch
1117@cindex @code{--epoch}
1118The Epoch Emacs-@value{GDBN} interface sets this option when it runs
1119@value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to modify its print
1120routines so as to allow Epoch to display values of expressions in a
1121separate window.
1122
1123@item -annotate @var{level}
1124@cindex @code{--annotate}
1125This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1126effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1127(@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1128information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1129expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1130normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1131@sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1132that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1133
1134The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1135(@pxref{GDB/MI}).
1136
1137@item --args
1138@cindex @code{--args}
1139Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1140executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1141This option stops option processing.
1142
1143@item -baud @var{bps}
1144@itemx -b @var{bps}
1145@cindex @code{--baud}
1146@cindex @code{-b}
1147Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1148interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1149
1150@item -l @var{timeout}
1151@cindex @code{-l}
1152Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1153for remote debugging.
1154
1155@item -tty @var{device}
1156@itemx -t @var{device}
1157@cindex @code{--tty}
1158@cindex @code{-t}
1159Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1160@c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1161
1162@c resolve the situation of these eventually
1163@item -tui
1164@cindex @code{--tui}
1165Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1166Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1167source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1168(@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Alternatively, the
1169Text User Interface can be enabled by invoking the program
1170@samp{@value{GDBTUI}}. Do not use this option if you run @value{GDBN} from
1171Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1172
1173@c @item -xdb
1174@c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1175@c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1176@c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1177@c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1178@c systems.
1179
1180@item -interpreter @var{interp}
1181@cindex @code{--interpreter}
1182Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1183program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1184communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1185@xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1186
1187@samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1188@value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1189The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1190previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1191selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1192@sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1193
1194@item -write
1195@cindex @code{--write}
1196Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1197is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1198(@pxref{Patching}).
1199
1200@item -statistics
1201@cindex @code{--statistics}
1202This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1203memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1204
1205@item -version
1206@cindex @code{--version}
1207This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1208no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1209
1210@end table
1211
1212@node Startup
1213@subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1214@cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1215
1216Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1217
1218@enumerate
1219@item
1220Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1221(@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1222
1223@item
1224@cindex init file
1225Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1226used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1227 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1228that file.
1229
1230@item
1231Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1232DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1233@code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1234that file.
1235
1236@item
1237Processes command line options and operands.
1238
1239@item
1240Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1241working directory. This is only done if the current directory is
1242different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1243init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1244to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1245@value{GDBN}.
1246
1247@item
1248Reads command files specified by the @samp{-x} option. @xref{Command
1249Files}, for more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1250
1251@item
1252Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1253@xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1254files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1255@end enumerate
1256
1257Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1258Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1259file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1260complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1261and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1262option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1263
1264To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1265can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1266
1267@cindex init file name
1268@cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1269@cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1270The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1271The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1272the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1273ports of @value{GDBN} use the standard name, but if they find a
1274@file{gdb.ini} file, they warn you about that and suggest to rename
1275the file to the standard name.
1276
1277
1278@node Quitting GDB
1279@section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1280@cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1281@cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1282
1283@table @code
1284@kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1285@kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1286@item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1287@itemx q
1288To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1289@code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1290do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1291otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1292error code.
1293@end table
1294
1295@cindex interrupt
1296An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1297terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1298returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1299character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1300until a time when it is safe.
1301
1302If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1303device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1304(@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1305
1306@node Shell Commands
1307@section Shell Commands
1308
1309If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1310debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1311just use the @code{shell} command.
1312
1313@table @code
1314@kindex shell
1315@cindex shell escape
1316@item shell @var{command string}
1317Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command string}.
1318If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1319shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1320(@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1321@end table
1322
1323The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1324You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1325@value{GDBN}:
1326
1327@table @code
1328@kindex make
1329@cindex calling make
1330@item make @var{make-args}
1331Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1332arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1333@end table
1334
1335@node Logging Output
1336@section Logging Output
1337@cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1338@cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1339
1340You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1341There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1342
1343@table @code
1344@kindex set logging
1345@item set logging on
1346Enable logging.
1347@item set logging off
1348Disable logging.
1349@cindex logging file name
1350@item set logging file @var{file}
1351Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1352@item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1353By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1354you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1355@item set logging redirect [on|off]
1356By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1357Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1358@kindex show logging
1359@item show logging
1360Show the current values of the logging settings.
1361@end table
1362
1363@node Commands
1364@chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1365
1366You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1367name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1368@value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1369key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1370show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1371
1372@menu
1373* Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1374* Completion:: Command completion
1375* Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1376@end menu
1377
1378@node Command Syntax
1379@section Command Syntax
1380
1381A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1382how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1383arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1384command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1385step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1386with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1387
1388@cindex abbreviation
1389@value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1390unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1391documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1392abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1393equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1394names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1395arguments to the @code{help} command.
1396
1397@cindex repeating commands
1398@kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1399A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1400repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1401will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1402repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1403repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1404@ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1405
1406The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1407@key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1408exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1409
1410@value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1411output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1412(@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1413@key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1414repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1415
1416@kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1417@cindex comment
1418Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1419nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1420Files,,Command Files}).
1421
1422@cindex repeating command sequences
1423@kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1424The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1425commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1426then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1427for editing.
1428
1429@node Completion
1430@section Command Completion
1431
1432@cindex completion
1433@cindex word completion
1434@value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1435only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1436are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1437commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1438
1439Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1440of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1441word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1442enter it). For example, if you type
1443
1444@c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1445@c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1446@c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1447@c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1448@smallexample
1449(@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1450@end smallexample
1451
1452@noindent
1453@value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1454the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1455
1456@smallexample
1457(@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1458@end smallexample
1459
1460@noindent
1461You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1462breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1463@samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1464were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1465might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1466to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1467
1468If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1469@key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1470characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1471@value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1472example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1473begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1474just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1475function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1476example:
1477
1478@smallexample
1479(@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1480@exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1481make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1482make_abs_section make_function_type
1483make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1484make_cleanup make_reference_type
1485make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1486(@value{GDBP}) b make_
1487@end smallexample
1488
1489@noindent
1490After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1491partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1492command.
1493
1494If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1495can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1496means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1497key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1498one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1499
1500@cindex quotes in commands
1501@cindex completion of quoted strings
1502Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1503parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1504its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1505situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1506@value{GDBN} commands.
1507
1508The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1509name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1510overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1511by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1512may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1513that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1514that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1515word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1516@code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1517@value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1518when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1519
1520@smallexample
1521(@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1522bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1523(@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1524@end smallexample
1525
1526In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1527quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1528completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1529place:
1530
1531@smallexample
1532(@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1533@exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1534(@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1535@end smallexample
1536
1537@noindent
1538In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1539you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1540completion on an overloaded symbol.
1541
1542For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1543Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1544overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1545see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1546
1547@cindex completion of structure field names
1548@cindex structure field name completion
1549@cindex completion of union field names
1550@cindex union field name completion
1551When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1552structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1553confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1554examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1555limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1556left-hand-side:
1557
1558@smallexample
1559(@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1560magic to_delete to_fputs to_put to_rewind
1561to_data to_flush to_isatty to_read to_write
1562@end smallexample
1563
1564@noindent
1565This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1566@code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1567follows:
1568
1569@smallexample
1570struct ui_file
1571@{
1572 int *magic;
1573 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1574 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1575 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1576 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1577 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1578 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1579 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1580 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1581 void *to_data;
1582@}
1583@end smallexample
1584
1585
1586@node Help
1587@section Getting Help
1588@cindex online documentation
1589@kindex help
1590
1591You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1592using the command @code{help}.
1593
1594@table @code
1595@kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1596@item help
1597@itemx h
1598You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1599display a short list of named classes of commands:
1600
1601@smallexample
1602(@value{GDBP}) help
1603List of classes of commands:
1604
1605aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1606breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1607data -- Examining data
1608files -- Specifying and examining files
1609internals -- Maintenance commands
1610obscure -- Obscure features
1611running -- Running the program
1612stack -- Examining the stack
1613status -- Status inquiries
1614support -- Support facilities
1615tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1616 stopping the program
1617user-defined -- User-defined commands
1618
1619Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1620commands in that class.
1621Type "help" followed by command name for full
1622documentation.
1623Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1624(@value{GDBP})
1625@end smallexample
1626@c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1627
1628@item help @var{class}
1629Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1630list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1631help display for the class @code{status}:
1632
1633@smallexample
1634(@value{GDBP}) help status
1635Status inquiries.
1636
1637List of commands:
1638
1639@c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1640@c to fit in smallbook page size.
1641info -- Generic command for showing things
1642 about the program being debugged
1643show -- Generic command for showing things
1644 about the debugger
1645
1646Type "help" followed by command name for full
1647documentation.
1648Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1649(@value{GDBP})
1650@end smallexample
1651
1652@item help @var{command}
1653With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1654short paragraph on how to use that command.
1655
1656@kindex apropos
1657@item apropos @var{args}
1658The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1659commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1660@var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1661
1662@smallexample
1663apropos reload
1664@end smallexample
1665
1666@noindent
1667results in:
1668
1669@smallexample
1670@c @group
1671set symbol-reloading -- Set dynamic symbol table reloading
1672 multiple times in one run
1673show symbol-reloading -- Show dynamic symbol table reloading
1674 multiple times in one run
1675@c @end group
1676@end smallexample
1677
1678@kindex complete
1679@item complete @var{args}
1680The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1681for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1682command you want completed. For example:
1683
1684@smallexample
1685complete i
1686@end smallexample
1687
1688@noindent results in:
1689
1690@smallexample
1691@group
1692if
1693ignore
1694info
1695inspect
1696@end group
1697@end smallexample
1698
1699@noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1700@end table
1701
1702In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1703and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1704of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1705manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1706under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Index point to
1707all the sub-commands. @xref{Index}.
1708
1709@c @group
1710@table @code
1711@kindex info
1712@kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1713@item info
1714This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1715program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1716with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1717registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1718You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1719@w{@code{help info}}.
1720
1721@kindex set
1722@item set
1723You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1724@code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1725@code{set prompt $}.
1726
1727@kindex show
1728@item show
1729In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1730@value{GDBN} itself.
1731You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1732related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1733system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1734which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1735
1736@kindex info set
1737To display all the settable parameters and their current
1738values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1739@code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1740@c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1741@c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1742@c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1743@end table
1744@c @end group
1745
1746Here are three miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1747exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1748
1749@table @code
1750@kindex show version
1751@cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1752@item show version
1753Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1754information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1755@value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1756version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1757commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1758system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1759variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1760The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1761@value{GDBN}.
1762
1763@kindex show copying
1764@kindex info copying
1765@cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1766@item show copying
1767@itemx info copying
1768Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1769
1770@kindex show warranty
1771@kindex info warranty
1772@item show warranty
1773@itemx info warranty
1774Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1775if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1776
1777@end table
1778
1779@node Running
1780@chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1781
1782When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1783debugging information when you compile it.
1784
1785You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1786of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1787your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1788kill a child process.
1789
1790@menu
1791* Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1792* Starting:: Starting your program
1793* Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1794* Environment:: Your program's environment
1795
1796* Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1797* Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1798* Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1799* Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1800
1801* Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1802* Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1803* Forks:: Debugging forks
1804* Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1805@end menu
1806
1807@node Compilation
1808@section Compiling for Debugging
1809
1810In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1811debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1812is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1813variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1814and addresses in the executable code.
1815
1816To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1817the compiler.
1818
1819Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1820optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1821compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1822together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1823executables containing debugging information.
1824
1825@value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1826without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1827recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1828program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1829in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1830
1831Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1832@w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1833format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1834
1835@value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1836expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1837about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1838the @option{-g} flag alone, because this information is rather large.
1839Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
1840provides macro information if you specify the options
1841@option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-g3}; the former option requests
1842debugging information in the Dwarf 2 format, and the latter requests
1843``extra information''. In the future, we hope to find more compact
1844ways to represent macro information, so that it can be included with
1845@option{-g} alone.
1846
1847@need 2000
1848@node Starting
1849@section Starting your Program
1850@cindex starting
1851@cindex running
1852
1853@table @code
1854@kindex run
1855@kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1856@item run
1857@itemx r
1858Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1859You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1860argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1861@value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1862(@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1863
1864@end table
1865
1866If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1867supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1868that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1869@code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1870like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1871message like this one:
1872
1873@smallexample
1874The "remote" target does not support "run".
1875Try "help target" or "continue".
1876@end smallexample
1877
1878@noindent
1879then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1880first (@pxref{load}).
1881
1882The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
1883receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
1884information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
1885can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
1886your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
1887divided into four categories:
1888
1889@table @asis
1890@item The @emph{arguments.}
1891Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
1892@code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
1893is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
1894(such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
1895the arguments.
1896In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
1897@code{SHELL} environment variable.
1898@xref{Arguments, ,Your Program's Arguments}.
1899
1900@item The @emph{environment.}
1901Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
1902use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
1903environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
1904your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
1905
1906@item The @emph{working directory.}
1907Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
1908the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
1909@xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
1910
1911@item The @emph{standard input and output.}
1912Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
1913standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
1914in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
1915set a different device for your program.
1916@xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
1917
1918@cindex pipes
1919@emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
1920pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
1921program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
1922wrong program.
1923@end table
1924
1925When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
1926immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
1927of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
1928stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
1929or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
1930
1931If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
1932time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
1933table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
1934your current breakpoints.
1935
1936@table @code
1937@kindex start
1938@item start
1939@cindex run to main procedure
1940The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
1941With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
1942other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
1943main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
1944execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
1945procedure, depending on the language used.
1946
1947The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
1948breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
1949the @samp{run} command.
1950
1951@cindex elaboration phase
1952Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
1953executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
1954languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
1955constructors for static and global objects are executed before
1956@code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
1957before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
1958will remain to halt execution.
1959
1960Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
1961@samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
1962underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
1963reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
1964@samp{start} or @samp{run}.
1965
1966It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
1967these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
1968your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
1969elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
1970elaboration code before running your program.
1971
1972@kindex set exec-wrapper
1973@item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
1974@itemx show exec-wrapper
1975@itemx unset exec-wrapper
1976When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
1977launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
1978with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
1979@var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
1980arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
1981appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
1982your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
1983
1984You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
1985its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
1986this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
1987with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
1988
1989For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
1990the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
1991environment:
1992
1993@smallexample
1994(@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
1995(@value{GDBP}) run
1996@end smallexample
1997
1998This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
1999@sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2000
2001@kindex set disable-randomization
2002@item set disable-randomization
2003@itemx set disable-randomization on
2004This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2005randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2006is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2007reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2008
2009This feature is implemented only on @sc{gnu}/Linux. You can get the same
2010behavior using
2011
2012@smallexample
2013(@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2014@end smallexample
2015
2016@item set disable-randomization off
2017Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2018ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2019disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2020@value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2021as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2022disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2023
2024The virtual address space randomization is implemented only on @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2025It protects the programs against some kinds of security attacks. In these
2026cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2027code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2028a code at its expected addresses.
2029
2030Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2031makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2032having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2033library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2034misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2035random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2036startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2037a randomly chosen address.
2038
2039Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2040similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2041a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2042already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2043executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2044
2045Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2046(as long as the randomization is enabled).
2047
2048@item show disable-randomization
2049Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2050the virtual address space of the started program.
2051
2052@end table
2053
2054@node Arguments
2055@section Your Program's Arguments
2056
2057@cindex arguments (to your program)
2058The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2059@code{run} command.
2060They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2061performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2062@code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2063@value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2064the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2065
2066On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2067@value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2068calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2069the program, not by the shell.
2070
2071@code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2072@code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2073
2074@table @code
2075@kindex set args
2076@item set args
2077Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2078@code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2079with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2080using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2081it again without arguments.
2082
2083@kindex show args
2084@item show args
2085Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2086@end table
2087
2088@node Environment
2089@section Your Program's Environment
2090
2091@cindex environment (of your program)
2092The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2093their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2094your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2095path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2096the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2097debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2098environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2099
2100@table @code
2101@kindex path
2102@item path @var{directory}
2103Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2104(the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2105The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2106You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2107system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2108MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2109is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2110
2111You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2112working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2113use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2114@code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2115@var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2116@var{directory} to the search path.
2117@c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2118@c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2119
2120@kindex show paths
2121@item show paths
2122Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2123environment variable).
2124
2125@kindex show environment
2126@item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2127Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2128your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2129print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2130your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2131
2132@kindex set environment
2133@item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2134Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2135changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2136be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2137any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2138parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2139null value.
2140@c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2141@c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2142
2143For example, this command:
2144
2145@smallexample
2146set env USER = foo
2147@end smallexample
2148
2149@noindent
2150tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2151@samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2152are not actually required.)
2153
2154@kindex unset environment
2155@item unset environment @var{varname}
2156Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2157program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2158@code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2159rather than assigning it an empty value.
2160@end table
2161
2162@emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2163the shell indicated
2164by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
2165@code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
2166that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
2167@file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
2168your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
2169files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
2170@file{.profile}.
2171
2172@node Working Directory
2173@section Your Program's Working Directory
2174
2175@cindex working directory (of your program)
2176Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2177working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2178The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2179from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2180working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2181
2182The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2183that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2184Specify Files}.
2185
2186@table @code
2187@kindex cd
2188@cindex change working directory
2189@item cd @var{directory}
2190Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}.
2191
2192@kindex pwd
2193@item pwd
2194Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2195@end table
2196
2197It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2198the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2199during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2200configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2201proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2202current working directory of the debuggee.
2203
2204@node Input/Output
2205@section Your Program's Input and Output
2206
2207@cindex redirection
2208@cindex i/o
2209@cindex terminal
2210By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2211the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2212to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2213modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2214running your program.
2215
2216@table @code
2217@kindex info terminal
2218@item info terminal
2219Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2220program is using.
2221@end table
2222
2223You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2224redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2225
2226@smallexample
2227run > outfile
2228@end smallexample
2229
2230@noindent
2231starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2232
2233@kindex tty
2234@cindex controlling terminal
2235Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2236with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2237argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2238commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2239process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2240
2241@smallexample
2242tty /dev/ttyb
2243@end smallexample
2244
2245@noindent
2246directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2247default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2248that as their controlling terminal.
2249
2250An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2251effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2252terminal.
2253
2254When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2255command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2256for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2257for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2258
2259@cindex inferior tty
2260@cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2261You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2262display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2263program.
2264
2265@table @code
2266@item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2267@kindex set inferior-tty
2268Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2269
2270@item show inferior-tty
2271@kindex show inferior-tty
2272Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2273@end table
2274
2275@node Attach
2276@section Debugging an Already-running Process
2277@kindex attach
2278@cindex attach
2279
2280@table @code
2281@item attach @var{process-id}
2282This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2283outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2284targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2285find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2286or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2287
2288@code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2289executing the command.
2290@end table
2291
2292To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2293which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2294programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2295also have permission to send the process a signal.
2296
2297When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2298the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2299the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2300(@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2301the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2302Specify Files}.
2303
2304The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2305process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2306with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2307you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2308can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2309process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2310attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2311
2312@table @code
2313@kindex detach
2314@item detach
2315When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2316@code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2317the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2318that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2319are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2320@code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2321executing the command.
2322@end table
2323
2324If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2325that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2326By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2327things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2328@code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2329Messages}).
2330
2331@node Kill Process
2332@section Killing the Child Process
2333
2334@table @code
2335@kindex kill
2336@item kill
2337Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2338@end table
2339
2340This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2341running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2342is running.
2343
2344On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2345while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2346@code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2347outside the debugger.
2348
2349The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2350relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2351executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2352next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2353reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2354breakpoint settings).
2355
2356@node Inferiors and Programs
2357@section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2358
2359@value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2360session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2361several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2362before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2363multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2364from multiple executables.
2365
2366@cindex inferior
2367@value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2368object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2369a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2370have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2371may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2372identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2373inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2374embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2375of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2376threads running in it.
2377
2378To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2379inferiors}}:
2380
2381@table @code
2382@kindex info inferiors
2383@item info inferiors
2384Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2385
2386@value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2387
2388@enumerate
2389@item
2390the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2391
2392@item
2393the target system's inferior identifier
2394
2395@item
2396the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2397
2398@end enumerate
2399
2400@noindent
2401An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2402indicates the current inferior.
2403
2404For example,
2405@end table
2406@c end table here to get a little more width for example
2407
2408@smallexample
2409(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2410 Num Description Executable
2411 2 process 2307 hello
2412* 1 process 3401 goodbye
2413@end smallexample
2414
2415To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2416
2417@table @code
2418@kindex inferior @var{infno}
2419@item inferior @var{infno}
2420Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2421@var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2422in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2423@end table
2424
2425
2426You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2427@code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2428systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2429automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2430remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2431@w{@code{remove-inferior}} command.
2432
2433@table @code
2434@kindex add-inferior
2435@item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2436Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2437executable. @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2438the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2439change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2440@code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2441
2442@kindex clone-inferior
2443@item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2444Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2445@var{infno}. @var{n} defaults to 1. @var{infno} defaults to the
2446number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2447want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2448
2449@smallexample
2450(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2451 Num Description Executable
2452* 1 process 29964 helloworld
2453(@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2454Added inferior 2.
24551 inferiors added.
2456(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2457 Num Description Executable
2458 2 <null> helloworld
2459* 1 process 29964 helloworld
2460@end smallexample
2461
2462You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2463
2464@kindex remove-inferior
2465@item remove-inferior @var{infno}
2466Removes the inferior @var{infno}. It is not possible to remove an
2467inferior that is running with this command. For those, use the
2468@code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2469
2470@end table
2471
2472To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2473inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2474inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2475using the @w{@code{kill inferior}} command:
2476
2477@table @code
2478@kindex detach inferior @var{infno}
2479@item detach inferior @var{infno}
2480Detach from the inferior identified by @value{GDBN} inferior number
2481@var{infno}, and remove it from the inferior list.
2482
2483@kindex kill inferior @var{infno}
2484@item kill inferior @var{infno}
2485Kill the inferior identified by @value{GDBN} inferior number
2486@var{infno}, and remove it from the inferior list.
2487@end table
2488
2489After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2490@code{detach inferior}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferior}, or after
2491a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2492@code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2493
2494
2495To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2496control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2497
2498@table @code
2499@kindex set print inferior-events
2500@cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2501@item set print inferior-events
2502@itemx set print inferior-events on
2503@itemx set print inferior-events off
2504The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2505disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2506inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2507detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2508
2509@kindex show print inferior-events
2510@item show print inferior-events
2511Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2512inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2513@end table
2514
2515Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2516single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2517value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2518
2519
2520Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2521get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2522spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2523info program-spaces}} command.
2524
2525@table @code
2526@kindex maint info program-spaces
2527@item maint info program-spaces
2528Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2529@value{GDBN}.
2530
2531@value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2532
2533@enumerate
2534@item
2535the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2536
2537@item
2538the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2539the @code{file} command.
2540
2541@end enumerate
2542
2543@noindent
2544An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2545indicates the current program space.
2546
2547In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2548information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2549example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2550
2551@smallexample
2552(@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2553 Id Executable
2554 2 goodbye
2555 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2556* 1 hello
2557@end smallexample
2558
2559Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2560while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2561some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2562same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2563the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2564
2565@smallexample
2566(@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2567 Id Executable
2568* 1 vfork-test
2569 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2570@end smallexample
2571
2572Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2573space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2574@end table
2575
2576@node Threads
2577@section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2578
2579@cindex threads of execution
2580@cindex multiple threads
2581@cindex switching threads
2582In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2583may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2584of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2585the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2586that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2587modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2588registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2589
2590@value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2591programs:
2592
2593@itemize @bullet
2594@item automatic notification of new threads
2595@item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2596@item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2597@item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2598a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2599@item thread-specific breakpoints
2600@item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2601messages on thread start and exit.
2602@item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2603the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2604isn't compatible with the program.
2605@end itemize
2606
2607@quotation
2608@emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2609@value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2610If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2611effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2612from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2613like this:
2614
2615@smallexample
2616(@value{GDBP}) info threads
2617(@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2618Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2619see the IDs of currently known threads.
2620@end smallexample
2621@c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2622@c doesn't support threads"?
2623@end quotation
2624
2625@cindex focus of debugging
2626@cindex current thread
2627The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2628threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2629control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2630This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2631program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2632
2633@cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2634@cindex thread identifier (system)
2635@c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2636@c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2637@c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2638Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2639the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2640form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2641whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2642@sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2643
2644@smallexample
2645[New Thread 46912507313328 (LWP 25582)]
2646@end smallexample
2647
2648@noindent
2649when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2650the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2651further qualifier.
2652
2653@c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2654@c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2655@c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2656@c program?
2657@c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2658@c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2659@c threads ab initio?
2660
2661@cindex thread number
2662@cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2663For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2664number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2665
2666@table @code
2667@kindex info threads
2668@item info threads
2669Display a summary of all threads currently in your
2670program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2671
2672@enumerate
2673@item
2674the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2675
2676@item
2677the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2678
2679@item
2680the current stack frame summary for that thread
2681@end enumerate
2682
2683@noindent
2684An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2685indicates the current thread.
2686
2687For example,
2688@end table
2689@c end table here to get a little more width for example
2690
2691@smallexample
2692(@value{GDBP}) info threads
2693 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2694 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2695* 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2696 at threadtest.c:68
2697@end smallexample
2698
2699On HP-UX systems:
2700
2701@cindex debugging multithreaded programs (on HP-UX)
2702@cindex thread identifier (GDB), on HP-UX
2703For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2704number---a small integer assigned in thread-creation order---with each
2705thread in your program.
2706
2707@cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message, on HP-UX
2708@cindex thread identifier (system), on HP-UX
2709@c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2710@c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2711@c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2712Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2713both @value{GDBN}'s thread number and the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2714form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2715whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2716HP-UX, you see
2717
2718@smallexample
2719[New thread 2 (system thread 26594)]
2720@end smallexample
2721
2722@noindent
2723when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread.
2724
2725@table @code
2726@kindex info threads (HP-UX)
2727@item info threads
2728Display a summary of all threads currently in your
2729program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2730
2731@enumerate
2732@item the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2733
2734@item the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2735
2736@item the current stack frame summary for that thread
2737@end enumerate
2738
2739@noindent
2740An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2741indicates the current thread.
2742
2743For example,
2744@end table
2745@c end table here to get a little more width for example
2746
2747@smallexample
2748(@value{GDBP}) info threads
2749 * 3 system thread 26607 worker (wptr=0x7b09c318 "@@") \@*
2750 at quicksort.c:137
2751 2 system thread 26606 0x7b0030d8 in __ksleep () \@*
2752 from /usr/lib/libc.2
2753 1 system thread 27905 0x7b003498 in _brk () \@*
2754 from /usr/lib/libc.2
2755@end smallexample
2756
2757On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2758Solaris-specific command:
2759
2760@table @code
2761@item maint info sol-threads
2762@kindex maint info sol-threads
2763@cindex thread info (Solaris)
2764Display info on Solaris user threads.
2765@end table
2766
2767@table @code
2768@kindex thread @var{threadno}
2769@item thread @var{threadno}
2770Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2771argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2772shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2773@value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2774you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2775
2776@smallexample
2777@c FIXME!! This example made up; find a @value{GDBN} w/threads and get real one
2778(@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2779[Switching to process 35 thread 23]
27800x34e5 in sigpause ()
2781@end smallexample
2782
2783@noindent
2784As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2785@samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2786threads.
2787
2788@kindex thread apply
2789@cindex apply command to several threads
2790@item thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{command}
2791The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2792@var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2793threads that you want affected with the command argument
2794@var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2795shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2796could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2797command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2798
2799@kindex set print thread-events
2800@cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2801@item set print thread-events
2802@itemx set print thread-events on
2803@itemx set print thread-events off
2804The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2805disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2806started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2807be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2808Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2809
2810@kindex show print thread-events
2811@item show print thread-events
2812Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2813have started and exited.
2814@end table
2815
2816@xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2817more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2818programs with multiple threads.
2819
2820@xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2821watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2822
2823@table @code
2824@kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2825@cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2826@item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2827If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2828directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2829If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2830an empty list.
2831
2832On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2833@code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2834inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2835to find @code{libthread_db}. If that fails, @value{GDBN} will continue
2836with default system shared library directories, and finally the directory
2837from which @code{libpthread} was loaded in the inferior process.
2838
2839For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
2840@value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
2841If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
2842mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
2843will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
2844If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
2845@value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
2846
2847Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
2848only on some platforms.
2849
2850@kindex show libthread-db-search-path
2851@item show libthread-db-search-path
2852Display current libthread_db search path.
2853@end table
2854
2855@node Forks
2856@section Debugging Forks
2857
2858@cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2859@cindex multiple processes
2860@cindex processes, multiple
2861On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2862programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2863function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2864parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2865set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2866will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2867will cause it to terminate.
2868
2869However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
2870which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
2871the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
2872only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
2873so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
2874on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
2875get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
2876@value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
2877the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
2878the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
2879
2880On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
2881create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
2882Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
2883only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
2884
2885By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
2886the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
2887
2888If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
2889use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
2890
2891@table @code
2892@kindex set follow-fork-mode
2893@item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
2894Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
2895@code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
2896process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
2897
2898@table @code
2899@item parent
2900The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
2901unimpeded. This is the default.
2902
2903@item child
2904The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
2905unimpeded.
2906
2907@end table
2908
2909@kindex show follow-fork-mode
2910@item show follow-fork-mode
2911Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
2912@end table
2913
2914@cindex debugging multiple processes
2915On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
2916command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
2917
2918@table @code
2919@kindex set detach-on-fork
2920@item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
2921Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
2922retain debugger control over them both.
2923
2924@table @code
2925@item on
2926The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
2927@code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
2928independently. This is the default.
2929
2930@item off
2931Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
2932One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
2933@code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
2934is held suspended.
2935
2936@end table
2937
2938@kindex show detach-on-fork
2939@item show detach-on-fork
2940Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
2941@end table
2942
2943If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
2944will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
2945You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
2946using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
2947to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
2948Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
2949
2950To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
2951from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferior}} command (allowing it
2952to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferior}}
2953command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
2954and Programs}.
2955
2956If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
2957@code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
2958breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
2959@code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
2960the child process's @code{main}.
2961
2962On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
2963cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
2964
2965If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
2966call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
2967process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
2968as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
2969@value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
2970You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
2971command.
2972
2973@table @code
2974@kindex set follow-exec-mode
2975@item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
2976
2977Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
2978@code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
2979
2980@code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
2981
2982@table @code
2983@item new
2984@value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
2985new inferior. The program the process was running before the
2986@code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
2987original inferior.
2988
2989For example:
2990
2991@smallexample
2992(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2993(gdb) info inferior
2994 Id Description Executable
2995* 1 <null> prog1
2996(@value{GDBP}) run
2997process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
2998Program exited normally.
2999(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3000 Id Description Executable
3001* 2 <null> prog2
3002 1 <null> prog1
3003@end smallexample
3004
3005@item same
3006@value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3007executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3008inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3009e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3010running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3011
3012For example:
3013
3014@smallexample
3015(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3016 Id Description Executable
3017* 1 <null> prog1
3018(@value{GDBP}) run
3019process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3020Program exited normally.
3021(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3022 Id Description Executable
3023* 1 <null> prog2
3024@end smallexample
3025
3026@end table
3027@end table
3028
3029You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3030a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3031Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3032
3033@node Checkpoint/Restart
3034@section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3035
3036@cindex checkpoint
3037@cindex restart
3038@cindex bookmark
3039@cindex snapshot of a process
3040@cindex rewind program state
3041
3042On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3043@sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3044program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3045later.
3046
3047Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3048happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3049includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3050system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3051moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3052
3053Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3054getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3055a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3056the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3057from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3058start again from there.
3059
3060This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3061steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3062
3063To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3064
3065@table @code
3066@kindex checkpoint
3067@item checkpoint
3068Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3069The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3070is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3071
3072@kindex info checkpoints
3073@item info checkpoints
3074List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3075session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3076listed:
3077
3078@table @code
3079@item Checkpoint ID
3080@item Process ID
3081@item Code Address
3082@item Source line, or label
3083@end table
3084
3085@kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3086@item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3087Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3088@var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3089etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3090was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3091in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3092
3093Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3094are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3095only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3096the debugger.
3097
3098@kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3099@item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3100Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3101
3102@end table
3103
3104Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3105of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3106(OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3107a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3108so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3109opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3110previously read data can be read again.
3111
3112Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3113external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3114from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3115but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3116be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3117been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3118
3119However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3120program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3121again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3122different execution path this time.
3123
3124@cindex checkpoints and process id
3125Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3126different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3127id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3128and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3129If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3130potentially pose a problem.
3131
3132@subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3133
3134On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3135is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3136difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3137absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3138absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3139next.
3140
3141A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3142Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3143and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3144process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3145your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3146
3147@node Stopping
3148@chapter Stopping and Continuing
3149
3150The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3151program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3152trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3153
3154Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3155such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3156@value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3157change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3158continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3159ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3160explicitly request this information at any time.
3161
3162@table @code
3163@kindex info program
3164@item info program
3165Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3166running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3167@end table
3168
3169@menu
3170* Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3171* Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3172* Signals:: Signals
3173* Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3174@end menu
3175
3176@node Breakpoints
3177@section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3178
3179@cindex breakpoints
3180A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3181the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3182control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3183breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3184Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3185should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3186program.
3187
3188On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3189the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3190you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3191in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3192(for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3193call).
3194
3195@cindex watchpoints
3196@cindex data breakpoints
3197@cindex memory tracing
3198@cindex breakpoint on memory address
3199@cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3200A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3201when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3202of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3203combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3204@dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3205watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3206from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3207enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3208same commands.
3209
3210You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3211whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3212Automatic Display}.
3213
3214@cindex catchpoints
3215@cindex breakpoint on events
3216A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3217when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3218exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3219different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3220Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3221other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3222@code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3223
3224@cindex breakpoint numbers
3225@cindex numbers for breakpoints
3226@value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3227catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3228starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3229features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3230breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3231@dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3232enable it again.
3233
3234@cindex breakpoint ranges
3235@cindex ranges of breakpoints
3236Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3237operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3238@samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3239hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3240all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3241
3242@menu
3243* Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3244* Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3245* Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3246* Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3247* Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3248* Conditions:: Break conditions
3249* Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3250* Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3251* Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3252@end menu
3253
3254@node Set Breaks
3255@subsection Setting Breakpoints
3256
3257@c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3258@c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3259@c
3260@c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3261
3262@kindex break
3263@kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3264@vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3265@cindex latest breakpoint
3266Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3267@code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3268number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3269Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3270convenience variables.
3271
3272@table @code
3273@item break @var{location}
3274Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3275function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3276(@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3277specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3278before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3279
3280When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3281C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3282@xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3283that situation.
3284
3285It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3286only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3287or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3288
3289@item break
3290When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3291the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3292(@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3293innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3294returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3295@code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3296that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3297@code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3298the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3299inside loops.
3300
3301@value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3302least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3303would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3304breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3305existed when your program stopped.
3306
3307@item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3308Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3309@var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3310value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3311@samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3312above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3313,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3314
3315@kindex tbreak
3316@item tbreak @var{args}
3317Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3318same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3319way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3320program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3321
3322@kindex hbreak
3323@cindex hardware breakpoints
3324@item hbreak @var{args}
3325Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3326@code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3327breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3328have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3329debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3330changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3331provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3332will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3333address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3334breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3335example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3336@value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3337or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3338(@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3339@xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3340For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3341breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3342hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3343
3344@kindex thbreak
3345@item thbreak @var{args}
3346Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3347are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3348the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3349the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3350first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3351command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3352may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3353See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3354
3355@kindex rbreak
3356@cindex regular expression
3357@cindex breakpoints in functions matching a regexp
3358@cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3359@item rbreak @var{regex}
3360Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3361@var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3362matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3363breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3364the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3365them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3366
3367The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3368like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3369shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3370an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3371@code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3372match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3373
3374@cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3375When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3376breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3377classes.
3378
3379@cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3380The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3381@strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3382
3383@smallexample
3384(@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3385@end smallexample
3386
3387@kindex info breakpoints
3388@cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3389@item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3390@itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3391Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3392not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3393about the specified breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint). For
3394each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3395
3396@table @emph
3397@item Breakpoint Numbers
3398@item Type
3399Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3400@item Disposition
3401Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3402@item Enabled or Disabled
3403Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3404that are not enabled.
3405@item Address
3406Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3407pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3408contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3409library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3410See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3411have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3412@item What
3413Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3414line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3415the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3416the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3417@end table
3418
3419@noindent
3420If a breakpoint is conditional, @code{info break} shows the condition on
3421the line following the affected breakpoint; breakpoint commands, if any,
3422are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is allowed to have a condition
3423specified for it. The condition is not parsed for validity until a shared
3424library is loaded that allows the pending breakpoint to resolve to a
3425valid location.
3426
3427@noindent
3428@code{info break} with a breakpoint
3429number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3430convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3431the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3432listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3433
3434@noindent
3435@code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3436has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3437@code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3438hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3439was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3440will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3441@end table
3442
3443@value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3444your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3445the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3446(@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3447
3448@cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3449@cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3450It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3451in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3452
3453@itemize @bullet
3454@item
3455For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3456instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3457
3458@item
3459For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3460correspond to any number of instantiations.
3461
3462@item
3463For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3464several places where that function is inlined.
3465@end itemize
3466
3467In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3468the relevant locations@footnote{
3469As of this writing, multiple-location breakpoints work only if there's
3470line number information for all the locations. This means that they
3471will generally not work in system libraries, unless you have debug
3472info with line numbers for them.}.
3473
3474A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3475table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3476each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3477address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3478addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3479locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3480@var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3481
3482For example:
3483
3484@smallexample
3485Num Type Disp Enb Address What
34861 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3487 stop only if i==1
3488 breakpoint already hit 1 time
34891.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
34901.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3491@end smallexample
3492
3493Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3494@var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3495@code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3496delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3497entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3498the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3499the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3500the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3501that belong to that breakpoint.
3502
3503@cindex pending breakpoints
3504It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3505Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3506and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3507this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3508any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3509set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3510debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3511symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3512breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3513a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3514is not yet resolved.
3515
3516After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3517@value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3518shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3519pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3520ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3521that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3522
3523This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3524example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3525a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3526a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3527
3528Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3529differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3530enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3531
3532@value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3533happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3534address specification to an address:
3535
3536@kindex set breakpoint pending
3537@kindex show breakpoint pending
3538@table @code
3539@item set breakpoint pending auto
3540This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3541location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3542
3543@item set breakpoint pending on
3544This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3545result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3546
3547@item set breakpoint pending off
3548This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3549unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3550not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3551
3552@item show breakpoint pending
3553Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3554@end table
3555
3556The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3557variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3558as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3559
3560@cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3561For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3562software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3563breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3564breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3565breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3566breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3567breakpoints.
3568
3569You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3570
3571@kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3572@kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3573@table @code
3574@item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3575This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3576will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3577breakpoint must be used.
3578
3579@item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3580This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3581type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3582trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3583@end table
3584
3585@value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3586at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3587executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3588code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3589the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3590behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3591target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3592targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3593This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3594
3595@kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3596@kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3597@table @code
3598@item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3599All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3600the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3601removed from the target when it stops.
3602
3603@item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3604Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3605the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3606breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3607removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3608
3609@cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3610@item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3611This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3612in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3613@code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3614controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3615@code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3616@end table
3617
3618@cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3619@cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3620@value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3621special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3622programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3623starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3624You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3625@samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3626
3627
3628@node Set Watchpoints
3629@subsection Setting Watchpoints
3630
3631@cindex setting watchpoints
3632You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3633expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3634this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3635The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3636as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3637
3638@itemize @bullet
3639@item
3640A reference to the value of a single variable.
3641
3642@item
3643An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3644@samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3645address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3646
3647@item
3648An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3649expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3650language (@pxref{Languages}).
3651@end itemize
3652
3653You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3654not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3655@samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3656@value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3657the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3658valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3659pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3660@code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3661the expression changes.
3662
3663@cindex software watchpoints
3664@cindex hardware watchpoints
3665Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3666hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3667program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3668times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3669catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3670culprit.)
3671
3672On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3673x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3674watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3675
3676@table @code
3677@kindex watch
3678@item watch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3679Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3680expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3681changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3682to watch the value of a single variable:
3683
3684@smallexample
3685(@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3686@end smallexample
3687
3688If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3689clause, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3690@var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3691change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3692that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3693with Hardware Watchpoints.
3694
3695@kindex rwatch
3696@item rwatch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3697Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3698by the program.
3699
3700@kindex awatch
3701@item awatch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3702Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3703or written into by the program.
3704
3705@kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3706@item info watchpoints
3707This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
3708@code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3709@end table
3710
3711@value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3712watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3713value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3714cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3715executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3716@emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3717
3718@cindex use only software watchpoints
3719You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3720@kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3721zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3722the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3723watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3724@code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3725mechanism of watching expression values.)
3726
3727@table @code
3728@item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3729@kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3730Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3731
3732@item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3733@kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3734Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
3735@end table
3736
3737For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3738watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3739hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3740
3741When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
3742
3743@smallexample
3744Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
3745@end smallexample
3746
3747@noindent
3748if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
3749
3750Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
3751hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
3752value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
3753every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
3754that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
3755hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
3756will print a message like this:
3757
3758@smallexample
3759Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
3760@end smallexample
3761
3762Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
3763data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
3764watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
3765can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
3766cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
3767double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
3768wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
3769into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
3770
3771If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
3772to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
3773Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
3774time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
3775able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
3776warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
3777
3778@smallexample
3779Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
3780@end smallexample
3781
3782@noindent
3783If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
3784
3785Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
3786exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
3787That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
3788expression with separately allocated resources.
3789
3790If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
3791any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
3792kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
3793
3794@value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
3795(automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
3796they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
3797which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
3798being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
3799and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
3800rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
3801way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
3802@code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
3803
3804@cindex watchpoints and threads
3805@cindex threads and watchpoints
3806In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
3807watched expression from every thread.
3808
3809@quotation
3810@emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
3811have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
3812watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
3813single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
3814change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
3815confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
3816software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
3817when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
3818watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
3819@end quotation
3820
3821@xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
3822
3823@node Set Catchpoints
3824@subsection Setting Catchpoints
3825@cindex catchpoints, setting
3826@cindex exception handlers
3827@cindex event handling
3828
3829You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
3830kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
3831shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
3832
3833@table @code
3834@kindex catch
3835@item catch @var{event}
3836Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
3837@table @code
3838@item throw
3839@cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
3840The throwing of a C@t{++} exception.
3841
3842@item catch
3843The catching of a C@t{++} exception.
3844
3845@item exception
3846@cindex Ada exception catching
3847@cindex catch Ada exceptions
3848An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
3849at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
3850the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
3851Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
3852
3853When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
3854name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
3855fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
3856@value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
3857rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
3858called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
3859the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
3860Pck.Constraint_Error}.
3861
3862@item exception unhandled
3863An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
3864
3865@item assert
3866A failed Ada assertion.
3867
3868@item exec
3869@cindex break on fork/exec
3870A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
3871and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
3872
3873@item syscall
3874@itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
3875@cindex break on a system call.
3876A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
3877syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
3878from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
3879@value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
3880debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
3881argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
3882will be caught.
3883
3884@var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
3885underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
3886GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
3887names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
3888
3889@c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
3890@c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
3891@c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
3892@c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
3893
3894Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
3895each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
3896facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
3897available choices.
3898
3899You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
3900number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
3901identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
3902name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
3903into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
3904may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
3905list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
3906behind the OS upgrades).
3907
3908The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
3909arguments to it:
3910
3911@smallexample
3912(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
3913Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
3914(@value{GDBP}) r
3915Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
3916
3917Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
3918 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3919(@value{GDBP}) c
3920Continuing.
3921
3922Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
3923 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3924(@value{GDBP})
3925@end smallexample
3926
3927Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
3928
3929@smallexample
3930(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
3931Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
3932(@value{GDBP}) r
3933Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
3934
3935Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
3936 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3937(@value{GDBP}) c
3938Continuing.
3939
3940Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
3941 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3942(@value{GDBP})
3943@end smallexample
3944
3945An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
3946below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
3947file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
3948
3949@smallexample
3950(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
3951Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
3952(@value{GDBP}) r
3953Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
3954
3955Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
3956 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3957(@value{GDBP}) c
3958Continuing.
3959
3960Program exited normally.
3961(@value{GDBP})
3962@end smallexample
3963
3964However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
3965in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
3966a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
3967but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
3968
3969@smallexample
3970(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
3971warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
3972Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
3973(@value{GDBP})
3974@end smallexample
3975
3976If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
3977it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
3978architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
3979you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
3980notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
3981name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
3982
3983@smallexample
3984(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
3985warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
3986warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
3987GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
3988Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
3989(@value{GDBP})
3990@end smallexample
3991
3992Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
3993
3994Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
3995number. In this case, you would see something like:
3996
3997@smallexample
3998(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
3999Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4000@end smallexample
4001
4002Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4003
4004@item fork
4005A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4006and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4007
4008@item vfork
4009A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4010and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4011
4012@end table
4013
4014@item tcatch @var{event}
4015Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4016automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4017
4018@end table
4019
4020Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4021
4022There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling
4023(@code{catch throw} and @code{catch catch}) in @value{GDBN}:
4024
4025@itemize @bullet
4026@item
4027If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4028control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4029raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4030returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4031simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4032that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4033you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4034disabled within interactive calls.
4035
4036@item
4037You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4038
4039@item
4040You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4041@end itemize
4042
4043@cindex raise exceptions
4044Sometimes @code{catch} is not the best way to debug exception handling:
4045if you need to know exactly where an exception is raised, it is better to
4046stop @emph{before} the exception handler is called, since that way you
4047can see the stack before any unwinding takes place. If you set a
4048breakpoint in an exception handler instead, it may not be easy to find
4049out where the exception was raised.
4050
4051To stop just before an exception handler is called, you need some
4052knowledge of the implementation. In the case of @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, exceptions are
4053raised by calling a library function named @code{__raise_exception}
4054which has the following ANSI C interface:
4055
4056@smallexample
4057 /* @var{addr} is where the exception identifier is stored.
4058 @var{id} is the exception identifier. */
4059 void __raise_exception (void **addr, void *id);
4060@end smallexample
4061
4062@noindent
4063To make the debugger catch all exceptions before any stack
4064unwinding takes place, set a breakpoint on @code{__raise_exception}
4065(@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Exceptions}).
4066
4067With a conditional breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions})
4068that depends on the value of @var{id}, you can stop your program when
4069a specific exception is raised. You can use multiple conditional
4070breakpoints to stop your program when any of a number of exceptions are
4071raised.
4072
4073
4074@node Delete Breaks
4075@subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4076
4077@cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4078@cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4079It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4080catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4081to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4082breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4083
4084With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4085where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4086delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4087their breakpoint numbers.
4088
4089It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4090automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4091when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4092
4093@table @code
4094@kindex clear
4095@item clear
4096Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4097selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4098the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4099breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4100
4101@item clear @var{location}
4102Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4103@xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4104most useful ones are listed below:
4105
4106@table @code
4107@item clear @var{function}
4108@itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4109Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4110
4111@item clear @var{linenum}
4112@itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4113Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4114@var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4115@end table
4116
4117@cindex delete breakpoints
4118@kindex delete
4119@kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4120@item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4121Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4122ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4123breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4124confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4125@end table
4126
4127@node Disabling
4128@subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4129
4130@cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4131Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4132prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4133it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4134that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4135
4136You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4137the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4138one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4139print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4140do not know which numbers to use.
4141
4142Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4143affects all of its locations.
4144
4145A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of four different
4146states of enablement:
4147
4148@itemize @bullet
4149@item
4150Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4151with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4152@item
4153Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4154@item
4155Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4156disabled.
4157@item
4158Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4159immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4160set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4161@end itemize
4162
4163You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4164watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4165
4166@table @code
4167@kindex disable
4168@kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4169@item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4170Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4171listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4172options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4173case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4174@code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4175
4176@kindex enable
4177@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4178Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4179become effective once again in stopping your program.
4180
4181@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4182Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4183of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4184
4185@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4186Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4187deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4188Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4189@end table
4190
4191@c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4192@c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4193Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4194,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4195subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4196the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4197breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4198breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4199Stepping}.)
4200
4201@node Conditions
4202@subsection Break Conditions
4203@cindex conditional breakpoints
4204@cindex breakpoint conditions
4205
4206@c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4207@c in particular for a watchpoint?
4208The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4209specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4210breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4211programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4212a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4213and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4214
4215This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4216situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4217when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4218by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4219@samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4220
4221Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4222since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4223it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4224and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4225one.
4226
4227Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4228your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4229that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4230format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4231unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4232that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4233program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4234breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4235conditions for the
4236purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4237(@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4238
4239Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4240@samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4241Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4242with the @code{condition} command.
4243
4244You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4245The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4246@code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4247catchpoint.
4248
4249@table @code
4250@kindex condition
4251@item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4252Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4253watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4254breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4255@var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4256@code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4257syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4258referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4259symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4260prints an error message:
4261
4262@smallexample
4263No symbol "foo" in current context.
4264@end smallexample
4265
4266@noindent
4267@value{GDBN} does
4268not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4269command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4270@code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4271
4272@item condition @var{bnum}
4273Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4274an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4275@end table
4276
4277@cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4278A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4279breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4280useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4281count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4282is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4283therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4284ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4285the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4286value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4287your program reaches it.
4288
4289@table @code
4290@kindex ignore
4291@item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4292Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4293The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4294execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4295takes no action.
4296
4297To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4298a count of zero.
4299
4300When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4301breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4302@code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4303Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4304
4305If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4306condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4307@value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4308
4309You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4310as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4311is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4312Variables}.
4313@end table
4314
4315Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4316
4317
4318@node Break Commands
4319@subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4320
4321@cindex breakpoint commands
4322You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4323commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4324example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4325enable other breakpoints.
4326
4327@table @code
4328@kindex commands
4329@kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4330@item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4331@itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4332@itemx end
4333Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4334themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4335@code{end} to terminate the commands.
4336
4337To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4338follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4339
4340With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4341watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4342encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4343command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4344set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4345@code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4346creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4347Expressions}).
4348@end table
4349
4350Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4351disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4352
4353You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4354use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4355that resumes execution.
4356
4357Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4358execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4359(even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4360another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4361ambiguities about which list to execute.
4362
4363@kindex silent
4364If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4365usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4366be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4367then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4368see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4369meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4370
4371The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4372print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4373breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4374
4375For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4376value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4377
4378@smallexample
4379break foo if x>0
4380commands
4381silent
4382printf "x is %d\n",x
4383cont
4384end
4385@end smallexample
4386
4387One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4388you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4389of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4390erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4391to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4392so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4393command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4394
4395@smallexample
4396break 403
4397commands
4398silent
4399set x = y + 4
4400cont
4401end
4402@end smallexample
4403
4404@c @ifclear BARETARGET
4405@node Error in Breakpoints
4406@subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4407
4408If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4409watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4410
4411@c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4412@c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4413@smallexample
4414Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4415You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4416@end smallexample
4417
4418@noindent
4419This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4420only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4421watchpoints it needs to insert.
4422
4423When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4424hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4425
4426@node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4427@subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4428@cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4429
4430Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4431which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4432@value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4433with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4434
4435One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4436a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4437bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4438constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4439bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4440honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4441first in the bundle.
4442
4443It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4444instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4445a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4446another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4447breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4448printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4449is hit.
4450
4451A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4452that's been subject to address adjustment:
4453
4454@smallexample
4455warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4456@end smallexample
4457
4458Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4459internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4460verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4461desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4462other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4463E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4464instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4465cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4466
4467@value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4468adjusted breakpoints:
4469
4470@smallexample
4471warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4472to 0x00010410.
4473@end smallexample
4474
4475When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4476action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4477frequently than expected.
4478
4479@node Continuing and Stepping
4480@section Continuing and Stepping
4481
4482@cindex stepping
4483@cindex continuing
4484@cindex resuming execution
4485@dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
4486completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
4487one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
4488line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
4489particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
4490your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
4491it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
4492@samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
4493
4494@table @code
4495@kindex continue
4496@kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
4497@kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
4498@item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4499@itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4500@itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4501Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
4502any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
4503@var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
4504ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
4505@code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
4506
4507The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
4508stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
4509@code{continue} is ignored.
4510
4511The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
4512debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
4513purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
4514@code{continue}.
4515@end table
4516
4517To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
4518(@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
4519calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
4520Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
4521
4522A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
4523(@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
4524beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
4525is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
4526and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
4527interesting, until you see the problem happen.
4528
4529@table @code
4530@kindex step
4531@kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
4532@item step
4533Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
4534line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
4535abbreviated @code{s}.
4536
4537@quotation
4538@c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
4539@c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
4540@c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
4541@c distinction here.
4542@emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
4543within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
4544execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
4545debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
4546is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
4547without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
4548below.
4549@end quotation
4550
4551The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
4552line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4553@code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
4554to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
4555the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
4556called within the line.
4557
4558Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
4559number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
4560@code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
4561on MIPS machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
4562was any debugging information about the routine.
4563
4564@item step @var{count}
4565Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
4566breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
4567@var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
4568
4569@kindex next
4570@kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
4571@item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4572Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
4573This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
4574the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
4575control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
4576that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
4577is abbreviated @code{n}.
4578
4579An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
4580
4581
4582@c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
4583@c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
4584@c
4585@c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
4586@c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
4587@c function are executed without stopping.
4588
4589The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
4590source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4591@code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
4592
4593@kindex set step-mode
4594@item set step-mode
4595@cindex functions without line info, and stepping
4596@cindex stepping into functions with no line info
4597@itemx set step-mode on
4598The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
4599stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
4600information rather than stepping over it.
4601
4602This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
4603machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
4604want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
4605
4606@item set step-mode off
4607Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
4608debug information. This is the default.
4609
4610@item show step-mode
4611Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
4612source line debug information.
4613
4614@kindex finish
4615@kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
4616@item finish
4617Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
4618returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
4619abbreviated as @code{fin}.
4620
4621Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
4622,Returning from a Function}).
4623
4624@kindex until
4625@kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
4626@cindex run until specified location
4627@item until
4628@itemx u
4629Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
4630current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
4631stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
4632command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
4633automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
4634than the address of the jump.
4635
4636This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
4637though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
4638exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
4639simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
4640through the next iteration.
4641
4642@code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
4643stack frame.
4644
4645@code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
4646of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
4647example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
4648(@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
4649@code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
4650
4651@smallexample
4652(@value{GDBP}) f
4653#0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
4654206 expand_input();
4655(@value{GDBP}) until
4656195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
4657@end smallexample
4658
4659This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
4660generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
4661start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
4662written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
4663to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
4664expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
4665statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
4666
4667@code{until} with no argument works by means of single
4668instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
4669argument.
4670
4671@item until @var{location}
4672@itemx u @var{location}
4673Continue running your program until either the specified location is
4674reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
4675the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
4676This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
4677hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
4678location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
4679implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
4680invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
4681line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
4682line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
4683invocations have returned.
4684
4685@smallexample
468694 int factorial (int value)
468795 @{
468896 if (value > 1) @{
468997 value *= factorial (value - 1);
469098 @}
469199 return (value);
4692100 @}
4693@end smallexample
4694
4695
4696@kindex advance @var{location}
4697@itemx advance @var{location}
4698Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
4699required, which should be of one of the forms described in
4700@ref{Specify Location}.
4701Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
4702frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
4703not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
4704have to be in the same frame as the current one.
4705
4706
4707@kindex stepi
4708@kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
4709@item stepi
4710@itemx stepi @var{arg}
4711@itemx si
4712Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
4713
4714It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
4715instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
4716instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
4717Display,, Automatic Display}.
4718
4719An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
4720
4721@need 750
4722@kindex nexti
4723@kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
4724@item nexti
4725@itemx nexti @var{arg}
4726@itemx ni
4727Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
4728proceed until the function returns.
4729
4730An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
4731@end table
4732
4733@node Signals
4734@section Signals
4735@cindex signals
4736
4737A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
4738operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
4739kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
4740signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
4741@code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
4742memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
4743the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
4744requested an alarm).
4745
4746@cindex fatal signals
4747Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
4748functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
4749errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
4750program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
4751@code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
4752fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
4753
4754@value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
4755program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
4756signal.
4757
4758@cindex handling signals
4759Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
4760@code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
4761(so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
4762but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
4763You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
4764
4765@table @code
4766@kindex info signals
4767@kindex info handle
4768@item info signals
4769@itemx info handle
4770Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
4771handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
4772the defined types of signals.
4773
4774@item info signals @var{sig}
4775Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
4776
4777@code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
4778
4779@kindex handle
4780@item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
4781Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
4782can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
4783@samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
4784@samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
4785known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
4786say what change to make.
4787@end table
4788
4789@c @group
4790The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
4791Their full names are:
4792
4793@table @code
4794@item nostop
4795@value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
4796still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
4797
4798@item stop
4799@value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
4800the @code{print} keyword as well.
4801
4802@item print
4803@value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
4804
4805@item noprint
4806@value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
4807implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
4808
4809@item pass
4810@itemx noignore
4811@value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
4812can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
4813and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
4814
4815@item nopass
4816@itemx ignore
4817@value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
4818@code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
4819@end table
4820@c @end group
4821
4822When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
4823program until you
4824continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
4825effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
4826after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
4827command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
4828program sees that signal when you continue.
4829
4830The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
4831non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
4832@code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
4833erroneous signals.
4834
4835You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
4836seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
4837or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
4838due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
4839values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
4840execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
4841a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
4842you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
4843Program a Signal}.
4844
4845@cindex extra signal information
4846@anchor{extra signal information}
4847
4848On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
4849associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
4850delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
4851by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
4852that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
4853receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
4854target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
4855$_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
4856standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
4857system header.
4858
4859Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
4860referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
4861
4862@smallexample
4863@group
4864(@value{GDBP}) continue
4865Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
48660x0000000000400766 in main ()
486769 *(int *)p = 0;
4868(@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
4869type = struct @{
4870 int si_signo;
4871 int si_errno;
4872 int si_code;
4873 union @{
4874 int _pad[28];
4875 struct @{...@} _kill;
4876 struct @{...@} _timer;
4877 struct @{...@} _rt;
4878 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
4879 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
4880 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
4881 @} _sifields;
4882@}
4883(@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
4884type = struct @{
4885 void *si_addr;
4886@}
4887(@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
4888$1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
4889@end group
4890@end smallexample
4891
4892Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
4893
4894@node Thread Stops
4895@section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
4896
4897@cindex stopped threads
4898@cindex threads, stopped
4899
4900@cindex continuing threads
4901@cindex threads, continuing
4902
4903@value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
4904(@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
4905are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
4906debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
4907when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
4908or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
4909@value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
4910@dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
4911you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
4912
4913@menu
4914* All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
4915* Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
4916* Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
4917* Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
4918* Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
4919@end menu
4920
4921@node All-Stop Mode
4922@subsection All-Stop Mode
4923
4924@cindex all-stop mode
4925
4926In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
4927@emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
4928allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
4929switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
4930underfoot.
4931
4932Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
4933executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
4934like @code{step} or @code{next}.
4935
4936In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
4937Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
4938system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
4939execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
4940single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
4941statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
4942stops.
4943
4944You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
4945continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
4946thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
4947first thread completes whatever you requested.
4948
4949@cindex automatic thread selection
4950@cindex switching threads automatically
4951@cindex threads, automatic switching
4952Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
4953signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
4954signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
4955message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
4956thread.
4957
4958On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
4959locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
4960
4961@table @code
4962@item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
4963@cindex scheduler locking mode
4964@cindex lock scheduler
4965Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
4966locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
4967current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
4968mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
4969from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
4970the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
4971Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
4972when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
4973function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
4974like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
4975thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
4976the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
4977
4978@item show scheduler-locking
4979Display the current scheduler locking mode.
4980@end table
4981
4982@cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
4983By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
4984@code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
4985threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
4986is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
4987@code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
4988inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
4989forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
4990it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
4991situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
4992of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
4993to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
4994you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
4995inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
4996
4997@table @code
4998@kindex set schedule-multiple
4999@item set schedule-multiple
5000Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
5001when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
5002all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
5003of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
5004@code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
5005or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
5006
5007@item show schedule-multiple
5008Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5009multiple processes.
5010@end table
5011
5012@node Non-Stop Mode
5013@subsection Non-Stop Mode
5014
5015@cindex non-stop mode
5016
5017@c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5018@c with more details.
5019
5020For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5021mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5022the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5023minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5024where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5025respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5026
5027In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5028@emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5029threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5030execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5031only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5032in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5033ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5034one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5035one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5036independently and simultaneously.
5037
5038To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5039or attach to your program:
5040
5041@smallexample
5042# Enable the async interface.
5043set target-async 1
5044
5045# If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5046set pagination off
5047
5048# Finally, turn it on!
5049set non-stop on
5050@end smallexample
5051
5052You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5053
5054@table @code
5055@kindex set non-stop
5056@item set non-stop on
5057Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5058@item set non-stop off
5059Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5060@kindex show non-stop
5061@item show non-stop
5062Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5063@end table
5064
5065Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5066not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5067In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5068@value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5069not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5070since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5071non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5072default.
5073
5074In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5075by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5076To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5077
5078You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5079(@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5080while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5081The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5082always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5083
5084Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5085running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5086In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5087but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5088To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5089
5090Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5091
5092In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5093that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5094thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5095command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5096changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5097previously current thread.
5098
5099@node Background Execution
5100@subsection Background Execution
5101
5102@cindex foreground execution
5103@cindex background execution
5104@cindex asynchronous execution
5105@cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5106
5107@value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5108foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5109(asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5110the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5111another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5112a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5113
5114You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
5115background execution commands. You can use these commands to
5116manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
5117
5118@table @code
5119@kindex set target-async
5120@item set target-async on
5121Enable asynchronous mode.
5122@item set target-async off
5123Disable asynchronous mode.
5124@kindex show target-async
5125@item show target-async
5126Show the current target-async setting.
5127@end table
5128
5129If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5130message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5131
5132To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5133the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5134just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5135are:
5136
5137@table @code
5138@kindex run&
5139@item run
5140@xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5141
5142@item attach
5143@kindex attach&
5144@xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5145
5146@item step
5147@kindex step&
5148@xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5149
5150@item stepi
5151@kindex stepi&
5152@xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5153
5154@item next
5155@kindex next&
5156@xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5157
5158@item nexti
5159@kindex nexti&
5160@xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5161
5162@item continue
5163@kindex continue&
5164@xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5165
5166@item finish
5167@kindex finish&
5168@xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5169
5170@item until
5171@kindex until&
5172@xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5173
5174@end table
5175
5176Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5177mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5178However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5179the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5180previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5181mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5182
5183You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5184using the @code{interrupt} command.
5185
5186@table @code
5187@kindex interrupt
5188@item interrupt
5189@itemx interrupt -a
5190
5191Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
5192@code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
5193only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
5194use @code{interrupt -a}.
5195@end table
5196
5197@node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5198@subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5199
5200When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
5201Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
5202breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
5203
5204@table @code
5205@cindex breakpoints and threads
5206@cindex thread breakpoints
5207@kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
5208@item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
5209@itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
5210@var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
5211writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
5212specify some source line.
5213
5214Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
5215to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
5216particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
5217numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
5218column of the @samp{info threads} display.
5219
5220If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
5221breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
5222program.
5223
5224You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
5225well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before or
5226after the breakpoint condition, like this:
5227
5228@smallexample
5229(@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
5230@end smallexample
5231
5232@end table
5233
5234@node Interrupted System Calls
5235@subsection Interrupted System Calls
5236
5237@cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
5238@cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
5239@cindex premature return from system calls
5240There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
5241multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
5242breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
5243system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
5244consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
5245that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
5246stop execution.
5247
5248To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
5249each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
5250style anyways.
5251
5252For example, do not write code like this:
5253
5254@smallexample
5255 sleep (10);
5256@end smallexample
5257
5258The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
5259at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
5260
5261Instead, write this:
5262
5263@smallexample
5264 int unslept = 10;
5265 while (unslept > 0)
5266 unslept = sleep (unslept);
5267@end smallexample
5268
5269A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
5270conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
5271multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
5272@value{GDBN}.
5273
5274Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
5275monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
5276When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
5277prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
5278
5279
5280@node Reverse Execution
5281@chapter Running programs backward
5282@cindex reverse execution
5283@cindex running programs backward
5284
5285When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
5286you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
5287If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
5288``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
5289
5290A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
5291to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
5292program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
5293revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
5294deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
5295all target environments can support reverse execution.
5296
5297When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
5298have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
5299order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
5300thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
5301the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
5302instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
5303a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
5304should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
5305prior values@footnote{
5306Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
5307memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
5308targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
5309
5310The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
5311requires only that the target do something reasonable when
5312@value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
5313results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
5314@value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
5315assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
5316consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
5317}.
5318
5319If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
5320reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
5321
5322@table @code
5323@kindex reverse-continue
5324@kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
5325@item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5326@itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5327Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
5328in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
5329exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
5330asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
5331
5332@kindex reverse-step
5333@kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
5334@item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5335Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
5336different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
5337
5338Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
5339at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
5340executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
5341debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
5342the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
5343statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
5344
5345Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
5346called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
5347
5348@kindex reverse-stepi
5349@kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
5350@item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5351Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
5352to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
5353counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
5354if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
5355back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
5356
5357@kindex reverse-next
5358@kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
5359@item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5360Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
5361the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
5362calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
5363the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
5364to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
5365just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
5366line of a function back to its return to its caller
5367@footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
5368
5369@kindex reverse-nexti
5370@kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
5371@item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5372Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
5373in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
5374That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
5375another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
5376in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
5377frame) is reached.
5378
5379@kindex reverse-finish
5380@item reverse-finish
5381Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
5382current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
5383where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
5384function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
5385
5386@kindex set exec-direction
5387@item set exec-direction
5388Set the direction of target execution.
5389@itemx set exec-direction reverse
5390@cindex execute forward or backward in time
5391@value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
5392exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
5393@code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
5394command cannot be used in reverse mode.
5395@item set exec-direction forward
5396@value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
5397This is the default.
5398@end table
5399
5400
5401@node Process Record and Replay
5402@chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
5403@cindex process record and replay
5404@cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
5405
5406On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
5407and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
5408replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
5409
5410@cindex replay mode
5411When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
5412for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
5413mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
5414instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
5415code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
5416really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
5417program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
5418changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
5419execution log.
5420
5421@cindex record mode
5422If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
5423@value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
5424inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
5425for future replay.
5426
5427The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
5428(@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
5429inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
5430this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
5431log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
5432support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
5433
5434When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
5435replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
5436previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
5437platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
5438
5439For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
5440@value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
5441
5442@table @code
5443@kindex target record
5444@kindex record
5445@kindex rec
5446@item target record
5447This command starts the process record and replay target. The process
5448record and replay target can only debug a process that is already
5449running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with the
5450@kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording with
5451the @kbd{target record} command.
5452
5453Both @code{record} and @code{rec} are aliases of @code{target record}.
5454
5455@cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
5456Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
5457will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
5458is started. That's because the process record and replay target
5459doesn't support displaced stepping.
5460
5461@cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
5462@cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
5463If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
5464the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), the
5465process record and replay target cannot be started because it doesn't
5466support these two modes.
5467
5468@kindex record stop
5469@kindex rec s
5470@item record stop
5471Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
5472replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
5473inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
5474
5475When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
5476the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
5477next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
5478you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
5479will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
5480
5481On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
5482while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
5483but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
5484at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
5485usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
5486
5487When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
5488process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
5489
5490@kindex set record insn-number-max
5491@item set record insn-number-max @var{limit}
5492Set the limit of instructions to be recorded. Default value is 200000.
5493
5494If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
5495deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
5496instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
5497instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
5498instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
5499(Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
5500lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
5501the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
5502
5503If @var{limit} is zero, @value{GDBN} will never delete recorded
5504instructions from the execution log. The number of recorded
5505instructions is unlimited in this case.
5506
5507@kindex show record insn-number-max
5508@item show record insn-number-max
5509Show the limit of instructions to be recorded.
5510
5511@kindex set record stop-at-limit
5512@item set record stop-at-limit
5513Control the behavior when the number of recorded instructions reaches
5514the limit. If ON (the default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit
5515is reached for the first time and ask you whether you want to stop the
5516inferior or continue running it and recording the execution log. If
5517you decide to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will
5518cause the oldest one to be deleted.
5519
5520If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
5521oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
5522
5523@kindex show record stop-at-limit
5524@item show record stop-at-limit
5525Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
5526
5527@kindex info record
5528@item info record
5529Show various statistics about the state of process record and its
5530in-memory execution log buffer, including:
5531
5532@itemize @bullet
5533@item
5534Whether in record mode or replay mode.
5535@item
5536Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
5537@item
5538Highest recorded instruction number.
5539@item
5540Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
5541@item
5542Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
5543@item
5544Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
5545@end itemize
5546
5547@kindex record delete
5548@kindex rec del
5549@item record delete
5550When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
5551subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
5552from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
5553recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
5554@end table
5555
5556
5557@node Stack
5558@chapter Examining the Stack
5559
5560When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
5561stopped and how it got there.
5562
5563@cindex call stack
5564Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
5565is generated.
5566That information includes the location of the call in your program,
5567the arguments of the call,
5568and the local variables of the function being called.
5569The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
5570The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
5571stack}.
5572
5573When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
5574stack allow you to see all of this information.
5575
5576@cindex selected frame
5577One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
5578@value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
5579particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
5580your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
5581special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
5582interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
5583
5584When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
5585currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
5586@code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
5587
5588@menu
5589* Frames:: Stack frames
5590* Backtrace:: Backtraces
5591* Selection:: Selecting a frame
5592* Frame Info:: Information on a frame
5593
5594@end menu
5595
5596@node Frames
5597@section Stack Frames
5598
5599@cindex frame, definition
5600@cindex stack frame
5601The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
5602frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
5603with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
5604to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
5605which the function is executing.
5606
5607@cindex initial frame
5608@cindex outermost frame
5609@cindex innermost frame
5610When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
5611function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
5612@dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
5613made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
5614is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
5615the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
5616actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
5617recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
5618
5619@cindex frame pointer
5620Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
5621stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
5622kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
5623address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
5624in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
5625(@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
5626
5627@cindex frame number
5628@value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
5629zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
5630and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
5631they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
5632frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
5633
5634@c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
5635@c underflow problems.
5636@cindex frameless execution
5637Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
5638without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
5639@smallexample
5640@samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
5641@end smallexample
5642generates functions without a frame.)
5643This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
5644the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
5645with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
5646has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
5647it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
5648correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
5649no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
5650
5651@table @code
5652@kindex frame@r{, command}
5653@cindex current stack frame
5654@item frame @var{args}
5655The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
5656and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
5657address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
5658@code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
5659
5660@kindex select-frame
5661@cindex selecting frame silently
5662@item select-frame
5663The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
5664to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
5665@code{frame}.
5666@end table
5667
5668@node Backtrace
5669@section Backtraces
5670
5671@cindex traceback
5672@cindex call stack traces
5673A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
5674line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
5675frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
5676stack.
5677
5678@table @code
5679@kindex backtrace
5680@kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
5681@item backtrace
5682@itemx bt
5683Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
5684frames in the stack.
5685
5686You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
5687character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
5688
5689@item backtrace @var{n}
5690@itemx bt @var{n}
5691Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
5692
5693@item backtrace -@var{n}
5694@itemx bt -@var{n}
5695Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
5696
5697@item backtrace full
5698@itemx bt full
5699@itemx bt full @var{n}
5700@itemx bt full -@var{n}
5701Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
5702number of frames to print, as described above.
5703@end table
5704
5705@kindex where
5706@kindex info stack
5707The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
5708are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
5709
5710@cindex multiple threads, backtrace
5711In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
5712backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
5713several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
5714(@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
5715apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
5716the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
5717multi-threaded program.
5718
5719Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
5720The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
5721print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
5722line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
5723counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
5724line number.
5725
5726Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
5727@samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
5728
5729@smallexample
5730@group
5731#0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
5732 at builtin.c:993
5733#1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
5734#2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
5735 at macro.c:71
5736(More stack frames follow...)
5737@end group
5738@end smallexample
5739
5740@noindent
5741The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
5742value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
5743code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
5744
5745@noindent
5746The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
5747@code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
5748only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
5749@kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
5750on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
5751
5752@cindex value optimized out, in backtrace
5753@cindex function call arguments, optimized out
5754If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
5755optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
5756never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
5757passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
5758in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
5759arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
5760such a backtrace might look like:
5761
5762@smallexample
5763@group
5764#0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
5765 at builtin.c:993
5766#1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<value optimized out>) at macro.c:242
5767#2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<value optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
5768 at macro.c:71
5769(More stack frames follow...)
5770@end group
5771@end smallexample
5772
5773@noindent
5774The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
5775shown as @samp{<value optimized out>}.
5776
5777If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
5778either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
5779you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
5780
5781@cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
5782@cindex program entry point
5783@cindex startup code, and backtrace
5784Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
5785libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
5786@code{main}@footnote{
5787Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
5788environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
5789entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
5790When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
5791it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
5792system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
5793
5794If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
5795in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
5796
5797@table @code
5798@item set backtrace past-main
5799@itemx set backtrace past-main on
5800@kindex set backtrace
5801Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
5802
5803@item set backtrace past-main off
5804Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
5805default.
5806
5807@item show backtrace past-main
5808@kindex show backtrace
5809Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
5810
5811@item set backtrace past-entry
5812@itemx set backtrace past-entry on
5813Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
5814This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
5815and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
5816
5817@item set backtrace past-entry off
5818Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
5819application. This is the default.
5820
5821@item show backtrace past-entry
5822Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
5823
5824@item set backtrace limit @var{n}
5825@itemx set backtrace limit 0
5826@cindex backtrace limit
5827Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of zero means
5828unlimited.
5829
5830@item show backtrace limit
5831Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
5832@end table
5833
5834@node Selection
5835@section Selecting a Frame
5836
5837Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
5838whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
5839selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
5840of the stack frame just selected.
5841
5842@table @code
5843@kindex frame@r{, selecting}
5844@kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
5845@item frame @var{n}
5846@itemx f @var{n}
5847Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
5848(currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
5849innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
5850@code{main}.
5851
5852@item frame @var{addr}
5853@itemx f @var{addr}
5854Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
5855chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
5856impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
5857addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
5858switches between them.
5859
5860On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
5861select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
5862
5863On the MIPS and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
5864pointer and a program counter.
5865
5866On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
5867pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
5868
5869@kindex up
5870@item up @var{n}
5871Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
5872advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
5873that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
5874
5875@kindex down
5876@kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
5877@item down @var{n}
5878Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
5879advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
5880that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
5881abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
5882@end table
5883
5884All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
5885frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
5886arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
5887frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
5888
5889@need 1000
5890For example:
5891
5892@smallexample
5893@group
5894(@value{GDBP}) up
5895#1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
5896 at env.c:10
589710 read_input_file (argv[i]);
5898@end group
5899@end smallexample
5900
5901After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
5902prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
5903You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
5904editing program by typing @code{edit}.
5905@xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
5906for details.
5907
5908@table @code
5909@kindex down-silently
5910@kindex up-silently
5911@item up-silently @var{n}
5912@itemx down-silently @var{n}
5913These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
5914respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
5915causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
5916in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
5917distracting.
5918@end table
5919
5920@node Frame Info
5921@section Information About a Frame
5922
5923There are several other commands to print information about the selected
5924stack frame.
5925
5926@table @code
5927@item frame
5928@itemx f
5929When used without any argument, this command does not change which
5930frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
5931selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
5932argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
5933@xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
5934
5935@kindex info frame
5936@kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
5937@item info frame
5938@itemx info f
5939This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
5940including:
5941
5942@itemize @bullet
5943@item
5944the address of the frame
5945@item
5946the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
5947@item
5948the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
5949@item
5950the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
5951@item
5952the address of the frame's arguments
5953@item
5954the address of the frame's local variables
5955@item
5956the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
5957@item
5958which registers were saved in the frame
5959@end itemize
5960
5961@noindent The verbose description is useful when
5962something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
5963the usual conventions.
5964
5965@item info frame @var{addr}
5966@itemx info f @var{addr}
5967Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
5968selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
5969command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
5970architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
5971@xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
5972
5973@kindex info args
5974@item info args
5975Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
5976
5977@item info locals
5978@kindex info locals
5979Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
5980line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
5981accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
5982
5983@kindex info catch
5984@cindex catch exceptions, list active handlers
5985@cindex exception handlers, how to list
5986@item info catch
5987Print a list of all the exception handlers that are active in the
5988current stack frame at the current point of execution. To see other
5989exception handlers, visit the associated frame (using the @code{up},
5990@code{down}, or @code{frame} commands); then type @code{info catch}.
5991@xref{Set Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
5992
5993@end table
5994
5995
5996@node Source
5997@chapter Examining Source Files
5998
5999@value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
6000information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
6001used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
6002the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
6003(@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
6004execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
6005source files by explicit command.
6006
6007If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
6008prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
6009@value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
6010
6011@menu
6012* List:: Printing source lines
6013* Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
6014* Edit:: Editing source files
6015* Search:: Searching source files
6016* Source Path:: Specifying source directories
6017* Machine Code:: Source and machine code
6018@end menu
6019
6020@node List
6021@section Printing Source Lines
6022
6023@kindex list
6024@kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
6025To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
6026(abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
6027There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
6028print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
6029
6030Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
6031
6032@table @code
6033@item list @var{linenum}
6034Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
6035current source file.
6036
6037@item list @var{function}
6038Print lines centered around the beginning of function
6039@var{function}.
6040
6041@item list
6042Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
6043@code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
6044printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
6045as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
6046Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
6047
6048@item list -
6049Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6050@end table
6051
6052@cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
6053By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
6054the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
6055
6056@table @code
6057@kindex set listsize
6058@item set listsize @var{count}
6059Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
6060the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
6061
6062@kindex show listsize
6063@item show listsize
6064Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
6065@end table
6066
6067Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
6068so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
6069than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
6070argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
6071each repetition moves up in the source file.
6072
6073In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
6074@dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
6075of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
6076to specify some source line.
6077
6078Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
6079
6080@table @code
6081@item list @var{linespec}
6082Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
6083
6084@item list @var{first},@var{last}
6085Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
6086linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
6087source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
6088the same source file as the first linespec.
6089
6090@item list ,@var{last}
6091Print lines ending with @var{last}.
6092
6093@item list @var{first},
6094Print lines starting with @var{first}.
6095
6096@item list +
6097Print lines just after the lines last printed.
6098
6099@item list -
6100Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6101
6102@item list
6103As described in the preceding table.
6104@end table
6105
6106@node Specify Location
6107@section Specifying a Location
6108@cindex specifying location
6109@cindex linespec
6110
6111Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
6112of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
6113debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
6114for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
6115
6116Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
6117@value{GDBN} understands:
6118
6119@table @code
6120@item @var{linenum}
6121Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
6122
6123@item -@var{offset}
6124@itemx +@var{offset}
6125Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
6126line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
6127printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
6128execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
6129(@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
6130used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
6131this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
6132linespec.
6133
6134@item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
6135Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
6136
6137@item @var{function}
6138Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
6139For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
6140
6141@item @var{filename}:@var{function}
6142Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
6143in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
6144function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
6145functions in different source files.
6146
6147@item *@var{address}
6148Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
6149commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
6150line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
6151breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
6152parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
6153source files.
6154
6155Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
6156language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
6157address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
6158semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
6159that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
6160of @var{address}:
6161
6162@table @code
6163@item @var{expression}
6164Any expression valid in the current working language.
6165
6166@item @var{funcaddr}
6167An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
6168C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
6169simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
6170of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
6171@code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
6172(although the Pascal form also works).
6173
6174This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
6175before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
6176
6177@item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
6178Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
6179file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
6180specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
6181functions with identical names in different source files.
6182@end table
6183
6184@end table
6185
6186
6187@node Edit
6188@section Editing Source Files
6189@cindex editing source files
6190
6191@kindex edit
6192@kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
6193To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
6194The editing program of your choice
6195is invoked with the current line set to
6196the active line in the program.
6197Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
6198want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
6199
6200@table @code
6201@item edit @var{location}
6202Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
6203that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
6204specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
6205of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
6206command most commonly used:
6207
6208@table @code
6209@item edit @var{number}
6210Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
6211
6212@item edit @var{function}
6213Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
6214@end table
6215
6216@end table
6217
6218@subsection Choosing your Editor
6219You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
6220@footnote{
6221The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
6222following command-line syntax:
6223@smallexample
6224ex +@var{number} file
6225@end smallexample
6226The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
6227the file where to start editing.}.
6228By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
6229by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
6230@value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
6231@code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
6232@smallexample
6233EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi
6234export EDITOR
6235gdb @dots{}
6236@end smallexample
6237or in the @code{csh} shell,
6238@smallexample
6239setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
6240gdb @dots{}
6241@end smallexample
6242
6243@node Search
6244@section Searching Source Files
6245@cindex searching source files
6246
6247There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
6248regular expression.
6249
6250@table @code
6251@kindex search
6252@kindex forward-search
6253@item forward-search @var{regexp}
6254@itemx search @var{regexp}
6255The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
6256starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
6257@var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
6258synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
6259@code{fo}.
6260
6261@kindex reverse-search
6262@item reverse-search @var{regexp}
6263The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
6264with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
6265for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
6266this command as @code{rev}.
6267@end table
6268
6269@node Source Path
6270@section Specifying Source Directories
6271
6272@cindex source path
6273@cindex directories for source files
6274Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
6275files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
6276the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
6277session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
6278this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
6279it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
6280in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
6281
6282For example, suppose an executable references the file
6283@file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
6284@file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
6285fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
6286fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
6287message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
6288source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
6289Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
6290the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
6291@file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
6292@file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
6293
6294Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
6295names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
6296instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
6297is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
6298@file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
6299that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
6300
6301Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
6302source files.
6303
6304Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
6305any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
6306each line is in the file.
6307
6308@kindex directory
6309@kindex dir
6310When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
6311and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
6312To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
6313
6314The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
6315script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
6316
6317In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
6318that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
6319rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
6320debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
6321directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
6322two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
6323the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
6324In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
6325@var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
6326of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
6327source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
6328name to look up the sources.
6329
6330Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
6331moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
6332@value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
6333@file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
6334@file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
6335of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
6336substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
6337(@pxref{set substitute-path}).
6338
6339To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
6340@var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
6341For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
6342@file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
6343not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
6344is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
6345not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
6346
6347In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
6348command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
6349the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
6350subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
6351subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
6352preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
6353allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
6354command.
6355
6356@code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
6357The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
6358longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
6359the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
6360for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
6361located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
6362method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
6363
6364@cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
6365@cindex default source path substitution
6366You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
6367configuring @value{GDBN} with the
6368@samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
6369should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
6370prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
6371directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
6372automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
6373location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
6374with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
6375together.
6376
6377@table @code
6378@item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
6379@item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
6380Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
6381directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
6382(@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
6383part of absolute file names) or
6384whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
6385path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
6386
6387@kindex cdir
6388@kindex cwd
6389@vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
6390@vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
6391@cindex compilation directory
6392@cindex current directory
6393@cindex working directory
6394@cindex directory, current
6395@cindex directory, compilation
6396You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
6397directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
6398working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
6399tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
6400session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
6401directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
6402
6403@item directory
6404Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
6405
6406@c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
6407@c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
6408
6409@item show directories
6410@kindex show directories
6411Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
6412
6413@anchor{set substitute-path}
6414@item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
6415@kindex set substitute-path
6416Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
6417current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
6418@var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
6419
6420For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
6421@file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
6422
6423@smallexample
6424(@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
6425@end smallexample
6426
6427@noindent
6428will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
6429@samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
6430@file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
6431
6432In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
6433the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
6434defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
6435the substitution.
6436
6437For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
6438
6439@smallexample
6440(@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
6441(@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
6442@end smallexample
6443
6444@noindent
6445@value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
6446@file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
6447use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
6448@file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
6449
6450
6451@item unset substitute-path [path]
6452@kindex unset substitute-path
6453If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
6454for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
6455A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
6456
6457If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
6458
6459@item show substitute-path [path]
6460@kindex show substitute-path
6461If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
6462which would rewrite that path, if any.
6463
6464If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
6465rules.
6466
6467@end table
6468
6469If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
6470interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
6471versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
6472
6473@enumerate
6474@item
6475Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
6476
6477@item
6478Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
6479directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
6480directories in one command.
6481@end enumerate
6482
6483@node Machine Code
6484@section Source and Machine Code
6485@cindex source line and its code address
6486
6487You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
6488addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
6489a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
6490@code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
6491source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
6492mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
6493line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
6494well as hex.
6495
6496@table @code
6497@kindex info line
6498@item info line @var{linespec}
6499Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
6500source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
6501the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
6502@end table
6503
6504For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
6505the object code for the first line of function
6506@code{m4_changequote}:
6507
6508@c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
6509@c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
6510@smallexample
6511(@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
6512Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
6513@end smallexample
6514
6515@noindent
6516@cindex code address and its source line
6517We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
6518@var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
6519@smallexample
6520(@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
6521Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
6522@end smallexample
6523
6524@cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
6525@cindex @code{x} command, default address
6526@kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
6527After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
6528is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
6529sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
6530,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
6531convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
6532Variables}).
6533
6534@table @code
6535@kindex disassemble
6536@cindex assembly instructions
6537@cindex instructions, assembly
6538@cindex machine instructions
6539@cindex listing machine instructions
6540@item disassemble
6541@itemx disassemble /m
6542@itemx disassemble /r
6543This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
6544instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
6545the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
6546in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
6547The default memory range is the function surrounding the
6548program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
6549command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
6550surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
6551be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
6552arguments specify a range of addresses (first inclusive, second exclusive)
6553to dump. In that case, the name of the function is also printed (since
6554there could be several functions in the given range).
6555
6556The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
6557@samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
6558
6559If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
6560the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
6561@end table
6562
6563The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
6564HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
6565
6566@smallexample
6567(@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
6568Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
6569 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
6570 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
6571 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6572 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
6573 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
6574 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
6575 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
6576 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6577End of assembler dump.
6578@end smallexample
6579
6580Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
6581program is stopped just after function prologue:
6582
6583@smallexample
6584(@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
6585Dump of assembler code for function main:
65865 @{
6587 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
6588 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
6589 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
6590 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
6591 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
6592
65936 printf ("Hello.\n");
6594=> 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
6595 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
6596
65977 return 0;
65988 @}
6599 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
6600 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
6601 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
6602
6603End of assembler dump.
6604@end smallexample
6605
6606Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
6607mnemonics or other syntax.
6608
6609For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
6610instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
6611libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
6612location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
6613might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
6614
6615@table @code
6616@kindex set disassembly-flavor
6617@cindex Intel disassembly flavor
6618@cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
6619@item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
6620Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
6621program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
6622
6623Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
6624can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
6625The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
6626assemblers for x86-based targets.
6627
6628@kindex show disassembly-flavor
6629@item show disassembly-flavor
6630Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
6631@end table
6632
6633@table @code
6634@kindex set disassemble-next-line
6635@kindex show disassemble-next-line
6636@item set disassemble-next-line
6637@itemx show disassemble-next-line
6638Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
6639line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
6640display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
6641program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
6642displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
6643possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
6644(e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
6645info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
6646next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
6647AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
6648if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
6649@value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
6650with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
6651OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
6652instruction.
6653@end table
6654
6655
6656@node Data
6657@chapter Examining Data
6658
6659@cindex printing data
6660@cindex examining data
6661@kindex print
6662@kindex inspect
6663@c "inspect" is not quite a synonym if you are using Epoch, which we do not
6664@c document because it is nonstandard... Under Epoch it displays in a
6665@c different window or something like that.
6666The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
6667command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
6668evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
6669program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
6670Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
6671Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
6672
6673@table @code
6674@item print @var{expr}
6675@itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
6676@var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
6677value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
6678you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
6679@var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
6680Formats}.
6681
6682@item print
6683@itemx print /@var{f}
6684@cindex reprint the last value
6685If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
6686@dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
6687conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
6688@end table
6689
6690A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
6691It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
6692specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
6693
6694If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
6695fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
6696command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
6697Table}.
6698
6699@menu
6700* Expressions:: Expressions
6701* Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
6702* Variables:: Program variables
6703* Arrays:: Artificial arrays
6704* Output Formats:: Output formats
6705* Memory:: Examining memory
6706* Auto Display:: Automatic display
6707* Print Settings:: Print settings
6708* Value History:: Value history
6709* Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
6710* Registers:: Registers
6711* Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
6712* Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
6713* OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
6714* Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
6715* Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
6716* Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
6717* Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
6718 character set than GDB does
6719* Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
6720* Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
6721@end menu
6722
6723@node Expressions
6724@section Expressions
6725
6726@cindex expressions
6727@code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
6728compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
6729by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
6730@value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
6731casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
6732you compiled your program to include this information; see
6733@ref{Compilation}.
6734
6735@cindex arrays in expressions
6736@value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
6737the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
6738you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
6739of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
6740to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
6741is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
6742
6743Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
6744this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
6745Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
6746languages.
6747
6748In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
6749expressions regardless of your programming language.
6750
6751@cindex casts, in expressions
6752Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
6753useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
6754at that address in memory.
6755@c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
6756
6757@value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
6758to programming languages:
6759
6760@table @code
6761@item @@
6762@samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
6763@xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
6764
6765@item ::
6766@samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
6767function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
6768
6769@cindex @{@var{type}@}
6770@cindex type casting memory
6771@cindex memory, viewing as typed object
6772@cindex casts, to view memory
6773@item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
6774Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
6775memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
6776pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
6777a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
6778normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
6779@end table
6780
6781@node Ambiguous Expressions
6782@section Ambiguous Expressions
6783@cindex ambiguous expressions
6784
6785Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
6786some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
6787a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
6788different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
6789involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
6790templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
6791the same function name being defined in different contexts.
6792
6793In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
6794the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
6795can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
6796@kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
6797qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
6798as well.
6799
6800When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
6801has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
6802possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
6803The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
6804aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
6805used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
6806menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
6807choices.
6808
6809For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
6810breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
6811We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
6812
6813@c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
6814@smallexample
6815@group
6816(@value{GDBP}) b String::after
6817[0] cancel
6818[1] all
6819[2] file:String.cc; line number:867
6820[3] file:String.cc; line number:860
6821[4] file:String.cc; line number:875
6822[5] file:String.cc; line number:853
6823[6] file:String.cc; line number:846
6824[7] file:String.cc; line number:735
6825> 2 4 6
6826Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
6827Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
6828Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
6829Multiple breakpoints were set.
6830Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
6831 breakpoints.
6832(@value{GDBP})
6833@end group
6834@end smallexample
6835
6836@table @code
6837@kindex set multiple-symbols
6838@item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
6839@cindex multiple-symbols menu
6840
6841This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
6842is ambiguous.
6843
6844By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
6845the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
6846automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
6847a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
6848inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
6849then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
6850For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
6851in the use of the menu.
6852
6853When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
6854when an ambiguity is detected.
6855
6856Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
6857an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
6858
6859@kindex show multiple-symbols
6860@item show multiple-symbols
6861Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
6862@end table
6863
6864@node Variables
6865@section Program Variables
6866
6867The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
6868in your program.
6869
6870Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
6871(@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
6872
6873@itemize @bullet
6874@item
6875global (or file-static)
6876@end itemize
6877
6878@noindent or
6879
6880@itemize @bullet
6881@item
6882visible according to the scope rules of the
6883programming language from the point of execution in that frame
6884@end itemize
6885
6886@noindent This means that in the function
6887
6888@smallexample
6889foo (a)
6890 int a;
6891@{
6892 bar (a);
6893 @{
6894 int b = test ();
6895 bar (b);
6896 @}
6897@}
6898@end smallexample
6899
6900@noindent
6901you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
6902executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
6903examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
6904the block where @code{b} is declared.
6905
6906@cindex variable name conflict
6907There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
6908scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
6909in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
6910function with the same name (in different source files). If that
6911happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
6912you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file,
6913using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
6914
6915@cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
6916@ifnotinfo
6917@c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
6918@cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
6919@end ifnotinfo
6920@smallexample
6921@var{file}::@var{variable}
6922@var{function}::@var{variable}
6923@end smallexample
6924
6925@noindent
6926Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
6927static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
6928make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
6929to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
6930
6931@smallexample
6932(@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
6933@end smallexample
6934
6935@cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
6936This use of @samp{::} is very rarely in conflict with the very similar
6937use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
6938scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
6939@c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
6940@c conflict?? --mew
6941
6942@cindex wrong values
6943@cindex variable values, wrong
6944@cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
6945@cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
6946@quotation
6947@emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
6948wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
6949scope, and just before exit.
6950@end quotation
6951You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
6952This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
6953set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
6954stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
6955values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
6956also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
6957after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
6958variable definitions may be gone.
6959
6960This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
6961To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
6962when compiling.
6963
6964@cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
6965Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
6966unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
6967opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
6968offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
6969might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
6970happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
6971
6972@smallexample
6973No symbol "foo" in current context.
6974@end smallexample
6975
6976To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
6977different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
6978formats. For example, @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler,
6979usually supports the @option{-gstabs+} option. @option{-gstabs+}
6980produces debug info in a format that is superior to formats such as
6981COFF. You may be able to use DWARF 2 (@option{-gdwarf-2}), which is also
6982an effective form for debug info. @xref{Debugging Options,,Options
6983for Debugging Your Program or GCC, gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu}
6984Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
6985@xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug info formats
6986that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
6987
6988If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
6989@value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
6990by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
6991type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
6992
6993Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
6994signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
6995printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
6996@code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
6997defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
6998For program code
6999
7000@smallexample
7001char var0[] = "A";
7002signed char var1[] = "A";
7003@end smallexample
7004
7005You get during debugging
7006@smallexample
7007(gdb) print var0
7008$1 = "A"
7009(gdb) print var1
7010$2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
7011@end smallexample
7012
7013@node Arrays
7014@section Artificial Arrays
7015
7016@cindex artificial array
7017@cindex arrays
7018@kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
7019It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
7020same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
7021dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
7022program.
7023
7024You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
7025@dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
7026operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
7027and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
7028of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
7029the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
7030argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
7031following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
7032example. If a program says
7033
7034@smallexample
7035int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
7036@end smallexample
7037
7038@noindent
7039you can print the contents of @code{array} with
7040
7041@smallexample
7042p *array@@len
7043@end smallexample
7044
7045The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
7046with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
7047subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
7048Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
7049(@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
7050
7051Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
7052This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
7053The value need not be in memory:
7054@smallexample
7055(@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
7056$1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7057@end smallexample
7058
7059As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
7060@samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
7061the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
7062@smallexample
7063(@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
7064$2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7065@end smallexample
7066
7067Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
7068moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
7069actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
7070of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
7071to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7072Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
7073interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
7074instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
7075structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
7076in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
7077
7078@smallexample
7079set $i = 0
7080p dtab[$i++]->fv
7081@key{RET}
7082@key{RET}
7083@dots{}
7084@end smallexample
7085
7086@node Output Formats
7087@section Output Formats
7088
7089@cindex formatted output
7090@cindex output formats
7091By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
7092this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
7093in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
7094at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
7095these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
7096
7097The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
7098already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
7099@code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
7100letters supported are:
7101
7102@table @code
7103@item x
7104Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
7105hexadecimal.
7106
7107@item d
7108Print as integer in signed decimal.
7109
7110@item u
7111Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
7112
7113@item o
7114Print as integer in octal.
7115
7116@item t
7117Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
7118@footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
7119used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
7120see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
7121
7122@item a
7123@cindex unknown address, locating
7124@cindex locate address
7125Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
7126the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
7127where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
7128
7129@smallexample
7130(@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
7131$3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
7132@end smallexample
7133
7134@noindent
7135The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
7136@xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
7137
7138@item c
7139Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
7140prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
7141character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
7142for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
7143
7144Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
7145@w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
7146constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
7147data.
7148
7149@item f
7150Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
7151using typical floating point syntax.
7152
7153@item s
7154@cindex printing strings
7155@cindex printing byte arrays
7156Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
7157data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
7158are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
7159natural types.
7160
7161Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
7162@code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
7163strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
7164array.
7165
7166@item r
7167@cindex raw printing
7168Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
7169use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
7170Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
7171value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
7172pretty-printer which might exist.
7173@end table
7174
7175For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
7176
7177@smallexample
7178p/x $pc
7179@end smallexample
7180
7181@noindent
7182Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
7183names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
7184
7185To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
7186you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
7187expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
7188
7189@node Memory
7190@section Examining Memory
7191
7192You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
7193any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
7194
7195@cindex examining memory
7196@table @code
7197@kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
7198@item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
7199@itemx x @var{addr}
7200@itemx x
7201Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
7202@end table
7203
7204@var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
7205much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
7206expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
7207If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
7208Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
7209
7210@table @r
7211@item @var{n}, the repeat count
7212The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
7213how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
7214@c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
7215@c 4.1.2.
7216
7217@item @var{f}, the display format
7218The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
7219(@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
7220@samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
7221The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
7222each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
7223
7224@item @var{u}, the unit size
7225The unit size is any of
7226
7227@table @code
7228@item b
7229Bytes.
7230@item h
7231Halfwords (two bytes).
7232@item w
7233Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
7234@item g
7235Giant words (eight bytes).
7236@end table
7237
7238Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
7239default unit the next time you use @code{x}. (For the @samp{s} and
7240@samp{i} formats, the unit size is ignored and is normally not written.)
7241
7242@item @var{addr}, starting display address
7243@var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
7244memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
7245it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
7246@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
7247@var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
7248other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
7249the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
7250starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
7251a value from memory).
7252@end table
7253
7254For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
7255(@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
7256starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
7257words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
7258@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
7259
7260Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
7261letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
7262unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
7263specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
7264(However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
7265
7266Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
7267and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
7268@samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
7269including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
7270the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
7271slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
7272follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
7273@code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
7274instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
7275
7276All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
7277easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
7278you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
7279instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
7280with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
7281the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
7282for successive uses of @code{x}.
7283
7284When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
7285counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
7286
7287@smallexample
7288(@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
7289 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
7290 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
7291 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
7292=> 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
7293 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
7294@end smallexample
7295
7296@cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
7297The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
7298in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
7299would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
7300subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
7301@code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
7302examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
7303@code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
7304the convenience variable @code{$__}.
7305
7306If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
7307are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
7308address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
7309
7310@cindex remote memory comparison
7311@cindex verify remote memory image
7312When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
7313(@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
7314remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
7315the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
7316situations.
7317
7318@table @code
7319@kindex compare-sections
7320@item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
7321Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
7322executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
7323the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
7324arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
7325availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
7326remote request.
7327@end table
7328
7329@node Auto Display
7330@section Automatic Display
7331@cindex automatic display
7332@cindex display of expressions
7333
7334If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
7335(to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
7336display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
7337Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
7338to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
7339The automatic display looks like this:
7340
7341@smallexample
73422: foo = 38
73433: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
7344@end smallexample
7345
7346@noindent
7347This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
7348displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
7349specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
7350whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
7351specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
7352or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
7353
7354@table @code
7355@kindex display
7356@item display @var{expr}
7357Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
7358each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
7359
7360@code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
7361
7362@item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
7363For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
7364count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
7365arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
7366@xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
7367
7368@item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
7369For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
7370number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
7371be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
7372doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7373@end table
7374
7375For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
7376instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
7377is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
7378
7379@table @code
7380@kindex delete display
7381@kindex undisplay
7382@item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
7383@itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7384Remove item numbers @var{dnums} from the list of expressions to display.
7385
7386@code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
7387(Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
7388
7389@kindex disable display
7390@item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7391Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
7392item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
7393enabled again later.
7394
7395@kindex enable display
7396@item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7397Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
7398again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
7399
7400@item display
7401Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
7402done when your program stops.
7403
7404@kindex info display
7405@item info display
7406Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
7407automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
7408values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
7409It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
7410because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
7411@end table
7412
7413@cindex display disabled out of scope
7414If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
7415sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
7416expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
7417variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
7418@code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
7419@code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
7420continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
7421there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
7422automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
7423is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
7424
7425@node Print Settings
7426@section Print Settings
7427
7428@cindex format options
7429@cindex print settings
7430@value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
7431and symbols are printed.
7432
7433@noindent
7434These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
7435
7436@table @code
7437@kindex set print
7438@item set print address
7439@itemx set print address on
7440@cindex print/don't print memory addresses
7441@value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
7442traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
7443even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
7444is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
7445@code{set print address on}:
7446
7447@smallexample
7448@group
7449(@value{GDBP}) f
7450#0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
7451 at input.c:530
7452530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7453@end group
7454@end smallexample
7455
7456@item set print address off
7457Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
7458this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
7459
7460@smallexample
7461@group
7462(@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
7463(@value{GDBP}) f
7464#0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
7465530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7466@end group
7467@end smallexample
7468
7469You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
7470dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
7471@code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
7472all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
7473
7474@kindex show print
7475@item show print address
7476Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
7477@end table
7478
7479When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
7480closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
7481identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
7482source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
7483@code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
7484you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
7485it prints a symbolic address:
7486
7487@table @code
7488@item set print symbol-filename on
7489@cindex source file and line of a symbol
7490@cindex symbol, source file and line
7491Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
7492symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7493
7494@item set print symbol-filename off
7495Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
7496default.
7497
7498@item show print symbol-filename
7499Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
7500line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7501@end table
7502
7503Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
7504numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
7505number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
7506
7507Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
7508printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
7509
7510@table @code
7511@item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
7512@cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
7513Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
7514offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
7515@var{max-offset}. The default is 0, which tells @value{GDBN}
7516to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes it.
7517
7518@item show print max-symbolic-offset
7519Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
7520symbolic address.
7521@end table
7522
7523@cindex wild pointer, interpreting
7524@cindex pointer, finding referent
7525If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
7526@samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
7527and source file location of the variable where it points, using
7528@samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
7529For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
7530at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
7531
7532@smallexample
7533(@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
7534(@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
7535$4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
7536@end smallexample
7537
7538@quotation
7539@emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
7540does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
7541the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
7542@end quotation
7543
7544Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
7545
7546@table @code
7547@item set print array
7548@itemx set print array on
7549@cindex pretty print arrays
7550Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
7551but uses more space. The default is off.
7552
7553@item set print array off
7554Return to compressed format for arrays.
7555
7556@item show print array
7557Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
7558arrays.
7559
7560@cindex print array indexes
7561@item set print array-indexes
7562@itemx set print array-indexes on
7563Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
7564convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
7565index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
7566
7567@item set print array-indexes off
7568Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
7569
7570@item show print array-indexes
7571Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
7572arrays.
7573
7574@item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
7575@cindex number of array elements to print
7576@cindex limit on number of printed array elements
7577Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
7578If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
7579printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
7580This limit also applies to the display of strings.
7581When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
7582Setting @var{number-of-elements} to zero means that the printing is unlimited.
7583
7584@item show print elements
7585Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
7586If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
7587
7588@item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
7589@kindex set print frame-arguments
7590@cindex printing frame argument values
7591@cindex print all frame argument values
7592@cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
7593@cindex do not print frame argument values
7594This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
7595when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
7596values are:
7597
7598@table @code
7599@item all
7600The values of all arguments are printed.
7601
7602@item scalars
7603Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
7604complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
7605by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
7606only scalar arguments are shown:
7607
7608@smallexample
7609#1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
7610 at frame-args.c:23
7611@end smallexample
7612
7613@item none
7614None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
7615is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
7616
7617@smallexample
7618#1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
7619 at frame-args.c:23
7620@end smallexample
7621@end table
7622
7623By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
7624to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
7625of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
7626of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
7627information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
7628Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
7629the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
7630especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
7631to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
7632thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
7633
7634@item show print frame-arguments
7635Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
7636
7637@item set print repeats
7638@cindex repeated array elements
7639Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
7640elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
7641array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
7642@code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
7643identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
7644themselves. Setting the threshold to zero will cause all elements to
7645be individually printed. The default threshold is 10.
7646
7647@item show print repeats
7648Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
7649elements.
7650
7651@item set print null-stop
7652@cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
7653Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
7654@sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
7655contain only short strings.
7656The default is off.
7657
7658@item show print null-stop
7659Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
7660@sc{null} character.
7661
7662@item set print pretty on
7663@cindex print structures in indented form
7664@cindex indentation in structure display
7665Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
7666per line, like this:
7667
7668@smallexample
7669@group
7670$1 = @{
7671 next = 0x0,
7672 flags = @{
7673 sweet = 1,
7674 sour = 1
7675 @},
7676 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
7677@}
7678@end group
7679@end smallexample
7680
7681@item set print pretty off
7682Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
7683
7684@smallexample
7685@group
7686$1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
7687meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
7688@end group
7689@end smallexample
7690
7691@noindent
7692This is the default format.
7693
7694@item show print pretty
7695Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
7696
7697@item set print sevenbit-strings on
7698@cindex eight-bit characters in strings
7699@cindex octal escapes in strings
7700Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
7701@value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
7702character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
7703best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
7704high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
7705
7706@item set print sevenbit-strings off
7707Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
7708international character sets, and is the default.
7709
7710@item show print sevenbit-strings
7711Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
7712
7713@item set print union on
7714@cindex unions in structures, printing
7715Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
7716and other unions. This is the default setting.
7717
7718@item set print union off
7719Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
7720structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
7721instead.
7722
7723@item show print union
7724Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
7725structures and other unions.
7726
7727For example, given the declarations
7728
7729@smallexample
7730typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
7731typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
7732typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
7733 Bug_forms;
7734
7735struct thing @{
7736 Species it;
7737 union @{
7738 Tree_forms tree;
7739 Bug_forms bug;
7740 @} form;
7741@};
7742
7743struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
7744@end smallexample
7745
7746@noindent
7747with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
7748
7749@smallexample
7750$1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
7751@end smallexample
7752
7753@noindent
7754and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
7755
7756@smallexample
7757$1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
7758@end smallexample
7759
7760@noindent
7761@code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
7762and in Pascal.
7763@end table
7764
7765@need 1000
7766@noindent
7767These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
7768
7769@table @code
7770@cindex demangling C@t{++} names
7771@item set print demangle
7772@itemx set print demangle on
7773Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
7774(``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
7775linkage. The default is on.
7776
7777@item show print demangle
7778Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
7779
7780@item set print asm-demangle
7781@itemx set print asm-demangle on
7782Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
7783in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
7784The default is off.
7785
7786@item show print asm-demangle
7787Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
7788or demangled form.
7789
7790@cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
7791@cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
7792@kindex set demangle-style
7793@item set demangle-style @var{style}
7794Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
7795represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
7796
7797@table @code
7798@item auto
7799Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
7800
7801@item gnu
7802Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
7803This is the default.
7804
7805@item hp
7806Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
7807
7808@item lucid
7809Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
7810
7811@item arm
7812Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
7813@strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
7814debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
7815require further enhancement to permit that.
7816
7817@end table
7818If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
7819
7820@item show demangle-style
7821Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
7822
7823@item set print object
7824@itemx set print object on
7825@cindex derived type of an object, printing
7826@cindex display derived types
7827When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
7828(derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
7829the virtual function table.
7830
7831@item set print object off
7832Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
7833virtual function table. This is the default setting.
7834
7835@item show print object
7836Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
7837
7838@item set print static-members
7839@itemx set print static-members on
7840@cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
7841Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
7842
7843@item set print static-members off
7844Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
7845
7846@item show print static-members
7847Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
7848
7849@item set print pascal_static-members
7850@itemx set print pascal_static-members on
7851@cindex static members of Pascal objects
7852@cindex Pascal objects, static members display
7853Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
7854
7855@item set print pascal_static-members off
7856Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
7857
7858@item show print pascal_static-members
7859Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
7860
7861@c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
7862@item set print vtbl
7863@itemx set print vtbl on
7864@cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
7865@cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
7866@cindex VTBL display
7867Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
7868(The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
7869ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
7870
7871@item set print vtbl off
7872Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
7873
7874@item show print vtbl
7875Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
7876@end table
7877
7878@node Value History
7879@section Value History
7880
7881@cindex value history
7882@cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
7883Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
7884@dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
7885Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
7886(for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
7887When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
7888since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
7889symbol table.
7890
7891@cindex @code{$}
7892@cindex @code{$$}
7893@cindex history number
7894The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
7895refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
7896@code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
7897printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
7898history number.
7899
7900To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
7901history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
7902remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
7903the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
7904@code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
7905is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
7906@code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
7907
7908For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
7909want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
7910
7911@smallexample
7912p *$
7913@end smallexample
7914
7915If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
7916to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
7917
7918@smallexample
7919p *$.next
7920@end smallexample
7921
7922@noindent
7923You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
7924command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
7925
7926Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
7927@code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
7928
7929@smallexample
7930print x
7931set x=5
7932@end smallexample
7933
7934@noindent
7935then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
7936remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
7937
7938@table @code
7939@kindex show values
7940@item show values
7941Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
7942This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
7943values} does not change the history.
7944
7945@item show values @var{n}
7946Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
7947
7948@item show values +
7949Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
7950values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
7951@end table
7952
7953Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
7954same effect as @samp{show values +}.
7955
7956@node Convenience Vars
7957@section Convenience Variables
7958
7959@cindex convenience variables
7960@cindex user-defined variables
7961@value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
7962@value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
7963exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
7964setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
7965of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
7966
7967Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
7968@samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
7969the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
7970(Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
7971by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
7972
7973You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
7974expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
7975For example:
7976
7977@smallexample
7978set $foo = *object_ptr
7979@end smallexample
7980
7981@noindent
7982would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
7983@code{object_ptr}.
7984
7985Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
7986value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
7987value with another assignment at any time.
7988
7989Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
7990variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
7991that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
7992variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
7993
7994@table @code
7995@kindex show convenience
7996@cindex show all user variables
7997@item show convenience
7998Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values.
7999Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
8000
8001@kindex init-if-undefined
8002@cindex convenience variables, initializing
8003@item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
8004Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
8005for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
8006to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
8007convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
8008override default values used in a command script.
8009
8010If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
8011any side-effects do not occur.
8012@end table
8013
8014One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
8015incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
8016a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
8017
8018@smallexample
8019set $i = 0
8020print bar[$i++]->contents
8021@end smallexample
8022
8023@noindent
8024Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
8025
8026Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
8027values likely to be useful.
8028
8029@table @code
8030@vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
8031@item $_
8032The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
8033the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
8034commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
8035set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
8036and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
8037except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
8038to the type of @code{$__}.
8039
8040@vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
8041@item $__
8042The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
8043to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
8044to match the format in which the data was printed.
8045
8046@item $_exitcode
8047@vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
8048The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
8049the program being debugged terminates.
8050
8051@item $_siginfo
8052@vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
8053The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
8054(@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
8055could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
8056For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
8057@end table
8058
8059On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
8060begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
8061name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
8062
8063@cindex convenience functions
8064@value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
8065have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
8066function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
8067however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
8068@value{GDBN}.
8069
8070@table @code
8071@item help function
8072@kindex help function
8073@cindex show all convenience functions
8074Print a list of all convenience functions.
8075@end table
8076
8077@node Registers
8078@section Registers
8079
8080@cindex registers
8081You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
8082with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
8083for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
8084your machine.
8085
8086@table @code
8087@kindex info registers
8088@item info registers
8089Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
8090and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8091
8092@kindex info all-registers
8093@cindex floating point registers
8094@item info all-registers
8095Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
8096and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8097
8098@item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
8099Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
8100As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
8101the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
8102the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
8103@end table
8104
8105@cindex stack pointer register
8106@cindex program counter register
8107@cindex process status register
8108@cindex frame pointer register
8109@cindex standard registers
8110@value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
8111expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
8112architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
8113@code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
8114the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
8115pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
8116register that contains the processor status. For example,
8117you could print the program counter in hex with
8118
8119@smallexample
8120p/x $pc
8121@end smallexample
8122
8123@noindent
8124or print the instruction to be executed next with
8125
8126@smallexample
8127x/i $pc
8128@end smallexample
8129
8130@noindent
8131or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
8132one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
8133memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
8134stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
8135stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
8136regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
8137see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
8138
8139@smallexample
8140set $sp += 4
8141@end smallexample
8142
8143Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
8144your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
8145so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
8146shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
8147registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
8148can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
8149is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
8150
8151@value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
8152integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
8153special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
8154registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
8155to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
8156(although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
8157@samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
8158
8159Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
8160means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
8161the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
8162sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
8163coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
8164programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
8165cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
8166that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
8167prints the data in both formats.
8168
8169@cindex SSE registers (x86)
8170@cindex MMX registers (x86)
8171Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
8172in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
8173have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
8174together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
8175registers in @code{struct} notation:
8176
8177@smallexample
8178(@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
8179$1 = @{
8180 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
8181 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
8182 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
8183 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
8184 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
8185 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
8186 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
8187@}
8188@end smallexample
8189
8190@noindent
8191To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
8192view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
8193value to a @code{struct} member:
8194
8195@smallexample
8196 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
8197@end smallexample
8198
8199Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
8200(@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
8201value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
8202were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
8203true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
8204frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
8205
8206However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
8207code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
8208@value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
8209frame makes no difference.
8210
8211@node Floating Point Hardware
8212@section Floating Point Hardware
8213@cindex floating point
8214
8215Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
8216you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
8217
8218@table @code
8219@kindex info float
8220@item info float
8221Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
8222point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
8223floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
8224the ARM and x86 machines.
8225@end table
8226
8227@node Vector Unit
8228@section Vector Unit
8229@cindex vector unit
8230
8231Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
8232more information about the status of the vector unit.
8233
8234@table @code
8235@kindex info vector
8236@item info vector
8237Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
8238layout vary depending on the hardware.
8239@end table
8240
8241@node OS Information
8242@section Operating System Auxiliary Information
8243@cindex OS information
8244
8245@value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
8246you debug your program.
8247
8248@cindex @code{ptrace} system call
8249@cindex @code{struct user} contents
8250When @value{GDBN} runs on a @dfn{Posix system} (such as GNU or Unix
8251machines), it interfaces with the inferior via the @code{ptrace}
8252system call. The operating system creates a special sata structure,
8253called @code{struct user}, for this interface. You can use the
8254command @code{info udot} to display the contents of this data
8255structure.
8256
8257@table @code
8258@item info udot
8259@kindex info udot
8260Display the contents of the @code{struct user} maintained by the OS
8261kernel for the program being debugged. @value{GDBN} displays the
8262contents of @code{struct user} as a list of hex numbers, similar to
8263the @code{examine} command.
8264@end table
8265
8266@cindex auxiliary vector
8267@cindex vector, auxiliary
8268Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
8269startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
8270specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
8271binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
8272hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
8273identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
8274Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
8275@value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
8276targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
8277support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
8278@ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
8279
8280@table @code
8281@kindex info auxv
8282@item info auxv
8283Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
8284live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
8285numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
8286tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
8287pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
8288most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
8289an unrecognized tag.
8290@end table
8291
8292On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating-system-specific information
8293and display it to user, without interpretation. For remote targets,
8294this functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
8295@samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
8296
8297@table @code
8298@kindex info os processes
8299@item info os processes
8300Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
8301@value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, and
8302the command corresponding to the process.
8303@end table
8304
8305@node Memory Region Attributes
8306@section Memory Region Attributes
8307@cindex memory region attributes
8308
8309@dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
8310required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
8311attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
8312accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
8313target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
8314fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
8315user can override the fetched regions.
8316
8317Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
8318memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
8319accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
8320been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
8321all memory.
8322
8323When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
8324to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
8325
8326@table @code
8327@kindex mem
8328@item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
8329Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
8330attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
8331monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
8332case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
8333(0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
8334
8335@item mem auto
8336Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
8337regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
8338
8339@kindex delete mem
8340@item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8341Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
8342monitored by @value{GDBN}.
8343
8344@kindex disable mem
8345@item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8346Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
8347A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
8348It may be enabled again later.
8349
8350@kindex enable mem
8351@item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8352Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
8353
8354@kindex info mem
8355@item info mem
8356Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
8357for each region:
8358
8359@table @emph
8360@item Memory Region Number
8361@item Enabled or Disabled.
8362Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
8363Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
8364
8365@item Lo Address
8366The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
8367
8368@item Hi Address
8369The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
8370
8371@item Attributes
8372The list of attributes set for this memory region.
8373@end table
8374@end table
8375
8376
8377@subsection Attributes
8378
8379@subsubsection Memory Access Mode
8380The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
8381write accesses to a memory region.
8382
8383While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
8384memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
8385etc.@: from accessing memory.
8386
8387@table @code
8388@item ro
8389Memory is read only.
8390@item wo
8391Memory is write only.
8392@item rw
8393Memory is read/write. This is the default.
8394@end table
8395
8396@subsubsection Memory Access Size
8397The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
8398accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
8399require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
8400specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
8401
8402@table @code
8403@item 8
8404Use 8 bit memory accesses.
8405@item 16
8406Use 16 bit memory accesses.
8407@item 32
8408Use 32 bit memory accesses.
8409@item 64
8410Use 64 bit memory accesses.
8411@end table
8412
8413@c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
8414@c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
8415@c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
8416@c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
8417@c
8418@c @table @code
8419@c @item hwbreak
8420@c Always use hardware breakpoints
8421@c @item swbreak (default)
8422@c @end table
8423
8424@subsubsection Data Cache
8425The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
8426memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
8427protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
8428does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
8429registers.
8430
8431@table @code
8432@item cache
8433Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
8434@item nocache
8435Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
8436@end table
8437
8438@subsection Memory Access Checking
8439@value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
8440not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
8441regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
8442better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
8443
8444@table @code
8445@kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
8446@item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
8447If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
8448explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
8449to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
8450memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
8451treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
8452The default value is @code{on}.
8453@kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
8454@item show mem inaccessible-by-default
8455Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
8456@end table
8457
8458
8459@c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
8460@c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
8461@c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
8462@c
8463@c @table @code
8464@c @item verify
8465@c @item noverify (default)
8466@c @end table
8467
8468@node Dump/Restore Files
8469@section Copy Between Memory and a File
8470@cindex dump/restore files
8471@cindex append data to a file
8472@cindex dump data to a file
8473@cindex restore data from a file
8474
8475You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
8476@code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
8477@code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
8478@code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
8479memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
8480Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
8481files.
8482
8483@table @code
8484
8485@kindex dump
8486@item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
8487@itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
8488Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
8489or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
8490
8491The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
8492@table @code
8493@item binary
8494Raw binary form.
8495@item ihex
8496Intel hex format.
8497@item srec
8498Motorola S-record format.
8499@item tekhex
8500Tektronix Hex format.
8501@end table
8502
8503@value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
8504@sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
8505@var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
8506form.
8507
8508@kindex append
8509@item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
8510@itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
8511Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
8512or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
8513(@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
8514
8515@kindex restore
8516@item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
8517Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
8518@code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
8519file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
8520must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
8521
8522If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
8523contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
8524they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
8525a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
8526from that location.
8527
8528If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
8529file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
8530These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
8531the @var{bias} argument is applied.
8532
8533@end table
8534
8535@node Core File Generation
8536@section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
8537@cindex dump core from inferior
8538
8539A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
8540image of a running process and its process status (register values
8541etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
8542crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
8543automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
8544the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
8545the post-mortem debugging mode.
8546
8547Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
8548are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
8549@value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
8550
8551@table @code
8552@kindex gcore
8553@kindex generate-core-file
8554@item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
8555@itemx gcore [@var{file}]
8556Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
8557@var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
8558specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
8559@var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
8560
8561Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
8562this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, Unixware, and S390).
8563@end table
8564
8565@node Character Sets
8566@section Character Sets
8567@cindex character sets
8568@cindex charset
8569@cindex translating between character sets
8570@cindex host character set
8571@cindex target character set
8572
8573If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
8574represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
8575@value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
8576you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
8577character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
8578@dfn{target character set}.
8579
8580For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
8581uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
8582remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
8583running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
8584then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
8585@sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
8586target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
8587@sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
8588character and string literals in expressions.
8589
8590@value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
8591the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
8592target-charset} command, described below.
8593
8594Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
8595support:
8596
8597@table @code
8598@item set target-charset @var{charset}
8599@kindex set target-charset
8600Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
8601list of supported target character sets, type
8602@kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
8603
8604@item set host-charset @var{charset}
8605@kindex set host-charset
8606Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
8607
8608By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
8609system it is running on; you can override that default using the
8610@code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
8611automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
8612case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
8613
8614@value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
8615set. If you type @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
8616@value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
8617
8618@item set charset @var{charset}
8619@kindex set charset
8620Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
8621above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
8622@value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
8623for both host and target.
8624
8625@item show charset
8626@kindex show charset
8627Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
8628
8629@item show host-charset
8630@kindex show host-charset
8631Show the name of the current host character set.
8632
8633@item show target-charset
8634@kindex show target-charset
8635Show the name of the current target character set.
8636
8637@item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
8638@kindex set target-wide-charset
8639Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
8640the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
8641display the list of supported wide character sets, type
8642@kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
8643
8644@item show target-wide-charset
8645@kindex show target-wide-charset
8646Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
8647@end table
8648
8649Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
8650Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
8651@file{charset-test.c}:
8652
8653@smallexample
8654#include <stdio.h>
8655
8656char ascii_hello[]
8657 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
8658 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
8659char ibm1047_hello[]
8660 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
8661 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
8662
8663main ()
8664@{
8665 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
8666@}
8667@end smallexample
8668
8669In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
8670containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
8671encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
8672
8673We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
8674
8675@smallexample
8676$ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
8677$ gdb -nw charset-test
8678GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
8679Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
8680@dots{}
8681(@value{GDBP})
8682@end smallexample
8683
8684We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
8685@value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
8686strings:
8687
8688@smallexample
8689(@value{GDBP}) show charset
8690The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
8691(@value{GDBP})
8692@end smallexample
8693
8694For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
8695initial character set:
8696@smallexample
8697(@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
8698(@value{GDBP}) show charset
8699The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
8700(@value{GDBP})
8701@end smallexample
8702
8703Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
8704host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
8705characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
8706them properly. Since our current target character set is also
8707@sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
8708
8709@smallexample
8710(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
8711$1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
8712(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
8713$2 = 72 'H'
8714(@value{GDBP})
8715@end smallexample
8716
8717@value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
8718literals you use in expressions:
8719
8720@smallexample
8721(@value{GDBP}) print '+'
8722$3 = 43 '+'
8723(@value{GDBP})
8724@end smallexample
8725
8726The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
8727character.
8728
8729@value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
8730target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
8731character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
8732
8733@smallexample
8734(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
8735$4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
8736(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
8737$5 = 200 '\310'
8738(@value{GDBP})
8739@end smallexample
8740
8741If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
8742@value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
8743
8744@smallexample
8745(@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
8746ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
8747(@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
8748@end smallexample
8749
8750We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
8751program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
8752@value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
8753target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
8754@sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
8755
8756@smallexample
8757(@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
8758(@value{GDBP}) show charset
8759The current host character set is `ASCII'.
8760The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
8761(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
8762$6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
8763(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
8764$7 = 72 '\110'
8765(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
8766$8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
8767(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
8768$9 = 200 'H'
8769(@value{GDBP})
8770@end smallexample
8771
8772As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
8773string literals you use in expressions:
8774
8775@smallexample
8776(@value{GDBP}) print '+'
8777$10 = 78 '+'
8778(@value{GDBP})
8779@end smallexample
8780
8781The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
8782character.
8783
8784@node Caching Remote Data
8785@section Caching Data of Remote Targets
8786@cindex caching data of remote targets
8787
8788@value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a
8789remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
8790performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
8791bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately, simply
8792caching everything would lead to incorrect results, since @value{GDBN}
8793does not necessarily know anything about volatile values, memory-mapped I/O
8794addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode})
8795memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command is executing.
8796Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
8797known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
8798rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
8799in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
8800stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.}.
8801Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
8802cacheable; see @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
8803
8804@table @code
8805@kindex set remotecache
8806@item set remotecache on
8807@itemx set remotecache off
8808This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
8809with old scripts.
8810
8811@kindex show remotecache
8812@item show remotecache
8813Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
8814
8815@kindex set stack-cache
8816@item set stack-cache on
8817@itemx set stack-cache off
8818Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{ON}, use
8819caching. By default, this option is @code{ON}.
8820
8821@kindex show stack-cache
8822@item show stack-cache
8823Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
8824
8825@kindex info dcache
8826@item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
8827Print the information about the data cache performance. The
8828information displayed includes the dcache width and depth, and for
8829each cache line, its number, address, and how many times it was
8830referenced. This command is useful for debugging the data cache
8831operation.
8832
8833If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
8834printed in hex.
8835@end table
8836
8837@node Searching Memory
8838@section Search Memory
8839@cindex searching memory
8840
8841Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
8842@code{find} command.
8843
8844@table @code
8845@kindex find
8846@item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
8847@itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
8848Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
8849etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
8850@var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
8851@end table
8852
8853@var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
8854They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
8855
8856@table @r
8857@item @var{s}, search query size
8858The size of each search query value.
8859
8860@table @code
8861@item b
8862bytes
8863@item h
8864halfwords (two bytes)
8865@item w
8866words (four bytes)
8867@item g
8868giant words (eight bytes)
8869@end table
8870
8871All values are interpreted in the current language.
8872This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
8873then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
8874
8875If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
8876value's type in the current language.
8877This is useful when one wants to specify the search
8878pattern as a mixture of types.
8879Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
8880a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
8881which is typically four bytes.
8882
8883@item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
8884The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
8885@end table
8886
8887You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
8888 (@code{"}).
8889The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
8890regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
8891
8892The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
8893number of matches found.
8894
8895The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
8896@samp{$_}.
8897A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
8898
8899For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
8900
8901@smallexample
8902void
8903hello ()
8904@{
8905 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
8906 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
8907 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
8908 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
8909 printf ("%s\n", hello);
8910@}
8911@end smallexample
8912
8913@noindent
8914you get during debugging:
8915
8916@smallexample
8917(gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
89180x804956d <hello.1620+6>
89191 pattern found
8920(gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
89210x8049567 <hello.1620>
89220x804956d <hello.1620+6>
89232 patterns found
8924(gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
89250x8049567 <hello.1620>
89261 pattern found
8927(gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
89280x8049560 <mixed.1625>
89291 pattern found
8930(gdb) print $numfound
8931$1 = 1
8932(gdb) print $_
8933$2 = (void *) 0x8049560
8934@end smallexample
8935
8936@node Optimized Code
8937@chapter Debugging Optimized Code
8938@cindex optimized code, debugging
8939@cindex debugging optimized code
8940
8941Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
8942disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
8943directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
8944applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
8945diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
8946information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
8947the running program back to constructs from your original source.
8948
8949@value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
8950can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
8951progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
8952where you may need to debug an optimized version.
8953
8954When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
8955optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
8956really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
8957exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
8958variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
8959variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
8960
8961Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
8962@samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
8963doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
8964please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
8965@xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
8966
8967@menu
8968* Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
8969@end menu
8970
8971@node Inline Functions
8972@section Inline Functions
8973@cindex inline functions, debugging
8974
8975@dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
8976body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
8977routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
8978non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
8979arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
8980them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
8981You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
8982@code{info frame} command.
8983
8984For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
8985record information about inlining in the debug information ---
8986@value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
8987other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
8988when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
8989do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
8990@samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
8991function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
8992displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
8993local variables in the caller.
8994
8995The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
8996unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
8997the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
8998start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
8999the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
9000the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
9001instructions are executed.
9002
9003This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
9004context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
9005a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
9006this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
9007
9008There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
9009function calls are the same as normal calls:
9010
9011@itemize @bullet
9012@item
9013You cannot set breakpoints on inlined functions. @value{GDBN}
9014either reports that there is no symbol with that name, or else sets the
9015breakpoint only on non-inlined copies of the function. This limitation
9016will be removed in a future version of @value{GDBN}; until then,
9017set a breakpoint by line number on the first line of the inlined
9018function instead.
9019
9020@item
9021Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
9022work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
9023may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
9024function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
9025version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
9026or inside the inlined function instead.
9027
9028@item
9029@value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
9030using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
9031debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
9032and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
9033
9034@end itemize
9035
9036
9037@node Macros
9038@chapter C Preprocessor Macros
9039
9040Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
9041``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
9042@value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
9043the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
9044where it was defined.
9045
9046You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
9047with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
9048include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
9049with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
9050
9051A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
9052and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
9053points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
9054no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
9055uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
9056@value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
9057see @ref{List}.
9058
9059Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
9060macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
9061the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
9062
9063@table @code
9064
9065@kindex macro expand
9066@cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
9067@cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
9068@cindex expanding preprocessor macros
9069@item macro expand @var{expression}
9070@itemx macro exp @var{expression}
9071Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
9072@var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
9073not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
9074it can be any string of tokens.
9075
9076@kindex macro exp1
9077@item macro expand-once @var{expression}
9078@itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
9079@cindex expand macro once
9080@i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
9081expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
9082@var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
9083left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
9084particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
9085expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
9086parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
9087can be any string of tokens.
9088
9089@kindex info macro
9090@cindex macro definition, showing
9091@cindex definition, showing a macro's
9092@item info macro @var{macro}
9093Show the definition of the macro named @var{macro}, and describe the
9094source location or compiler command-line where that definition was established.
9095
9096@kindex macro define
9097@cindex user-defined macros
9098@cindex defining macros interactively
9099@cindex macros, user-defined
9100@item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
9101@itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
9102Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
9103invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
9104@var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
9105``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
9106defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
9107@var{arglist}.
9108
9109A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
9110expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
9111@code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
9112all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
9113as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
9114
9115@kindex macro undef
9116@item macro undef @var{macro}
9117Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
9118This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
9119define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
9120in the program being debugged.
9121
9122@kindex macro list
9123@item macro list
9124List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
9125@end table
9126
9127@cindex macros, example of debugging with
9128Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
9129show our source files:
9130
9131@smallexample
9132$ cat sample.c
9133#include <stdio.h>
9134#include "sample.h"
9135
9136#define M 42
9137#define ADD(x) (M + x)
9138
9139main ()
9140@{
9141#define N 28
9142 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9143#undef N
9144 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9145#define N 1729
9146 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
9147@}
9148$ cat sample.h
9149#define Q <
9150$
9151@end smallexample
9152
9153Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler, @value{NGCC}.
9154We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-g3} flags to ensure the
9155compiler includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
9156information.
9157
9158@smallexample
9159$ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
9160$
9161@end smallexample
9162
9163Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
9164
9165@smallexample
9166$ gdb -nw sample
9167GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
9168Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
9169GDB is free software, @dots{}
9170(@value{GDBP})
9171@end smallexample
9172
9173We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
9174program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
9175to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
9176
9177@smallexample
9178(@value{GDBP}) list main
91793
91804 #define M 42
91815 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
91826
91837 main ()
91848 @{
91859 #define N 28
918610 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
918711 #undef N
918812 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9189(@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
9190Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
9191#define ADD(x) (M + x)
9192(@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
9193Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
9194 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
9195#define Q <
9196(@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
9197expands to: (42 + 1)
9198(@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
9199expands to: once (M + 1)
9200(@value{GDBP})
9201@end smallexample
9202
9203In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
9204the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
9205@code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
9206which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
9207
9208Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
9209force at the source line of the current stack frame:
9210
9211@smallexample
9212(@value{GDBP}) break main
9213Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
9214(@value{GDBP}) run
9215Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
9216
9217Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
921810 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9219(@value{GDBP})
9220@end smallexample
9221
9222At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
9223
9224@smallexample
9225(@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9226Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
9227#define N 28
9228(@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
9229expands to: 28 < 42
9230(@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
9231$1 = 1
9232(@value{GDBP})
9233@end smallexample
9234
9235As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
9236give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
9237thereof) in force at each point:
9238
9239@smallexample
9240(@value{GDBP}) next
9241Hello, world!
924212 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9243(@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9244The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
9245at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
9246(@value{GDBP}) next
9247We're so creative.
924814 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
9249(@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9250Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
9251#define N 1729
9252(@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
9253expands to: 1729 < 42
9254(@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
9255$2 = 0
9256(@value{GDBP})
9257@end smallexample
9258
9259In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
9260line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
9261such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
9262of the source file submitted to the compiler.
9263
9264@smallexample
9265(@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
9266Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
9267-D__STDC__=1
9268(@value{GDBP})
9269@end smallexample
9270
9271
9272@node Tracepoints
9273@chapter Tracepoints
9274@c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
9275@c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
9276
9277@cindex tracepoints
9278In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
9279the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
9280anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
9281depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
9282might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
9283fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
9284to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
9285
9286Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
9287specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
9288arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
9289Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
9290those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
9291expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
9292for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
9293a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
9294in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
9295values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
9296unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
9297
9298The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
9299targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
9300how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
9301remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
9302support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
9303packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
9304Packets}.
9305
9306It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
9307of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
9308through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
9309
9310This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
9311
9312@menu
9313* Set Tracepoints::
9314* Analyze Collected Data::
9315* Tracepoint Variables::
9316* Trace Files::
9317@end menu
9318
9319@node Set Tracepoints
9320@section Commands to Set Tracepoints
9321
9322Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
9323tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
9324breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
9325standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
9326tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
9327of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
9328as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
9329
9330For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
9331of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
9332it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
9333local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
9334commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
9335tracepoint was hit.
9336
9337Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
9338tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
9339commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
9340either.
9341
9342@cindex fast tracepoints
9343Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
9344a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
9345faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
9346
9347This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
9348conditions and actions.
9349
9350@menu
9351* Create and Delete Tracepoints::
9352* Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
9353* Tracepoint Passcounts::
9354* Tracepoint Conditions::
9355* Trace State Variables::
9356* Tracepoint Actions::
9357* Listing Tracepoints::
9358* Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
9359* Tracepoint Restrictions::
9360@end menu
9361
9362@node Create and Delete Tracepoints
9363@subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
9364
9365@table @code
9366@cindex set tracepoint
9367@kindex trace
9368@item trace @var{location}
9369The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
9370Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
9371an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
9372@code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
9373target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
9374data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
9375changing its actions doesn't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
9376command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
9377not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts.
9378
9379Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
9380
9381@smallexample
9382(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
9383
9384(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
9385
9386(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
9387
9388(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
9389
9390(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
9391@end smallexample
9392
9393@noindent
9394You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
9395
9396@item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
9397Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
9398@var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
9399if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
9400@xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
9401information on tracepoint conditions.
9402
9403@item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
9404@cindex set fast tracepoint
9405@kindex ftrace
9406The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
9407support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
9408less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
9409instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
9410may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
9411location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
9412message.
9413
9414@value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
9415@code{trace}.
9416
9417@vindex $tpnum
9418@cindex last tracepoint number
9419@cindex recent tracepoint number
9420@cindex tracepoint number
9421The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
9422of the most recently set tracepoint.
9423
9424@kindex delete tracepoint
9425@cindex tracepoint deletion
9426@item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9427Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
9428default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
9429@code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
9430
9431Examples:
9432
9433@smallexample
9434(@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
9435
9436(@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
9437@end smallexample
9438
9439@noindent
9440You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
9441@end table
9442
9443@node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
9444@subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
9445
9446These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
9447
9448@table @code
9449@kindex disable tracepoint
9450@item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9451Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
9452@var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
9453the next trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
9454a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
9455
9456@kindex enable tracepoint
9457@item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9458Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. The enabled
9459tracepoints will become effective the next time a trace experiment is
9460run.
9461@end table
9462
9463@node Tracepoint Passcounts
9464@subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
9465
9466@table @code
9467@kindex passcount
9468@cindex tracepoint pass count
9469@item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
9470Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
9471automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
9472@var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
9473the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
9474@var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
9475passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
9476given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
9477user.
9478
9479Examples:
9480
9481@smallexample
9482(@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
9483@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
9484
9485(@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
9486@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
9487(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
9488(@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
9489(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
9490(@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
9491(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
9492(@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
9493@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
9494@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
9495@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
9496@end smallexample
9497@end table
9498
9499@node Tracepoint Conditions
9500@subsection Tracepoint Conditions
9501@cindex conditional tracepoints
9502@cindex tracepoint conditions
9503
9504The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
9505reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
9506a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
9507programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
9508tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
9509program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
9510is true.
9511
9512Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
9513using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
9514@xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
9515also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
9516just as with breakpoints.
9517
9518Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
9519the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
9520expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions}
9521suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
9522Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
9523accesses, and so forth.
9524
9525For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
9526frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
9527could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
9528of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
9529through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
9530collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
9531search through.
9532
9533@smallexample
9534(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
9535@end smallexample
9536
9537@node Trace State Variables
9538@subsection Trace State Variables
9539@cindex trace state variables
9540
9541A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
9542created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
9543that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
9544but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
9545using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
9546integers.
9547
9548Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
9549to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
9550experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
9551trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
9552
9553@cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
9554Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
9555them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
9556variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
9557while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
9558the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
9559cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
9560@code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
9561variable with the same name.
9562
9563@table @code
9564
9565@item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
9566@kindex tvariable
9567The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
9568@code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
9569@var{expression}. @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
9570entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
9571otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
9572@code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
9573variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
9574existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
9575value. The default initial value is 0.
9576
9577@item info tvariables
9578@kindex info tvariables
9579List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
9580Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
9581currently running.
9582
9583@item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
9584@kindex delete tvariable
9585Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
9586are specified.
9587
9588@end table
9589
9590@node Tracepoint Actions
9591@subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
9592
9593@table @code
9594@kindex actions
9595@cindex tracepoint actions
9596@item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9597This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
9598tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
9599specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
9600recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
9601@code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
9602actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
9603terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
9604far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
9605@code{while-stepping}.
9606
9607@cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
9608To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
9609and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
9610
9611@smallexample
9612(@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
9613
9614(@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
9615
9616(@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
9617@end smallexample
9618
9619In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
9620commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
9621hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
9622following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
9623followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
9624sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
9625terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
9626list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
9627
9628@smallexample
9629(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
9630(@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
9631Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
9632> collect bar,baz
9633> collect $regs
9634> while-stepping 12
9635 > collect $fp, $sp
9636 > end
9637end
9638@end smallexample
9639
9640@kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
9641@item collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
9642Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
9643This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
9644In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
9645special arguments are supported:
9646
9647@table @code
9648@item $regs
9649collect all registers
9650
9651@item $args
9652collect all function arguments
9653
9654@item $locals
9655collect all local variables.
9656@end table
9657
9658You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
9659with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
9660arguments separated by commas: the effect is the same.
9661
9662The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
9663particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
9664
9665@kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
9666@item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
9667Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
9668command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
9669are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
9670state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
9671values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
9672action were used.
9673
9674@kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
9675@item while-stepping @var{n}
9676Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
9677collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
9678command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
9679(followed by its own @code{end} command):
9680
9681@smallexample
9682> while-stepping 12
9683 > collect $regs, myglobal
9684 > end
9685>
9686@end smallexample
9687
9688@noindent
9689Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
9690@code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
9691you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
9692@code{stepping}.
9693
9694@item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
9695@kindex set default-collect
9696@cindex default collection action
9697This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
9698hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
9699to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
9700individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
9701@code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
9702local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
9703
9704@item show default-collect
9705@kindex show default-collect
9706Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
9707tracepoint hit.
9708
9709@end table
9710
9711@node Listing Tracepoints
9712@subsection Listing Tracepoints
9713
9714@table @code
9715@kindex info tracepoints
9716@kindex info tp
9717@cindex information about tracepoints
9718@item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9719Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
9720specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
9721tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
9722@code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
9723command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
9724
9725A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
9726tracing:
9727
9728@itemize @bullet
9729@item
9730its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
9731@item
9732its step count as given by the @code{while-stepping @var{n}} command
9733@item
9734its action list as given by the @code{actions} command. The actions
9735are prefixed with an @samp{A} so as to distinguish them from commands.
9736@end itemize
9737
9738@smallexample
9739(@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
9740Num Type Disp Enb Address What
97411 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
9742 pass count 1200
9743 step count 20
9744 A while-stepping 20
9745 A collect globfoo, $regs
9746 A end
9747 A collect globfoo2
9748 A end
9749(@value{GDBP})
9750@end smallexample
9751
9752@noindent
9753This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
9754@end table
9755
9756@node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
9757@subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
9758
9759@table @code
9760@kindex tstart
9761@cindex start a new trace experiment
9762@cindex collected data discarded
9763@item tstart
9764This command takes no arguments. It starts the trace experiment, and
9765begins collecting data. This has the side effect of discarding all
9766the data collected in the trace buffer during the previous trace
9767experiment.
9768
9769@kindex tstop
9770@cindex stop a running trace experiment
9771@item tstop
9772This command takes no arguments. It ends the trace experiment, and
9773stops collecting data.
9774
9775@strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
9776automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
9777(@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
9778
9779@kindex tstatus
9780@cindex status of trace data collection
9781@cindex trace experiment, status of
9782@item tstatus
9783This command displays the status of the current trace data
9784collection.
9785@end table
9786
9787Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
9788
9789@smallexample
9790(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
9791(@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
9792Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
9793> collect $regs,$locals,$args
9794> while-stepping 11
9795 > collect $regs
9796 > end
9797> end
9798(@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
9799 [time passes @dots{}]
9800(@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
9801@end smallexample
9802
9803@cindex disconnected tracing
9804You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
9805@value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
9806involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
9807ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
9808terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
9809unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
9810@code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
9811continue running without @value{GDBN}.
9812
9813@table @code
9814@item set disconnected-tracing on
9815@itemx set disconnected-tracing off
9816@kindex set disconnected-tracing
9817Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
9818has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
9819@code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
9820matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
9821for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
9822
9823@item show disconnected-tracing
9824@kindex show disconnected-tracing
9825Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
9826
9827@end table
9828
9829When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
9830still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
9831meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
9832it will continue after reconnection.
9833
9834Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
9835tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
9836information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
9837to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
9838have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
9839the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
9840debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
9841which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
9842necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
9843created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
9844
9845@cindex circular trace buffer
9846If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
9847can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
9848buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
9849frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
9850collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
9851hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
9852buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
9853@samp{circular_trace_buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
9854including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
9855buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
9856the next run.
9857
9858@table @code
9859@item set circular-trace-buffer on
9860@itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
9861@kindex set circular-trace-buffer
9862Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
9863for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
9864fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
9865data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
9866
9867@item show circular-trace-buffer
9868@kindex show circular-trace-buffer
9869Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
9870match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
9871match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
9872for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
9873
9874@end table
9875
9876@node Tracepoint Restrictions
9877@subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
9878
9879@cindex tracepoint restrictions
9880There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
9881described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
9882without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
9883the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
9884examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
9885collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
9886is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
9887mentioned here.
9888
9889@itemize @bullet
9890
9891@item
9892Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
9893the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
9894You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
9895convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
9896state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
9897functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
9898cannot be collected either.
9899
9900@item
9901Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
9902@code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
9903behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
9904instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
9905may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
9906tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
9907variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
9908tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
9909where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
9910program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
9911
9912@item
9913Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
9914may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
9915in a misleading way.
9916
9917@item
9918When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
9919dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
9920being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
9921not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
9922dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
9923collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
9924@code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
9925by @code{ptr}.
9926
9927@item
9928It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
9929tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
9930bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*$esp@@300}
9931(adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
9932target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
9933Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
9934using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
9935depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
9936if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
9937stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
9938invalid address.
9939
9940@item
9941If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
9942infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
9943the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
9944for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
9945multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
9946inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
9947@value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
9948it to zero.
9949
9950@end itemize
9951
9952@node Analyze Collected Data
9953@section Using the Collected Data
9954
9955After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
9956for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
9957collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
9958snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
9959consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
9960examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
9961specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
9962snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
9963registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
9964rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
9965debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
9966(@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
9967behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
9968when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
9969the buffer will fail.
9970
9971@menu
9972* tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
9973* tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
9974* save-tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
9975@end menu
9976
9977@node tfind
9978@subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
9979
9980@kindex tfind
9981@cindex select trace snapshot
9982@cindex find trace snapshot
9983The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
9984@code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
9985counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
9986snapshot is selected.
9987
9988Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
9989
9990@table @code
9991@item tfind start
9992Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
9993@code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
9994
9995@item tfind none
9996Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
9997
9998@item tfind end
9999Same as @samp{tfind none}.
10000
10001@item tfind
10002No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
10003
10004@item tfind -
10005Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
10006retracing earlier steps.
10007
10008@item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
10009Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
10010proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
10011argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
10012for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
10013
10014@item tfind pc @var{addr}
10015Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
10016program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
10017snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
10018snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
10019
10020@item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
10021Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
10022addresses (exclusive).
10023
10024@item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
10025Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
10026@var{addr2} (inclusive).
10027
10028@item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
10029Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
10030the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
10031that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
10032trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
10033next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
10034@code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
10035stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
10036@end table
10037
10038The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
10039designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
10040instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
10041snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
10042trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
10043simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
10044snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
10045@key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
10046The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
10047for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
10048no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
10049(PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
10050no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
10051tracepoint as the current one.
10052
10053In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
10054these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
10055scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
10056you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
10057registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
10058
10059@smallexample
10060(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
10061(@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
10062> printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
10063 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
10064> tfind
10065> end
10066
10067Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
10068Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
10069Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
10070Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
10071Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
10072Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
10073Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
10074Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
10075Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
10076Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
10077Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
10078@end smallexample
10079
10080Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
10081the buffer:
10082
10083@smallexample
10084(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
10085(@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
10086> printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
10087> tfind line
10088> end
10089
10090Frame 0, X = 1
10091Frame 7, X = 2
10092Frame 13, X = 255
10093@end smallexample
10094
10095@node tdump
10096@subsection @code{tdump}
10097@kindex tdump
10098@cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
10099@cindex tracepoint data, display
10100
10101This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
10102the current trace snapshot.
10103
10104@smallexample
10105(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
10106(@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
10107Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
10108> collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
10109> end
10110
10111(@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
10112
10113(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
10114#0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
10115at gdb_test.c:444
10116444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
10117
10118(@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
10119Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
10120d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
10121d1 0x18 24
10122d2 0x80 128
10123d3 0x33 51
10124d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
10125d5 0x22 34
10126d6 0xe0 224
10127d7 0x380035 3670069
10128a0 0x19e24a 1696330
10129a1 0x3000668 50333288
10130a2 0x100 256
10131a3 0x322000 3284992
10132a4 0x3000698 50333336
10133a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
10134fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
10135sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
10136ps 0x0 0
10137pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
10138fpcontrol 0x0 0
10139fpstatus 0x0 0
10140fpiaddr 0x0 0
10141p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
10142p1 = (void *) 0x11
10143p2 = (void *) 0x22
10144p3 = (void *) 0x33
10145p4 = (void *) 0x44
10146p5 = (void *) 0x55
10147p6 = (void *) 0x66
10148gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
10149
10150(@value{GDBP})
10151@end smallexample
10152
10153@code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
10154actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
10155@code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
10156actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
10157
10158Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
10159uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
10160frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
10161collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
10162to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
10163body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
10164then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
10165list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
10166same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
10167@c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
10168
10169@node save-tracepoints
10170@subsection @code{save-tracepoints @var{filename}}
10171@kindex save-tracepoints
10172@cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
10173
10174This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
10175their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
10176suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
10177tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
10178Files}).
10179
10180@node Tracepoint Variables
10181@section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
10182@cindex tracepoint variables
10183@cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
10184
10185@table @code
10186@vindex $trace_frame
10187@item (int) $trace_frame
10188The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
10189snapshot is selected.
10190
10191@vindex $tracepoint
10192@item (int) $tracepoint
10193The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
10194
10195@vindex $trace_line
10196@item (int) $trace_line
10197The line number for the current trace snapshot.
10198
10199@vindex $trace_file
10200@item (char []) $trace_file
10201The source file for the current trace snapshot.
10202
10203@vindex $trace_func
10204@item (char []) $trace_func
10205The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
10206@end table
10207
10208Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
10209use @code{output} instead.
10210
10211Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
10212stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
10213data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
10214which are managed by the target.
10215
10216@smallexample
10217(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
10218
10219(@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
10220> output $trace_file
10221> printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
10222> tfind
10223> end
10224@end smallexample
10225
10226@node Trace Files
10227@section Using Trace Files
10228@cindex trace files
10229
10230In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
10231longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
10232for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
10233dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
10234of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
10235
10236@table @code
10237
10238@kindex tsave
10239@item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
10240Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
10241assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
10242necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
10243then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
10244optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
10245the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
10246more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
10247@code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
10248
10249@kindex target tfile
10250@kindex tfile
10251@item target tfile @var{filename}
10252Use the file named @var{filename} as a source of trace data. Commands
10253that examine data work as they do with a live target, but it is not
10254possible to run any new trace experiments. @code{tstatus} will report
10255the state of the trace run at the moment the data was saved, as well
10256as the current trace frame you are examining. @var{filename} must be
10257on a filesystem accessible to the host.
10258
10259@end table
10260
10261@node Overlays
10262@chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
10263@cindex overlays
10264
10265If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
10266memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
10267problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
10268use overlays.
10269
10270@menu
10271* How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
10272* Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
10273* Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
10274 mapped by asking the inferior.
10275* Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
10276@end menu
10277
10278@node How Overlays Work
10279@section How Overlays Work
10280@cindex mapped overlays
10281@cindex unmapped overlays
10282@cindex load address, overlay's
10283@cindex mapped address
10284@cindex overlay area
10285
10286Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
10287kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
10288other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
10289management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
10290adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
10291
10292One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
10293independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
10294@dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
10295their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
10296instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
10297largest overlay as well.
10298
10299Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
10300overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
10301for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
10302there.
10303
10304@c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
10305@c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
10306@c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
10307
10308@smallexample
10309@group
10310 Data Instruction Larger
10311Address Space Address Space Address Space
10312+-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
10313| | | | | |
10314+-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
10315| program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
10316| variables | | program | | +-----------+
10317| and heap | | | | | |
10318+-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
10319| | +-----------+ | | | load address
10320+-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
10321 | | | | | |
10322 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
10323 address | | | | | |
10324 | overlay | <-' | | |
10325 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
10326 | | <---. | | load address
10327 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
10328 | | | |
10329 +-----------+ | |
10330 +-----------+
10331 | |
10332 +-----------+
10333
10334 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
10335@end group
10336@end smallexample
10337
10338The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
10339and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
10340its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
10341Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
10342may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
10343data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
10344program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
10345program and the overlay area.
10346
10347An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
10348@dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
10349instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
10350in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
10351is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
10352the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
10353called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
10354
10355Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
10356program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
10357global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
10358
10359@itemize @bullet
10360
10361@item
10362Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
10363must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
10364return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
10365overlay, and your program will probably crash.
10366
10367@item
10368If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
10369will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
10370your program's performance.
10371
10372@item
10373The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
10374overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
10375mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
10376and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
10377You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
10378addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
10379ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
10380
10381@item
10382The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
10383to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
10384instruction and data spaces.
10385
10386@end itemize
10387
10388The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
10389improved in many ways:
10390
10391@itemize @bullet
10392
10393@item
10394If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
10395hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
10396contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
10397This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
10398area in the usual way.
10399
10400@item
10401If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
10402overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
10403
10404@item
10405You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
10406general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
10407code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
10408return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
10409the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
10410must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
10411different data overlay into the same mapped area.
10412
10413@end itemize
10414
10415
10416@node Overlay Commands
10417@section Overlay Commands
10418
10419To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
10420correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
10421virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
10422mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
10423@value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
10424variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
10425
10426@value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
10427you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
10428
10429@table @code
10430@item overlay off
10431@kindex overlay
10432Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
10433disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
10434always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
10435overlay support is disabled.
10436
10437@item overlay manual
10438@cindex manual overlay debugging
10439Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
10440relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
10441using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
10442commands described below.
10443
10444@item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
10445@itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
10446@cindex map an overlay
10447Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
10448be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
10449overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
10450functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
10451that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
10452@var{overlay} are now unmapped.
10453
10454@item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
10455@itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
10456@cindex unmap an overlay
10457Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
10458must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
10459When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
10460overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
10461
10462@item overlay auto
10463Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
10464consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
10465to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
10466Overlay Debugging}.
10467
10468@item overlay load-target
10469@itemx overlay load
10470@cindex reloading the overlay table
10471Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
10472re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
10473stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
10474overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
10475useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
10476
10477@item overlay list-overlays
10478@itemx overlay list
10479@cindex listing mapped overlays
10480Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
10481addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
10482
10483@end table
10484
10485Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
10486of the function the address falls in:
10487
10488@smallexample
10489(@value{GDBP}) print main
10490$3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
10491@end smallexample
10492@noindent
10493When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
10494unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
10495asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
10496unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
10497
10498@smallexample
10499(@value{GDBP}) overlay list
10500No sections are mapped.
10501(@value{GDBP}) print foo
10502$5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
10503@end smallexample
10504@noindent
10505When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
10506name normally:
10507
10508@smallexample
10509(@value{GDBP}) overlay list
10510Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
10511 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
10512(@value{GDBP}) print foo
10513$6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
10514@end smallexample
10515
10516When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
10517address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
10518overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
10519@code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
10520code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
10521
10522@itemize @bullet
10523@item
10524@cindex breakpoints in overlays
10525@cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
10526You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
10527@value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
10528@item
10529@value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
10530unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
10531overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
10532you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
10533breakpoints properly.
10534@end itemize
10535
10536
10537@node Automatic Overlay Debugging
10538@section Automatic Overlay Debugging
10539@cindex automatic overlay debugging
10540
10541@value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
10542are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
10543inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
10544@code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
10545looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
10546current state of the overlays.
10547
10548Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
10549@value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
10550
10551@table @asis
10552
10553@item @code{_ovly_table}:
10554This variable must be an array of the following structures:
10555
10556@smallexample
10557struct
10558@{
10559 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
10560 unsigned long vma;
10561
10562 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
10563 unsigned long size;
10564
10565 /* The overlay's load address. */
10566 unsigned long lma;
10567
10568 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
10569 zero otherwise. */
10570 unsigned long mapped;
10571@}
10572@end smallexample
10573
10574@item @code{_novlys}:
10575This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
10576number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
10577
10578@end table
10579
10580To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
10581looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
10582@code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
10583executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
10584the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
10585currently mapped.
10586
10587In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
10588@code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
10589will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
10590calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
10591will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
10592are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
10593in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
10594overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
10595are not being executed.
10596
10597@node Overlay Sample Program
10598@section Overlay Sample Program
10599@cindex overlay example program
10600
10601When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
10602at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
10603addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
10604Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
10605since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
10606architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
10607portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
10608
10609However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
10610program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
10611suite. The program consists of the following files from
10612@file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
10613
10614@table @file
10615@item overlays.c
10616The main program file.
10617@item ovlymgr.c
10618A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
10619@item foo.c
10620@itemx bar.c
10621@itemx baz.c
10622@itemx grbx.c
10623Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
10624@item d10v.ld
10625@itemx m32r.ld
10626Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
10627and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
10628@end table
10629
10630You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
10631cross-compiler like this:
10632
10633@smallexample
10634$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
10635$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
10636$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
10637$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
10638$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
10639$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
10640$ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
10641 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
10642@end smallexample
10643
10644The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
10645you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
10646target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
10647
10648
10649@node Languages
10650@chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
10651@cindex languages
10652
10653Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
10654rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
10655dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
10656Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
10657represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
10658@samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
10659
10660@cindex working language
10661Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
10662allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
10663native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
10664consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
10665language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
10666language}.
10667
10668@menu
10669* Setting:: Switching between source languages
10670* Show:: Displaying the language
10671* Checks:: Type and range checks
10672* Supported Languages:: Supported languages
10673* Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
10674@end menu
10675
10676@node Setting
10677@section Switching Between Source Languages
10678
10679There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
10680set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
10681@code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
10682defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
10683used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
10684are printed, etc.
10685
10686In addition to the working language, every source file that
10687@value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
10688file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
10689source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
10690language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
10691controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
10692show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
10693set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
10694set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
10695Displaying the Language}.
10696
10697This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
10698as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
10699another language. In that case, make the
10700program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
10701@value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
10702program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
10703
10704@menu
10705* Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
10706* Manually:: Setting the working language manually
10707* Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
10708@end menu
10709
10710@node Filenames
10711@subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
10712
10713If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
10714@value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
10715
10716@table @file
10717@item .ada
10718@itemx .ads
10719@itemx .adb
10720@itemx .a
10721Ada source file.
10722
10723@item .c
10724C source file
10725
10726@item .C
10727@itemx .cc
10728@itemx .cp
10729@itemx .cpp
10730@itemx .cxx
10731@itemx .c++
10732C@t{++} source file
10733
10734@item .m
10735Objective-C source file
10736
10737@item .f
10738@itemx .F
10739Fortran source file
10740
10741@item .mod
10742Modula-2 source file
10743
10744@item .s
10745@itemx .S
10746Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
10747@value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
10748@end table
10749
10750In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
10751extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
10752
10753@node Manually
10754@subsection Setting the Working Language
10755
10756If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
10757expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
10758your program.
10759
10760@kindex set language
10761If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
10762command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
10763a language, such as
10764@code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
10765For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
10766
10767Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
10768language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
10769to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
10770source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
10771languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
10772source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
10773command such as:
10774
10775@smallexample
10776print a = b + c
10777@end smallexample
10778
10779@noindent
10780might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
10781@code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
10782printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
10783@code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
10784
10785@node Automatically
10786@subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
10787
10788To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
10789@samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
10790then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
10791frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
10792working language to the language recorded for the function in that
10793frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
10794or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
10795does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
10796not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
10797
10798This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
10799entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
10800written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
10801a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
10802case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
10803
10804@node Show
10805@section Displaying the Language
10806
10807The following commands help you find out which language is the
10808working language, and also what language source files were written in.
10809
10810@table @code
10811@item show language
10812@kindex show language
10813Display the current working language. This is the
10814language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
10815build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
10816
10817@item info frame
10818@kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
10819Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
10820working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
10821@xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
10822information listed here.
10823
10824@item info source
10825@kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
10826Display the source language of this source file.
10827@xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
10828information listed here.
10829@end table
10830
10831In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
10832not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
10833with a language explicitly:
10834
10835@table @code
10836@item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
10837@kindex set extension-language
10838Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
10839assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
10840
10841@item info extensions
10842@kindex info extensions
10843List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
10844@end table
10845
10846@node Checks
10847@section Type and Range Checking
10848
10849@quotation
10850@emph{Warning:} In this release, the @value{GDBN} commands for type and range
10851checking are included, but they do not yet have any effect. This
10852section documents the intended facilities.
10853@end quotation
10854@c FIXME remove warning when type/range code added
10855
10856Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
10857errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
10858checking the type of arguments to functions and operators, and making
10859sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
10860these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
10861by eliminating type mismatches, and providing active checks for range
10862errors when your program is running.
10863
10864@value{GDBN} can check for conditions like the above if you wish.
10865Although @value{GDBN} does not check the statements in your program,
10866it can check expressions entered directly into @value{GDBN} for
10867evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example. As with the
10868working language, @value{GDBN} can also decide whether or not to check
10869automatically based on your program's source language.
10870@xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default
10871settings of supported languages.
10872
10873@menu
10874* Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
10875* Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
10876@end menu
10877
10878@cindex type checking
10879@cindex checks, type
10880@node Type Checking
10881@subsection An Overview of Type Checking
10882
10883Some languages, such as Modula-2, are strongly typed, meaning that the
10884arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
10885otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
10886errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
10887
10888@smallexample
108891 + 2 @result{} 3
10890@exdent but
10891@error{} 1 + 2.3
10892@end smallexample
10893
10894The second example fails because the @code{CARDINAL} 1 is not
10895type-compatible with the @code{REAL} 2.3.
10896
10897For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell the
10898@value{GDBN} type checker to skip checking;
10899to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
10900or to only issue warnings when type mismatches occur,
10901but evaluate the expression anyway. When you choose the last of
10902these, @value{GDBN} evaluates expressions like the second example above, but
10903also issues a warning.
10904
10905Even if you turn type checking off, there may be other reasons
10906related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
10907For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
10908a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
10909with the language in use, and usually arise from expressions, such as
10910the one described above, which make little sense to evaluate anyway.
10911
10912Each language defines to what degree it is strict about type. For
10913instance, both Modula-2 and C require the arguments to arithmetical
10914operators to be numbers. In C, enumerated types and pointers can be
10915represented as numbers, so that they are valid arguments to mathematical
10916operators. @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for further
10917details on specific languages.
10918
10919@value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the type checker:
10920
10921@kindex set check type
10922@kindex show check type
10923@table @code
10924@item set check type auto
10925Set type checking on or off based on the current working language.
10926@xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
10927each language.
10928
10929@item set check type on
10930@itemx set check type off
10931Set type checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
10932current working language. Issue a warning if the setting does not
10933match the language default. If any type mismatches occur in
10934evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
10935message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
10936
10937@item set check type warn
10938Cause the type checker to issue warnings, but to always attempt to
10939evaluate the expression. Evaluating the expression may still
10940be impossible for other reasons. For example, @value{GDBN} cannot add
10941numbers and structures.
10942
10943@item show type
10944Show the current setting of the type checker, and whether or not @value{GDBN}
10945is setting it automatically.
10946@end table
10947
10948@cindex range checking
10949@cindex checks, range
10950@node Range Checking
10951@subsection An Overview of Range Checking
10952
10953In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
10954bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
10955checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
10956computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
10957not exceed the bounds of the array.
10958
10959For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
10960@value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
10961always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
10962warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
10963
10964A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
10965array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
10966of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
10967error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
10968result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
10969the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
10970
10971@smallexample
10972@var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
10973@end smallexample
10974
10975This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
10976specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
10977Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
10978
10979@value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
10980
10981@kindex set check range
10982@kindex show check range
10983@table @code
10984@item set check range auto
10985Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
10986@xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
10987each language.
10988
10989@item set check range on
10990@itemx set check range off
10991Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
10992current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
10993match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
10994then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
10995
10996@item set check range warn
10997Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
10998but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
10999expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
11000memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
11001systems).
11002
11003@item show range
11004Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
11005being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
11006@end table
11007
11008@node Supported Languages
11009@section Supported Languages
11010
11011@value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, Objective-C, Fortran, Java, Pascal,
11012assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
11013@c This is false ...
11014Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
11015language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
11016and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
11017,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
11018language.
11019
11020The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
11021supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
11022tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
11023@value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
11024formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
11025books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
11026language reference or tutorial.
11027
11028@menu
11029* C:: C and C@t{++}
11030* Objective-C:: Objective-C
11031* Fortran:: Fortran
11032* Pascal:: Pascal
11033* Modula-2:: Modula-2
11034* Ada:: Ada
11035@end menu
11036
11037@node C
11038@subsection C and C@t{++}
11039
11040@cindex C and C@t{++}
11041@cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
11042
11043Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
11044to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
11045together.
11046
11047@cindex C@t{++}
11048@cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
11049@cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
11050The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
11051compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
11052effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
11053C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
11054compiler (@code{aCC}).
11055
11056For best results when using @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, use the DWARF 2 debugging
11057format; if it doesn't work on your system, try the stabs+ debugging
11058format. You can select those formats explicitly with the @code{g++}
11059command-line options @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-gstabs+}.
11060@xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
11061gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
11062
11063@menu
11064* C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
11065* C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
11066* C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
11067* C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
11068* C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
11069* Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
11070* Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
11071* Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
11072@end menu
11073
11074@node C Operators
11075@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
11076
11077@cindex C and C@t{++} operators
11078
11079Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
11080@code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
11081often defined on groups of types.
11082
11083For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
11084
11085@itemize @bullet
11086
11087@item
11088@emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
11089specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
11090
11091@item
11092@emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
11093@code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
11094
11095@item
11096@emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
11097
11098@item
11099@emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
11100
11101@end itemize
11102
11103@noindent
11104The following operators are supported. They are listed here
11105in order of increasing precedence:
11106
11107@table @code
11108@item ,
11109The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
11110are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
11111expression being the last expression evaluated.
11112
11113@item =
11114Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
11115assigned. Defined on scalar types.
11116
11117@item @var{op}=
11118Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
11119and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
11120@w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
11121@var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
11122@code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
11123
11124@item ?:
11125The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
11126of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
11127integral type.
11128
11129@item ||
11130Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
11131
11132@item &&
11133Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
11134
11135@item |
11136Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
11137
11138@item ^
11139Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
11140
11141@item &
11142Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
11143
11144@item ==@r{, }!=
11145Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
11146expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
11147
11148@item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
11149Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
11150Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
11151and non-zero for true.
11152
11153@item <<@r{, }>>
11154left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
11155
11156@item @@
11157The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
11158
11159@item +@r{, }-
11160Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
11161pointer types.
11162
11163@item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
11164Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
11165defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
11166integral types.
11167
11168@item ++@r{, }--
11169Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
11170operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
11171when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
11172operation takes place.
11173
11174@item *
11175Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
11176@code{++}.
11177
11178@item &
11179Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
11180
11181For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
11182allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
11183to examine the address
11184where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
11185stored.
11186
11187@item -
11188Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
11189precedence as @code{++}.
11190
11191@item !
11192Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
11193@code{++}.
11194
11195@item ~
11196Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
11197@code{++}.
11198
11199
11200@item .@r{, }->
11201Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
11202@value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
11203pointer based on the stored type information.
11204Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
11205
11206@item .*@r{, }->*
11207Dereferences of pointers to members.
11208
11209@item []
11210Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
11211@code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
11212
11213@item ()
11214Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
11215
11216@item ::
11217C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
11218and @code{class} types.
11219
11220@item ::
11221Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
11222(@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
11223above.
11224@end table
11225
11226If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
11227attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
11228predefined meaning.
11229
11230@node C Constants
11231@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
11232
11233@cindex C and C@t{++} constants
11234
11235@value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
11236following ways:
11237
11238@itemize @bullet
11239@item
11240Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
11241specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
11242by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
11243@samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
11244@code{long} value.
11245
11246@item
11247Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
11248point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
11249exponent. An exponent is of the form:
11250@samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
11251sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
11252A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
11253@samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
11254the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
11255a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
11256constant.
11257
11258@item
11259Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
11260integral equivalents.
11261
11262@item
11263Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
11264(@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
11265(usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
11266be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
11267the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
11268of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
11269@samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
11270@samp{\n} for newline.
11271
11272@item
11273String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
11274double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
11275above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
11276a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
11277characters.
11278
11279@item
11280Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
11281to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
11282
11283@item
11284Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
11285and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
11286integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
11287and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
11288@end itemize
11289
11290@node C Plus Plus Expressions
11291@subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
11292
11293@cindex expressions in C@t{++}
11294@value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
11295
11296@cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
11297@cindex C@t{++} compilers
11298@cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
11299@cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
11300@quotation
11301@emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use the
11302proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently, @value{GDBN}
11303works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled with
11304@value{NGCC} 2.95.3 or with @value{NGCC} 3.1 or newer, using the options
11305@option{-gdwarf-2} or @option{-gstabs+}. DWARF 2 is preferred over
11306stabs+. Most configurations of @value{NGCC} emit either DWARF 2 or
11307stabs+ as their default debug format, so you usually don't need to
11308specify a debug format explicitly. Other compilers and/or debug formats
11309are likely to work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug
11310C@t{++} code.
11311@end quotation
11312
11313@enumerate
11314
11315@cindex member functions
11316@item
11317Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
11318
11319@smallexample
11320count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
11321@end smallexample
11322
11323@vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
11324@cindex namespace in C@t{++}
11325@item
11326While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
11327expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
11328that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
11329pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}.
11330
11331@cindex call overloaded functions
11332@cindex overloaded functions, calling
11333@cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
11334@item
11335You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
11336call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
11337perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
11338calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
11339in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
11340default arguments.
11341
11342It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
11343promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
11344class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
11345functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
11346number of function arguments.
11347
11348Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
11349@code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
11350,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
11351
11352You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
11353explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
11354@smallexample
11355p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
11356@end smallexample
11357
11358The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
11359see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
11360
11361@cindex reference declarations
11362@item
11363@value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
11364them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
11365dereferenced.
11366
11367In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
11368reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
11369avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
11370The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
11371you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
11372
11373@item
11374@value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
11375expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
11376one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
11377necessary, for example in an expression like
11378@samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
11379resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
11380debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
11381@end enumerate
11382
11383In addition, when used with HP's C@t{++} compiler, @value{GDBN} supports
11384calling virtual functions correctly, printing out virtual bases of
11385objects, calling functions in a base subobject, casting objects, and
11386invoking user-defined operators.
11387
11388@node C Defaults
11389@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
11390
11391@cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
11392
11393If you allow @value{GDBN} to set type and range checking automatically, they
11394both default to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
11395C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
11396selects the working language.
11397
11398If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
11399recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
11400@file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
11401these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
11402@xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
11403for further details.
11404
11405@c Type checking is (a) primarily motivated by Modula-2, and (b)
11406@c unimplemented. If (b) changes, it might make sense to let this node
11407@c appear even if Mod-2 does not, but meanwhile ignore it. roland 16jul93.
11408
11409@node C Checks
11410@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
11411
11412@cindex C and C@t{++} checks
11413
11414By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, type checking
11415is not used. However, if you turn type checking on, @value{GDBN}
11416considers two variables type equivalent if:
11417
11418@itemize @bullet
11419@item
11420The two variables are structured and have the same structure, union, or
11421enumerated tag.
11422
11423@item
11424The two variables have the same type name, or types that have been
11425declared equivalent through @code{typedef}.
11426
11427@ignore
11428@c leaving this out because neither J Gilmore nor R Pesch understand it.
11429@c FIXME--beers?
11430@item
11431The two @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} variables are
11432declared in the same declaration. (Note: this may not be true for all C
11433compilers.)
11434@end ignore
11435@end itemize
11436
11437Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
11438indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
11439that is not itself an array.
11440
11441@node Debugging C
11442@subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
11443
11444The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
11445the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
11446inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
11447appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
11448
11449The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
11450with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
11451,Expressions}.
11452
11453@node Debugging C Plus Plus
11454@subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
11455
11456@cindex commands for C@t{++}
11457
11458Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
11459designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
11460
11461@table @code
11462@cindex break in overloaded functions
11463@item @r{breakpoint menus}
11464When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
11465@value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
11466locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
11467@xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
11468
11469@cindex overloading in C@t{++}
11470@item rbreak @var{regex}
11471Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
11472breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
11473classes.
11474@xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
11475
11476@cindex C@t{++} exception handling
11477@item catch throw
11478@itemx catch catch
11479Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
11480Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
11481
11482@cindex inheritance
11483@item ptype @var{typename}
11484Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
11485@var{typename}.
11486@xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
11487
11488@cindex C@t{++} symbol display
11489@item set print demangle
11490@itemx show print demangle
11491@itemx set print asm-demangle
11492@itemx show print asm-demangle
11493Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
11494displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
11495@xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
11496
11497@item set print object
11498@itemx show print object
11499Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
11500@xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
11501
11502@item set print vtbl
11503@itemx show print vtbl
11504Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
11505@xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
11506(The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
11507ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
11508
11509@kindex set overload-resolution
11510@cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
11511@item set overload-resolution on
11512Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
11513is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
11514and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
11515using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
11516Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
11517If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
11518
11519@item set overload-resolution off
11520Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
11521overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
11522chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
11523symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
11524overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
11525searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
11526argument types.
11527
11528@kindex show overload-resolution
11529@item show overload-resolution
11530Show the current setting of overload resolution.
11531
11532@item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
11533You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
11534the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
11535@code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
11536also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
11537available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
11538@xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
11539@end table
11540
11541@node Decimal Floating Point
11542@subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
11543@cindex decimal floating point format
11544
11545@value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
11546decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
11547@code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
11548specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
11549
11550There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
11551Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
11552PowerPC. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the configured
11553target.
11554
11555Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
11556to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
11557(using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
11558
11559In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
11560point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
11561underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
11562
11563In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
11564to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
11565See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
11566
11567@node Objective-C
11568@subsection Objective-C
11569
11570@cindex Objective-C
11571This section provides information about some commands and command
11572options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
11573@ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
11574few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
11575
11576@menu
11577* Method Names in Commands::
11578* The Print Command with Objective-C::
11579@end menu
11580
11581@node Method Names in Commands
11582@subsubsection Method Names in Commands
11583
11584The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
11585names as line specifications:
11586
11587@kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
11588@kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
11589@kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
11590@kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
11591@kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
11592@itemize
11593@item @code{clear}
11594@item @code{break}
11595@item @code{info line}
11596@item @code{jump}
11597@item @code{list}
11598@end itemize
11599
11600A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
11601
11602@smallexample
11603-[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
11604@end smallexample
11605
11606where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
11607plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
11608name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
11609brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
11610source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
11611instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
11612debugged, enter:
11613
11614@smallexample
11615break -[Fruit create]
11616@end smallexample
11617
11618To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
11619enter:
11620
11621@smallexample
11622list +[NSText initialize]
11623@end smallexample
11624
11625In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
11626required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
11627sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
11628is also possible to specify just a method name:
11629
11630@smallexample
11631break create
11632@end smallexample
11633
11634You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
11635your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
11636you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
11637method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
11638none apply.
11639
11640As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
11641@code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
11642
11643@smallexample
11644clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
11645@end smallexample
11646
11647@node The Print Command with Objective-C
11648@subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
11649@cindex Objective-C, print objects
11650@kindex print-object
11651@kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
11652
11653The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
11654
11655@smallexample
11656print -[@var{object} hash]
11657@end smallexample
11658
11659@cindex print an Objective-C object description
11660@cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
11661@noindent
11662will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
11663and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
11664@code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
11665the description of an object. However, this command may only work
11666with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
11667function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
11668
11669@node Fortran
11670@subsection Fortran
11671@cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
11672
11673@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
11674currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
11675
11676@cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
11677Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
11678among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
11679functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
11680will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
11681underscore.
11682
11683@menu
11684* Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
11685* Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
11686* Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
11687@end menu
11688
11689@node Fortran Operators
11690@subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
11691
11692@cindex Fortran operators and expressions
11693
11694Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
11695@code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
11696arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
11697
11698@table @code
11699@item **
11700The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
11701of the second one.
11702
11703@item :
11704The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
11705represent a section of array.
11706
11707@item %
11708The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
11709types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
11710this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
11711union type.
11712@end table
11713
11714@node Fortran Defaults
11715@subsubsection Fortran Defaults
11716
11717@cindex Fortran Defaults
11718
11719Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
11720default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
11721change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
11722@ref{Symbols}, for the details.
11723
11724@node Special Fortran Commands
11725@subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
11726
11727@cindex Special Fortran commands
11728
11729@value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
11730such as displaying common blocks.
11731
11732@table @code
11733@cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
11734@kindex info common
11735@item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
11736This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
11737block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
11738all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
11739printed.
11740@end table
11741
11742@node Pascal
11743@subsection Pascal
11744
11745@cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
11746Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
11747nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
11748entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
11749syntax.
11750
11751The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
11752controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
11753@xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
11754
11755@node Modula-2
11756@subsection Modula-2
11757
11758@cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
11759
11760The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
11761output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
11762developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
11763attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
11764to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
11765table.
11766
11767@cindex expressions in Modula-2
11768@menu
11769* M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
11770* Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
11771* M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
11772* M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
11773* M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
11774* Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
11775* M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
11776* M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
11777* GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
11778@end menu
11779
11780@node M2 Operators
11781@subsubsection Operators
11782@cindex Modula-2 operators
11783
11784Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
11785@code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
11786often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
11787following definitions hold:
11788
11789@itemize @bullet
11790
11791@item
11792@emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
11793their subranges.
11794
11795@item
11796@emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
11797
11798@item
11799@emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
11800
11801@item
11802@emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
11803@var{type}}.
11804
11805@item
11806@emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
11807
11808@item
11809@emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
11810
11811@item
11812@emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
11813@end itemize
11814
11815@noindent
11816The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
11817increasing precedence:
11818
11819@table @code
11820@item ,
11821Function argument or array index separator.
11822
11823@item :=
11824Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
11825@var{value}.
11826
11827@item <@r{, }>
11828Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
11829types.
11830
11831@item <=@r{, }>=
11832Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
11833on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
11834set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
11835
11836@item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
11837Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
11838Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
11839available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
11840comment character.
11841
11842@item IN
11843Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
11844Same precedence as @code{<}.
11845
11846@item OR
11847Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
11848
11849@item AND@r{, }&
11850Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
11851
11852@item @@
11853The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
11854
11855@item +@r{, }-
11856Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
11857and difference on set types.
11858
11859@item *
11860Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
11861on set types.
11862
11863@item /
11864Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
11865types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
11866
11867@item DIV@r{, }MOD
11868Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
11869precedence as @code{*}.
11870
11871@item -
11872Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
11873
11874@item ^
11875Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
11876
11877@item NOT
11878Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
11879@code{^}.
11880
11881@item .
11882@code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
11883precedence as @code{^}.
11884
11885@item []
11886Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
11887
11888@item ()
11889Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
11890as @code{^}.
11891
11892@item ::@r{, }.
11893@value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
11894@end table
11895
11896@quotation
11897@emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
11898treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
11899@code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
11900@code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
11901@end quotation
11902
11903
11904@node Built-In Func/Proc
11905@subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
11906@cindex Modula-2 built-ins
11907
11908Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
11909In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
11910
11911@table @var
11912
11913@item a
11914represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
11915
11916@item c
11917represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
11918
11919@item i
11920represents a variable or constant of integral type.
11921
11922@item m
11923represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
11924same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
11925be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
11926
11927@item n
11928represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
11929
11930@item r
11931represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
11932
11933@item t
11934represents a type.
11935
11936@item v
11937represents a variable.
11938
11939@item x
11940represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
11941explanation of the function for details.
11942@end table
11943
11944All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
11945
11946@table @code
11947@item ABS(@var{n})
11948Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
11949
11950@item CAP(@var{c})
11951If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
11952equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
11953
11954@item CHR(@var{i})
11955Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
11956
11957@item DEC(@var{v})
11958Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
11959
11960@item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
11961Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
11962new value.
11963
11964@item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
11965Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
11966set.
11967
11968@item FLOAT(@var{i})
11969Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
11970
11971@item HIGH(@var{a})
11972Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
11973
11974@item INC(@var{v})
11975Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
11976
11977@item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
11978Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
11979new value.
11980
11981@item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
11982Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
11983there. Returns the new set.
11984
11985@item MAX(@var{t})
11986Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
11987
11988@item MIN(@var{t})
11989Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
11990
11991@item ODD(@var{i})
11992Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
11993
11994@item ORD(@var{x})
11995Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
11996value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
11997@sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
11998integral, character and enumerated types.
11999
12000@item SIZE(@var{x})
12001Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
12002
12003@item TRUNC(@var{r})
12004Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
12005
12006@item TSIZE(@var{x})
12007Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
12008
12009@item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
12010Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
12011@end table
12012
12013@quotation
12014@emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
12015@value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
12016an error.
12017@end quotation
12018
12019@cindex Modula-2 constants
12020@node M2 Constants
12021@subsubsection Constants
12022
12023@value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
12024ways:
12025
12026@itemize @bullet
12027
12028@item
12029Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
12030expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
12031rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
12032trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
12033
12034@item
12035Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
12036decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
12037then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
12038@samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
12039digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
12040digits.
12041
12042@item
12043Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
12044like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
12045also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
12046followed by a @samp{C}.
12047
12048@item
12049String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
12050pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
12051Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
12052Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
12053sequences.
12054
12055@item
12056Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
12057
12058@item
12059Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
12060@code{FALSE}.
12061
12062@item
12063Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
12064
12065@item
12066Set constants are not yet supported.
12067@end itemize
12068
12069@node M2 Types
12070@subsubsection Modula-2 Types
12071@cindex Modula-2 types
12072
12073Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
12074syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
12075types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
12076print the contents of variables declared using these type.
12077This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
12078sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
12079
12080The first example contains the following section of code:
12081
12082@smallexample
12083VAR
12084 s: SET OF CHAR ;
12085 r: [20..40] ;
12086@end smallexample
12087
12088@noindent
12089and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
12090@code{r} and @code{s}.
12091
12092@smallexample
12093(@value{GDBP}) print s
12094@{'A'..'C', 'Z'@}
12095(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12096SET OF CHAR
12097(@value{GDBP}) print r
1209821
12099(@value{GDBP}) ptype r
12100[20..40]
12101@end smallexample
12102
12103@noindent
12104Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
12105
12106@smallexample
12107VAR
12108 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
12109@end smallexample
12110
12111@noindent
12112then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
12113
12114@smallexample
12115(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12116type = SET ['A'..'Z']
12117@end smallexample
12118
12119@noindent
12120Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
12121expressions using the debugger.
12122
12123The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
12124and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
12125
12126@smallexample
12127VAR
12128 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
12129@end smallexample
12130
12131@smallexample
12132(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12133ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
12134@end smallexample
12135
12136Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
12137is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
12138arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
12139above.
12140
12141Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
12142
12143@smallexample
12144TYPE
12145 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
12146 t = [blue..yellow] ;
12147VAR
12148 s: t ;
12149BEGIN
12150 s := blue ;
12151@end smallexample
12152
12153@noindent
12154The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
12155and value of a variable.
12156
12157@smallexample
12158(@value{GDBP}) print s
12159$1 = blue
12160(@value{GDBP}) ptype t
12161type = [blue..yellow]
12162@end smallexample
12163
12164@noindent
12165In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
12166displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
12167their @code{C} counterparts.
12168
12169@smallexample
12170VAR
12171 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
12172BEGIN
12173 s[1] := 1 ;
12174@end smallexample
12175
12176@smallexample
12177(@value{GDBP}) print s
12178$1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
12179(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12180type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
12181@end smallexample
12182
12183The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
12184pointer types as shown in this example:
12185
12186@smallexample
12187VAR
12188 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
12189BEGIN
12190 NEW(s) ;
12191 s^[1] := 1 ;
12192@end smallexample
12193
12194@noindent
12195and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
12196
12197@smallexample
12198(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12199type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
12200@end smallexample
12201
12202@value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
12203Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
12204types:
12205
12206@smallexample
12207TYPE
12208 foo = RECORD
12209 f1: CARDINAL ;
12210 f2: CHAR ;
12211 f3: myarray ;
12212 END ;
12213
12214 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
12215 myrange = [-2..2] ;
12216VAR
12217 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
12218@end smallexample
12219
12220@noindent
12221and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
12222below.
12223
12224@smallexample
12225(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12226type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
12227 f1 : CARDINAL;
12228 f2 : CHAR;
12229 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
12230END
12231@end smallexample
12232
12233@node M2 Defaults
12234@subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
12235@cindex Modula-2 defaults
12236
12237If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
12238both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
12239Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
12240selected the working language.
12241
12242If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
12243code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
12244working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
12245Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
12246
12247@node Deviations
12248@subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
12249@cindex Modula-2, deviations from
12250
12251A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
12252This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
12253
12254@itemize @bullet
12255@item
12256Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
12257integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
12258debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
12259pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
12260through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
12261returned a pointer.)
12262
12263@item
12264C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
12265non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
12266escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
12267printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
12268
12269@item
12270The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
12271argument.
12272
12273@item
12274All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
12275@end itemize
12276
12277@node M2 Checks
12278@subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
12279@cindex Modula-2 checks
12280
12281@quotation
12282@emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
12283range checking.
12284@end quotation
12285@c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
12286
12287@value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
12288
12289@itemize @bullet
12290@item
12291They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
12292@var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
12293
12294@item
12295They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
12296@sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
12297@end itemize
12298
12299As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
12300whose types are not equivalent is an error.
12301
12302Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
12303index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
12304
12305@node M2 Scope
12306@subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
12307@cindex scope
12308@cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
12309@cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
12310@ifinfo
12311@vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
12312@c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
12313@end ifinfo
12314@ifnotinfo
12315@vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
12316@end ifnotinfo
12317
12318There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
12319(@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
12320similar syntax:
12321
12322@smallexample
12323
12324@var{module} . @var{id}
12325@var{scope} :: @var{id}
12326@end smallexample
12327
12328@noindent
12329where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
12330@var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
12331identifier within your program, except another module.
12332
12333Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
12334specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
12335found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
12336enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
12337
12338Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
12339the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
12340definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
12341an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
12342module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
12343@var{module}.
12344
12345@node GDB/M2
12346@subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
12347
12348Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
12349Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
12350specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
12351@samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
12352apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
12353analogue in Modula-2.
12354
12355The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
12356with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
12357intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
12358created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
12359address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
12360@samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
12361
12362@cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
12363In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
12364interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
12365
12366@node Ada
12367@subsection Ada
12368@cindex Ada
12369
12370The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
12371output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
12372Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
12373attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
12374to be difficult.
12375
12376
12377@cindex expressions in Ada
12378@menu
12379* Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
12380 and semantics supported by Ada mode
12381 in @value{GDBN}.
12382* Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
12383* Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
12384* Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
12385* Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
12386* Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
12387* Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
12388@end menu
12389
12390@node Ada Mode Intro
12391@subsubsection Introduction
12392@cindex Ada mode, general
12393
12394The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
12395syntax, with some extensions.
12396The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
12397
12398@itemize @bullet
12399@item
12400That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
12401arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
12402leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
12403program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
12404
12405@item
12406That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
12407are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
12408
12409@item
12410That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
12411@end itemize
12412
12413Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
12414user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
12415according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
12416names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
12417ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
12418
12419The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
12420As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
12421was translated from an Ada source file.
12422
12423While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
12424mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
12425(@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
12426middle (to allow based literals).
12427
12428The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
12429the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
12430actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
12431the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
12432procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
12433functions to procedures elsewhere.
12434
12435@node Omissions from Ada
12436@subsubsection Omissions from Ada
12437@cindex Ada, omissions from
12438
12439Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
12440
12441@itemize @bullet
12442@item
12443Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
12444
12445@itemize @minus
12446@item
12447@t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
12448 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
12449
12450@item
12451@t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
12452
12453@item
12454@t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
12455
12456@item
12457@t{'Tag}.
12458
12459@item
12460@t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
12461operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
12462
12463@item
12464@t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
12465@t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
12466
12467@item
12468@t{'Address}.
12469@end itemize
12470
12471@item
12472The names in
12473@code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
12474concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
12475not currently available.
12476
12477@item
12478Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
12479equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
12480for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
12481They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
12482types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
12483(in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
12484zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
12485indeterminate values.
12486
12487@item
12488The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
12489@code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
12490are not implemented.
12491
12492@item
12493@cindex array aggregates (Ada)
12494@cindex record aggregates (Ada)
12495@cindex aggregates (Ada)
12496There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
12497permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
12498
12499@smallexample
12500(@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
12501(@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
12502(@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
12503(@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
12504(@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
12505(@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
12506@end smallexample
12507
12508Changing a
12509discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
12510undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
12511However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
12512them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
12513aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
12514declared to have a type such as:
12515
12516@smallexample
12517type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
12518 Id : Integer;
12519 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
12520end record;
12521@end smallexample
12522
12523you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
12524assignments:
12525
12526@smallexample
12527(@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
12528(@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
12529@end smallexample
12530
12531As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
12532rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
12533components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
12534component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
12535original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
12536indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
12537redundant component associations, although which component values are
12538assigned in such cases is not defined.
12539
12540@item
12541Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
12542
12543@item
12544The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
12545than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
12546which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
12547looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
12548function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
12549the proper resolution.
12550
12551@item
12552The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
12553
12554@item
12555Entry calls are not implemented.
12556
12557@item
12558Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
12559formats are not supported.
12560
12561@item
12562It is not possible to slice a packed array.
12563
12564@item
12565The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
12566are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
12567context.
12568Should your program
12569redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
12570you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
12571@end itemize
12572
12573@node Additions to Ada
12574@subsubsection Additions to Ada
12575@cindex Ada, deviations from
12576
12577As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
12578extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
12579
12580@itemize @bullet
12581@item
12582If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
12583a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
12584then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
12585@var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
12586Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
12587in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
12588Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
12589which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
12590
12591@item
12592@code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
12593appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
12594you must typically surround it in single quotes.
12595
12596@item
12597The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
12598@var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
12599
12600@item
12601A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
12602(@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
12603@end itemize
12604
12605In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
12606additions specific to Ada:
12607
12608@itemize @bullet
12609@item
12610The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
12611its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
12612
12613@smallexample
12614(@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
12615(@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
12616@end smallexample
12617
12618@item
12619The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
12620the value of its right-hand operand.
12621This allows, for example,
12622complex conditional breaks:
12623
12624@smallexample
12625(@value{GDBP}) break f
12626(@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
12627@end smallexample
12628
12629@item
12630Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
12631characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
12632which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
12633@samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
12634(single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
12635sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
12636in strings. For example,
12637@smallexample
12638 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
12639@end smallexample
12640@noindent
12641contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
12642after each period.
12643
12644@item
12645The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
12646@t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
12647to write
12648
12649@smallexample
12650(@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
12651@end smallexample
12652
12653@item
12654When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
12655array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
12656For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
12657of 3 might print as
12658
12659@smallexample
12660(3 => 10, 17, 1)
12661@end smallexample
12662
12663@noindent
12664That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
12665clause.
12666
12667@item
12668You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
12669multi-character subsequence of
12670their names (an exact match gets preference).
12671For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
12672in place of @t{a'length}.
12673
12674@item
12675@cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
12676Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
12677to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
12678some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
12679For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
12680enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
12681For example,
12682@smallexample
12683(@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
12684@end smallexample
12685
12686@item
12687Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
12688access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
12689specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
12690selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
12691object.
12692
12693@end itemize
12694
12695@node Stopping Before Main Program
12696@subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
12697
12698@cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
12699It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
12700before reaching the main procedure.
12701As defined in the Ada Reference
12702Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
12703@code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
12704elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
12705@code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
12706
12707@node Ada Tasks
12708@subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
12709@cindex Ada, tasking
12710
12711Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
12712@value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
12713
12714@table @code
12715@kindex info tasks
12716@item info tasks
12717This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
12718
12719
12720@smallexample
12721@iftex
12722@leftskip=0.5cm
12723@end iftex
12724(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
12725 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
12726 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
12727 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
12728 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
12729* 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
12730
12731@end smallexample
12732
12733@noindent
12734In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
12735task currently being inspected.
12736
12737@table @asis
12738@item ID
12739Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
12740
12741@item TID
12742The Ada task ID.
12743
12744@item P-ID
12745The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
12746
12747@item Pri
12748The base priority of the task.
12749
12750@item State
12751Current state of the task.
12752
12753@table @code
12754@item Unactivated
12755The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
12756executing.
12757
12758@item Runnable
12759The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
12760for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
12761
12762@item Terminated
12763The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
12764that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
12765terminated themselves.
12766
12767@item Child Activation Wait
12768The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
12769
12770@item Accept Statement
12771The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
12772
12773@item Waiting on entry call
12774The task is waiting on an entry call.
12775
12776@item Async Select Wait
12777The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
12778select statement.
12779
12780@item Delay Sleep
12781The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
12782alternative open.
12783
12784@item Child Termination Wait
12785The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
12786waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
12787waiting on a terminate Phase.
12788
12789@item Wait Child in Term Alt
12790The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
12791finish terminating.
12792
12793@item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
12794The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
12795@end table
12796
12797@item Name
12798Name of the task in the program.
12799
12800@end table
12801
12802@kindex info task @var{taskno}
12803@item info task @var{taskno}
12804This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
12805the following example:
12806@smallexample
12807@iftex
12808@leftskip=0.5cm
12809@end iftex
12810(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
12811 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
12812 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
12813* 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
12814(@value{GDBP}) info task 2
12815Ada Task: 0x807c468
12816Name: task_1
12817Thread: 0x807f378
12818Parent: 1 (main_task)
12819Base Priority: 15
12820State: Runnable
12821@end smallexample
12822
12823@item task
12824@kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
12825@cindex current Ada task ID
12826This command prints the ID of the current task.
12827
12828@smallexample
12829@iftex
12830@leftskip=0.5cm
12831@end iftex
12832(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
12833 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
12834 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
12835* 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
12836(@value{GDBP}) task
12837[Current task is 2]
12838@end smallexample
12839
12840@item task @var{taskno}
12841@cindex Ada task switching
12842This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
12843command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
12844from the current task to the given task.
12845
12846@smallexample
12847@iftex
12848@leftskip=0.5cm
12849@end iftex
12850(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
12851 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
12852 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
12853* 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
12854(@value{GDBP}) task 1
12855[Switching to task 1]
12856#0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
12857(@value{GDBP}) bt
12858#0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
12859#1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
12860#2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
12861#3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
12862#4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
12863@end smallexample
12864
12865@item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
12866@itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
12867@cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
12868@cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
12869@kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
12870These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
12871command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
12872@var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
12873in @ref{Specify Location}.
12874
12875Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
12876to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
12877particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
12878numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
12879column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
12880
12881If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
12882breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
12883program.
12884
12885You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
12886well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
12887breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
12888
12889For example,
12890
12891@smallexample
12892@iftex
12893@leftskip=0.5cm
12894@end iftex
12895(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
12896 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
12897 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
12898 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
12899 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
12900* 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
12901(@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
12902Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
12903(@value{GDBP}) cont
12904Continuing.
12905task # 1 running
12906task # 2 running
12907
12908Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
1290915 flush;
12910(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
12911 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
12912 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
12913* 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
12914 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
12915 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
12916@end smallexample
12917@end table
12918
12919@node Ada Tasks and Core Files
12920@subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
12921@cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
12922
12923When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
12924tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
12925the platform being used.
12926For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
12927switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
12928as usual.
12929
12930On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
12931memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
12932a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
12933privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
12934Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
12935file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
12936
12937@node Ada Glitches
12938@subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
12939@cindex Ada, problems
12940
12941Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
12942we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
12943@value{GDBN},
12944some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
12945and the GNU Ada compiler.
12946
12947@itemize @bullet
12948@item
12949Currently, the debugger
12950has insufficient information to determine whether certain pointers represent
12951pointers to objects or the objects themselves.
12952Thus, the user may have to tack an extra @code{.all} after an expression
12953to get it printed properly.
12954
12955@item
12956Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
12957storage are invisible to the debugger.
12958
12959@item
12960Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
12961argument lists are treated as positional).
12962
12963@item
12964Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
12965
12966@item
12967Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
12968floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
12969the host machine.
12970
12971@item
12972The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
12973the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
12974this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
12975look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
12976symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
12977defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
12978local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
12979GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
12980you can usually resolve the confusion
12981by qualifying the problematic names with package
12982@code{Standard} explicitly.
12983@end itemize
12984
12985Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
12986information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
12987of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
12988around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
12989to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
12990enabled.
12991
12992@kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
12993@kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
12994@table @code
12995
12996@item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
12997Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
12998value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
12999types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
13000a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
13001This is the default.
13002
13003@item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
13004This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
13005sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
13006trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
13007the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
13008@code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
13009recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
13010
13011@end table
13012
13013@node Unsupported Languages
13014@section Unsupported Languages
13015
13016@cindex unsupported languages
13017@cindex minimal language
13018In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
13019@value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
13020It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
13021of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
13022This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
13023an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
13024
13025If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
13026select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
13027language.
13028
13029@node Symbols
13030@chapter Examining the Symbol Table
13031
13032The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
13033symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
13034program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
13035does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
13036program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
13037(@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
13038file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
13039
13040@cindex symbol names
13041@cindex names of symbols
13042@cindex quoting names
13043Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
13044characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
13045most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
13046source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
13047are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
13048ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
13049@samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
13050@samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
13051
13052@smallexample
13053p 'foo.c'::x
13054@end smallexample
13055
13056@noindent
13057looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
13058
13059@table @code
13060@cindex case-insensitive symbol names
13061@cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
13062@kindex set case-sensitive
13063@item set case-sensitive on
13064@itemx set case-sensitive off
13065@itemx set case-sensitive auto
13066Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
13067with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
13068Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
13069case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
13070case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
13071you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
13072suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
13073matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
13074case-insensitive matches.
13075
13076@kindex show case-sensitive
13077@item show case-sensitive
13078This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
13079lookups.
13080
13081@kindex info address
13082@cindex address of a symbol
13083@item info address @var{symbol}
13084Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
13085variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
13086local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
13087is always stored.
13088
13089Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
13090at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
13091the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
13092
13093@kindex info symbol
13094@cindex symbol from address
13095@cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
13096@item info symbol @var{addr}
13097Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
13098If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
13099nearest symbol and an offset from it:
13100
13101@smallexample
13102(@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
13103_initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
13104@end smallexample
13105
13106@noindent
13107This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
13108it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
13109
13110For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
13111library containing the symbol is also printed:
13112
13113@smallexample
13114(@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
13115_start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
13116(@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
13117__read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
13118@end smallexample
13119
13120@kindex whatis
13121@item whatis [@var{arg}]
13122Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression or
13123a data type. With no argument, print the data type of @code{$}, the
13124last value in the value history. If @var{arg} is an expression, it is
13125not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
13126assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place. If
13127@var{arg} is a type name, it may be the name of a type or typedef, or
13128for C code it may have the form @samp{class @var{class-name}},
13129@samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union @var{union-tag}} or
13130@samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
13131@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
13132
13133@kindex ptype
13134@item ptype [@var{arg}]
13135@code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
13136detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
13137@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
13138
13139For example, for this variable declaration:
13140
13141@smallexample
13142struct complex @{double real; double imag;@} v;
13143@end smallexample
13144
13145@noindent
13146the two commands give this output:
13147
13148@smallexample
13149@group
13150(@value{GDBP}) whatis v
13151type = struct complex
13152(@value{GDBP}) ptype v
13153type = struct complex @{
13154 double real;
13155 double imag;
13156@}
13157@end group
13158@end smallexample
13159
13160@noindent
13161As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
13162the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
13163
13164@cindex incomplete type
13165Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
13166of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
13167program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
13168the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
13169given these declarations:
13170
13171@smallexample
13172 struct foo;
13173 struct foo *fooptr;
13174@end smallexample
13175
13176@noindent
13177but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
13178
13179@smallexample
13180 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
13181 $1 = <incomplete type>
13182@end smallexample
13183
13184@noindent
13185``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
13186completely specified.
13187
13188@kindex info types
13189@item info types @var{regexp}
13190@itemx info types
13191Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
13192expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
13193no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
13194complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
13195types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
13196@samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
13197name is @code{value}.
13198
13199This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
13200@code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
13201lists all source files where a type is defined.
13202
13203@kindex info scope
13204@cindex local variables
13205@item info scope @var{location}
13206List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
13207accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
13208an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
13209to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
13210details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
13211
13212@smallexample
13213(@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
13214Scope for command_line_handler:
13215Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
13216Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
13217Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
13218Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
13219Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
13220Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
13221Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
13222@end smallexample
13223
13224@noindent
13225This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
13226during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
13227collect}.
13228
13229@kindex info source
13230@item info source
13231Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
13232the function containing the current point of execution:
13233@itemize @bullet
13234@item
13235the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
13236@item
13237the directory it was compiled in,
13238@item
13239its length, in lines,
13240@item
13241which programming language it is written in,
13242@item
13243whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
13244if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
13245@item
13246whether the debugging information includes information about
13247preprocessor macros.
13248@end itemize
13249
13250
13251@kindex info sources
13252@item info sources
13253Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
13254debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
13255have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
13256
13257@kindex info functions
13258@item info functions
13259Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
13260
13261@item info functions @var{regexp}
13262Print the names and data types of all defined functions
13263whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
13264Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
13265include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
13266start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
13267that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
13268@samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
13269
13270@kindex info variables
13271@item info variables
13272Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
13273outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
13274
13275@item info variables @var{regexp}
13276Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
13277variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
13278@var{regexp}.
13279
13280@kindex info classes
13281@cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
13282@item info classes
13283@itemx info classes @var{regexp}
13284Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
13285(with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
13286expression.
13287
13288@kindex info selectors
13289@item info selectors
13290@itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
13291Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
13292(with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
13293expression.
13294
13295@ignore
13296This was never implemented.
13297@kindex info methods
13298@item info methods
13299@itemx info methods @var{regexp}
13300The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
13301methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
13302specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
13303C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
13304from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
13305@code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
13306which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
13307@end ignore
13308
13309@cindex reloading symbols
13310Some systems allow individual object files that make up your program to
13311be replaced without stopping and restarting your program. For example,
13312in VxWorks you can simply recompile a defective object file and keep on
13313running. If you are running on one of these systems, you can allow
13314@value{GDBN} to reload the symbols for automatically relinked modules:
13315
13316@table @code
13317@kindex set symbol-reloading
13318@item set symbol-reloading on
13319Replace symbol definitions for the corresponding source file when an
13320object file with a particular name is seen again.
13321
13322@item set symbol-reloading off
13323Do not replace symbol definitions when encountering object files of the
13324same name more than once. This is the default state; if you are not
13325running on a system that permits automatic relinking of modules, you
13326should leave @code{symbol-reloading} off, since otherwise @value{GDBN}
13327may discard symbols when linking large programs, that may contain
13328several modules (from different directories or libraries) with the same
13329name.
13330
13331@kindex show symbol-reloading
13332@item show symbol-reloading
13333Show the current @code{on} or @code{off} setting.
13334@end table
13335
13336@cindex opaque data types
13337@kindex set opaque-type-resolution
13338@item set opaque-type-resolution on
13339Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
13340declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
13341@code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
13342source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
13343another source file. The default is on.
13344
13345A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
13346the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
13347
13348@item set opaque-type-resolution off
13349Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
13350is printed as follows:
13351@smallexample
13352@{<no data fields>@}
13353@end smallexample
13354
13355@kindex show opaque-type-resolution
13356@item show opaque-type-resolution
13357Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
13358
13359@kindex maint print symbols
13360@cindex symbol dump
13361@kindex maint print psymbols
13362@cindex partial symbol dump
13363@item maint print symbols @var{filename}
13364@itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
13365@itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
13366Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
13367These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
13368symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
13369symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
13370collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
13371only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
13372command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
13373use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
13374symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
13375files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
13376@samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
13377required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
13378@xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
13379@value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
13380
13381@kindex maint info symtabs
13382@kindex maint info psymtabs
13383@cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
13384@cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
13385@cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
13386@cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
13387@item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
13388@itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
13389
13390List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
13391structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
13392given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
13393copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
13394structure in more detail. For example:
13395
13396@smallexample
13397(@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
13398@{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
13399 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
13400 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
13401 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
13402 readin no
13403 fullname (null)
13404 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
13405 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
13406 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
13407 dependencies (none)
13408 @}
13409@}
13410(@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
13411(@value{GDBP})
13412@end smallexample
13413@noindent
13414We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
13415the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
13416and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
13417If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
13418read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
13419
13420@smallexample
13421(@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
13422Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
13423line 1574.
13424(@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
13425@{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
13426 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
13427 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
13428 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
13429 dirname (null)
13430 fullname (null)
13431 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
13432 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
13433 debugformat DWARF 2
13434 @}
13435@}
13436(@value{GDBP})
13437@end smallexample
13438@end table
13439
13440
13441@node Altering
13442@chapter Altering Execution
13443
13444Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
13445find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
13446correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
13447experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
13448program.
13449
13450For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
13451locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
13452address, or even return prematurely from a function.
13453
13454@menu
13455* Assignment:: Assignment to variables
13456* Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
13457* Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
13458* Returning:: Returning from a function
13459* Calling:: Calling your program's functions
13460* Patching:: Patching your program
13461@end menu
13462
13463@node Assignment
13464@section Assignment to Variables
13465
13466@cindex assignment
13467@cindex setting variables
13468To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
13469@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
13470
13471@smallexample
13472print x=4
13473@end smallexample
13474
13475@noindent
13476stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
13477value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
13478@xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
13479information on operators in supported languages.
13480
13481@kindex set variable
13482@cindex variables, setting
13483If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
13484@code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
13485really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
13486not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
13487,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
13488
13489If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
13490appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
13491variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
13492to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
13493program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
13494a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
13495command @code{set width}:
13496
13497@smallexample
13498(@value{GDBP}) whatis width
13499type = double
13500(@value{GDBP}) p width
13501$4 = 13
13502(@value{GDBP}) set width=47
13503Invalid syntax in expression.
13504@end smallexample
13505
13506@noindent
13507The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
13508order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
13509
13510@smallexample
13511(@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
13512@end smallexample
13513
13514Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
13515with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
13516@code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
13517your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
13518to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
13519the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
13520
13521@smallexample
13522@group
13523(@value{GDBP}) whatis g
13524type = double
13525(@value{GDBP}) p g
13526$1 = 1
13527(@value{GDBP}) set g=4
13528(@value{GDBP}) p g
13529$2 = 1
13530(@value{GDBP}) r
13531The program being debugged has been started already.
13532Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
13533Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
13534"/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
13535 Invalid bfd target.
13536(@value{GDBP}) show g
13537The current BFD target is "=4".
13538@end group
13539@end smallexample
13540
13541@noindent
13542The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
13543@code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
13544@code{g}, use
13545
13546@smallexample
13547(@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
13548@end smallexample
13549
13550@value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
13551freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
13552and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
13553same length or shorter.
13554@comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
13555@comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
13556
13557To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
13558construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
13559(@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
13560to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
13561and representation in memory), and
13562
13563@smallexample
13564set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
13565@end smallexample
13566
13567@noindent
13568stores the value 4 into that memory location.
13569
13570@node Jumping
13571@section Continuing at a Different Address
13572
13573Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
13574it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
13575an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
13576
13577@table @code
13578@kindex jump
13579@item jump @var{linespec}
13580@itemx jump @var{location}
13581Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
13582@var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
13583breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
13584different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
13585practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
13586@code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
13587
13588The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
13589the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
13590register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
13591a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
13592be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
13593of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
13594confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
13595executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
13596well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
13597@end table
13598
13599@c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
13600On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
13601command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
13602difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
13603changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
13604example,
13605
13606@smallexample
13607set $pc = 0x485
13608@end smallexample
13609
13610@noindent
13611makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
13612address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
13613@xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
13614
13615The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
13616up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
13617that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
13618detail.
13619
13620@c @group
13621@node Signaling
13622@section Giving your Program a Signal
13623@cindex deliver a signal to a program
13624
13625@table @code
13626@kindex signal
13627@item signal @var{signal}
13628Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
13629signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
13630signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
13631SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
13632
13633Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
13634giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
13635a signal and would ordinary see the signal when resumed with the
13636@code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
13637signal.
13638
13639@code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
13640after executing the command.
13641@end table
13642@c @end group
13643
13644Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
13645@code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
13646causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
13647the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
13648passes the signal directly to your program.
13649
13650
13651@node Returning
13652@section Returning from a Function
13653
13654@table @code
13655@cindex returning from a function
13656@kindex return
13657@item return
13658@itemx return @var{expression}
13659You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
13660command. If you give an
13661@var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
13662value.
13663@end table
13664
13665When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
13666(and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
13667discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
13668be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
13669
13670This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
13671Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
13672innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
13673specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
13674of functions.
13675
13676The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
13677program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
13678returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
13679and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
13680selected stack frame returns naturally.
13681
13682@value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
13683the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
13684type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
13685OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
13686CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
13687registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
13688specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
13689current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
13690assignment into the right register(s).
13691
13692Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
13693use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
13694debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
13695function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
13696int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
13697into a @code{long long int}:
13698
13699@smallexample
13700Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
1370129 return 31;
13702(@value{GDBP}) return -1
13703Make func return now? (y or n) y
13704#0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
1370543 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
13706(@value{GDBP})
13707@end smallexample
13708
13709However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
13710function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
13711to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
13712in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
13713typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
13714of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
13715architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
13716an appropriate cast explicitly:
13717
13718@smallexample
13719Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
13720(@value{GDBP}) return -1
13721Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
13722Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
13723(@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
13724Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
13725#0 0x00400526 in main ()
13726(@value{GDBP})
13727@end smallexample
13728
13729@node Calling
13730@section Calling Program Functions
13731
13732@table @code
13733@cindex calling functions
13734@cindex inferior functions, calling
13735@item print @var{expr}
13736Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
13737@var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
13738debugged.
13739
13740@kindex call
13741@item call @var{expr}
13742Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
13743returned values.
13744
13745You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
13746execute a function from your program that does not return anything
13747(a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
13748with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
13749print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
13750value history.
13751@end table
13752
13753It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
13754@code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
13755the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
13756in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
13757
13758Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
13759call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
13760exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
13761frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
13762an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
13763dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
13764seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
13765in that case is controlled by the
13766@code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
13767
13768@table @code
13769@item set unwindonsignal
13770@kindex set unwindonsignal
13771@cindex unwind stack in called functions
13772@cindex call dummy stack unwinding
13773Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
13774that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
13775@value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
13776the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
13777default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
13778received.
13779
13780@item show unwindonsignal
13781@kindex show unwindonsignal
13782Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
13783@value{GDBN}.
13784
13785@item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
13786@kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
13787@cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
13788@cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
13789Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
13790unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
13791debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
13792it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
13793the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
13794the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
13795
13796@item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
13797@kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
13798Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
13799@value{GDBN}.
13800
13801@end table
13802
13803@cindex weak alias functions
13804Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
13805for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
13806the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
13807which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
13808As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
13809even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
13810function instead.
13811
13812@node Patching
13813@section Patching Programs
13814
13815@cindex patching binaries
13816@cindex writing into executables
13817@cindex writing into corefiles
13818
13819By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
13820executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
13821alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
13822patching your program's binary.
13823
13824If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
13825explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
13826want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
13827repairs.
13828
13829@table @code
13830@kindex set write
13831@item set write on
13832@itemx set write off
13833If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
13834core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
13835off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
13836
13837If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
13838@code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
13839write}, for your new setting to take effect.
13840
13841@item show write
13842@kindex show write
13843Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
13844as well as reading.
13845@end table
13846
13847@node GDB Files
13848@chapter @value{GDBN} Files
13849
13850@value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
13851both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
13852program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
13853@value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
13854
13855@menu
13856* Files:: Commands to specify files
13857* Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
13858* Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
13859* Data Files:: GDB data files
13860@end menu
13861
13862@node Files
13863@section Commands to Specify Files
13864
13865@cindex symbol table
13866@cindex core dump file
13867
13868You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
13869way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
13870@value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
13871Out of @value{GDBN}}).
13872
13873Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
13874@value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
13875specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
13876via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
13877Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
13878new files are useful.
13879
13880@table @code
13881@cindex executable file
13882@kindex file
13883@item file @var{filename}
13884Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
13885symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
13886executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
13887directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
13888@value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
13889directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
13890to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
13891and your program, using the @code{path} command.
13892
13893@cindex unlinked object files
13894@cindex patching object files
13895You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
13896the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
13897file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
13898if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
13899@kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
13900that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
13901case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
13902the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
13903
13904@item file
13905@code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
13906has on both executable file and the symbol table.
13907
13908@kindex exec-file
13909@item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
13910Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
13911in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
13912if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
13913discard information on the executable file.
13914
13915@kindex symbol-file
13916@item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
13917Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
13918searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
13919table and program to run from the same file.
13920
13921@code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
13922program's symbol table.
13923
13924The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
13925some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
13926contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
13927which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
13928@value{GDBN}.
13929
13930@code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
13931executing it once.
13932
13933When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
13934understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
13935generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
13936other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
13937Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
13938using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
13939optimized code.
13940
13941For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
13942using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
13943symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
13944quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
13945details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
13946
13947The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
13948start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
13949occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
13950file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
13951pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
13952Warnings and Messages}.)
13953
13954We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
13955symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
13956symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
13957still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
13958in stabs format.
13959
13960@kindex readnow
13961@cindex reading symbols immediately
13962@cindex symbols, reading immediately
13963@item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
13964@itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
13965You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
13966tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
13967load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
13968entire symbol table available.
13969
13970@c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
13971@c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
13972@c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
13973@c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
13974@c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
13975@c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
13976@c files.
13977
13978@kindex core-file
13979@item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
13980@itemx core
13981Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
13982of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
13983address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
13984executable file itself for other parts.
13985
13986@code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
13987to be used.
13988
13989Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
13990under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
13991wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
13992the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
13993(@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
13994
13995@kindex add-symbol-file
13996@cindex dynamic linking
13997@item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
13998@itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
13999@itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @r{-s}@var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
14000The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
14001information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
14002when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
14003into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
14004address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
14005this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
14006of @samp{@r{-s}@var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
14007section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
14008@var{address} as an expression.
14009
14010The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
14011originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
14012@code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
14013thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
14014instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
14015
14016@cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
14017@cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
14018@cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
14019@cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
14020@cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
14021Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
14022executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
14023relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
14024information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
14025
14026@itemize @bullet
14027@item
14028the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
14029that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
14030@item
14031every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
14032been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
14033@item
14034you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
14035provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
14036@end itemize
14037
14038@noindent
14039Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
14040relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
14041typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
14042important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
14043procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
14044assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
14045general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
14046relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
14047as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
14048way.
14049
14050@code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
14051
14052@kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
14053@cindex @code{syscall DSO}
14054@cindex load symbols from memory
14055@item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
14056Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
14057object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
14058For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
14059process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
14060some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
14061evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
14062For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
14063@code{exec-file} commands in advance.
14064
14065@kindex add-shared-symbol-files
14066@kindex assf
14067@item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
14068@itemx assf @var{library-file}
14069The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
14070in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
14071alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
14072@value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
14073@value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
14074@code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
14075library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
14076@code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
14077
14078@kindex section
14079@item section @var{section} @var{addr}
14080The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
14081@var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
14082exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
14083@code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
14084itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
14085@code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
14086their addresses.
14087
14088@kindex info files
14089@kindex info target
14090@item info files
14091@itemx info target
14092@code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
14093current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
14094including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
14095use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
14096command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
14097current ones.
14098
14099@kindex maint info sections
14100@item maint info sections
14101Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
14102is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
14103displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
14104offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
14105@code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
14106may be arbitrarily combined):
14107
14108@table @code
14109@item ALLOBJ
14110Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
14111@item @var{sections}
14112Display info only for named @var{sections}.
14113@item @var{section-flags}
14114Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
14115The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
14116@table @code
14117@item ALLOC
14118Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
14119Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
14120@item LOAD
14121Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
14122Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
14123@item RELOC
14124Section needs to be relocated before loading.
14125@item READONLY
14126Section cannot be modified by the child process.
14127@item CODE
14128Section contains executable code only.
14129@item DATA
14130Section contains data only (no executable code).
14131@item ROM
14132Section will reside in ROM.
14133@item CONSTRUCTOR
14134Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
14135@item HAS_CONTENTS
14136Section is not empty.
14137@item NEVER_LOAD
14138An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
14139@item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
14140A notification to the linker that the section contains
14141COFF shared library information.
14142@item IS_COMMON
14143Section contains common symbols.
14144@end table
14145@end table
14146@kindex set trust-readonly-sections
14147@cindex read-only sections
14148@item set trust-readonly-sections on
14149Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
14150really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
14151In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
14152out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
14153For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
14154enhancement to debugging performance.
14155
14156The default is off.
14157
14158@item set trust-readonly-sections off
14159Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
14160the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
14161and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
14162
14163@item show trust-readonly-sections
14164Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
14165@end table
14166
14167All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
14168as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
14169name and remembers it that way.
14170
14171@cindex shared libraries
14172@anchor{Shared Libraries}
14173@value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
14174and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
14175
14176On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
14177shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
14178
14179@value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
14180when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
14181(Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
14182references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
14183debugging a core file).
14184
14185On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
14186automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
14187
14188@c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
14189@c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
14190@c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
14191
14192There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
14193symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
14194particularly large or there are many of them.
14195
14196To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
14197commands:
14198
14199@table @code
14200@kindex set auto-solib-add
14201@item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
14202If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
14203will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
14204attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
14205informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
14206is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
14207@code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
14208
14209@cindex memory used for symbol tables
14210If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
14211takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
14212memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
14213symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
14214auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
14215library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
14216@var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
14217the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
14218
14219@kindex show auto-solib-add
14220@item show auto-solib-add
14221Display the current autoloading mode.
14222@end table
14223
14224@cindex load shared library
14225To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
14226command:
14227
14228@table @code
14229@kindex info sharedlibrary
14230@kindex info share
14231@item info share @var{regex}
14232@itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
14233Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
14234that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
14235all shared libraries that are loaded.
14236
14237@kindex sharedlibrary
14238@kindex share
14239@item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
14240@itemx share @var{regex}
14241Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
14242Unix regular expression.
14243As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
14244required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
14245@var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
14246loaded.
14247
14248@item nosharedlibrary
14249@kindex nosharedlibrary
14250@cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
14251Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
14252that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
14253libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
14254discarded.
14255@end table
14256
14257Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
14258when any of shared library events happen. Use the @code{set
14259stop-on-solib-events} command for this:
14260
14261@table @code
14262@item set stop-on-solib-events
14263@kindex set stop-on-solib-events
14264This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
14265when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
14266The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
14267shared library.
14268
14269@item show stop-on-solib-events
14270@kindex show stop-on-solib-events
14271Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
14272library events happen.
14273@end table
14274
14275Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
14276configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
14277this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
14278on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
14279libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
14280provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
14281copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
14282not.
14283
14284@cindex where to look for shared libraries
14285For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
14286libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
14287may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
14288to specify the search directories for target libraries.
14289
14290@table @code
14291@cindex prefix for shared library file names
14292@cindex system root, alternate
14293@kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
14294@kindex set sysroot
14295@item set sysroot @var{path}
14296Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
14297absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
14298runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
14299target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
14300libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
14301the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
14302under @var{path}.
14303
14304If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
14305retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
14306supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
14307command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
14308The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
14309(if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
14310@footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
14311that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
14312variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
14313
14314The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
14315sysroot}.
14316
14317@cindex default system root
14318@cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
14319You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
14320@samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
14321@value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
14322@samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
14323automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
14324location.
14325
14326@kindex show sysroot
14327@item show sysroot
14328Display the current shared library prefix.
14329
14330@kindex set solib-search-path
14331@item set solib-search-path @var{path}
14332If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
14333directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
14334is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
14335path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
14336use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
14337@samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
14338finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
14339it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
14340of shared library symbols.
14341
14342@kindex show solib-search-path
14343@item show solib-search-path
14344Display the current shared library search path.
14345@end table
14346
14347
14348@node Separate Debug Files
14349@section Debugging Information in Separate Files
14350@cindex separate debugging information files
14351@cindex debugging information in separate files
14352@cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
14353@cindex debugging information directory, global
14354@cindex global debugging information directory
14355@cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
14356@cindex @file{.build-id} directory
14357
14358@value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
14359file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
14360@value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
14361Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
14362than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
14363information for their executables in separate files, which users can
14364install only when they need to debug a problem.
14365
14366@value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
14367file:
14368
14369@itemize @bullet
14370@item
14371The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
14372the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
14373usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
14374name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
14375(e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
14376debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
14377checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
14378the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
14379
14380@item
14381The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
14382also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
14383only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
14384for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
14385this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
14386command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
14387The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
14388explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
14389below.
14390@end itemize
14391
14392Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
14393uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
14394
14395@itemize @bullet
14396@item
14397For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
14398the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
14399directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under the global debug
14400directory, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
14401directories of the executable's absolute file name.
14402
14403@item
14404For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
14405@file{.build-id} subdirectory of the global debug directory for a file
14406named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
14407first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
14408are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
14409hex characters, not 10.)
14410@end itemize
14411
14412So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
14413@file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
14414file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
14415@code{abcdef1234}. If the global debug directory is
14416@file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
14417debug information files, in the indicated order:
14418
14419@itemize @minus
14420@item
14421@file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
14422@item
14423@file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
14424@item
14425@file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
14426@item
14427@file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
14428@end itemize
14429
14430You can set the global debugging info directory's name, and view the
14431name @value{GDBN} is currently using.
14432
14433@table @code
14434
14435@kindex set debug-file-directory
14436@item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
14437Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
14438information files to @var{directory}. Multiple directory components can be set
14439concatenating them by a directory separator.
14440
14441@kindex show debug-file-directory
14442@item show debug-file-directory
14443Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
14444information files.
14445
14446@end table
14447
14448@cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
14449@cindex debug link sections
14450A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
14451@code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
14452
14453@itemize
14454@item
14455A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
14456a zero byte,
14457@item
14458zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
14459boundary within the section, and
14460@item
14461a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
14462executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
14463information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
14464zero as the @var{crc} argument.
14465@end itemize
14466
14467Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
14468contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
14469described above.
14470
14471@cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
14472@cindex build ID sections
14473The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
14474ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
14475often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
14476It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
14477the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
14478algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
14479content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
14480value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
14481stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
14482
14483The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
14484executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
14485debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
14486should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
14487but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
14488in an ordinary executable.
14489
14490The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
14491@samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
14492the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
14493following commands:
14494
14495@smallexample
14496@kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
14497@kbd{strip -g foo}
14498@end smallexample
14499
14500@noindent
14501These commands remove the debugging
14502information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
14503@file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
14504two files:
14505
14506@itemize @bullet
14507@item
14508The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
14509behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
14510
14511@smallexample
14512@kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
14513@end smallexample
14514
14515Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
14516a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
14517foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
14518the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
14519
14520@item
14521Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
14522the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
14523compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
14524utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
14525@end itemize
14526
14527@noindent
14528
14529@cindex CRC algorithm definition
14530The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
14531IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
14532
14533@c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
14534@c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
14535@c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
14536@c different ways!
14537@ifhtml
14538@display
14539@html
14540 <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>
14541 + <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
14542@end html
14543@end display
14544@end ifhtml
14545@ifnothtml
14546@display
14547 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
14548 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
14549@end display
14550@end ifnothtml
14551
14552The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
14553significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
14554@code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
14555the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
14556CRC.
14557
14558@emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
14559@dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{Remote Protocol,
14560, @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol}). However in the
14561case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed @emph{most}
14562significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so trailing
14563zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
14564
14565To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
14566which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
14567initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
14568this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
14569@code{0xffffffff}.
14570
14571@kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
14572@smallexample
14573unsigned long
14574gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
14575 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
14576@{
14577 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
14578 @{
14579 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
14580 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
14581 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
14582 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
14583 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
14584 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
14585 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
14586 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
14587 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
14588 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
14589 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
14590 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
14591 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
14592 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
14593 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
14594 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
14595 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
14596 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
14597 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
14598 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
14599 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
14600 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
14601 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
14602 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
14603 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
14604 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
14605 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
14606 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
14607 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
14608 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
14609 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
14610 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
14611 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
14612 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
14613 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
14614 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
14615 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
14616 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
14617 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
14618 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
14619 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
14620 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
14621 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
14622 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
14623 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
14624 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
14625 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
14626 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
14627 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
14628 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
14629 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
14630 0x2d02ef8d
14631 @};
14632 unsigned char *end;
14633
14634 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
14635 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
14636 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
14637 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
14638@}
14639@end smallexample
14640
14641@noindent
14642This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
14643
14644
14645@node Symbol Errors
14646@section Errors Reading Symbol Files
14647
14648While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
14649such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
14650output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
14651they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
14652debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
14653about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
14654only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
14655times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
14656to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
14657complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
14658Messages}).
14659
14660The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
14661
14662@table @code
14663@item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
14664
14665The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
14666(such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
14667error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
14668in its outer scope blocks.
14669
14670@value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
14671the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
14672may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
14673function.
14674
14675@item block at @var{address} out of order
14676
14677The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
14678order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
14679do so.
14680
14681@value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
14682locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
14683can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
14684@code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
14685Messages}.)
14686
14687@item bad block start address patched
14688
14689The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
14690smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
14691to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
14692
14693@value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
14694starting on the previous source line.
14695
14696@item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
14697
14698@cindex foo
14699Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
14700larger than the size of the string table.
14701
14702@value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
14703name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
14704with this name.
14705
14706@item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
14707
14708The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
14709not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
14710uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
14711
14712@value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
14713This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
14714are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
14715debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
14716on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
14717and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
14718
14719@item stub type has NULL name
14720
14721@value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
14722
14723@item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
14724The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
14725information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
14726it.
14727
14728@item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
14729
14730@value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
14731
14732@end table
14733
14734@node Data Files
14735@section GDB Data Files
14736
14737@cindex prefix for data files
14738@value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
14739are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
14740
14741You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
14742is currently using.
14743
14744@table @code
14745@kindex set data-directory
14746@item set data-directory @var{directory}
14747Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
14748to @var{directory}.
14749
14750@kindex show data-directory
14751@item show data-directory
14752Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
14753@end table
14754
14755@cindex default data directory
14756@cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
14757You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
14758@samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
14759@value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
14760@samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
14761automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
14762location.
14763
14764@node Targets
14765@chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
14766
14767@cindex debugging target
14768A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
14769
14770Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
14771in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
14772you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
14773flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
14774host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
14775realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
14776command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
14777(@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
14778
14779@cindex target architecture
14780It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
14781architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
14782one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
14783command.
14784
14785@table @code
14786@kindex set architecture
14787@kindex show architecture
14788@item set architecture @var{arch}
14789This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
14790value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
14791supported architectures.
14792
14793@item show architecture
14794Show the current target architecture.
14795
14796@item set processor
14797@itemx processor
14798@kindex set processor
14799@kindex show processor
14800These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
14801and @code{show architecture}.
14802@end table
14803
14804@menu
14805* Active Targets:: Active targets
14806* Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
14807* Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
14808@end menu
14809
14810@node Active Targets
14811@section Active Targets
14812
14813@cindex stacking targets
14814@cindex active targets
14815@cindex multiple targets
14816
14817There are three classes of targets: processes, core files, and
14818executable files. @value{GDBN} can work concurrently on up to three
14819active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for example)
14820start a process and inspect its activity without abandoning your work on
14821a core file.
14822
14823For example, if you execute @samp{gdb a.out}, then the executable file
14824@code{a.out} is the only active target. If you designate a core file as
14825well---presumably from a prior run that crashed and coredumped---then
14826@value{GDBN} has two active targets and uses them in tandem, looking
14827first in the corefile target, then in the executable file, to satisfy
14828requests for memory addresses. (Typically, these two classes of target
14829are complementary, since core files contain only a program's
14830read-write memory---variables and so on---plus machine status, while
14831executable files contain only the program text and initialized data.)
14832
14833When you type @code{run}, your executable file becomes an active process
14834target as well. When a process target is active, all @value{GDBN}
14835commands requesting memory addresses refer to that target; addresses in
14836an active core file or executable file target are obscured while the
14837process target is active.
14838
14839Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new
14840core file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify
14841Files}). To specify as a target a process that is already running, use
14842the @code{attach} command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running
14843Process}).
14844
14845@node Target Commands
14846@section Commands for Managing Targets
14847
14848@table @code
14849@item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
14850Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
14851process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
14852facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
14853protocol of the target machine.
14854
14855Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
14856typically include things like device names or host names to connect
14857with, process numbers, and baud rates.
14858
14859The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
14860after executing the command.
14861
14862@kindex help target
14863@item help target
14864Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
14865currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
14866(@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
14867
14868@item help target @var{name}
14869Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
14870select it.
14871
14872@kindex set gnutarget
14873@item set gnutarget @var{args}
14874@value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
14875knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
14876a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
14877with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
14878with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
14879
14880@quotation
14881@emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
14882you must know the actual BFD name.
14883@end quotation
14884
14885@noindent
14886@xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
14887
14888@kindex show gnutarget
14889@item show gnutarget
14890Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
14891@code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
14892@value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
14893and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BDF target is "auto"}.
14894@end table
14895
14896@cindex common targets
14897Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
14898configuration):
14899
14900@table @code
14901@kindex target
14902@item target exec @var{program}
14903@cindex executable file target
14904An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
14905@samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
14906
14907@item target core @var{filename}
14908@cindex core dump file target
14909A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
14910@samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
14911
14912@item target remote @var{medium}
14913@cindex remote target
14914A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
14915connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
14916protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
14917
14918For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
14919machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
14920
14921@smallexample
14922target remote /dev/ttya
14923@end smallexample
14924
14925@code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
14926useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
14927system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
14928clobbered by the download.
14929
14930@item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
14931@cindex built-in simulator target
14932Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
14933In general,
14934@smallexample
14935 target sim
14936 load
14937 run
14938@end smallexample
14939@noindent
14940works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
14941drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
14942provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
14943see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
14944Processors}.
14945
14946@end table
14947
14948Some configurations may include these targets as well:
14949
14950@table @code
14951
14952@item target nrom @var{dev}
14953@cindex NetROM ROM emulator target
14954NetROM ROM emulator. This target only supports downloading.
14955
14956@end table
14957
14958Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
14959your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
14960
14961Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
14962you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
14963various aspects of this process.
14964
14965@table @code
14966
14967@item set hash
14968@kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
14969@cindex hash mark while downloading
14970This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
14971downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
14972displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
14973monitor.
14974
14975@item show hash
14976@kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
14977Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
14978
14979@item set debug monitor
14980@kindex set debug monitor
14981@cindex display remote monitor communications
14982Enable or disable display of communications messages between
14983@value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
14984
14985@item show debug monitor
14986@kindex show debug monitor
14987Show the current status of displaying communications between
14988@value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
14989@end table
14990
14991@table @code
14992
14993@kindex load @var{filename}
14994@item load @var{filename}
14995@anchor{load}
14996Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
14997@value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
14998is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
14999on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
15000@code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
15001the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
15002
15003If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
15004execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
15005target is @dots{}}''
15006
15007The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
15008For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
15009link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
15010specifies a fixed address.
15011@c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
15012
15013Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
15014load programs into flash memory.
15015
15016@code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
15017@end table
15018
15019@node Byte Order
15020@section Choosing Target Byte Order
15021
15022@cindex choosing target byte order
15023@cindex target byte order
15024
15025Some types of processors, such as the MIPS, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
15026offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
15027orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
15028designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
15029which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
15030@value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
15031
15032@table @code
15033@kindex set endian
15034@item set endian big
15035Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
15036
15037@item set endian little
15038Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
15039
15040@item set endian auto
15041Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
15042executable.
15043
15044@item show endian
15045Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
15046
15047@end table
15048
15049Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
15050data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
15051target system.
15052
15053
15054@node Remote Debugging
15055@chapter Debugging Remote Programs
15056@cindex remote debugging
15057
15058If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
15059@value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
15060For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
15061or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
15062powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
15063
15064Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
15065to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
15066@value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
15067but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
15068write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
15069communicate with @value{GDBN}.
15070
15071Other remote targets may be available in your
15072configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
15073
15074@menu
15075* Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
15076* File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
15077* Server:: Using the gdbserver program
15078* Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
15079* Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
15080@end menu
15081
15082@node Connecting
15083@section Connecting to a Remote Target
15084
15085On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
15086your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
15087Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
15088program as the first argument.
15089
15090@cindex @code{target remote}
15091@value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
15092over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
15093each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
15094program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
15095@code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
15096Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
15097
15098@table @code
15099
15100@item target remote @var{serial-device}
15101@cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
15102Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
15103to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
15104
15105@smallexample
15106target remote /dev/ttyb
15107@end smallexample
15108
15109If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
15110@w{@samp{--baud}} option, or use the @code{set remotebaud} command
15111(@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remotebaud}) before the
15112@code{target} command.
15113
15114@item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
15115@itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
15116@cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
15117Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
15118The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
15119address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
15120the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
15121it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
15122target.
15123
15124For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
15125@code{manyfarms}:
15126
15127@smallexample
15128target remote manyfarms:2828
15129@end smallexample
15130
15131If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
15132debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
15133same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
15134port 1234 on your local machine:
15135
15136@smallexample
15137target remote :1234
15138@end smallexample
15139@noindent
15140
15141Note that the colon is still required here.
15142
15143@item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
15144@cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
15145Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
15146connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
15147
15148@smallexample
15149target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
15150@end smallexample
15151
15152When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
15153keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
15154can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
15155cause havoc with your debugging session.
15156
15157@item target remote | @var{command}
15158@cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
15159Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
15160pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
15161by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
15162protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
15163standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
15164that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
15165using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
15166
15167If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
15168@value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
15169program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
15170
15171@end table
15172
15173Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
15174commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
15175running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
15176need to use @kbd{run}.
15177
15178@cindex interrupting remote programs
15179@cindex remote programs, interrupting
15180Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
15181interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
15182program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
15183and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
15184interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
15185
15186@smallexample
15187Interrupted while waiting for the program.
15188Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
15189@end smallexample
15190
15191If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
15192(If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
15193remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
15194goes back to waiting.
15195
15196@table @code
15197@kindex detach (remote)
15198@item detach
15199When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
15200@code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
15201Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
15202will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
15203command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
15204
15205@kindex disconnect
15206@item disconnect
15207The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
15208the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
15209(this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
15210the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
15211another target.
15212
15213@cindex send command to remote monitor
15214@cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
15215@cindex add new commands for external monitor
15216@kindex monitor
15217@item monitor @var{cmd}
15218This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
15219remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
15220sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
15221can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
15222and implement.
15223@end table
15224
15225@node File Transfer
15226@section Sending files to a remote system
15227@cindex remote target, file transfer
15228@cindex file transfer
15229@cindex sending files to remote systems
15230
15231Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
15232connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
15233for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
15234running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
15235e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
15236the only way to upload or download files.
15237
15238Not all remote targets support these commands.
15239
15240@table @code
15241@kindex remote put
15242@item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
15243Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
15244@value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
15245
15246@kindex remote get
15247@item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
15248Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
15249on the host system.
15250
15251@kindex remote delete
15252@item remote delete @var{targetfile}
15253Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
15254
15255@end table
15256
15257@node Server
15258@section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
15259
15260@kindex gdbserver
15261@cindex remote connection without stubs
15262@code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
15263allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
15264@code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
15265
15266@code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
15267because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
15268that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
15269@code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
15270@value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
15271because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
15272also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
15273started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
15274Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
15275the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
15276do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
15277by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
15278choice for debugging.
15279
15280@value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
15281or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
15282protocol.
15283
15284@quotation
15285@emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
15286Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
15287@value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
15288target system with the same privileges as the user running
15289@code{gdbserver}.
15290@end quotation
15291
15292@subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
15293@cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
15294
15295Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
15296program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
15297@code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
15298strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
15299system does all the symbol handling.
15300
15301To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
15302the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
15303syntax is:
15304
15305@smallexample
15306target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
15307@end smallexample
15308
15309@var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line) or a TCP
15310hostname and portnumber. For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
15311@samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
15312@file{/dev/com1}:
15313
15314@smallexample
15315target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
15316@end smallexample
15317
15318@code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
15319with it.
15320
15321To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
15322
15323@smallexample
15324target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
15325@end smallexample
15326
15327The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
15328specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
15329TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
15330expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
15331(Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
15332you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
15333TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
15334reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
15335conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
15336and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
15337@code{target remote} command.
15338
15339@subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
15340
15341On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
15342This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
15343
15344@smallexample
15345target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
15346@end smallexample
15347
15348@var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
15349to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
15350
15351@pindex pidof
15352@cindex attach to a program by name
15353You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
15354@code{pidof} utility:
15355
15356@smallexample
15357target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
15358@end smallexample
15359
15360In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
15361has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
15362@code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
15363
15364@subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
15365@cindex gdbserver, multiple processes
15366@cindex multiple processes with gdbserver
15367
15368When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
15369@code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
15370program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
15371and @code{gdbserver} exits.
15372
15373If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
15374enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
15375detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
15376though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
15377commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
15378The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
15379remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
15380arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
15381redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
15382
15383To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
15384or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
15385Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
15386the program you want to debug.
15387
15388@code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit in multi-process mode.
15389You can terminate it by using @code{monitor exit}
15390(@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}).
15391
15392@subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
15393
15394The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
15395status information about the debugging process. The
15396@option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
15397remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
15398@code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
15399
15400The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
15401for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
15402wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
15403@kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
15404
15405@code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
15406command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
15407program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
15408runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
15409
15410You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
15411its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
15412this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
15413with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
15414
15415For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
15416the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
15417environment:
15418
15419@smallexample
15420$ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
15421@end smallexample
15422
15423@subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
15424
15425Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
15426
15427First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
15428your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
15429@code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
15430was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
15431
15432The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
15433and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
15434system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
15435are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
15436during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
15437files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
15438programs.
15439
15440Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
15441For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
15442the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
15443text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
15444@samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
15445command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
15446already on the target.
15447
15448@subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
15449@cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
15450@anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
15451
15452During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
15453@code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
15454Here are the available commands.
15455
15456@table @code
15457@item monitor help
15458List the available monitor commands.
15459
15460@item monitor set debug 0
15461@itemx monitor set debug 1
15462Disable or enable general debugging messages.
15463
15464@item monitor set remote-debug 0
15465@itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
15466Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
15467protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
15468
15469@item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
15470@cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
15471When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
15472directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
15473libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
15474@samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to an empty list.
15475
15476@item monitor exit
15477Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
15478@code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
15479detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
15480Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
15481of a multi-process mode debug session.
15482
15483@end table
15484
15485@node Remote Configuration
15486@section Remote Configuration
15487
15488@kindex set remote
15489@kindex show remote
15490This section documents the configuration options available when
15491debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
15492extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
15493system-call-allowed}.
15494
15495@table @code
15496@item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
15497@cindex address size for remote targets
15498@cindex bits in remote address
15499Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
15500number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
15501that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
15502default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
15503
15504@item show remoteaddresssize
15505Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
15506
15507@item set remotebaud @var{n}
15508@cindex baud rate for remote targets
15509Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
15510value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
15511remote targets.
15512
15513@item show remotebaud
15514Show the current speed of the remote connection.
15515
15516@item set remotebreak
15517@cindex interrupt remote programs
15518@cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
15519@anchor{set remotebreak}
15520If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
15521when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
15522on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
15523character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
15524expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
15525
15526@item show remotebreak
15527Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
15528interrupt the remote program.
15529
15530@item set remoteflow on
15531@itemx set remoteflow off
15532@kindex set remoteflow
15533Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
15534on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
15535
15536@item show remoteflow
15537@kindex show remoteflow
15538Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
15539
15540@item set remotelogbase @var{base}
15541Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
15542communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
15543@code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
15544@code{ascii}.
15545
15546@item show remotelogbase
15547Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
15548protocol.
15549
15550@item set remotelogfile @var{file}
15551@cindex record serial communications on file
15552Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
15553default is not to record at all.
15554
15555@item show remotelogfile.
15556Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
15557serial communications.
15558
15559@item set remotetimeout @var{num}
15560@cindex timeout for serial communications
15561@cindex remote timeout
15562Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
15563@var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
15564
15565@item show remotetimeout
15566Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
15567responses.
15568
15569@cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
15570@cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
15571@anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
15572@anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
15573@item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
15574@itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
15575Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
15576watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
15577
15578@item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
15579@itemx show remote exec-file
15580@anchor{set remote exec-file}
15581@cindex executable file, for remote target
15582Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
15583extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
15584target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
15585filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
15586
15587@item set remote interrupt-sequence
15588@cindex interrupt remote programs
15589@cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
15590Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
15591@samp{BREAK-g} as the
15592sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
15593@samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
15594is high level of serial line for some certain time.
15595Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
15596It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
15597
15598@item show interrupt-sequence
15599Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
15600is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
15601@code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
15602also known as Magic SysRq g.
15603
15604@item set remote interrupt-on-connect
15605@cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
15606Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
15607@value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
15608Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
15609which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
15610
15611@item show interrupt-on-connect
15612Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
15613to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
15614
15615@kindex set tcp
15616@kindex show tcp
15617@item set tcp auto-retry on
15618@cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
15619Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
15620debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
15621condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
15622before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
15623enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
15624to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
15625@code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
15626
15627@item set tcp auto-retry off
15628Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
15629
15630@item show tcp auto-retry
15631Show the current auto-retry setting.
15632
15633@item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
15634@cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
15635@cindex timeout, for remote target connection
15636Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
15637@var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
15638(enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
15639that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
15640value.
15641
15642@item show tcp connect-timeout
15643Show the current connection timeout setting.
15644@end table
15645
15646@cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
15647The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
15648your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
15649can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
15650packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
15651packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
15652or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
15653all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
15654see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
15655
15656During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
15657If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
15658in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
15659@value{GDBN} developers.
15660
15661For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
15662packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
15663are:
15664
15665@multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
15666@item Command Name
15667@tab Remote Packet
15668@tab Related Features
15669
15670@item @code{fetch-register}
15671@tab @code{p}
15672@tab @code{info registers}
15673
15674@item @code{set-register}
15675@tab @code{P}
15676@tab @code{set}
15677
15678@item @code{binary-download}
15679@tab @code{X}
15680@tab @code{load}, @code{set}
15681
15682@item @code{read-aux-vector}
15683@tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
15684@tab @code{info auxv}
15685
15686@item @code{symbol-lookup}
15687@tab @code{qSymbol}
15688@tab Detecting multiple threads
15689
15690@item @code{attach}
15691@tab @code{vAttach}
15692@tab @code{attach}
15693
15694@item @code{verbose-resume}
15695@tab @code{vCont}
15696@tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
15697
15698@item @code{run}
15699@tab @code{vRun}
15700@tab @code{run}
15701
15702@item @code{software-breakpoint}
15703@tab @code{Z0}
15704@tab @code{break}
15705
15706@item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
15707@tab @code{Z1}
15708@tab @code{hbreak}
15709
15710@item @code{write-watchpoint}
15711@tab @code{Z2}
15712@tab @code{watch}
15713
15714@item @code{read-watchpoint}
15715@tab @code{Z3}
15716@tab @code{rwatch}
15717
15718@item @code{access-watchpoint}
15719@tab @code{Z4}
15720@tab @code{awatch}
15721
15722@item @code{target-features}
15723@tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
15724@tab @code{set architecture}
15725
15726@item @code{library-info}
15727@tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
15728@tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
15729
15730@item @code{memory-map}
15731@tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
15732@tab @code{info mem}
15733
15734@item @code{read-spu-object}
15735@tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
15736@tab @code{info spu}
15737
15738@item @code{write-spu-object}
15739@tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
15740@tab @code{info spu}
15741
15742@item @code{read-siginfo-object}
15743@tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
15744@tab @code{print $_siginfo}
15745
15746@item @code{write-siginfo-object}
15747@tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
15748@tab @code{set $_siginfo}
15749
15750@item @code{threads}
15751@tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
15752@tab @code{info threads}
15753
15754@item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
15755@tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
15756@tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
15757
15758@item @code{search-memory}
15759@tab @code{qSearch:memory}
15760@tab @code{find}
15761
15762@item @code{supported-packets}
15763@tab @code{qSupported}
15764@tab Remote communications parameters
15765
15766@item @code{pass-signals}
15767@tab @code{QPassSignals}
15768@tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
15769
15770@item @code{hostio-close-packet}
15771@tab @code{vFile:close}
15772@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
15773
15774@item @code{hostio-open-packet}
15775@tab @code{vFile:open}
15776@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
15777
15778@item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
15779@tab @code{vFile:pread}
15780@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
15781
15782@item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
15783@tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
15784@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
15785
15786@item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
15787@tab @code{vFile:unlink}
15788@tab @code{remote delete}
15789
15790@item @code{noack-packet}
15791@tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
15792@tab Packet acknowledgment
15793
15794@item @code{osdata}
15795@tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
15796@tab @code{info os}
15797
15798@item @code{query-attached}
15799@tab @code{qAttached}
15800@tab Querying remote process attach state.
15801@end multitable
15802
15803@node Remote Stub
15804@section Implementing a Remote Stub
15805
15806@cindex debugging stub, example
15807@cindex remote stub, example
15808@cindex stub example, remote debugging
15809The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
15810communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
15811@value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
15812these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
15813implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
15814with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
15815organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
15816
15817@cindex remote serial debugging, overview
15818To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
15819@dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
15820prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
15821program, you need:
15822
15823@enumerate
15824@item
15825A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
15826have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
15827your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
15828
15829@item
15830A C subroutine library to support your program's
15831subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
15832
15833@item
15834A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
15835download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
15836manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
15837documentation.
15838@end enumerate
15839
15840The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
15841communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
15842machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
15843
15844@table @emph
15845@item On the host,
15846@value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
15847else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
15848(@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
15849
15850@item On the target,
15851you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
15852implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
15853subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
15854
15855On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
15856@code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
15857@xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
15858@end table
15859
15860The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
15861machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
15862@sc{sparc} boards.
15863
15864@cindex remote serial stub list
15865These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
15866
15867@table @code
15868
15869@item i386-stub.c
15870@cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
15871@cindex Intel
15872@cindex i386
15873For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
15874
15875@item m68k-stub.c
15876@cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
15877@cindex Motorola 680x0
15878@cindex m680x0
15879For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
15880
15881@item sh-stub.c
15882@cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
15883@cindex Renesas
15884@cindex SH
15885For Renesas SH architectures.
15886
15887@item sparc-stub.c
15888@cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
15889@cindex Sparc
15890For @sc{sparc} architectures.
15891
15892@item sparcl-stub.c
15893@cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
15894@cindex Fujitsu
15895@cindex SparcLite
15896For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
15897
15898@end table
15899
15900The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
15901recently added stubs.
15902
15903@menu
15904* Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
15905* Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
15906* Debug Session:: Putting it all together
15907@end menu
15908
15909@node Stub Contents
15910@subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
15911
15912@cindex remote serial stub
15913The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
15914subroutines:
15915
15916@table @code
15917@item set_debug_traps
15918@findex set_debug_traps
15919@cindex remote serial stub, initialization
15920This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
15921program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly near the
15922beginning of your program.
15923
15924@item handle_exception
15925@findex handle_exception
15926@cindex remote serial stub, main routine
15927This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
15928explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
15929run when a trap is triggered.
15930
15931@code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
15932execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
15933with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
15934protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
15935representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
15936information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
15937retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
15938execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
15939@code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
15940machine.
15941
15942@item breakpoint
15943@cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
15944Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
15945breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
15946way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
15947machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
15948pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
15949@code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
15950simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
15951again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
15952your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
15953@value{GDBN} session gets control.
15954
15955Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
15956to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
15957start of your debugging session.
15958@end table
15959
15960@node Bootstrapping
15961@subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
15962
15963@cindex remote stub, support routines
15964The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
15965chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
15966debugging target machine.
15967
15968First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
15969serial port.
15970
15971@table @code
15972@item int getDebugChar()
15973@findex getDebugChar
15974Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
15975It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
15976different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
15977
15978@item void putDebugChar(int)
15979@findex putDebugChar
15980Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
15981It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
15982different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
15983@end table
15984
15985@cindex control C, and remote debugging
15986@cindex interrupting remote targets
15987If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
15988running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
15989for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
15990character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
15991remote system to stop.
15992
15993Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
15994probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
15995is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
15996@value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
15997
15998Other routines you need to supply are:
15999
16000@table @code
16001@item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
16002@findex exceptionHandler
16003Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
16004handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
16005way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
16006are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
16007containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
16008@var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
16009its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
16010might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
16011exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
16012@var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
16013and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
16014you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
16015should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
16016
16017For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
16018gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
16019should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
16020@sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
16021help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
16022
16023@item void flush_i_cache()
16024@findex flush_i_cache
16025On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
16026instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
16027instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
16028
16029On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
16030function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
16031@end table
16032
16033@noindent
16034You must also make sure this library routine is available:
16035
16036@table @code
16037@item void *memset(void *, int, int)
16038@findex memset
16039This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
16040memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
16041@code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
16042either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
16043@end table
16044
16045If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
16046library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
16047but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
16048subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
16049
16050
16051@node Debug Session
16052@subsection Putting it All Together
16053
16054@cindex remote serial debugging summary
16055In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
16056steps.
16057
16058@enumerate
16059@item
16060Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
16061(@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
16062@display
16063@code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
16064@code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
16065@end display
16066
16067@item
16068Insert these lines near the top of your program:
16069
16070@smallexample
16071set_debug_traps();
16072breakpoint();
16073@end smallexample
16074
16075@item
16076For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
16077@code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
16078
16079@smallexample
16080void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
16081@end smallexample
16082
16083@noindent
16084but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
16085function in your program, that function is called when
16086@code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
16087error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
16088one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
16089
16090@item
16091Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
16092your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
16093
16094@item
16095Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
16096the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
16097
16098@item
16099@c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
16100@c document that. FIXME.
16101Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
16102whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
16103
16104@item
16105Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
16106(@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
16107
16108@end enumerate
16109
16110@node Configurations
16111@chapter Configuration-Specific Information
16112
16113While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
16114cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
16115describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
16116
16117There are three major categories of configurations: native
16118configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
16119operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
16120different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
16121are quite different from each other.
16122
16123@menu
16124* Native::
16125* Embedded OS::
16126* Embedded Processors::
16127* Architectures::
16128@end menu
16129
16130@node Native
16131@section Native
16132
16133This section describes details specific to particular native
16134configurations.
16135
16136@menu
16137* HP-UX:: HP-UX
16138* BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
16139* SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
16140* DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
16141* Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
16142* Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
16143* Neutrino:: Features specific to QNX Neutrino
16144* Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
16145@end menu
16146
16147@node HP-UX
16148@subsection HP-UX
16149
16150On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
16151begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
16152name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
16153
16154
16155@node BSD libkvm Interface
16156@subsection BSD libkvm Interface
16157
16158@cindex libkvm
16159@cindex kernel memory image
16160@cindex kernel crash dump
16161
16162BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
16163interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
16164memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
16165uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
16166dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
16167special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
16168the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
16169@code{kvm} target:
16170
16171@smallexample
16172(@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
16173@end smallexample
16174
16175For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
16176argument:
16177
16178@smallexample
16179(@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
16180@end smallexample
16181
16182Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
16183available:
16184
16185@table @code
16186@kindex kvm
16187@item kvm pcb
16188Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
16189
16190@item kvm proc
16191Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
16192modern FreeBSD systems.
16193@end table
16194
16195@node SVR4 Process Information
16196@subsection SVR4 Process Information
16197@cindex /proc
16198@cindex examine process image
16199@cindex process info via @file{/proc}
16200
16201Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
16202@samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
16203process using file-system subroutines. If @value{GDBN} is configured
16204for an operating system with this facility, the command @code{info
16205proc} is available to report information about the process running
16206your program, or about any process running on your system. @code{info
16207proc} works only on SVR4 systems that include the @code{procfs} code.
16208This includes, as of this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital
16209Unix), Solaris, Irix, and Unixware, but not HP-UX, for example.
16210
16211@table @code
16212@kindex info proc
16213@cindex process ID
16214@item info proc
16215@itemx info proc @var{process-id}
16216Summarize available information about any running process. If a
16217process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
16218that process; otherwise display information about the program being
16219debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
16220line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
16221executable file's absolute file name.
16222
16223On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
16224@samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
16225within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
16226a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
16227needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
16228a process ID rather than a thread ID).
16229
16230@item info proc mappings
16231@cindex memory address space mappings
16232Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
16233information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
16234rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
16235includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
16236memory access rights to that range.
16237
16238@item info proc stat
16239@itemx info proc status
16240@cindex process detailed status information
16241These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
16242the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
16243how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
16244the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
16245consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
16246value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
16247(type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
16248
16249@item info proc all
16250Show all the information about the process described under all of the
16251above @code{info proc} subcommands.
16252
16253@ignore
16254@comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
16255@comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
16256@comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
16257@kindex info proc times
16258@item info proc times
16259Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
16260its children.
16261
16262@kindex info proc id
16263@item info proc id
16264Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
16265the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
16266@end ignore
16267
16268@item set procfs-trace
16269@kindex set procfs-trace
16270@cindex @code{procfs} API calls
16271This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
16272
16273@item show procfs-trace
16274@kindex show procfs-trace
16275Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
16276
16277@item set procfs-file @var{file}
16278@kindex set procfs-file
16279Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
16280@var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
16281contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
16282standard output.
16283
16284@item show procfs-file
16285@kindex show procfs-file
16286Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
16287
16288@item proc-trace-entry
16289@itemx proc-trace-exit
16290@itemx proc-untrace-entry
16291@itemx proc-untrace-exit
16292@kindex proc-trace-entry
16293@kindex proc-trace-exit
16294@kindex proc-untrace-entry
16295@kindex proc-untrace-exit
16296These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
16297from the @code{syscall} interface.
16298
16299@item info pidlist
16300@kindex info pidlist
16301@cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
16302For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
16303processes and all the threads within each process.
16304
16305@item info meminfo
16306@kindex info meminfo
16307@cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
16308For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
16309@end table
16310
16311@node DJGPP Native
16312@subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
16313@cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
16314@cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
16315@cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
16316
16317@cindex DPMI
16318@sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
16319MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
16320that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
16321top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
16322
16323@value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
16324defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
16325subsection describes those commands.
16326
16327@table @code
16328@kindex info dos
16329@item info dos
16330This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
16331information about the target system and important OS structures.
16332
16333@kindex sysinfo
16334@cindex MS-DOS system info
16335@cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
16336@item info dos sysinfo
16337This command displays assorted information about the underlying
16338platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
16339DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
16340
16341@cindex GDT
16342@cindex LDT
16343@cindex IDT
16344@cindex segment descriptor tables
16345@cindex descriptor tables display
16346@item info dos gdt
16347@itemx info dos ldt
16348@itemx info dos idt
16349These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
16350and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
16351tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
16352that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
16353descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
16354descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
16355rights.
16356
16357A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
16358segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
16359allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
16360conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
16361additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
16362
16363@cindex garbled pointers
16364These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
16365Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
16366displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
16367display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
16368example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
16369debugged program's data segment:
16370
16371@smallexample
16372@exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
16373@exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
16374@end smallexample
16375
16376@noindent
16377This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
16378the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
16379
16380@cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
16381@item info dos pde
16382@itemx info dos pte
16383These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
16384Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
16385data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
16386into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
16387page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
16388may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
16389Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
16390that is currently in use.
16391
16392Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
16393Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
16394the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
16395@kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
16396Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
16397means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
16398the specified entry in the Page Directory.
16399
16400@cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
16401These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
16402Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
16403controller.
16404
16405These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
16406
16407@cindex physical address from linear address
16408@item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
16409This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
16410address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
16411already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
16412because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
16413segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
16414the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
16415
16416@smallexample
16417@exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
16418@exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
16419@exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
16420@end smallexample
16421
16422@noindent
16423This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
16424whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
16425attributes of that page.
16426
16427Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
16428since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
16429address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
16430be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
16431declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
16432@code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
16433
16434Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
16435transfer buffer:
16436
16437@smallexample
16438@exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
16439@exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
16440@exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
16441@end smallexample
16442
16443@noindent
16444(The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
164453rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
16446clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
16447memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
16448linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
16449
16450This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
16451@end table
16452
16453@cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
16454In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
16455debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
16456to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
16457
16458@table @code
16459@kindex set com1base
16460@kindex set com1irq
16461@kindex set com2base
16462@kindex set com2irq
16463@kindex set com3base
16464@kindex set com3irq
16465@kindex set com4base
16466@kindex set com4irq
16467@item set com1base @var{addr}
16468This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
16469port.
16470
16471@item set com1irq @var{irq}
16472This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
16473for the @file{COM1} serial port.
16474
16475There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
16476etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
16477other 3 COM ports.
16478
16479@kindex show com1base
16480@kindex show com1irq
16481@kindex show com2base
16482@kindex show com2irq
16483@kindex show com3base
16484@kindex show com3irq
16485@kindex show com4base
16486@kindex show com4irq
16487The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
16488display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
16489lines used by the COM ports.
16490
16491@item info serial
16492@kindex info serial
16493@cindex DOS serial port status
16494This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
16495port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
16496IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
16497counts of various errors encountered so far.
16498@end table
16499
16500
16501@node Cygwin Native
16502@subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
16503@cindex MS Windows debugging
16504@cindex native Cygwin debugging
16505@cindex Cygwin-specific commands
16506
16507@value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
16508DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
16509
16510@cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
16511@cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
16512MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
16513special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
16514by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
16515supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
16516sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
16517ignores @kbd{C-c}.
16518
16519There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
16520this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
16521described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
16522
16523@table @code
16524@kindex info w32
16525@item info w32
16526This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
16527information about the target system and important OS structures.
16528
16529@item info w32 selector
16530This command displays information returned by
16531the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
16532It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
16533a long value to give the information about this given selector.
16534Without argument, this command displays information
16535about the six segment registers.
16536
16537@kindex info dll
16538@item info dll
16539This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
16540
16541@kindex dll-symbols
16542@item dll-symbols
16543This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
16544add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
16545
16546@kindex set cygwin-exceptions
16547@cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
16548@cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
16549@item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
16550If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
16551happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
16552@value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
16553exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
16554``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
16555Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
16556@value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
16557
16558@kindex show cygwin-exceptions
16559@item show cygwin-exceptions
16560Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
16561inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
16562
16563@kindex set new-console
16564@item set new-console @var{mode}
16565If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
16566be started in a new console on next start.
16567If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
16568be started in the same console as the debugger.
16569
16570@kindex show new-console
16571@item show new-console
16572Displays whether a new console is used
16573when the debuggee is started.
16574
16575@kindex set new-group
16576@item set new-group @var{mode}
16577This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
16578start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
16579This affects the way the Windows OS handles
16580@samp{Ctrl-C}.
16581
16582@kindex show new-group
16583@item show new-group
16584Displays current value of new-group boolean.
16585
16586@kindex set debugevents
16587@item set debugevents
16588This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
16589to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
16590signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
16591unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
16592Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
16593
16594@kindex set debugexec
16595@item set debugexec
16596This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
16597(such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
16598
16599@kindex set debugexceptions
16600@item set debugexceptions
16601This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
16602debuggee seen by the debugger.
16603
16604@kindex set debugmemory
16605@item set debugmemory
16606This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
16607and writes by the debugger.
16608
16609@kindex set shell
16610@item set shell
16611This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
16612via a shell or directly (default value is on).
16613
16614@kindex show shell
16615@item show shell
16616Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
16617
16618@end table
16619
16620@menu
16621* Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
16622@end menu
16623
16624@node Non-debug DLL Symbols
16625@subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
16626@cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
16627@cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
16628
16629Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
16630not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
16631@file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
16632symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
16633information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
16634describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
16635``minimal symbols''.
16636
16637Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
16638will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
16639start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
16640program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
16641@value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
16642see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
16643@code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
16644explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
16645cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
16646which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
16647
16648@subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
16649
16650In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
16651tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
16652DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
16653also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
16654sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
16655(particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
16656necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
16657contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
16658exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
16659
16660Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
16661though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
16662symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
16663some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
16664@code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
16665(@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
16666
16667@smallexample
16668(@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
16669All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
16670
16671Non-debugging symbols:
166720x77e885f4 CreateFileA
166730x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
16674@end smallexample
16675
16676@smallexample
16677(@value{GDBP}) info function !
16678All functions matching regular expression "!":
16679
16680Non-debugging symbols:
166810x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
166820x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
166830x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
16684[etc...]
16685@end smallexample
16686
16687@subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
16688
16689Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
16690type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
16691refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
16692contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
16693contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
16694means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
16695a function within a DLL without a running program.
16696
16697Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
16698automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
16699variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
16700type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
16701problem:
16702
16703@smallexample
16704(@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
16705$1 = 268572168
16706@end smallexample
16707
16708@smallexample
16709(@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
167100x10021610: "\230y\""
16711@end smallexample
16712
16713And two possible solutions:
16714
16715@smallexample
16716(@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
16717$2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
16718@end smallexample
16719
16720@smallexample
16721(@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
167220x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
16723(@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
167240x10021608: 0x0022fd98
16725(@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
167260x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
16727@end smallexample
16728
16729Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
16730starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
16731examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
16732function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
16733to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
16734
16735@smallexample
16736(@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
16737Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
16738@end smallexample
16739
16740The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
16741break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
16742safe.
16743
16744@node Hurd Native
16745@subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
16746@cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
16747
16748This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
16749@sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
16750
16751@table @code
16752@item set signals
16753@itemx set sigs
16754@kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
16755@kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
16756This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
16757@value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
16758affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
16759@code{signals}.
16760
16761@item show signals
16762@itemx show sigs
16763@kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
16764@kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
16765Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
16766
16767@item set signal-thread
16768@itemx set sigthread
16769@kindex set signal-thread
16770@kindex set sigthread
16771This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
16772thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
16773process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
16774signal-thread}.
16775
16776@item show signal-thread
16777@itemx show sigthread
16778@kindex show signal-thread
16779@kindex show sigthread
16780These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
16781delivered a signal.
16782
16783@item set stopped
16784@kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
16785This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
16786as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
16787continued by delivering a signal to it.
16788
16789@item show stopped
16790@kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
16791This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
16792stopped.
16793
16794@item set exceptions
16795@kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
16796Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
16797When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
16798single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
16799trapping on.
16800
16801@item show exceptions
16802@kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
16803Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
16804
16805@item set task pause
16806@kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
16807@cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
16808@cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
16809This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
16810Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
16811whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
16812effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
16813to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
16814thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
16815
16816@item show task pause
16817@kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
16818Show the current state of task suspension.
16819
16820@item set task detach-suspend-count
16821@cindex task suspend count
16822@cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16823This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
16824@value{GDBN} detaches from it.
16825
16826@item show task detach-suspend-count
16827Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
16828
16829@item set task exception-port
16830@itemx set task excp
16831@cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16832This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
16833forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
16834rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
16835
16836@item set noninvasive
16837@cindex noninvasive task options
16838This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
16839invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
16840is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
16841@code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
16842
16843@item info send-rights
16844@itemx info receive-rights
16845@itemx info port-rights
16846@itemx info port-sets
16847@itemx info dead-names
16848@itemx info ports
16849@itemx info psets
16850@cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16851@cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16852@cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16853@cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16854@cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16855These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
16856receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
16857There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
16858port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
16859
16860@item set thread pause
16861@kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
16862@cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16863@cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
16864This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
16865control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
16866thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
16867off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
16868Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
16869control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
16870task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
16871only the current thread.
16872
16873@item show thread pause
16874@kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
16875This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
16876
16877@item set thread run
16878This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
16879
16880@item show thread run
16881Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
16882
16883@item set thread detach-suspend-count
16884@cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16885@cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16886This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
16887thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
16888found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
16889takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
16890
16891@item show thread detach-suspend-count
16892Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
16893detaching.
16894
16895@item set thread exception-port
16896@itemx set thread excp
16897Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
16898overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
16899@code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
16900
16901@item set thread takeover-suspend-count
16902Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
16903value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
16904changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
16905
16906@item set thread default
16907@itemx show thread default
16908@cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16909Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
16910default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
16911thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
16912variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
16913threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
16914the non-default commands.
16915@end table
16916
16917
16918@node Neutrino
16919@subsection QNX Neutrino
16920@cindex QNX Neutrino
16921
16922@value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the QNX
16923Neutrino target:
16924
16925@table @code
16926@item set debug nto-debug
16927@kindex set debug nto-debug
16928When set to on, enables debugging messages specific to the QNX
16929Neutrino support.
16930
16931@item show debug nto-debug
16932@kindex show debug nto-debug
16933Show the current state of QNX Neutrino messages.
16934@end table
16935
16936@node Darwin
16937@subsection Darwin
16938@cindex Darwin
16939
16940@value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
16941
16942@table @code
16943@item set debug darwin @var{num}
16944@kindex set debug darwin
16945When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
16946the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
16947
16948@item show debug darwin
16949@kindex show debug darwin
16950Show the current state of Darwin messages.
16951
16952@item set debug mach-o @var{num}
16953@kindex set debug mach-o
16954When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
16955@value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
16956file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
16957values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
16958problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
16959usage.
16960
16961@item show debug mach-o
16962@kindex show debug mach-o
16963Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
16964
16965@item set mach-exceptions on
16966@itemx set mach-exceptions off
16967@kindex set mach-exceptions
16968On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
16969mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
16970Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
16971better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
16972
16973@item show mach-exceptions
16974@kindex show mach-exceptions
16975Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
16976@end table
16977
16978
16979@node Embedded OS
16980@section Embedded Operating Systems
16981
16982This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
16983embedded operating systems that are available for several different
16984architectures.
16985
16986@menu
16987* VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
16988@end menu
16989
16990@value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
16991various real-time operating systems.
16992
16993@node VxWorks
16994@subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
16995
16996@cindex VxWorks
16997
16998@table @code
16999
17000@kindex target vxworks
17001@item target vxworks @var{machinename}
17002A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
17003is the target system's machine name or IP address.
17004
17005@end table
17006
17007On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
17008current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
17009
17010@value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
17011VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
17012the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
17013both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
17014@code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
17015installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
17016@value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
17017
17018@table @code
17019@item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
17020@kindex vxworks-timeout
17021All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
17022This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
17023seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
17024your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
17025of a thin network line.
17026@end table
17027
17028The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
17029this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
17030procedures.
17031
17032@findex INCLUDE_RDB
17033To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
17034to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
17035library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
17036VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
17037kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
17038source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
17039information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
17040manual.
17041@c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
17042
17043Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
17044your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
17045run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
17046@code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
17047
17048@value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
17049
17050@smallexample
17051(vxgdb)
17052@end smallexample
17053
17054@menu
17055* VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
17056* VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
17057* VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
17058@end menu
17059
17060@node VxWorks Connection
17061@subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
17062
17063The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
17064network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
17065
17066@smallexample
17067(vxgdb) target vxworks tt
17068@end smallexample
17069
17070@need 750
17071@value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
17072
17073@smallexample
17074Attaching remote machine across net...
17075Connected to tt.
17076@end smallexample
17077
17078@need 1000
17079@value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
17080loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
17081these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
17082path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
17083to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
17084
17085@smallexample
17086prog.o: No such file or directory.
17087@end smallexample
17088
17089When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
17090the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
17091command again.
17092
17093@node VxWorks Download
17094@subsubsection VxWorks Download
17095
17096@cindex download to VxWorks
17097If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
17098object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
17099@code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
17100incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
17101command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
17102to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
17103table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
17104the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
17105filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
17106Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
17107to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
17108the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
17109@file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
17110and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
17111program, type this on VxWorks:
17112
17113@smallexample
17114-> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
17115@end smallexample
17116
17117@noindent
17118Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
17119
17120@smallexample
17121(vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
17122(vxgdb) load prog.o
17123@end smallexample
17124
17125@value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
17126
17127@smallexample
17128Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
17129@end smallexample
17130
17131You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
17132after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
17133this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
17134auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
17135history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
17136debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
17137table.)
17138
17139@node VxWorks Attach
17140@subsubsection Running Tasks
17141
17142@cindex running VxWorks tasks
17143You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
17144follows:
17145
17146@smallexample
17147(vxgdb) attach @var{task}
17148@end smallexample
17149
17150@noindent
17151where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
17152or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
17153the time of attachment.
17154
17155@node Embedded Processors
17156@section Embedded Processors
17157
17158This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
17159configurations.
17160
17161@cindex send command to simulator
17162Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
17163allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
17164
17165@table @code
17166@item sim @var{command}
17167@kindex sim@r{, a command}
17168Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
17169documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
17170acceptable commands.
17171@end table
17172
17173
17174@menu
17175* ARM:: ARM RDI
17176* M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
17177* M68K:: Motorola M68K
17178* MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
17179* MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
17180* OpenRISC 1000:: OpenRisc 1000
17181* PA:: HP PA Embedded
17182* PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
17183* Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
17184* Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
17185* Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
17186* AVR:: Atmel AVR
17187* CRIS:: CRIS
17188* Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
17189@end menu
17190
17191@node ARM
17192@subsection ARM
17193@cindex ARM RDI
17194
17195@table @code
17196@kindex target rdi
17197@item target rdi @var{dev}
17198ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
17199use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
17200monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
17201
17202@kindex target rdp
17203@item target rdp @var{dev}
17204ARM Demon monitor.
17205
17206@end table
17207
17208@value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
17209
17210@table @code
17211@item set arm disassembler
17212@kindex set arm
17213This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
17214@code{"std"} style is the standard style.
17215
17216@item show arm disassembler
17217@kindex show arm
17218Show the current disassembly style.
17219
17220@item set arm apcs32
17221@cindex ARM 32-bit mode
17222This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
17223
17224@item show arm apcs32
17225Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
17226
17227@item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
17228This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
17229argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
17230
17231@table @code
17232@item auto
17233Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
17234@item softfpa
17235Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
17236processors.
17237@item fpa
17238GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
17239@item softvfp
17240Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
17241@item vfp
17242VFP co-processor.
17243@end table
17244
17245@item show arm fpu
17246Show the current type of the FPU.
17247
17248@item set arm abi
17249This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
17250
17251@item show arm abi
17252Show the currently used ABI.
17253
17254@item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
17255@value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
17256whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
17257@value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
17258available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
17259use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
17260register).
17261
17262@item show arm fallback-mode
17263Show the current fallback instruction mode.
17264
17265@item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
17266This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
17267instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
17268causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
17269of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
17270
17271@item show arm force-mode
17272Show the current forced instruction mode.
17273
17274@item set debug arm
17275Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
17276target support subsystem.
17277
17278@item show debug arm
17279Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
17280@end table
17281
17282The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
17283using the RDI interface:
17284
17285@table @code
17286@item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
17287@kindex rdilogfile
17288@cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
17289Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
17290With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
17291no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
17292@file{rdi.log}.
17293
17294@item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
17295@kindex rdilogenable
17296Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
17297enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
17298no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
17299ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
17300are logged to a file.
17301
17302@item set rdiromatzero
17303@kindex set rdiromatzero
17304@cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
17305Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
17306vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
17307(the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
17308effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
17309
17310@item show rdiromatzero
17311@kindex show rdiromatzero
17312Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
17313
17314@item set rdiheartbeat
17315@kindex set rdiheartbeat
17316@cindex RDI heartbeat
17317Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
17318turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
17319well as the Angel monitor.
17320
17321@item show rdiheartbeat
17322@kindex show rdiheartbeat
17323Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
17324@end table
17325
17326@table @code
17327@item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
17328The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
17329
17330@table @code
17331@item --swi-support=@var{type}
17332Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support.
17333@var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
17334The default value is @code{all}.
17335
17336@table @code
17337@item none
17338@item demon
17339@item angel
17340@item redboot
17341@item all
17342@end table
17343@end table
17344@end table
17345
17346@node M32R/D
17347@subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
17348
17349@table @code
17350@kindex target m32r
17351@item target m32r @var{dev}
17352Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
17353
17354@kindex target m32rsdi
17355@item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
17356Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
17357@end table
17358
17359The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
17360
17361@table @code
17362@item set download-path @var{path}
17363@kindex set download-path
17364@cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
17365Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
17366
17367@item show download-path
17368@kindex show download-path
17369Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
17370
17371@item set board-address @var{addr}
17372@kindex set board-address
17373@cindex M32-EVA target board address
17374Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
17375
17376@item show board-address
17377@kindex show board-address
17378Show the current IP address of the target board.
17379
17380@item set server-address @var{addr}
17381@kindex set server-address
17382@cindex download server address (M32R)
17383Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
17384host machine.
17385
17386@item show server-address
17387@kindex show server-address
17388Display the IP address of the download server.
17389
17390@item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
17391@kindex upload@r{, M32R}
17392Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
17393upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
17394executable file is uploaded.
17395
17396@item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
17397@kindex tload@r{, M32R}
17398Test the @code{upload} command.
17399@end table
17400
17401The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
17402
17403@table @code
17404@item sdireset
17405@kindex sdireset
17406@cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
17407This command resets the SDI connection.
17408
17409@item sdistatus
17410@kindex sdistatus
17411This command shows the SDI connection status.
17412
17413@item debug_chaos
17414@kindex debug_chaos
17415@cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
17416Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
17417
17418@item use_debug_dma
17419@kindex use_debug_dma
17420Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
17421
17422@item use_mon_code
17423@kindex use_mon_code
17424Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
17425
17426@item use_ib_break
17427@kindex use_ib_break
17428Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
17429
17430@item use_dbt_break
17431@kindex use_dbt_break
17432Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
17433@end table
17434
17435@node M68K
17436@subsection M68k
17437
17438The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
17439target command for the following ROM monitor.
17440
17441@table @code
17442
17443@kindex target dbug
17444@item target dbug @var{dev}
17445dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
17446
17447@end table
17448
17449@node MicroBlaze
17450@subsection MicroBlaze
17451@cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
17452@cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
17453
17454The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
17455FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
17456usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
17457Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
17458This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
17459the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
17460communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
17461presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
17462@code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
17463this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
17464commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
17465
17466Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
17467
17468@table @code
17469@item target remote :1234
17470Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
17471on the same system as @code{xmd}.
17472
17473@item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
17474Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
17475running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
17476
17477@item load
17478Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
17479
17480@item set debug microblaze @var{n}
17481Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
17482
17483@item show debug microblaze @var{n}
17484Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
17485@end table
17486
17487@node MIPS Embedded
17488@subsection MIPS Embedded
17489
17490@cindex MIPS boards
17491@value{GDBN} can use the MIPS remote debugging protocol to talk to a
17492MIPS board attached to a serial line. This is available when
17493you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.
17494
17495@need 1000
17496Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
17497
17498@table @code
17499@item target mips @var{port}
17500@kindex target mips @var{port}
17501To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
17502name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
17503command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
17504the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
17505been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
17506download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
17507
17508For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
17509port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
17510debugger:
17511
17512@smallexample
17513host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
17514@value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
17515(@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
17516(@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
17517(@value{GDBP}) run
17518@end smallexample
17519
17520@item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
17521On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
17522connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
17523concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
17524@samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
17525
17526@item target pmon @var{port}
17527@kindex target pmon @var{port}
17528PMON ROM monitor.
17529
17530@item target ddb @var{port}
17531@kindex target ddb @var{port}
17532NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
17533
17534@item target lsi @var{port}
17535@kindex target lsi @var{port}
17536LSI variant of PMON.
17537
17538@kindex target r3900
17539@item target r3900 @var{dev}
17540Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
17541
17542@kindex target array
17543@item target array @var{dev}
17544Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
17545
17546@end table
17547
17548
17549@noindent
17550@value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for MIPS targets:
17551
17552@table @code
17553@item set mipsfpu double
17554@itemx set mipsfpu single
17555@itemx set mipsfpu none
17556@itemx set mipsfpu auto
17557@itemx show mipsfpu
17558@kindex set mipsfpu
17559@kindex show mipsfpu
17560@cindex MIPS remote floating point
17561@cindex floating point, MIPS remote
17562If your target board does not support the MIPS floating point
17563coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
17564need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
17565file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
17566functions which return floating point values. It also allows
17567@value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
17568functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
17569with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
17570processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
17571double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
17572@samp{set mipsfpu double}.
17573
17574In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
17575floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
17576and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
17577
17578As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
17579@samp{show mipsfpu}.
17580
17581@item set timeout @var{seconds}
17582@itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
17583@itemx show timeout
17584@itemx show retransmit-timeout
17585@cindex @code{timeout}, MIPS protocol
17586@cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, MIPS protocol
17587@kindex set timeout
17588@kindex show timeout
17589@kindex set retransmit-timeout
17590@kindex show retransmit-timeout
17591You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the MIPS
17592remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
17593default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
17594waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
17595retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
17596You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
17597retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
17598@value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.)
17599
17600The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
17601is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
17602forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
17603to run before stopping.
17604
17605@item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
17606@kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
17607@cindex synchronize with remote MIPS target
17608Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
17609it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
17610characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
17611
17612@item show syn-garbage-limit
17613@kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
17614Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
17615trying to synchronize with the remote system.
17616
17617@item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
17618@kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
17619@cindex remote monitor prompt
17620Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
17621remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
17622@table @asis
17623@item pmon target
17624@samp{PMON}
17625@item ddb target
17626@samp{NEC010}
17627@item lsi target
17628@samp{PMON>}
17629@end table
17630
17631@item show monitor-prompt
17632@kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
17633Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
17634remote monitor.
17635
17636@item set monitor-warnings
17637@kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
17638Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
17639has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
17640display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
17641PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
17642
17643@item show monitor-warnings
17644@kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
17645Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
17646
17647@item pmon @var{command}
17648@kindex pmon@r{, MIPS remote}
17649@cindex send PMON command
17650This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
17651monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
17652@end table
17653
17654@node OpenRISC 1000
17655@subsection OpenRISC 1000
17656@cindex OpenRISC 1000
17657
17658@cindex or1k boards
17659See OR1k Architecture document (@uref{www.opencores.org}) for more information
17660about platform and commands.
17661
17662@table @code
17663
17664@kindex target jtag
17665@item target jtag jtag://@var{host}:@var{port}
17666
17667Connects to remote JTAG server.
17668JTAG remote server can be either an or1ksim or JTAG server,
17669connected via parallel port to the board.
17670
17671Example: @code{target jtag jtag://localhost:9999}
17672
17673@kindex or1ksim
17674@item or1ksim @var{command}
17675If connected to @code{or1ksim} OpenRISC 1000 Architectural
17676Simulator, proprietary commands can be executed.
17677
17678@kindex info or1k spr
17679@item info or1k spr
17680Displays spr groups.
17681
17682@item info or1k spr @var{group}
17683@itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno}
17684Displays register names in selected group.
17685
17686@item info or1k spr @var{group} @var{register}
17687@itemx info or1k spr @var{register}
17688@itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno}
17689@itemx info or1k spr @var{registerno}
17690Shows information about specified spr register.
17691
17692@kindex spr
17693@item spr @var{group} @var{register} @var{value}
17694@itemx spr @var{register @var{value}}
17695@itemx spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno @var{value}}
17696@itemx spr @var{registerno @var{value}}
17697Writes @var{value} to specified spr register.
17698@end table
17699
17700Some implementations of OpenRISC 1000 Architecture also have hardware trace.
17701It is very similar to @value{GDBN} trace, except it does not interfere with normal
17702program execution and is thus much faster. Hardware breakpoints/watchpoint
17703triggers can be set using:
17704@table @code
17705@item $LEA/$LDATA
17706Load effective address/data
17707@item $SEA/$SDATA
17708Store effective address/data
17709@item $AEA/$ADATA
17710Access effective address ($SEA or $LEA) or data ($SDATA/$LDATA)
17711@item $FETCH
17712Fetch data
17713@end table
17714
17715When triggered, it can capture low level data, like: @code{PC}, @code{LSEA},
17716@code{LDATA}, @code{SDATA}, @code{READSPR}, @code{WRITESPR}, @code{INSTR}.
17717
17718@code{htrace} commands:
17719@cindex OpenRISC 1000 htrace
17720@table @code
17721@kindex hwatch
17722@item hwatch @var{conditional}
17723Set hardware watchpoint on combination of Load/Store Effective Address(es)
17724or Data. For example:
17725
17726@code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
17727
17728@code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
17729
17730@kindex htrace
17731@item htrace info
17732Display information about current HW trace configuration.
17733
17734@item htrace trigger @var{conditional}
17735Set starting criteria for HW trace.
17736
17737@item htrace qualifier @var{conditional}
17738Set acquisition qualifier for HW trace.
17739
17740@item htrace stop @var{conditional}
17741Set HW trace stopping criteria.
17742
17743@item htrace record [@var{data}]*
17744Selects the data to be recorded, when qualifier is met and HW trace was
17745triggered.
17746
17747@item htrace enable
17748@itemx htrace disable
17749Enables/disables the HW trace.
17750
17751@item htrace rewind [@var{filename}]
17752Clears currently recorded trace data.
17753
17754If filename is specified, new trace file is made and any newly collected data
17755will be written there.
17756
17757@item htrace print [@var{start} [@var{len}]]
17758Prints trace buffer, using current record configuration.
17759
17760@item htrace mode continuous
17761Set continuous trace mode.
17762
17763@item htrace mode suspend
17764Set suspend trace mode.
17765
17766@end table
17767
17768@node PowerPC Embedded
17769@subsection PowerPC Embedded
17770
17771@value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
17772
17773@table @code
17774@kindex set powerpc
17775@item set powerpc soft-float
17776@itemx show powerpc soft-float
17777Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
17778convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
17779on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
17780
17781@item set powerpc vector-abi
17782@itemx show powerpc vector-abi
17783Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
17784arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
17785@samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
17786@samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
17787registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
17788based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
17789
17790@kindex target dink32
17791@item target dink32 @var{dev}
17792DINK32 ROM monitor.
17793
17794@kindex target ppcbug
17795@item target ppcbug @var{dev}
17796@kindex target ppcbug1
17797@item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
17798PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
17799
17800@kindex target sds
17801@item target sds @var{dev}
17802SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
17803@end table
17804
17805@cindex SDS protocol
17806The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
17807by @value{GDBN}:
17808
17809@table @code
17810@item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
17811@kindex set sdstimeout
17812Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
17813default is 2 seconds.
17814
17815@item show sdstimeout
17816@kindex show sdstimeout
17817Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
17818
17819@item sds @var{command}
17820@kindex sds@r{, a command}
17821Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
17822@end table
17823
17824
17825@node PA
17826@subsection HP PA Embedded
17827
17828@table @code
17829
17830@kindex target op50n
17831@item target op50n @var{dev}
17832OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
17833
17834@kindex target w89k
17835@item target w89k @var{dev}
17836W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
17837
17838@end table
17839
17840@node Sparclet
17841@subsection Tsqware Sparclet
17842
17843@cindex Sparclet
17844
17845@value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
17846Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
17847@value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
17848both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
17849@code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
17850
17851@table @code
17852@item remotetimeout @var{args}
17853@kindex remotetimeout
17854@value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
17855This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
17856seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
17857@end table
17858
17859@cindex compiling, on Sparclet
17860When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
17861information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
17862load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
17863@samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
17864
17865@smallexample
17866sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
17867@end smallexample
17868
17869You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
17870
17871@smallexample
17872sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
17873@end smallexample
17874
17875@cindex running, on Sparclet
17876Once you have set
17877your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
17878run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
17879(or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
17880
17881@value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
17882
17883@smallexample
17884(gdbslet)
17885@end smallexample
17886
17887@menu
17888* Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
17889* Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
17890* Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
17891* Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
17892@end menu
17893
17894@node Sparclet File
17895@subsubsection Setting File to Debug
17896
17897The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
17898
17899@smallexample
17900(gdbslet) file prog
17901@end smallexample
17902
17903@need 1000
17904@value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
17905@value{GDBN} locates
17906the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
17907path.
17908If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
17909files will be searched as well.
17910@value{GDBN} locates
17911the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
17912path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
17913If it fails
17914to find a file, it displays a message such as:
17915
17916@smallexample
17917prog: No such file or directory.
17918@end smallexample
17919
17920When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
17921the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
17922@code{target} command again.
17923
17924@node Sparclet Connection
17925@subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
17926
17927The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
17928To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
17929
17930@smallexample
17931(gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
17932Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
17933main () at ../prog.c:3
17934@end smallexample
17935
17936@need 750
17937@value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
17938
17939@smallexample
17940Connected to ttya.
17941@end smallexample
17942
17943@node Sparclet Download
17944@subsubsection Sparclet Download
17945
17946@cindex download to Sparclet
17947Once connected to the Sparclet target,
17948you can use the @value{GDBN}
17949@code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
17950The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
17951command.
17952Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
17953address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
17954offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
17955of each of the file's sections.
17956For instance, if the program
17957@file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
17958and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
17959
17960@smallexample
17961(gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
17962Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
17963@end smallexample
17964
17965If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
17966to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
17967to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
17968
17969@node Sparclet Execution
17970@subsubsection Running and Debugging
17971
17972@cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
17973You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
17974commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
17975manual for the list of commands.
17976
17977@smallexample
17978(gdbslet) b main
17979Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
17980(gdbslet) run
17981Starting program: prog
17982Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
179833 char *symarg = 0;
17984(gdbslet) step
179854 char *execarg = "hello!";
17986(gdbslet)
17987@end smallexample
17988
17989@node Sparclite
17990@subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
17991
17992@table @code
17993
17994@kindex target sparclite
17995@item target sparclite @var{dev}
17996Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
17997You must use an additional command to debug the program.
17998For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
17999remote protocol.
18000
18001@end table
18002
18003@node Z8000
18004@subsection Zilog Z8000
18005
18006@cindex Z8000
18007@cindex simulator, Z8000
18008@cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
18009
18010When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
18011a Z8000 simulator.
18012
18013For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
18014unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
18015segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
18016appropriate by inspecting the object code.
18017
18018@table @code
18019@item target sim @var{args}
18020@kindex sim
18021@kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
18022Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
18023options, specify them via @var{args}.
18024@end table
18025
18026@noindent
18027After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
18028CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
18029@code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
18030to run your program, and so on.
18031
18032As well as making available all the usual machine registers
18033(@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
18034additional items of information as specially named registers:
18035
18036@table @code
18037
18038@item cycles
18039Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
18040
18041@item insts
18042Counts instructions run in the simulator.
18043
18044@item time
18045Execution time in 60ths of a second.
18046
18047@end table
18048
18049You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
18050conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
18051conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
18052simulated clock ticks.
18053
18054@node AVR
18055@subsection Atmel AVR
18056@cindex AVR
18057
18058When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
18059following AVR-specific commands:
18060
18061@table @code
18062@item info io_registers
18063@kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
18064@cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
18065This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
18066each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
18067@end table
18068
18069@node CRIS
18070@subsection CRIS
18071@cindex CRIS
18072
18073When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
18074following CRIS-specific commands:
18075
18076@table @code
18077@item set cris-version @var{ver}
18078@cindex CRIS version
18079Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
18080The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
18081case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
18082
18083@item show cris-version
18084Show the current CRIS version.
18085
18086@item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
18087@cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
18088Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
18089Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
18090@code{R59}.
18091
18092@item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
18093Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
18094
18095@item set cris-mode @var{mode}
18096@cindex CRIS mode
18097Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
18098debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
18099@samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
18100
18101@item show cris-mode
18102Show the current CRIS mode.
18103@end table
18104
18105@node Super-H
18106@subsection Renesas Super-H
18107@cindex Super-H
18108
18109For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
18110commands:
18111
18112@table @code
18113@item regs
18114@kindex regs@r{, Super-H}
18115Show the values of all Super-H registers.
18116
18117@item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
18118@kindex set sh calling-convention
18119Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
18120Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
18121With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
18122convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
18123that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
18124is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
18125is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
18126regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
18127default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
18128does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
18129
18130@item show sh calling-convention
18131@kindex show sh calling-convention
18132Show the current calling convention setting.
18133
18134@end table
18135
18136
18137@node Architectures
18138@section Architectures
18139
18140This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
18141all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
18142
18143@menu
18144* i386::
18145* A29K::
18146* Alpha::
18147* MIPS::
18148* HPPA:: HP PA architecture
18149* SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
18150* PowerPC::
18151@end menu
18152
18153@node i386
18154@subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
18155
18156@table @code
18157@item set struct-convention @var{mode}
18158@kindex set struct-convention
18159@cindex struct return convention
18160@cindex struct/union returned in registers
18161Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
18162@code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
18163@var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
18164default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
18165are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
18166@code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
18167be returned in a register.
18168
18169@item show struct-convention
18170@kindex show struct-convention
18171Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
18172from functions.
18173@end table
18174
18175@node A29K
18176@subsection A29K
18177
18178@table @code
18179
18180@kindex set rstack_high_address
18181@cindex AMD 29K register stack
18182@cindex register stack, AMD29K
18183@item set rstack_high_address @var{address}
18184On AMD 29000 family processors, registers are saved in a separate
18185@dfn{register stack}. There is no way for @value{GDBN} to determine the
18186extent of this stack. Normally, @value{GDBN} just assumes that the
18187stack is ``large enough''. This may result in @value{GDBN} referencing
18188memory locations that do not exist. If necessary, you can get around
18189this problem by specifying the ending address of the register stack with
18190the @code{set rstack_high_address} command. The argument should be an
18191address, which you probably want to precede with @samp{0x} to specify in
18192hexadecimal.
18193
18194@kindex show rstack_high_address
18195@item show rstack_high_address
18196Display the current limit of the register stack, on AMD 29000 family
18197processors.
18198
18199@end table
18200
18201@node Alpha
18202@subsection Alpha
18203
18204See the following section.
18205
18206@node MIPS
18207@subsection MIPS
18208
18209@cindex stack on Alpha
18210@cindex stack on MIPS
18211@cindex Alpha stack
18212@cindex MIPS stack
18213Alpha- and MIPS-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
18214sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
18215find the beginning of a function.
18216
18217@cindex response time, MIPS debugging
18218To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
18219@value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
18220you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
18221commands:
18222
18223@table @code
18224@cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, MIPS)
18225@item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
18226Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
18227search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
18228default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
18229larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
18230and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
18231this command when debugging a stripped executable.
18232
18233@item show heuristic-fence-post
18234Display the current limit.
18235@end table
18236
18237@noindent
18238These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
18239for debugging programs on Alpha or MIPS processors.
18240
18241Several MIPS-specific commands are available when debugging MIPS
18242programs:
18243
18244@table @code
18245@item set mips abi @var{arg}
18246@kindex set mips abi
18247@cindex set ABI for MIPS
18248Tell @value{GDBN} which MIPS ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
18249values of @var{arg} are:
18250
18251@table @samp
18252@item auto
18253The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
18254default).
18255@item o32
18256@item o64
18257@item n32
18258@item n64
18259@item eabi32
18260@item eabi64
18261@item auto
18262@end table
18263
18264@item show mips abi
18265@kindex show mips abi
18266Show the MIPS ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
18267
18268@item set mipsfpu
18269@itemx show mipsfpu
18270@xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
18271
18272@item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
18273@kindex set mips mask-address
18274@cindex MIPS addresses, masking
18275This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
18276MIPS addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
18277@samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
18278setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
18279
18280@item show mips mask-address
18281@kindex show mips mask-address
18282Show whether the upper 32 bits of MIPS addresses are masked off or
18283not.
18284
18285@item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
18286@kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
18287This command controls compatibility with 64-bit MIPS targets that
18288transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old MIPS 64 target
18289that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
18290and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
18291
18292@item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
18293@kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
18294Show the current setting of compatibility with older MIPS 64 targets.
18295
18296@item set debug mips
18297@kindex set debug mips
18298This command turns on and off debugging messages for the MIPS-specific
18299target code in @value{GDBN}.
18300
18301@item show debug mips
18302@kindex show debug mips
18303Show the current setting of MIPS debugging messages.
18304@end table
18305
18306
18307@node HPPA
18308@subsection HPPA
18309@cindex HPPA support
18310
18311When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
18312following special commands:
18313
18314@table @code
18315@item set debug hppa
18316@kindex set debug hppa
18317This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
18318messages are to be displayed.
18319
18320@item show debug hppa
18321Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
18322
18323@item maint print unwind @var{address}
18324@kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
18325This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
18326given @var{address}.
18327
18328@end table
18329
18330
18331@node SPU
18332@subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
18333@cindex Cell Broadband Engine
18334@cindex SPU
18335
18336When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
18337it provides the following special commands:
18338
18339@table @code
18340@item info spu event
18341@kindex info spu
18342Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
18343and pending event status.
18344
18345@item info spu signal
18346Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
18347signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
18348notification channels.
18349
18350@item info spu mailbox
18351Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
18352in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
18353SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
18354
18355@item info spu dma
18356Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
18357DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
18358and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
18359
18360@item info spu proxydma
18361Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
18362Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
18363and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
18364
18365@end table
18366
18367When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
18368on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
18369special commands:
18370
18371@table @code
18372@item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
18373@kindex set spu
18374Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
18375will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
18376function. The default is @code{off}.
18377
18378@item show spu stop-on-load
18379@kindex show spu
18380Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
18381
18382@item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
18383Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
18384@code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
18385cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
18386view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
18387does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
18388
18389@item show spu auto-flush-cache
18390Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
18391
18392@end table
18393
18394@node PowerPC
18395@subsection PowerPC
18396@cindex PowerPC architecture
18397
18398When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
18399pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
18400numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
18401in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
18402@code{f0} or @code{f2}.
18403
18404The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
18405by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
18406@code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
18407
18408For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
18409wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
18410
18411
18412@node Controlling GDB
18413@chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
18414
18415You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
18416@code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
18417data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
18418described here.
18419
18420@menu
18421* Prompt:: Prompt
18422* Editing:: Command editing
18423* Command History:: Command history
18424* Screen Size:: Screen size
18425* Numbers:: Numbers
18426* ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
18427* Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
18428* Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
18429* Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
18430@end menu
18431
18432@node Prompt
18433@section Prompt
18434
18435@cindex prompt
18436
18437@value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
18438called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
18439can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
18440instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
18441the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
18442which one you are talking to.
18443
18444@emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
18445prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
18446or a prompt that does not.
18447
18448@table @code
18449@kindex set prompt
18450@item set prompt @var{newprompt}
18451Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
18452
18453@kindex show prompt
18454@item show prompt
18455Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
18456@end table
18457
18458@node Editing
18459@section Command Editing
18460@cindex readline
18461@cindex command line editing
18462
18463@value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
18464@sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
18465command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
18466or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
18467substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
18468debugging sessions.
18469
18470You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
18471command @code{set}.
18472
18473@table @code
18474@kindex set editing
18475@cindex editing
18476@item set editing
18477@itemx set editing on
18478Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
18479
18480@item set editing off
18481Disable command line editing.
18482
18483@kindex show editing
18484@item show editing
18485Show whether command line editing is enabled.
18486@end table
18487
18488@xref{Command Line Editing}, for more details about the Readline
18489interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
18490encouraged to read that chapter.
18491
18492@node Command History
18493@section Command History
18494@cindex command history
18495
18496@value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
18497debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
18498happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
18499history facility.
18500
18501@value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
18502package, to provide the history facility. @xref{Using History
18503Interactively}, for the detailed description of the History library.
18504
18505To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
18506the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
18507(@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
18508means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
18509affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
18510pressed on a line by itself.
18511
18512@cindex @code{server}, command prefix
18513The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
18514history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
18515use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
18516
18517Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
18518history.
18519
18520@table @code
18521@cindex history substitution
18522@cindex history file
18523@kindex set history filename
18524@cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
18525@item set history filename @var{fname}
18526Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
18527This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
18528list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
18529exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
18530the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
18531to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
18532@file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
18533is not set.
18534
18535@cindex save command history
18536@kindex set history save
18537@item set history save
18538@itemx set history save on
18539Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
18540@code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
18541
18542@item set history save off
18543Stop recording command history in a file.
18544
18545@cindex history size
18546@kindex set history size
18547@cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
18548@item set history size @var{size}
18549Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
18550This defaults to the value of the environment variable
18551@code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set.
18552@end table
18553
18554History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
18555@xref{Event Designators}, for more details.
18556
18557@cindex history expansion, turn on/off
18558Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
18559is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
18560@code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
18561follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
18562a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
18563history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
18564@kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
18565
18566The commands to control history expansion are:
18567
18568@table @code
18569@item set history expansion on
18570@itemx set history expansion
18571@kindex set history expansion
18572Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
18573
18574@item set history expansion off
18575Disable history expansion.
18576
18577@c @group
18578@kindex show history
18579@item show history
18580@itemx show history filename
18581@itemx show history save
18582@itemx show history size
18583@itemx show history expansion
18584These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
18585@code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
18586@c @end group
18587@end table
18588
18589@table @code
18590@kindex show commands
18591@cindex show last commands
18592@cindex display command history
18593@item show commands
18594Display the last ten commands in the command history.
18595
18596@item show commands @var{n}
18597Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
18598
18599@item show commands +
18600Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
18601@end table
18602
18603@node Screen Size
18604@section Screen Size
18605@cindex size of screen
18606@cindex pauses in output
18607
18608Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
18609information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
18610@value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
18611output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
18612to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
18613determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
18614printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
18615rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
18616
18617Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
18618driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
18619together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
18620@code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
18621you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
18622width} commands:
18623
18624@table @code
18625@kindex set height
18626@kindex set width
18627@kindex show width
18628@kindex show height
18629@item set height @var{lpp}
18630@itemx show height
18631@itemx set width @var{cpl}
18632@itemx show width
18633These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
18634a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
18635commands display the current settings.
18636
18637If you specify a height of zero lines, @value{GDBN} does not pause during
18638output no matter how long the output is. This is useful if output is to a
18639file or to an editor buffer.
18640
18641Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN}
18642from wrapping its output.
18643
18644@item set pagination on
18645@itemx set pagination off
18646@kindex set pagination
18647Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
18648pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height 0}. Note that
18649running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
18650Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
18651
18652@item show pagination
18653@kindex show pagination
18654Show the current pagination mode.
18655@end table
18656
18657@node Numbers
18658@section Numbers
18659@cindex number representation
18660@cindex entering numbers
18661
18662You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
18663@value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
18664@samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
18665begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
18666@samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
1866710; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
18668format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
18669both input and output with the commands described below.
18670
18671@table @code
18672@kindex set input-radix
18673@item set input-radix @var{base}
18674Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
18675for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
18676specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
18677example, any of
18678
18679@smallexample
18680set input-radix 012
18681set input-radix 10.
18682set input-radix 0xa
18683@end smallexample
18684
18685@noindent
18686sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
18687leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
18688@samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
18689interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
18690@samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
18691change the radix.
18692
18693@kindex set output-radix
18694@item set output-radix @var{base}
18695Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
18696for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
18697specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
18698
18699@kindex show input-radix
18700@item show input-radix
18701Display the current default base for numeric input.
18702
18703@kindex show output-radix
18704@item show output-radix
18705Display the current default base for numeric display.
18706
18707@item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
18708@itemx show radix
18709@kindex set radix
18710@kindex show radix
18711These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
18712of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
18713the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
18714default value of 10.
18715
18716@end table
18717
18718@node ABI
18719@section Configuring the Current ABI
18720
18721@value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
18722application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
18723conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
18724current ABI.
18725
18726@cindex OS ABI
18727@kindex set osabi
18728@kindex show osabi
18729
18730One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
18731system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
18732@value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
18733but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
18734One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
18735an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
18736not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
18737platform provides.
18738
18739@table @code
18740@item show osabi
18741Show the OS ABI currently in use.
18742
18743@item set osabi
18744With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
18745
18746@item set osabi @var{abi}
18747Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
18748@end table
18749
18750@cindex float promotion
18751
18752Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
18753function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
18754(i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
18755according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
18756(i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
18757@code{double} and then passed.
18758
18759Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
18760a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
18761as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
18762
18763@table @code
18764@kindex set coerce-float-to-double
18765@item set coerce-float-to-double
18766@itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
18767Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
18768to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
18769
18770@item set coerce-float-to-double off
18771Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
18772functions.
18773
18774@kindex show coerce-float-to-double
18775@item show coerce-float-to-double
18776Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
18777@end table
18778
18779@kindex set cp-abi
18780@kindex show cp-abi
18781@value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
18782objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
18783used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
18784programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
18785multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
18786program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
18787Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
18788before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
18789``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
18790use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
18791``auto''.
18792
18793@table @code
18794@item show cp-abi
18795Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
18796
18797@item set cp-abi
18798With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
18799
18800@item set cp-abi @var{abi}
18801@itemx set cp-abi auto
18802Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
18803@end table
18804
18805@node Messages/Warnings
18806@section Optional Warnings and Messages
18807
18808@cindex verbose operation
18809@cindex optional warnings
18810By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
18811running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
18812command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
18813internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
18814
18815Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
18816which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
18817see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
18818
18819@table @code
18820@kindex set verbose
18821@item set verbose on
18822Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
18823
18824@item set verbose off
18825Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
18826
18827@kindex show verbose
18828@item show verbose
18829Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
18830@end table
18831
18832By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
18833object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
18834find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
18835Symbol Files}).
18836
18837@table @code
18838
18839@kindex set complaints
18840@item set complaints @var{limit}
18841Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
18842unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
18843@var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
18844to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
18845
18846@kindex show complaints
18847@item show complaints
18848Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
18849
18850@end table
18851
18852@anchor{confirmation requests}
18853By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
18854lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
18855you try to run a program which is already running:
18856
18857@smallexample
18858(@value{GDBP}) run
18859The program being debugged has been started already.
18860Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
18861@end smallexample
18862
18863If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
18864commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
18865
18866@table @code
18867
18868@kindex set confirm
18869@cindex flinching
18870@cindex confirmation
18871@cindex stupid questions
18872@item set confirm off
18873Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
18874the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
18875automatically disables confirmation requests.
18876
18877@item set confirm on
18878Enables confirmation requests (the default).
18879
18880@kindex show confirm
18881@item show confirm
18882Displays state of confirmation requests.
18883
18884@end table
18885
18886@cindex command tracing
18887If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
18888useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
18889printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
18890quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
18891
18892@table @code
18893@kindex set trace-commands
18894@cindex command scripts, debugging
18895@item set trace-commands on
18896Enable command tracing.
18897@item set trace-commands off
18898Disable command tracing.
18899@item show trace-commands
18900Display the current state of command tracing.
18901@end table
18902
18903@node Debugging Output
18904@section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
18905@cindex optional debugging messages
18906
18907@value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
18908various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
18909interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
18910section documents those commands.
18911
18912@table @code
18913@kindex set exec-done-display
18914@item set exec-done-display
18915Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
18916completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
18917asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
18918@kindex show exec-done-display
18919@item show exec-done-display
18920Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
18921notification.
18922@kindex set debug
18923@cindex gdbarch debugging info
18924@cindex architecture debugging info
18925@item set debug arch
18926Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
18927@kindex show debug
18928@item show debug arch
18929Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
18930@item set debug aix-thread
18931@cindex AIX threads
18932Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
18933module.
18934@item show debug aix-thread
18935Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
18936@item set debug dwarf2-die
18937@cindex DWARF2 DIEs
18938Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
18939The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
18940A value of zero turns off the display.
18941@item show debug dwarf2-die
18942Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
18943@item set debug displaced
18944@cindex displaced stepping debugging info
18945Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
18946displaced stepping support. The default is off.
18947@item show debug displaced
18948Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
18949related to displaced stepping.
18950@item set debug event
18951@cindex event debugging info
18952Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
18953default is off.
18954@item show debug event
18955Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
18956info.
18957@item set debug expression
18958@cindex expression debugging info
18959Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
18960expression parsing. The default is off.
18961@item show debug expression
18962Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
18963@value{GDBN} expression parsing.
18964@item set debug frame
18965@cindex frame debugging info
18966Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
18967default is off.
18968@item show debug frame
18969Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
18970info.
18971@item set debug gnu-nat
18972@cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
18973Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
18974@item show debug gnu-nat
18975Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
18976@item set debug infrun
18977@cindex inferior debugging info
18978Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
18979The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
18980for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
18981@item show debug infrun
18982Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
18983@item set debug lin-lwp
18984@cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
18985@cindex Linux lightweight processes
18986Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
18987@item show debug lin-lwp
18988Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
18989@item set debug lin-lwp-async
18990@cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP async debug messages
18991@cindex Linux lightweight processes
18992Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP async debug support.
18993@item show debug lin-lwp-async
18994Show the current state of Linux LWP async debugging messages.
18995@item set debug observer
18996@cindex observer debugging info
18997Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
18998includes info such as the notification of observable events.
18999@item show debug observer
19000Displays the current state of observer debugging.
19001@item set debug overload
19002@cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
19003Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
19004info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
19005is off.
19006@item show debug overload
19007Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
19008debugging info.
19009@cindex expression parser, debugging info
19010@cindex debug expression parser
19011@item set debug parser
19012Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
19013Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
19014parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
19015details. The default is off.
19016@item show debug parser
19017Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
19018@cindex packets, reporting on stdout
19019@cindex serial connections, debugging
19020@cindex debug remote protocol
19021@cindex remote protocol debugging
19022@cindex display remote packets
19023@item set debug remote
19024Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
19025the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
19026@value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
19027@item show debug remote
19028Displays the state of display of remote packets.
19029@item set debug serial
19030Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
19031default is off.
19032@item show debug serial
19033Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
19034info.
19035@item set debug solib-frv
19036@cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
19037Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
19038@item show debug solib-frv
19039Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
19040messages.
19041@item set debug target
19042@cindex target debugging info
19043Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
19044includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
19045default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
19046value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
19047until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
19048@item show debug target
19049Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
19050info.
19051@item set debug timestamp
19052@cindex timestampping debugging info
19053Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
19054When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
19055message.
19056@item show debug timestamp
19057Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
19058debugging info.
19059@item set debugvarobj
19060@cindex variable object debugging info
19061Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
19062info. The default is off.
19063@item show debugvarobj
19064Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
19065debugging info.
19066@item set debug xml
19067@cindex XML parser debugging
19068Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
19069@item show debug xml
19070Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
19071@end table
19072
19073@node Other Misc Settings
19074@section Other Miscellaneous Settings
19075@cindex miscellaneous settings
19076
19077@table @code
19078@kindex set interactive-mode
19079@item set interactive-mode
19080If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate interactively.
19081If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate non-interactively,
19082If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} guesses which mode to use,
19083based on whether the debugger was started in a terminal or not.
19084
19085In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
19086correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
19087in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
19088inside a cygwin window.
19089
19090@kindex show interactive-mode
19091@item show interactive-mode
19092Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
19093@end table
19094
19095@node Extending GDB
19096@chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
19097@cindex extending GDB
19098
19099@value{GDBN} provides two mechanisms for extension. The first is based
19100on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, and the second is based on the
19101Python scripting language.
19102
19103To facilitate the use of these extensions, @value{GDBN} is capable
19104of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
19105can recognize which scripting language is being used by looking at
19106the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
19107are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
19108@xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
19109
19110You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
19111setting:
19112
19113@table @code
19114@kindex set script-extension
19115@kindex show script-extension
19116@item set script-extension off
19117All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
19118
19119@item set script-extension soft
19120The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
19121extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
19122evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
19123the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
19124
19125@item set script-extension strict
19126The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
19127extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
19128language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
19129
19130@item show script-extension
19131Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
19132
19133@end table
19134
19135@menu
19136* Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
19137* Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
19138@end menu
19139
19140@node Sequences
19141@section Canned Sequences of Commands
19142
19143Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
19144Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
19145commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
19146files.
19147
19148@menu
19149* Define:: How to define your own commands
19150* Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
19151* Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
19152* Output:: Commands for controlled output
19153@end menu
19154
19155@node Define
19156@subsection User-defined Commands
19157
19158@cindex user-defined command
19159@cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
19160A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
19161which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
19162@code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
19163separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
19164via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
19165
19166@smallexample
19167define adder
19168 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
19169end
19170@end smallexample
19171
19172@noindent
19173To execute the command use:
19174
19175@smallexample
19176adder 1 2 3
19177@end smallexample
19178
19179@noindent
19180This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
19181its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
19182reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
19183functions calls.
19184
19185@cindex argument count in user-defined commands
19186@cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
19187In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
19188been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
19189
19190@smallexample
19191define adder
19192 if $argc == 2
19193 print $arg0 + $arg1
19194 end
19195 if $argc == 3
19196 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
19197 end
19198end
19199@end smallexample
19200
19201@table @code
19202
19203@kindex define
19204@item define @var{commandname}
19205Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
19206by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
19207@var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
19208numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
19209prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
19210a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
19211
19212The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
19213which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
19214commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
19215
19216@kindex document
19217@kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
19218@item document @var{commandname}
19219Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
19220accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
19221defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
19222reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
19223After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
19224@var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
19225
19226You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
19227documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
19228does not change the documentation.
19229
19230@kindex dont-repeat
19231@cindex don't repeat command
19232@item dont-repeat
19233Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
19234command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
19235(@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
19236
19237@kindex help user-defined
19238@item help user-defined
19239List all user-defined commands, with the first line of the documentation
19240(if any) for each.
19241
19242@kindex show user
19243@item show user
19244@itemx show user @var{commandname}
19245Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
19246not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
19247definitions for all user-defined commands.
19248
19249@cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
19250@kindex show max-user-call-depth
19251@kindex set max-user-call-depth
19252@item show max-user-call-depth
19253@itemx set max-user-call-depth
19254The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
19255levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
19256infinite recursion and aborts the command.
19257@end table
19258
19259In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
19260use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
19261
19262When user-defined commands are executed, the
19263commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
19264stops execution of the user-defined command.
19265
19266If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
19267without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
19268commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
19269messages when used in a user-defined command.
19270
19271@node Hooks
19272@subsection User-defined Command Hooks
19273@cindex command hooks
19274@cindex hooks, for commands
19275@cindex hooks, pre-command
19276
19277@kindex hook
19278You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
19279command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
19280command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
19281before that command.
19282
19283@cindex hooks, post-command
19284@kindex hookpost
19285A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
19286Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
19287@samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
19288that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
19289pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
19290
19291It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
19292occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
19293
19294@c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
19295@c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
19296
19297@kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
19298In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
19299(@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
19300execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
19301displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
19302
19303For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
19304single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
19305you could define:
19306
19307@smallexample
19308define hook-stop
19309handle SIGALRM nopass
19310end
19311
19312define hook-run
19313handle SIGALRM pass
19314end
19315
19316define hook-continue
19317handle SIGALRM pass
19318end
19319@end smallexample
19320
19321As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
19322command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
19323you could define:
19324
19325@smallexample
19326define hook-echo
19327echo <<<---
19328end
19329
19330define hookpost-echo
19331echo --->>>\n
19332end
19333
19334(@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
19335<<<---Hello World--->>>
19336(@value{GDBP})
19337
19338@end smallexample
19339
19340You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
19341not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
19342name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
19343@c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
19344@c or not?
19345You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
19346@code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
19347@samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
19348
19349If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
19350@value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
19351(before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
19352
19353If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
19354get a warning from the @code{define} command.
19355
19356@node Command Files
19357@subsection Command Files
19358
19359@cindex command files
19360@cindex scripting commands
19361A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
19362@value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
19363also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
19364does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
19365terminal.
19366
19367You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
19368command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
19369scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
19370using the @code{script-extension} setting.
19371@xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
19372
19373@table @code
19374@kindex source
19375@cindex execute commands from a file
19376@item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
19377Execute the command file @var{filename}.
19378@end table
19379
19380The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
19381unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
19382@emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
19383printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
19384execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
19385
19386@value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
19387If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
19388directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
19389(specified with the @samp{directory} command);
19390except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
19391is not relevant to scripts.
19392
19393If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
19394on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
19395The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
19396search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
19397and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
19398look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
19399The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
19400For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
19401the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
19402look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
19403For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
19404it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
19405@file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
19406will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
19407
19408If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
19409each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
19410@var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
19411
19412Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
19413without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
19414normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
19415when called from command files.
19416
19417@value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
19418mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
19419standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
19420not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
19421the next command.
19422
19423@smallexample
19424gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
19425@end smallexample
19426
19427(The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
19428will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
19429would be directed to @file{log}.
19430
19431Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
19432commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
19433complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
19434variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
19435built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
19436deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
19437complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
19438conditionally, etc.
19439
19440@table @code
19441@kindex if
19442@kindex else
19443@item if
19444@itemx else
19445This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
19446commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
19447expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
19448are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
19449There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
19450of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
19451end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
19452
19453@kindex while
19454@item while
19455This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
19456@code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
19457to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
19458line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
19459@dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
19460executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
19461
19462@kindex loop_break
19463@item loop_break
19464This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
19465Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
19466line.
19467
19468@kindex loop_continue
19469@item loop_continue
19470This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
19471in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
19472branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
19473the controlling expression.
19474
19475@kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
19476@item end
19477Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
19478@code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
19479@end table
19480
19481
19482@node Output
19483@subsection Commands for Controlled Output
19484
19485During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
19486@value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
19487explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
19488describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
19489want.
19490
19491@table @code
19492@kindex echo
19493@item echo @var{text}
19494@c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
19495@c because it is not in ANSI.
19496Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
19497@var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
19498newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
19499In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
19500by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
19501string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
19502trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
19503To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
19504@samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
19505
19506A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
19507the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
19508
19509@smallexample
19510echo This is some text\n\
19511which is continued\n\
19512onto several lines.\n
19513@end smallexample
19514
19515produces the same output as
19516
19517@smallexample
19518echo This is some text\n
19519echo which is continued\n
19520echo onto several lines.\n
19521@end smallexample
19522
19523@kindex output
19524@item output @var{expression}
19525Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
19526newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
19527value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
19528on expressions.
19529
19530@item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
19531Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
19532the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
19533Formats}, for more information.
19534
19535@kindex printf
19536@item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
19537Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
19538the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
19539@var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
19540which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
19541specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
19542executing the code below:
19543
19544@smallexample
19545printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
19546@end smallexample
19547
19548As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
19549are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
19550by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
19551evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
19552style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
19553printed.
19554
19555For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
19556
19557@smallexample
19558printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
19559@end smallexample
19560
19561@code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
19562specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
19563character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
19564
19565@itemize @bullet
19566@item
19567The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
19568
19569@item
19570The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
19571width.
19572
19573@item
19574The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
19575@code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
19576
19577@item
19578The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
19579supported.
19580
19581@item
19582The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
19583
19584@item
19585The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
19586@end itemize
19587
19588@noindent
19589Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
19590underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
19591the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
19592supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
19593
19594As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
19595sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
19596@samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
19597single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
19598supported.
19599
19600Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
19601(@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
19602together with a floating point specifier.
19603letters:
19604
19605@itemize @bullet
19606@item
19607@samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
19608
19609@item
19610@samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
19611
19612@item
19613@samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
19614@end itemize
19615
19616If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
19617support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
19618such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
19619
19620In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
19621available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
19622
19623Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
19624@smallexample
19625printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
19626@end smallexample
19627
19628@end table
19629
19630@node Python
19631@section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
19632@cindex python scripting
19633@cindex scripting with python
19634
19635You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
19636Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
19637@value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
19638
19639@menu
19640* Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
19641* Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
19642@end menu
19643
19644@node Python Commands
19645@subsection Python Commands
19646@cindex python commands
19647@cindex commands to access python
19648
19649@value{GDBN} provides one command for accessing the Python interpreter,
19650and one related setting:
19651
19652@table @code
19653@kindex python
19654@item python @r{[}@var{code}@r{]}
19655The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
19656
19657If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
19658argument as a Python command. For example:
19659
19660@smallexample
19661(@value{GDBP}) python print 23
1966223
19663@end smallexample
19664
19665If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
19666multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
19667script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
19668@code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
19669containing @code{end}. For example:
19670
19671@smallexample
19672(@value{GDBP}) python
19673Type python script
19674End with a line saying just "end".
19675>print 23
19676>end
1967723
19678@end smallexample
19679
19680@kindex maint set python print-stack
19681@item maint set python print-stack
19682By default, @value{GDBN} will print a stack trace when an error occurs
19683in a Python script. This can be controlled using @code{maint set
19684python print-stack}: if @code{on}, the default, then Python stack
19685printing is enabled; if @code{off}, then Python stack printing is
19686disabled.
19687@end table
19688
19689It is also possible to execute a Python script from the @value{GDBN}
19690interpreter:
19691
19692@table @code
19693@item source @file{script-name}
19694The script name must end with @samp{.py} and @value{GDBN} must be configured
19695to recognize the script language based on filename extension using
19696the @code{script-extension} setting. @xref{Extending GDB, ,Extending GDB}.
19697
19698@item python execfile ("script-name")
19699This method is based on the @code{execfile} Python built-in function,
19700and thus is always available.
19701@end table
19702
19703@node Python API
19704@subsection Python API
19705@cindex python api
19706@cindex programming in python
19707
19708@cindex python stdout
19709@cindex python pagination
19710At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
19711@code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
19712A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
19713output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
19714situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
19715
19716@menu
19717* Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
19718* Exception Handling::
19719* Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
19720* Values From Inferior::
19721* Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
19722* Pretty Printing:: Pretty-printing values.
19723* Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
19724* Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
19725* Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
19726* Progspaces In Python:: Program spaces.
19727* Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
19728* Frames In Python:: Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
19729* Blocks In Python:: Accessing frame blocks from Python.
19730* Symbols In Python:: Python representation of symbols.
19731* Symbol Tables In Python:: Python representation of symbol tables.
19732* Lazy Strings In Python:: Python representation of lazy strings.
19733* Breakpoints In Python:: Manipulating breakpoints using Python.
19734@end menu
19735
19736@node Basic Python
19737@subsubsection Basic Python
19738
19739@cindex python functions
19740@cindex python module
19741@cindex gdb module
19742@value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
19743methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
19744@value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
19745use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
19746
19747@findex gdb.execute
19748@defun execute command [from_tty]
19749Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
19750If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
19751translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
19752If no exceptions occur, this function returns @code{None}.
19753
19754@var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
19755command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
19756It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
19757@end defun
19758
19759@findex gdb.breakpoints
19760@defun breakpoints
19761Return a sequence holding all of @value{GDBN}'s breakpoints.
19762@xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for more information.
19763@end defun
19764
19765@findex gdb.parameter
19766@defun parameter parameter
19767Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
19768string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
19769spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
19770@samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
19771
19772If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
19773@code{RuntimeError}. Otherwise, the parameter's value is converted to
19774a Python value of the appropriate type, and returned.
19775@end defun
19776
19777@findex gdb.history
19778@defun history number
19779Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
19780History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
19781If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
19782and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
19783find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
19784return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
19785doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{RuntimeError} exception will be
19786raised.
19787
19788If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
19789@code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
19790@end defun
19791
19792@findex gdb.parse_and_eval
19793@defun parse_and_eval expression
19794Parse @var{expression} as an expression in the current language,
19795evaluate it, and return the result as a @code{gdb.Value}.
19796@var{expression} must be a string.
19797
19798This function can be useful when implementing a new command
19799(@pxref{Commands In Python}), as it provides a way to parse the
19800command's argument as an expression. It is also useful simply to
19801compute values, for example, it is the only way to get the value of a
19802convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) as a @code{gdb.Value}.
19803@end defun
19804
19805@findex gdb.write
19806@defun write string
19807Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated standard output stream.
19808Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
19809call this function.
19810@end defun
19811
19812@findex gdb.flush
19813@defun flush
19814Flush @value{GDBN}'s paginated standard output stream. Flushing
19815@code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically call this
19816function.
19817@end defun
19818
19819@findex gdb.target_charset
19820@defun target_charset
19821Return the name of the current target character set (@pxref{Character
19822Sets}). This differs from @code{gdb.parameter('target-charset')} in
19823that @samp{auto} is never returned.
19824@end defun
19825
19826@findex gdb.target_wide_charset
19827@defun target_wide_charset
19828Return the name of the current target wide character set
19829(@pxref{Character Sets}). This differs from
19830@code{gdb.parameter('target-wide-charset')} in that @samp{auto} is
19831never returned.
19832@end defun
19833
19834@node Exception Handling
19835@subsubsection Exception Handling
19836@cindex python exceptions
19837@cindex exceptions, python
19838
19839When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
19840uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
19841@value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
19842@code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
19843terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
19844exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
19845backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
19846
19847@smallexample
19848(@value{GDBP}) python print foo
19849Traceback (most recent call last):
19850 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
19851NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
19852@end smallexample
19853
19854@value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by Python
19855code are converted to Python @code{RuntimeError} exceptions. User
19856interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
19857prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt}
19858exception. If you catch these exceptions in your Python code, your
19859exception handler will see @code{RuntimeError} or
19860@code{KeyboardInterrupt} as the exception type, the @value{GDBN} error
19861message as its value, and the Python call stack backtrace at the
19862Python statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
19863traceback.
19864
19865@node Auto-loading
19866@subsubsection Auto-loading
19867@cindex auto-loading, Python
19868
19869When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
19870command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
19871@value{GDBN} will look for a file named @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py},
19872where @var{objfile} is the object file's real name, formed by ensuring
19873that the file name is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving
19874@code{.} and @code{..} components. If this file exists and is
19875readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a Python script.
19876
19877If this file does not exist, and if the parameter
19878@code{debug-file-directory} is set (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}),
19879then @value{GDBN} will use for its each separated directory component
19880@code{component} the file named @file{@code{component}/@var{real-name}}, where
19881@var{real-name} is the object file's real name, as described above.
19882
19883Finally, if this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
19884a file named @file{@var{data-directory}/python/auto-load/@var{real-name}}, where
19885@var{data-directory} is @value{GDBN}'s data directory (available via
19886@code{show data-directory}, @pxref{Data Files}), and @var{real-name}
19887is the object file's real name, as described above.
19888
19889When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the ``current
19890objfile''. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
19891function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
19892registering objfile-specific pretty-printers.
19893
19894The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
19895debugging commands and scripts. You can enable or disable this
19896feature, and view its current state.
19897
19898@table @code
19899@kindex maint set python auto-load
19900@item maint set python auto-load [yes|no]
19901Enable or disable the Python auto-loading feature.
19902
19903@kindex maint show python auto-load
19904@item maint show python auto-load
19905Show whether Python auto-loading is enabled or disabled.
19906@end table
19907
19908@value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded.
19909So, your @samp{-gdb.py} file should take care to ensure that it may be
19910evaluated multiple times without error.
19911
19912@node Values From Inferior
19913@subsubsection Values From Inferior
19914@cindex values from inferior, with Python
19915@cindex python, working with values from inferior
19916
19917@cindex @code{gdb.Value}
19918@value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
19919an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
19920for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
19921fetching values when necessary.
19922
19923Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
19924Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
19925an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
19926
19927@smallexample
19928bar = some_val + 2
19929@end smallexample
19930
19931@noindent
19932As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
19933whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
19934
19935Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
19936be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
19937@code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
19938can access its @code{foo} element with:
19939
19940@smallexample
19941bar = some_val['foo']
19942@end smallexample
19943
19944Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
19945
19946The following attributes are provided:
19947
19948@table @code
19949@defivar Value address
19950If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
19951@code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
19952this attribute holds @code{None}.
19953@end defivar
19954
19955@cindex optimized out value in Python
19956@defivar Value is_optimized_out
19957This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
19958this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
19959@end defivar
19960
19961@defivar Value type
19962The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
19963@code{gdb.Type} object.
19964@end defivar
19965@end table
19966
19967The following methods are provided:
19968
19969@table @code
19970@defmethod Value cast type
19971Return a new instance of @code{gdb.Value} that is the result of
19972casting this instance to the type described by @var{type}, which must
19973be a @code{gdb.Type} object. If the cast cannot be performed for some
19974reason, this method throws an exception.
19975@end defmethod
19976
19977@defmethod Value dereference
19978For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
19979whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
19980@code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
19981
19982@smallexample
19983int *foo;
19984@end smallexample
19985
19986@noindent
19987then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
19988@code{foo} points to like this:
19989
19990@smallexample
19991bar = foo.dereference ()
19992@end smallexample
19993
19994The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
19995value pointed to by @code{foo}.
19996@end defmethod
19997
19998@defmethod Value string @r{[}encoding@r{]} @r{[}errors@r{]} @r{[}length@r{]}
19999If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
20000converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
20001throw an exception.
20002
20003Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
20004@code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
20005language.
20006
20007For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
20008array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
20009by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
20010argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
20011ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
20012
20013If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
20014naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
20015@code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
20016the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
20017@code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
20018to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
20019@var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
20020(@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
20021will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
20022
20023The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
20024argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
20025
20026If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
20027fetched and converted to the given length.
20028@end defmethod
20029
20030@defmethod Value lazy_string @r{[}encoding@r{]} @r{[}length@r{]}
20031If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
20032converts the contents to a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings
20033In Python}). Otherwise, this method will throw an exception.
20034
20035If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
20036naming the encoding of the @code{gdb.LazyString}. Some examples are:
20037@samp{ascii}, @samp{iso-8859-6} or @samp{utf-8}. If the
20038@var{encoding} argument is an encoding that @value{GDBN} does
20039recognize, @value{GDBN} will raise an error.
20040
20041When a lazy string is printed, the @value{GDBN} encoding machinery is
20042used to convert the string during printing. If the optional
20043@var{encoding} argument is not provided, or is an empty string,
20044@value{GDBN} will automatically select the encoding most suitable for
20045the string type. For further information on encoding in @value{GDBN}
20046please see @ref{Character Sets}.
20047
20048If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
20049fetched and encoded to the length of characters specified. If
20050the @var{length} argument is not provided, the string will be fetched
20051and encoded until a null of appropriate width is found.
20052@end defmethod
20053@end table
20054
20055@node Types In Python
20056@subsubsection Types In Python
20057@cindex types in Python
20058@cindex Python, working with types
20059
20060@tindex gdb.Type
20061@value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
20062@code{gdb.Type}.
20063
20064The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
20065module:
20066
20067@findex gdb.lookup_type
20068@defun lookup_type name [block]
20069This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
20070type to look up. It must be a string.
20071
20072If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
20073Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
20074
20075Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
20076If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
20077@end defun
20078
20079An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
20080
20081@table @code
20082@defivar Type code
20083The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
20084@code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
20085@end defivar
20086
20087@defivar Type sizeof
20088The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
20089target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
20090unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
20091@end defivar
20092
20093@defivar Type tag
20094The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
20095@code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
20096languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
20097@code{None} is returned.
20098@end defivar
20099@end table
20100
20101The following methods are provided:
20102
20103@table @code
20104@defmethod Type fields
20105For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
20106types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
20107have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
20108field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
20109represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
20110into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
20111
20112Each field is an object, with some pre-defined attributes:
20113@table @code
20114@item bitpos
20115This attribute is not available for @code{static} fields (as in
20116C@t{++} or Java). For non-@code{static} fields, the value is the bit
20117position of the field.
20118
20119@item name
20120The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
20121
20122@item artificial
20123This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
20124it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
20125always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
20126
20127@item is_base_class
20128This is @code{True} if the field represents a base class of a C@t{++}
20129structure. This attribute is always provided, and is @code{False}
20130if the field is not a base class of the type that is the argument of
20131@code{fields}, or if that type was not a C@t{++} class.
20132
20133@item bitsize
20134If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
20135non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
20136this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
20137
20138@item type
20139The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
20140but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
20141@end table
20142@end defmethod
20143
20144@defmethod Type const
20145Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
20146@code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
20147@end defmethod
20148
20149@defmethod Type volatile
20150Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
20151@code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
20152@end defmethod
20153
20154@defmethod Type unqualified
20155Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
20156variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
20157@code{volatile}.
20158@end defmethod
20159
20160@defmethod Type range
20161Return a Python @code{Tuple} object that contains two elements: the
20162low bound of the argument type and the high bound of that type. If
20163the type does not have a range, @value{GDBN} will raise a
20164@code{RuntimeError} exception.
20165@end defmethod
20166
20167@defmethod Type reference
20168Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
20169type.
20170@end defmethod
20171
20172@defmethod Type pointer
20173Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a pointer to this
20174type.
20175@end defmethod
20176
20177@defmethod Type strip_typedefs
20178Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
20179after removing all layers of typedefs.
20180@end defmethod
20181
20182@defmethod Type target
20183Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
20184of this type.
20185
20186For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
20187object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
20188the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
20189the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
20190the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
20191target type is the aliased type.
20192
20193If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
20194exception.
20195@end defmethod
20196
20197@defmethod Type template_argument n [block]
20198If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
20199return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
20200@var{n}th template argument.
20201
20202If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
20203exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
20204
20205If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
20206Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
20207@end defmethod
20208@end table
20209
20210
20211Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
20212into. The available type categories are represented by constants
20213defined in the @code{gdb} module:
20214
20215@table @code
20216@findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
20217@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
20218@item TYPE_CODE_PTR
20219The type is a pointer.
20220
20221@findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
20222@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
20223@item TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
20224The type is an array.
20225
20226@findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
20227@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
20228@item TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
20229The type is a structure.
20230
20231@findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
20232@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
20233@item TYPE_CODE_UNION
20234The type is a union.
20235
20236@findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
20237@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
20238@item TYPE_CODE_ENUM
20239The type is an enum.
20240
20241@findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
20242@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
20243@item TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
20244A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
20245
20246@findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
20247@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
20248@item TYPE_CODE_FUNC
20249The type is a function.
20250
20251@findex TYPE_CODE_INT
20252@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
20253@item TYPE_CODE_INT
20254The type is an integer type.
20255
20256@findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
20257@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
20258@item TYPE_CODE_FLT
20259A floating point type.
20260
20261@findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
20262@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
20263@item TYPE_CODE_VOID
20264The special type @code{void}.
20265
20266@findex TYPE_CODE_SET
20267@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
20268@item TYPE_CODE_SET
20269A Pascal set type.
20270
20271@findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
20272@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
20273@item TYPE_CODE_RANGE
20274A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
20275
20276@findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
20277@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
20278@item TYPE_CODE_STRING
20279A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
20280language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
20281
20282@findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
20283@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
20284@item TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
20285A string of bits.
20286
20287@findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
20288@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
20289@item TYPE_CODE_ERROR
20290An unknown or erroneous type.
20291
20292@findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
20293@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
20294@item TYPE_CODE_METHOD
20295A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
20296
20297@findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
20298@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
20299@item TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
20300A pointer-to-member-function.
20301
20302@findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
20303@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
20304@item TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
20305A pointer-to-member.
20306
20307@findex TYPE_CODE_REF
20308@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
20309@item TYPE_CODE_REF
20310A reference type.
20311
20312@findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
20313@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
20314@item TYPE_CODE_CHAR
20315A character type.
20316
20317@findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
20318@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
20319@item TYPE_CODE_BOOL
20320A boolean type.
20321
20322@findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
20323@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
20324@item TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
20325A complex float type.
20326
20327@findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
20328@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
20329@item TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
20330A typedef to some other type.
20331
20332@findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
20333@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
20334@item TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
20335A C@t{++} namespace.
20336
20337@findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
20338@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
20339@item TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
20340A decimal floating point type.
20341
20342@findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
20343@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
20344@item TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
20345A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
20346convenience functions.
20347@end table
20348
20349@node Pretty Printing
20350@subsubsection Pretty Printing
20351
20352@value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values
20353using Python code. The pretty-printer API allows application-specific
20354code to greatly simplify the display of complex objects. This
20355mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
20356
20357For example, here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a
20358pretty-printer:
20359
20360@smallexample
20361(@value{GDBP}) print s
20362$1 = @{
20363 static npos = 4294967295,
20364 _M_dataplus = @{
20365 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
20366 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{<No data fields>@}, <No data fields>@},
20367 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>, std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
20368 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
20369 @}
20370@}
20371@end smallexample
20372
20373After a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} has been installed, only
20374the contents are printed:
20375
20376@smallexample
20377(@value{GDBP}) print s
20378$2 = "abcd"
20379@end smallexample
20380
20381A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
20382specific interface, defined here.
20383
20384@defop Operation {pretty printer} children (self)
20385@value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
20386children of the pretty-printer's value.
20387
20388This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
20389protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
20390two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
20391second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
20392object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
20393
20394This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
20395as though the value has no children.
20396@end defop
20397
20398@defop Operation {pretty printer} display_hint (self)
20399The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
20400formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
20401consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
20402printed.
20403
20404This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
20405string.
20406
20407Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
20408
20409@table @samp
20410@item array
20411Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
20412uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
20413@code{set print array}.
20414
20415@item map
20416Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
20417children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
20418values.
20419
20420@item string
20421Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
20422printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
20423kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
20424string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
20425adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
20426@code{set print elements}, and the like.
20427@end table
20428@end defop
20429
20430@defop Operation {pretty printer} to_string (self)
20431@value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
20432representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
20433
20434When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
20435then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
20436@code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
20437the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
20438depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
20439print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
20440the result of @code{children}.
20441
20442If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
20443
20444Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
20445then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
20446another pretty-printer.
20447
20448If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
20449@code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
20450the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
20451pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
20452strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
20453
20454Finally, if this method returns @code{None} then no further operations
20455are peformed in this method and nothing is printed.
20456
20457If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
20458@end defop
20459
20460@node Selecting Pretty-Printers
20461@subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
20462
20463The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
20464functions that have been registered via addition as a pretty-printer.
20465Each @code{gdb.Progspace} contains a @code{pretty_printers} attribute.
20466Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
20467attribute.
20468
20469A function on one of these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
20470argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
20471interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing}). If a function
20472cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
20473@code{None}.
20474
20475@value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
20476@code{gdb.Objfile} in the current program space and iteratively calls
20477each function in the list for that @code{gdb.Objfile} until it receives
20478a pretty-printer object.
20479If no pretty-printer is found in the objfile lists, @value{GDBN} then
20480searches the pretty-printer list of the current program space,
20481calling each function until an object is returned.
20482After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
20483@code{gdb.pretty-printers} list, again calling each function until an
20484object is returned.
20485
20486The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
20487given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
20488and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
20489object is returned.
20490
20491Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
20492written:
20493
20494@smallexample
20495class StdStringPrinter:
20496 "Print a std::string"
20497
20498 def __init__ (self, val):
20499 self.val = val
20500
20501 def to_string (self):
20502 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
20503
20504 def display_hint (self):
20505 return 'string'
20506@end smallexample
20507
20508And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
20509example above might be written.
20510
20511@smallexample
20512def str_lookup_function (val):
20513
20514 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
20515 regex = re.compile ("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
20516 if lookup_tag == None:
20517 return None
20518 if regex.match (lookup_tag):
20519 return StdStringPrinter (val)
20520
20521 return None
20522@end smallexample
20523
20524The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
20525match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
20526printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
20527returns @code{None}.
20528
20529We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
20530package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
20531further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
20532This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
20533your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
20534different names.
20535
20536You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Auto-loading}) such that it
20537can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
20538ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
20539printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
20540the current objfile.
20541
20542Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
20543inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
20544Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
20545@value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
20546Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
20547because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
20548printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
20549printers for the specific version of the library used by each
20550inferior.
20551
20552To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing}),
20553this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
20554
20555@smallexample
20556def register_printers (objfile):
20557 objfile.pretty_printers.add (str_lookup_function)
20558@end smallexample
20559
20560@noindent
20561And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
20562
20563@smallexample
20564import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
20565gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers (gdb.current_objfile ())
20566@end smallexample
20567
20568@node Commands In Python
20569@subsubsection Commands In Python
20570
20571@cindex commands in python
20572@cindex python commands
20573You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
20574command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
20575class, most commonly using a subclass.
20576
20577@defmethod Command __init__ name @var{command_class} @r{[}@var{completer_class}@r{]} @r{[}@var{prefix}@r{]}
20578The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
20579with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
20580subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
20581
20582@var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
20583multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
20584commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
20585an exception is raised.
20586
20587There is no support for multi-line commands.
20588
20589@var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
20590defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
20591new command in the help system.
20592
20593@var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
20594one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
20595tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
20596given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
20597@code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
20598error will occur when completion is attempted.
20599
20600@var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
20601command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
20602registered.
20603
20604The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
20605documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
20606documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
20607not documented.'' is used.
20608@end defmethod
20609
20610@cindex don't repeat Python command
20611@defmethod Command dont_repeat
20612By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
20613blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
20614behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
20615to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
20616@end defmethod
20617
20618@defmethod Command invoke argument from_tty
20619This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
20620
20621@var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
20622leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
20623
20624@var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
20625command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
20626that the command came from elsewhere.
20627
20628If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
20629@code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
20630@end defmethod
20631
20632@cindex completion of Python commands
20633@defmethod Command complete text word
20634This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
20635completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
20636this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
20637(@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
20638complete}).
20639
20640The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
20641holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
20642@var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
20643using a word-breaking heuristic.
20644
20645The @code{complete} method can return several values:
20646@itemize @bullet
20647@item
20648If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
20649used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
20650contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
20651allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
20652string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
20653sequence are ignored.
20654
20655@item
20656If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
20657below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
20658function is invoked, and its result is used.
20659
20660@item
20661All other results are treated as though there were no available
20662completions.
20663@end itemize
20664@end defmethod
20665
20666When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
20667some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
20668commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
20669listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
20670command. The available classifications are represented by constants
20671defined in the @code{gdb} module:
20672
20673@table @code
20674@findex COMMAND_NONE
20675@findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
20676@item COMMAND_NONE
20677The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
20678this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
20679
20680@findex COMMAND_RUNNING
20681@findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
20682@item COMMAND_RUNNING
20683The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
20684@code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
20685Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
20686commands in this category.
20687
20688@findex COMMAND_DATA
20689@findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
20690@item COMMAND_DATA
20691The command is related to data or variables. For example,
20692@code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
20693@kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
20694in this category.
20695
20696@findex COMMAND_STACK
20697@findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
20698@item COMMAND_STACK
20699The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
20700@code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
20701category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
20702list of commands in this category.
20703
20704@findex COMMAND_FILES
20705@findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
20706@item COMMAND_FILES
20707This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
20708@code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
20709Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
20710commands in this category.
20711
20712@findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
20713@findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
20714@item COMMAND_SUPPORT
20715This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
20716things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
20717but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
20718@code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
20719@kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
20720commands in this category.
20721
20722@findex COMMAND_STATUS
20723@findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
20724@item COMMAND_STATUS
20725The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
20726state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
20727and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
20728@value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
20729
20730@findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
20731@findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
20732@item COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
20733The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
20734@code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
20735breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
20736this category.
20737
20738@findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
20739@findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
20740@item COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
20741The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
20742@code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
20743@kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
20744commands in this category.
20745
20746@findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
20747@findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
20748@item COMMAND_OBSCURE
20749The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
20750general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
20751@code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
20752obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
20753category.
20754
20755@findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
20756@findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
20757@item COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
20758The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
20759@code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
20760Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
20761commands in this category.
20762@end table
20763
20764A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
20765specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
20766from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
20767constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
20768
20769@table @code
20770@findex COMPLETE_NONE
20771@findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
20772@item COMPLETE_NONE
20773This constant means that no completion should be done.
20774
20775@findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
20776@findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
20777@item COMPLETE_FILENAME
20778This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
20779
20780@findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
20781@findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
20782@item COMPLETE_LOCATION
20783This constant means that location completion should be done.
20784@xref{Specify Location}.
20785
20786@findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
20787@findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
20788@item COMPLETE_COMMAND
20789This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
20790command names.
20791
20792@findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
20793@findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
20794@item COMPLETE_SYMBOL
20795This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
20796as the source.
20797@end table
20798
20799The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
20800implemented in Python:
20801
20802@smallexample
20803class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
20804 """Greet the whole world."""
20805
20806 def __init__ (self):
20807 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
20808
20809 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
20810 print "Hello, World!"
20811
20812HelloWorld ()
20813@end smallexample
20814
20815The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
20816registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
20817Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
20818@code{gdb} module explicitly.
20819
20820@node Functions In Python
20821@subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
20822
20823@cindex writing convenience functions
20824@cindex convenience functions in python
20825@cindex python convenience functions
20826@tindex gdb.Function
20827@tindex Function
20828You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
20829in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
20830class @code{gdb.Function}.
20831
20832@defmethod Function __init__ name
20833The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
20834@value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
20835a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
20836variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
20837the given @var{name}.
20838
20839The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
20840string for the new class.
20841@end defmethod
20842
20843@defmethod Function invoke @var{*args}
20844When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
20845to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
20846@code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
20847predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
20848available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
20849standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
20850function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
20851
20852The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
20853expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
20854to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
20855@end defmethod
20856
20857The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
20858be implemented in Python:
20859
20860@smallexample
20861class Greet (gdb.Function):
20862 """Return string to greet someone.
20863Takes a name as argument."""
20864
20865 def __init__ (self):
20866 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
20867
20868 def invoke (self, name):
20869 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
20870
20871Greet ()
20872@end smallexample
20873
20874The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
20875registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
20876Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
20877@code{gdb} module explicitly.
20878
20879@node Progspaces In Python
20880@subsubsection Program Spaces In Python
20881
20882@cindex progspaces in python
20883@tindex gdb.Progspace
20884@tindex Progspace
20885A program space, or @dfn{progspace}, represents a symbolic view
20886of an address space.
20887It consists of all of the objfiles of the program.
20888@xref{Objfiles In Python}.
20889@xref{Inferiors and Programs, program spaces}, for more details
20890about program spaces.
20891
20892The following progspace-related functions are available in the
20893@code{gdb} module:
20894
20895@findex gdb.current_progspace
20896@defun current_progspace
20897This function returns the program space of the currently selected inferior.
20898@xref{Inferiors and Programs}.
20899@end defun
20900
20901@findex gdb.progspaces
20902@defun progspaces
20903Return a sequence of all the progspaces currently known to @value{GDBN}.
20904@end defun
20905
20906Each progspace is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Progspace}
20907class.
20908
20909@defivar Progspace filename
20910The file name of the progspace as a string.
20911@end defivar
20912
20913@defivar Progspace pretty_printers
20914The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
20915used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
20916function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
20917search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
20918which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing}, for more
20919information.
20920@end defivar
20921
20922@node Objfiles In Python
20923@subsubsection Objfiles In Python
20924
20925@cindex objfiles in python
20926@tindex gdb.Objfile
20927@tindex Objfile
20928@value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
20929symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
20930executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
20931separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
20932@value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
20933
20934The following objfile-related functions are available in the
20935@code{gdb} module:
20936
20937@findex gdb.current_objfile
20938@defun current_objfile
20939When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
20940sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
20941function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
20942this function returns @code{None}.
20943@end defun
20944
20945@findex gdb.objfiles
20946@defun objfiles
20947Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
20948@xref{Objfiles In Python}.
20949@end defun
20950
20951Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
20952class.
20953
20954@defivar Objfile filename
20955The file name of the objfile as a string.
20956@end defivar
20957
20958@defivar Objfile pretty_printers
20959The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
20960used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
20961function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
20962search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
20963which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing}, for more
20964information.
20965@end defivar
20966
20967@node Frames In Python
20968@subsubsection Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
20969
20970@cindex frames in python
20971When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
20972stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
20973represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
20974while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
20975to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{RuntimeError}
20976exception.
20977
20978Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
20979operator, like:
20980
20981@smallexample
20982(@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
20983True
20984@end smallexample
20985
20986The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
20987
20988@findex gdb.selected_frame
20989@defun selected_frame
20990Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
20991@end defun
20992
20993@defun frame_stop_reason_string reason
20994Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
20995frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
20996@code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
20997@end defun
20998
20999A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
21000
21001@table @code
21002@defmethod Frame is_valid
21003Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
21004A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
21005exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
21006an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
21007@end defmethod
21008
21009@defmethod Frame name
21010Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
21011obtained.
21012@end defmethod
21013
21014@defmethod Frame type
21015Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of
21016@code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, @code{gdb.DUMMY_FRAME}, @code{gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME}
21017or @code{gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME}.
21018@end defmethod
21019
21020@defmethod Frame unwind_stop_reason
21021Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
21022more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
21023@code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
21024function to a string.
21025@end defmethod
21026
21027@defmethod Frame pc
21028Returns the frame's resume address.
21029@end defmethod
21030
21031@defmethod Frame block
21032Return the frame's code block. @xref{Blocks In Python}.
21033@end defmethod
21034
21035@defmethod Frame function
21036Return the symbol for the function corresponding to this frame.
21037@xref{Symbols In Python}.
21038@end defmethod
21039
21040@defmethod Frame older
21041Return the frame that called this frame.
21042@end defmethod
21043
21044@defmethod Frame newer
21045Return the frame called by this frame.
21046@end defmethod
21047
21048@defmethod Frame find_sal
21049Return the frame's symtab and line object.
21050@xref{Symbol Tables In Python}.
21051@end defmethod
21052
21053@defmethod Frame read_var variable @r{[}block@r{]}
21054Return the value of @var{variable} in this frame. If the optional
21055argument @var{block} is provided, search for the variable from that
21056block; otherwise start at the frame's current block (which is
21057determined by the frame's current program counter). @var{variable}
21058must be a string or a @code{gdb.Symbol} object. @var{block} must be a
21059@code{gdb.Block} object.
21060@end defmethod
21061
21062@defmethod Frame select
21063Set this frame to be the selected frame. @xref{Stack, ,Examining the
21064Stack}.
21065@end defmethod
21066@end table
21067
21068@node Blocks In Python
21069@subsubsection Accessing frame blocks from Python.
21070
21071@cindex blocks in python
21072@tindex gdb.Block
21073
21074Within each frame, @value{GDBN} maintains information on each block
21075stored in that frame. These blocks are organized hierarchically, and
21076are represented individually in Python as a @code{gdb.Block}.
21077Please see @ref{Frames In Python}, for a more in-depth discussion on
21078frames. Furthermore, see @ref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}, for more
21079detailed technical information on @value{GDBN}'s book-keeping of the
21080stack.
21081
21082The following block-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
21083module:
21084
21085@findex gdb.block_for_pc
21086@defun block_for_pc pc
21087Return the @code{gdb.Block} containing the given @var{pc} value. If the
21088block cannot be found for the @var{pc} value specified, the function
21089will return @code{None}.
21090@end defun
21091
21092A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following attributes:
21093
21094@table @code
21095@defivar Block start
21096The start address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
21097@end defivar
21098
21099@defivar Block end
21100The end address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
21101@end defivar
21102
21103@defivar Block function
21104The name of the block represented as a @code{gdb.Symbol}. If the
21105block is not named, then this attribute holds @code{None}. This
21106attribute is not writable.
21107@end defivar
21108
21109@defivar Block superblock
21110The block containing this block. If this parent block does not exist,
21111this attribute holds @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
21112@end defivar
21113@end table
21114
21115@node Symbols In Python
21116@subsubsection Python representation of Symbols.
21117
21118@cindex symbols in python
21119@tindex gdb.Symbol
21120
21121@value{GDBN} represents every variable, function and type as an
21122entry in a symbol table. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
21123Similarly, Python represents these symbols in @value{GDBN} with the
21124@code{gdb.Symbol} object.
21125
21126The following symbol-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
21127module:
21128
21129@findex gdb.lookup_symbol
21130@defun lookup_symbol name [block] [domain]
21131This function searches for a symbol by name. The search scope can be
21132restricted to the parameters defined in the optional domain and block
21133arguments.
21134
21135@var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string. The
21136optional @var{block} argument restricts the search to symbols visible
21137in that @var{block}. The @var{block} argument must be a
21138@code{gdb.Block} object. The optional @var{domain} argument restricts
21139the search to the domain type. The @var{domain} argument must be a
21140domain constant defined in the @code{gdb} module and described later
21141in this chapter.
21142@end defun
21143
21144A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following attributes:
21145
21146@table @code
21147@defivar Symbol symtab
21148The symbol table in which the symbol appears. This attribute is
21149represented as a @code{gdb.Symtab} object. @xref{Symbol Tables In
21150Python}. This attribute is not writable.
21151@end defivar
21152
21153@defivar Symbol name
21154The name of the symbol as a string. This attribute is not writable.
21155@end defivar
21156
21157@defivar Symbol linkage_name
21158The name of the symbol, as used by the linker (i.e., may be mangled).
21159This attribute is not writable.
21160@end defivar
21161
21162@defivar Symbol print_name
21163The name of the symbol in a form suitable for output. This is either
21164@code{name} or @code{linkage_name}, depending on whether the user
21165asked @value{GDBN} to display demangled or mangled names.
21166@end defivar
21167
21168@defivar Symbol addr_class
21169The address class of the symbol. This classifies how to find the value
21170of a symbol. Each address class is a constant defined in the
21171@code{gdb} module and described later in this chapter.
21172@end defivar
21173
21174@defivar Symbol is_argument
21175@code{True} if the symbol is an argument of a function.
21176@end defivar
21177
21178@defivar Symbol is_constant
21179@code{True} if the symbol is a constant.
21180@end defivar
21181
21182@defivar Symbol is_function
21183@code{True} if the symbol is a function or a method.
21184@end defivar
21185
21186@defivar Symbol is_variable
21187@code{True} if the symbol is a variable.
21188@end defivar
21189@end table
21190
21191The available domain categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
21192as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
21193
21194@table @code
21195@findex SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
21196@findex gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
21197@item SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
21198This is used when a domain has not been discovered or none of the
21199following domains apply. This usually indicates an error either
21200in the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
21201@findex SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
21202@findex gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
21203@item SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
21204This domain contains variables, function names, typedef names and enum
21205type values.
21206@findex SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
21207@findex gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
21208@item SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
21209This domain holds struct, union and enum type names.
21210@findex SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
21211@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
21212@item SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
21213This domain contains names of labels (for gotos).
21214@findex SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
21215@findex gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
21216@item SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
21217This domain holds a subset of the @code{SYMBOLS_VAR_DOMAIN}; it
21218contains everything minus functions and types.
21219@findex SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
21220@findex gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
21221@item SYMBOL_FUNCTION_DOMAIN
21222This domain contains all functions.
21223@findex SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
21224@findex gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
21225@item SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
21226This domain contains all types.
21227@end table
21228
21229The available address class categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
21230as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
21231
21232@table @code
21233@findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
21234@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
21235@item SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
21236If this is returned by address class, it indicates an error either in
21237the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
21238@findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
21239@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
21240@item SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
21241Value is constant int.
21242@findex SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
21243@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
21244@item SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
21245Value is at a fixed address.
21246@findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
21247@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
21248@item SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
21249Value is in a register.
21250@findex SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
21251@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
21252@item SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
21253Value is an argument. This value is at the offset stored within the
21254symbol inside the frame's argument list.
21255@findex SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
21256@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
21257@item SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
21258Value address is stored in the frame's argument list. Just like
21259@code{LOC_ARG} except that the value's address is stored at the
21260offset, not the value itself.
21261@findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
21262@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
21263@item SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
21264Value is a specified register. Just like @code{LOC_REGISTER} except
21265the register holds the address of the argument instead of the argument
21266itself.
21267@findex SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
21268@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
21269@item SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
21270Value is a local variable.
21271@findex SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
21272@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
21273@item SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
21274Value not used. Symbols in the domain @code{SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN} all
21275have this class.
21276@findex SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
21277@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
21278@item SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
21279Value is a block.
21280@findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
21281@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
21282@item SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
21283Value is a byte-sequence.
21284@findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
21285@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
21286@item SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
21287Value is at a fixed address, but the address of the variable has to be
21288determined from the minimal symbol table whenever the variable is
21289referenced.
21290@findex SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
21291@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
21292@item SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
21293The value does not actually exist in the program.
21294@findex SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
21295@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
21296@item SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
21297The value's address is a computed location.
21298@end table
21299
21300@node Symbol Tables In Python
21301@subsubsection Symbol table representation in Python.
21302
21303@cindex symbol tables in python
21304@tindex gdb.Symtab
21305@tindex gdb.Symtab_and_line
21306
21307Access to symbol table data maintained by @value{GDBN} on the inferior
21308is exposed to Python via two objects: @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} and
21309@code{gdb.Symtab}. Symbol table and line data for a frame is returned
21310from the @code{find_sal} method in @code{gdb.Frame} object.
21311@xref{Frames In Python}.
21312
21313For more information on @value{GDBN}'s symbol table management, see
21314@ref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, for more information.
21315
21316A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following attributes:
21317
21318@table @code
21319@defivar Symtab_and_line symtab
21320The symbol table object (@code{gdb.Symtab}) for this frame.
21321This attribute is not writable.
21322@end defivar
21323
21324@defivar Symtab_and_line pc
21325Indicates the current program counter address. This attribute is not
21326writable.
21327@end defivar
21328
21329@defivar Symtab_and_line line
21330Indicates the current line number for this object. This
21331attribute is not writable.
21332@end defivar
21333@end table
21334
21335A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following attributes:
21336
21337@table @code
21338@defivar Symtab filename
21339The symbol table's source filename. This attribute is not writable.
21340@end defivar
21341
21342@defivar Symtab objfile
21343The symbol table's backing object file. @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
21344This attribute is not writable.
21345@end defivar
21346@end table
21347
21348The following methods are provided:
21349
21350@table @code
21351@defmethod Symtab fullname
21352Return the symbol table's source absolute file name.
21353@end defmethod
21354@end table
21355
21356@node Breakpoints In Python
21357@subsubsection Manipulating breakpoints using Python
21358
21359@cindex breakpoints in python
21360@tindex gdb.Breakpoint
21361
21362Python code can manipulate breakpoints via the @code{gdb.Breakpoint}
21363class.
21364
21365@defmethod Breakpoint __init__ spec @r{[}type@r{]} @r{[}wp_class@r{]}
21366Create a new breakpoint. @var{spec} is a string naming the
21367location of the breakpoint, or an expression that defines a
21368watchpoint. The contents can be any location recognized by the
21369@code{break} command, or in the case of a watchpoint, by the @code{watch}
21370command. The optional @var{type} denotes the breakpoint to create
21371from the types defined later in this chapter. This argument can be
21372either: @code{BP_BREAKPOINT} or @code{BP_WATCHPOINT}. @var{type}
21373defaults to @code{BP_BREAKPOINT}. The optional @var{wp_class}
21374argument defines the class of watchpoint to create, if @var{type} is
21375defined as @code{BP_WATCHPOINT}. If a watchpoint class is not
21376provided, it is assumed to be a @var{WP_WRITE} class.
21377@end defmethod
21378
21379The available watchpoint types represented by constants are defined in the
21380@code{gdb} module:
21381
21382@table @code
21383@findex WP_READ
21384@findex gdb.WP_READ
21385@item WP_READ
21386Read only watchpoint.
21387
21388@findex WP_WRITE
21389@findex gdb.WP_WRITE
21390@item WP_WRITE
21391Write only watchpoint.
21392
21393@findex WP_ACCESS
21394@findex gdb.WP_ACCESS
21395@item WP_ACCESS
21396Read/Write watchpoint.
21397@end table
21398
21399@defmethod Breakpoint is_valid
21400Return @code{True} if this @code{Breakpoint} object is valid,
21401@code{False} otherwise. A @code{Breakpoint} object can become invalid
21402if the user deletes the breakpoint. In this case, the object still
21403exists, but the underlying breakpoint does not. In the cases of
21404watchpoint scope, the watchpoint remains valid even if execution of the
21405inferior leaves the scope of that watchpoint.
21406@end defmethod
21407
21408@defivar Breakpoint enabled
21409This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is enabled, and
21410@code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
21411@end defivar
21412
21413@defivar Breakpoint silent
21414This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is silent, and
21415@code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
21416
21417Note that a breakpoint can also be silent if it has commands and the
21418first command is @code{silent}. This is not reported by the
21419@code{silent} attribute.
21420@end defivar
21421
21422@defivar Breakpoint thread
21423If the breakpoint is thread-specific, this attribute holds the thread
21424id. If the breakpoint is not thread-specific, this attribute is
21425@code{None}. This attribute is writable.
21426@end defivar
21427
21428@defivar Breakpoint task
21429If the breakpoint is Ada task-specific, this attribute holds the Ada task
21430id. If the breakpoint is not task-specific (or the underlying
21431language is not Ada), this attribute is @code{None}. This attribute
21432is writable.
21433@end defivar
21434
21435@defivar Breakpoint ignore_count
21436This attribute holds the ignore count for the breakpoint, an integer.
21437This attribute is writable.
21438@end defivar
21439
21440@defivar Breakpoint number
21441This attribute holds the breakpoint's number --- the identifier used by
21442the user to manipulate the breakpoint. This attribute is not writable.
21443@end defivar
21444
21445@defivar Breakpoint type
21446This attribute holds the breakpoint's type --- the identifier used to
21447determine the actual breakpoint type or use-case. This attribute is not
21448writable.
21449@end defivar
21450
21451The available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
21452module:
21453
21454@table @code
21455@findex BP_BREAKPOINT
21456@findex gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
21457@item BP_BREAKPOINT
21458Normal code breakpoint.
21459
21460@findex BP_WATCHPOINT
21461@findex gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
21462@item BP_WATCHPOINT
21463Watchpoint breakpoint.
21464
21465@findex BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
21466@findex gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
21467@item BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
21468Hardware assisted watchpoint.
21469
21470@findex BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
21471@findex gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
21472@item BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
21473Hardware assisted read watchpoint.
21474
21475@findex BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
21476@findex gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
21477@item BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
21478Hardware assisted access watchpoint.
21479@end table
21480
21481@defivar Breakpoint hit_count
21482This attribute holds the hit count for the breakpoint, an integer.
21483This attribute is writable, but currently it can only be set to zero.
21484@end defivar
21485
21486@defivar Breakpoint location
21487This attribute holds the location of the breakpoint, as specified by
21488the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have a location
21489(that is, it is a watchpoint) the attribute's value is @code{None}. This
21490attribute is not writable.
21491@end defivar
21492
21493@defivar Breakpoint expression
21494This attribute holds a breakpoint expression, as specified by
21495the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have an
21496expression (the breakpoint is not a watchpoint) the attribute's value
21497is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
21498@end defivar
21499
21500@defivar Breakpoint condition
21501This attribute holds the condition of the breakpoint, as specified by
21502the user. It is a string. If there is no condition, this attribute's
21503value is @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
21504@end defivar
21505
21506@defivar Breakpoint commands
21507This attribute holds the commands attached to the breakpoint. If
21508there are commands, this attribute's value is a string holding all the
21509commands, separated by newlines. If there are no commands, this
21510attribute is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
21511@end defivar
21512
21513@node Lazy Strings In Python
21514@subsubsection Python representation of lazy strings.
21515
21516@cindex lazy strings in python
21517@tindex gdb.LazyString
21518
21519A @dfn{lazy string} is a string whose contents is not retrieved or
21520encoded until it is needed.
21521
21522A @code{gdb.LazyString} is represented in @value{GDBN} as an
21523@code{address} that points to a region of memory, an @code{encoding}
21524that will be used to encode that region of memory, and a @code{length}
21525to delimit the region of memory that represents the string. The
21526difference between a @code{gdb.LazyString} and a string wrapped within
21527a @code{gdb.Value} is that a @code{gdb.LazyString} will be treated
21528differently by @value{GDBN} when printing. A @code{gdb.LazyString} is
21529retrieved and encoded during printing, while a @code{gdb.Value}
21530wrapping a string is immediately retrieved and encoded on creation.
21531
21532A @code{gdb.LazyString} object has the following functions:
21533
21534@defmethod LazyString value
21535Convert the @code{gdb.LazyString} to a @code{gdb.Value}. This value
21536will point to the string in memory, but will lose all the delayed
21537retrieval, encoding and handling that @value{GDBN} applies to a
21538@code{gdb.LazyString}.
21539@end defmethod
21540
21541@defivar LazyString address
21542This attribute holds the address of the string. This attribute is not
21543writable.
21544@end defivar
21545
21546@defivar LazyString length
21547This attribute holds the length of the string in characters. If the
21548length is -1, then the string will be fetched and encoded up to the
21549first null of appropriate width. This attribute is not writable.
21550@end defivar
21551
21552@defivar LazyString encoding
21553This attribute holds the encoding that will be applied to the string
21554when the string is printed by @value{GDBN}. If the encoding is not
21555set, or contains an empty string, then @value{GDBN} will select the
21556most appropriate encoding when the string is printed. This attribute
21557is not writable.
21558@end defivar
21559
21560@defivar LazyString type
21561This attribute holds the type that is represented by the lazy string's
21562type. For a lazy string this will always be a pointer type. To
21563resolve this to the lazy string's character type, use the type's
21564@code{target} method. @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not
21565writable.
21566@end defivar
21567
21568@node Interpreters
21569@chapter Command Interpreters
21570@cindex command interpreters
21571
21572@value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
21573infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
21574between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
21575
21576@value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
21577interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
21578and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
21579describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
21580
21581By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
21582However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
21583interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
21584startup options. Defined interpreters include:
21585
21586@table @code
21587@item console
21588@cindex console interpreter
21589The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
21590used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
21591@value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
21592
21593@item mi
21594@cindex mi interpreter
21595The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
21596by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
21597or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
21598Interface}.
21599
21600@item mi2
21601@cindex mi2 interpreter
21602The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
21603
21604@item mi1
21605@cindex mi1 interpreter
21606The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
21607
21608@end table
21609
21610@cindex invoke another interpreter
21611The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
21612switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
21613precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
21614enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
21615@value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
21616the IDE inoperable!
21617
21618@kindex interpreter-exec
21619Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
21620commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
21621command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
21622@code{interpreter-exec} command:
21623
21624@smallexample
21625interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
21626@end smallexample
21627
21628@sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
21629@value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
21630
21631@node TUI
21632@chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
21633@cindex TUI
21634@cindex Text User Interface
21635
21636@menu
21637* TUI Overview:: TUI overview
21638* TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
21639* TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
21640* TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
21641* TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
21642@end menu
21643
21644The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
21645interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
21646file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
21647commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
21648on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
21649is available.
21650
21651@pindex @value{GDBTUI}
21652The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
21653either @samp{@value{GDBTUI}} or @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
21654You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
21655using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
21656@xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
21657
21658@node TUI Overview
21659@section TUI Overview
21660
21661In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
21662
21663@table @emph
21664@item command
21665This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
21666prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
21667managed using readline.
21668
21669@item source
21670The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
21671line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
21672
21673@item assembly
21674The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
21675
21676@item register
21677This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
21678when their values change.
21679@end table
21680
21681The source and assembly windows show the current program position
21682by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
21683Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
21684indicates the breakpoint type:
21685
21686@table @code
21687@item B
21688Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
21689
21690@item b
21691Breakpoint which was never hit.
21692
21693@item H
21694Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
21695
21696@item h
21697Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
21698@end table
21699
21700The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
21701
21702@table @code
21703@item +
21704Breakpoint is enabled.
21705
21706@item -
21707Breakpoint is disabled.
21708@end table
21709
21710The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
21711thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
21712changes.
21713
21714These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
21715window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
21716layouts:
21717
21718@itemize @bullet
21719@item
21720source only,
21721
21722@item
21723assembly only,
21724
21725@item
21726source and assembly,
21727
21728@item
21729source and registers, or
21730
21731@item
21732assembly and registers.
21733@end itemize
21734
21735A status line above the command window shows the following information:
21736
21737@table @emph
21738@item target
21739Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
21740(@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
21741
21742@item process
21743Gives the current process or thread number.
21744When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
21745
21746@item function
21747Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
21748The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
21749When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
21750the string @code{??} is displayed.
21751
21752@item line
21753Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
21754When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
21755
21756@item pc
21757Indicates the current program counter address.
21758@end table
21759
21760@node TUI Keys
21761@section TUI Key Bindings
21762@cindex TUI key bindings
21763
21764The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
21765(@pxref{Command Line Editing}). The following key bindings
21766are installed for both TUI mode and the @value{GDBN} standard mode.
21767
21768@table @kbd
21769@kindex C-x C-a
21770@item C-x C-a
21771@kindex C-x a
21772@itemx C-x a
21773@kindex C-x A
21774@itemx C-x A
21775Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
21776the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
21777its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
21778the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
21779The screen is then refreshed.
21780
21781@kindex C-x 1
21782@item C-x 1
21783Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
21784either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
21785is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
21786
21787Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
21788
21789@kindex C-x 2
21790@item C-x 2
21791Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
21792layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
21793When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
21794previous layout and the new one.
21795
21796Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
21797
21798@kindex C-x o
21799@item C-x o
21800Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
21801(like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
21802gives the focus to the next TUI window.
21803
21804Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
21805
21806@kindex C-x s
21807@item C-x s
21808Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
21809keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
21810@end table
21811
21812The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
21813
21814@table @asis
21815@kindex PgUp
21816@item @key{PgUp}
21817Scroll the active window one page up.
21818
21819@kindex PgDn
21820@item @key{PgDn}
21821Scroll the active window one page down.
21822
21823@kindex Up
21824@item @key{Up}
21825Scroll the active window one line up.
21826
21827@kindex Down
21828@item @key{Down}
21829Scroll the active window one line down.
21830
21831@kindex Left
21832@item @key{Left}
21833Scroll the active window one column left.
21834
21835@kindex Right
21836@item @key{Right}
21837Scroll the active window one column right.
21838
21839@kindex C-L
21840@item @kbd{C-L}
21841Refresh the screen.
21842@end table
21843
21844Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
21845are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
21846window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
21847other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
21848and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
21849
21850@node TUI Single Key Mode
21851@section TUI Single Key Mode
21852@cindex TUI single key mode
21853
21854The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
21855frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
21856switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
21857
21858@table @kbd
21859@kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
21860@item c
21861continue
21862
21863@kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
21864@item d
21865down
21866
21867@kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
21868@item f
21869finish
21870
21871@kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
21872@item n
21873next
21874
21875@kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
21876@item q
21877exit the SingleKey mode.
21878
21879@kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
21880@item r
21881run
21882
21883@kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
21884@item s
21885step
21886
21887@kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
21888@item u
21889up
21890
21891@kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
21892@item v
21893info locals
21894
21895@kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
21896@item w
21897where
21898@end table
21899
21900Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
21901The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
21902it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
21903with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
21904SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
21905this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
21906
21907
21908@node TUI Commands
21909@section TUI-specific Commands
21910@cindex TUI commands
21911
21912The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
21913These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
21914the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
21915of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
21916
21917Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
21918terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
21919interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
21920these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
21921possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
21922
21923@table @code
21924@item info win
21925@kindex info win
21926List and give the size of all displayed windows.
21927
21928@item layout next
21929@kindex layout
21930Display the next layout.
21931
21932@item layout prev
21933Display the previous layout.
21934
21935@item layout src
21936Display the source window only.
21937
21938@item layout asm
21939Display the assembly window only.
21940
21941@item layout split
21942Display the source and assembly window.
21943
21944@item layout regs
21945Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
21946
21947@item focus next
21948@kindex focus
21949Make the next window active for scrolling.
21950
21951@item focus prev
21952Make the previous window active for scrolling.
21953
21954@item focus src
21955Make the source window active for scrolling.
21956
21957@item focus asm
21958Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
21959
21960@item focus regs
21961Make the register window active for scrolling.
21962
21963@item focus cmd
21964Make the command window active for scrolling.
21965
21966@item refresh
21967@kindex refresh
21968Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
21969
21970@item tui reg float
21971@kindex tui reg
21972Show the floating point registers in the register window.
21973
21974@item tui reg general
21975Show the general registers in the register window.
21976
21977@item tui reg next
21978Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
21979their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
21980following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
21981@code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
21982
21983@item tui reg system
21984Show the system registers in the register window.
21985
21986@item update
21987@kindex update
21988Update the source window and the current execution point.
21989
21990@item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
21991@itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
21992@kindex winheight
21993Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
21994lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
21995decrease it.
21996
21997@item tabset @var{nchars}
21998@kindex tabset
21999Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
22000@end table
22001
22002@node TUI Configuration
22003@section TUI Configuration Variables
22004@cindex TUI configuration variables
22005
22006Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
22007
22008@table @code
22009@item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
22010@kindex set tui border-kind
22011Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
22012The possible values are the following:
22013@table @code
22014@item space
22015Use a space character to draw the border.
22016
22017@item ascii
22018Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
22019
22020@item acs
22021Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
22022drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
22023@end table
22024
22025@item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
22026@kindex set tui border-mode
22027@itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
22028@kindex set tui active-border-mode
22029Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
22030or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
22031@table @code
22032@item normal
22033Use normal attributes to display the border.
22034
22035@item standout
22036Use standout mode.
22037
22038@item reverse
22039Use reverse video mode.
22040
22041@item half
22042Use half bright mode.
22043
22044@item half-standout
22045Use half bright and standout mode.
22046
22047@item bold
22048Use extra bright or bold mode.
22049
22050@item bold-standout
22051Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
22052@end table
22053@end table
22054
22055@node Emacs
22056@chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
22057
22058@cindex Emacs
22059@cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
22060A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
22061edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
22062@value{GDBN}.
22063
22064To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
22065executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
22066@value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
22067created Emacs buffer.
22068@c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
22069
22070Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
22071things:
22072
22073@itemize @bullet
22074@item
22075All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
22076the GUD buffer.
22077
22078This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
22079and output done by the program you are debugging.
22080
22081This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
22082commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
22083in this way.
22084
22085All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
22086with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
22087way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
22088stop.
22089
22090@item
22091@value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
22092
22093Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
22094source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
22095left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
22096source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
22097and the source.
22098
22099Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
22100usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
22101@end itemize
22102
22103We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
22104a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
22105that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
22106@xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
22107
22108If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
22109gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
22110your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
22111sets your current working directory to to the directory associated
22112with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
22113program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
22114some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
22115@value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
22116buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
22117
22118The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
22119line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
22120that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
22121,Commands to Specify Files}.
22122
22123By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
22124need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
22125keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
22126customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
22127one you want.
22128
22129In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
22130addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
22131
22132@table @kbd
22133@item C-h m
22134Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
22135
22136@item C-c C-s
22137Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
22138update the display window to show the current file and location.
22139
22140@item C-c C-n
22141Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
22142calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
22143to show the current file and location.
22144
22145@item C-c C-i
22146Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
22147display window accordingly.
22148
22149@item C-c C-f
22150Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
22151@code{finish} command.
22152
22153@item C-c C-r
22154Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
22155command.
22156
22157@item C-c <
22158Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
22159(@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
22160like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
22161
22162@item C-c >
22163Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
22164@value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
22165@end table
22166
22167In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
22168tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
22169
22170In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
22171separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
22172Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
22173become the current frame and display the associated source in the
22174source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
22175selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
22176speedbar displays watch expressions.
22177
22178If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
22179it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
22180request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
22181the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
22182frame.
22183
22184The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
22185which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
22186the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
22187communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
22188delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
22189to correspond properly with the code.
22190
22191A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
22192given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
22193Emacs Manual}).
22194
22195@c The following dropped because Epoch is nonstandard. Reactivate
22196@c if/when v19 does something similar. ---doc@cygnus.com 19dec1990
22197@ignore
22198@kindex Emacs Epoch environment
22199@kindex Epoch
22200@kindex inspect
22201
22202Version 18 of @sc{gnu} Emacs has a built-in window system
22203called the @code{epoch}
22204environment. Users of this environment can use a new command,
22205@code{inspect} which performs identically to @code{print} except that
22206each value is printed in its own window.
22207@end ignore
22208
22209
22210@node GDB/MI
22211@chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
22212
22213@unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
22214
22215@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
22216@sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
22217@value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
22218@option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
22219is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
22220use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
22221
22222This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
22223in the form of a reference manual.
22224
22225Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
22226features described below are incomplete and subject to change
22227(@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
22228
22229@unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
22230
22231@cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
22232This chapter uses the following notation:
22233
22234@itemize @bullet
22235@item
22236@code{|} separates two alternatives.
22237
22238@item
22239@code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
22240it may or may not be given.
22241
22242@item
22243@code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
22244may repeat zero or more times.
22245
22246@item
22247@code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
22248may repeat one or more times.
22249
22250@item
22251@code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
22252@end itemize
22253
22254@ignore
22255@heading Dependencies
22256@end ignore
22257
22258@menu
22259* GDB/MI General Design::
22260* GDB/MI Command Syntax::
22261* GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
22262* GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
22263* GDB/MI Output Records::
22264* GDB/MI Simple Examples::
22265* GDB/MI Command Description Format::
22266* GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
22267* GDB/MI Program Context::
22268* GDB/MI Thread Commands::
22269* GDB/MI Program Execution::
22270* GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
22271* GDB/MI Variable Objects::
22272* GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
22273* GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
22274* GDB/MI Symbol Query::
22275* GDB/MI File Commands::
22276@ignore
22277* GDB/MI Kod Commands::
22278* GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
22279* GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
22280@end ignore
22281* GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
22282* GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
22283* GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
22284@end menu
22285
22286@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
22287@node GDB/MI General Design
22288@section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
22289@cindex GDB/MI General Design
22290
22291Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
22292parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
22293and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
22294indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
22295For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
22296requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
22297response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
22298Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
22299target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
22300a command and reported as part of that command response.
22301
22302The important examples of notifications are:
22303@itemize @bullet
22304
22305@item
22306Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
22307target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
22308be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
22309commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
22310different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
22311happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
22312command itself was successfully executed.
22313
22314@item
22315Console output, and status notifications. Console output
22316notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
22317diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
22318report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
22319this information in command response would mean no output is produced
22320until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
22321
22322@item
22323General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
22324the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
22325a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
22326be included in command response, using notification allows for more
22327orthogonal frontend design.
22328
22329@end itemize
22330
22331There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
22332@value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
22333the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
22334processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
22335we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
22336the user interface.
22337
22338
22339@menu
22340* Context management::
22341* Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
22342* Thread groups::
22343@end menu
22344
22345@node Context management
22346@subsection Context management
22347
22348In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
22349done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
22350Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
22351be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
22352and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
22353because a command line user would not want to specify that information
22354explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
22355@value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
22356to what thread and frame are the current ones.
22357
22358In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
22359useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
22360itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
22361each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
22362want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
22363increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
22364frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
22365should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
22366make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
22367@samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
22368for thread and frame to operate on.
22369
22370Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
22371a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
22372operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
22373current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
22374it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
22375another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
22376the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
22377one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
22378change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
22379No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
22380
22381Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
22382frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
22383right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
22384simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
22385before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
22386to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
22387if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
22388thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
22389optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
22390sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
22391selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
22392change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
22393problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
22394all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
22395right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
22396@samp{--frame} options.
22397
22398@node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
22399@subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
22400
22401On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
22402even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
22403command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
22404specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
22405@code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
22406either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
22407frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
22408find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
22409@code{-list-target-features} command.
22410
22411Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
22412many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
22413running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
22414when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
22415it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
22416are running.
22417
22418When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
22419target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
22420some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
22421stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
22422modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
22423that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
22424@code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
22425context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
22426stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
22427@samp{--thread} option).
22428
22429Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
22430highly target dependent. However, the two commands
22431@code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
22432to find the state of a thread, will always work.
22433
22434@node Thread groups
22435@subsection Thread groups
22436@value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
22437On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
22438hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
22439processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
22440mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
22441
22442The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
22443target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
22444accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
22445thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
22446neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
22447current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
22448that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
22449into processes.
22450
22451To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
22452hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
22453@dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
22454thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
22455and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
22456command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
22457thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
22458debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
22459to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
22460the members of specific thread group.
22461
22462To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
22463wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
22464introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
22465@value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
22466@code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
22467groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
22468In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
22469after attaching to that thread group.
22470
22471Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
22472Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
22473type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
22474such thread groups.
22475
22476@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
22477@node GDB/MI Command Syntax
22478@section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
22479
22480@menu
22481* GDB/MI Input Syntax::
22482* GDB/MI Output Syntax::
22483@end menu
22484
22485@node GDB/MI Input Syntax
22486@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
22487
22488@cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
22489@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
22490@table @code
22491@item @var{command} @expansion{}
22492@code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
22493
22494@item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
22495@code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
22496@var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
22497
22498@item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
22499@code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
22500@code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
22501
22502@item @var{token} @expansion{}
22503"any sequence of digits"
22504
22505@item @var{option} @expansion{}
22506@code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
22507
22508@item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
22509@code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
22510
22511@item @var{operation} @expansion{}
22512@emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
22513
22514@item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
22515@emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
22516"-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
22517
22518@item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
22519@code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
22520
22521@item @var{nl} @expansion{}
22522@code{CR | CR-LF}
22523@end table
22524
22525@noindent
22526Notes:
22527
22528@itemize @bullet
22529@item
22530The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
22531output is described below.
22532
22533@item
22534The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
22535finishes.
22536
22537@item
22538Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
22539list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
22540followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
22541parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
22542@samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
22543@end itemize
22544
22545Pragmatics:
22546
22547@itemize @bullet
22548@item
22549We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
22550
22551@item
22552We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
22553@end itemize
22554
22555@node GDB/MI Output Syntax
22556@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
22557
22558@cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
22559@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
22560The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
22561followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
22562is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
22563terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
22564
22565If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
22566corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
22567@var{token}.
22568
22569@table @code
22570@item @var{output} @expansion{}
22571@code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
22572
22573@item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
22574@code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
22575
22576@item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
22577@code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
22578
22579@item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
22580@code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
22581
22582@item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
22583@code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
22584
22585@item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
22586@code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
22587
22588@item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
22589@code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
22590
22591@item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
22592@code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
22593
22594@item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
22595@code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
22596
22597@item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
22598@code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
22599depending on the needs---this is still in development).
22600
22601@item @var{result} @expansion{}
22602@code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
22603
22604@item @var{variable} @expansion{}
22605@code{ @var{string} }
22606
22607@item @var{value} @expansion{}
22608@code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
22609
22610@item @var{const} @expansion{}
22611@code{@var{c-string}}
22612
22613@item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
22614@code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
22615
22616@item @var{list} @expansion{}
22617@code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
22618@var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
22619
22620@item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
22621@code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
22622
22623@item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
22624@code{"~" @var{c-string}}
22625
22626@item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
22627@code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
22628
22629@item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
22630@code{"&" @var{c-string}}
22631
22632@item @var{nl} @expansion{}
22633@code{CR | CR-LF}
22634
22635@item @var{token} @expansion{}
22636@emph{any sequence of digits}.
22637@end table
22638
22639@noindent
22640Notes:
22641
22642@itemize @bullet
22643@item
22644All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
22645
22646@item
22647The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
22648for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
22649may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
22650output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
22651all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
22652target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
22653prior command.
22654
22655@item
22656@cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
22657@var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
22658progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
22659prefixed by @samp{+}.
22660
22661@item
22662@cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
22663@var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
22664(stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
22665@samp{*}.
22666
22667@item
22668@cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
22669@var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
22670client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
22671output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
22672
22673@item
22674@cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
22675@var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
22676console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
22677output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
22678
22679@item
22680@cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
22681@var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
22682All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
22683
22684@item
22685@cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
22686@var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
22687instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
22688the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
22689
22690@item
22691@cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
22692New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
22693@var{values}.
22694
22695
22696@end itemize
22697
22698@xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
22699details about the various output records.
22700
22701@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
22702@node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
22703@section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
22704
22705@cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
22706@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
22707
22708For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
22709but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
22710that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
22711command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
22712@code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
22713@samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
22714
22715This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
22716recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
22717(@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
22718
22719@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
22720@node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
22721@section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
22722@cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
22723
22724The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
22725program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
22726
22727Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
22728by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
22729to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
22730section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
22731might change.
22732
22733Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
22734for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
22735list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
22736parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
22737
22738@itemize @bullet
22739@item
22740New MI commands may be added.
22741
22742@item
22743New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
22744
22745@item
22746The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
22747@code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
22748
22749@c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
22750@c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
22751
22752@c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
22753@c resolve inconsistencies.
22754@end itemize
22755
22756If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
22757will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
22758output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
22759@value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
22760responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
22761
22762@c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
22763@c version?
22764
22765The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
22766end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
22767follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
22768@email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
22769@cindex mailing lists
22770
22771@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
22772@node GDB/MI Output Records
22773@section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
22774
22775@menu
22776* GDB/MI Result Records::
22777* GDB/MI Stream Records::
22778* GDB/MI Async Records::
22779* GDB/MI Frame Information::
22780* GDB/MI Thread Information::
22781@end menu
22782
22783@node GDB/MI Result Records
22784@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
22785
22786@cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
22787@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
22788In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
22789@sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
22790
22791@table @code
22792@findex ^done
22793@item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
22794The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
22795values.
22796
22797@item "^running"
22798@findex ^running
22799This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
22800was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
22801target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
22802all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
22803identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
22804which threads are resumed.
22805
22806@item "^connected"
22807@findex ^connected
22808@value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
22809
22810@item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
22811@findex ^error
22812The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
22813error message.
22814
22815@item "^exit"
22816@findex ^exit
22817@value{GDBN} has terminated.
22818
22819@end table
22820
22821@node GDB/MI Stream Records
22822@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
22823
22824@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
22825@cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
22826@value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
22827target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
22828funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
22829
22830Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
22831identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
22832Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
22833@code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
22834line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
22835
22836@table @code
22837@item "~" @var{string-output}
22838The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
22839CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
22840
22841@item "@@" @var{string-output}
22842The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
22843target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
22844asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
22845
22846@item "&" @var{string-output}
22847The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
22848internals.
22849@end table
22850
22851@node GDB/MI Async Records
22852@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
22853
22854@cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
22855@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
22856@dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
22857additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
22858consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
22859target activity (e.g., target stopped).
22860
22861The following is the list of possible async records:
22862
22863@table @code
22864
22865@item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
22866The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
22867specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
22868are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
22869running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
22870The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
22871only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
22872several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
22873all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
22874be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
22875
22876@item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
22877The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
22878following values:
22879
22880@table @code
22881@item breakpoint-hit
22882A breakpoint was reached.
22883@item watchpoint-trigger
22884A watchpoint was triggered.
22885@item read-watchpoint-trigger
22886A read watchpoint was triggered.
22887@item access-watchpoint-trigger
22888An access watchpoint was triggered.
22889@item function-finished
22890An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
22891@item location-reached
22892An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
22893@item watchpoint-scope
22894A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
22895@item end-stepping-range
22896An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
22897similar CLI command was accomplished.
22898@item exited-signalled
22899The inferior exited because of a signal.
22900@item exited
22901The inferior exited.
22902@item exited-normally
22903The inferior exited normally.
22904@item signal-received
22905A signal was received by the inferior.
22906@end table
22907
22908The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
22909-- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
22910mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
22911stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
22912If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
22913value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
22914field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
22915always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
22916several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
22917processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
22918if such information is not available.
22919
22920@item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
22921@itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
22922A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
22923contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
22924group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
22925process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
22926cannot be used in any way.
22927
22928@item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
22929A thread group became associated with a running program,
22930either because the program was just started or the thread group
22931was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
22932@value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
22933contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
22934
22935@itemx =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"
22936A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
22937either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
22938from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
22939thread group.
22940
22941@item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
22942@itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
22943A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
22944contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
22945field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
22946
22947@item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
22948Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
22949command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
22950command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
22951to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
22952invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
22953@code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
22954
22955We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
22956highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
22957that thread.
22958
22959@item =library-loaded,...
22960Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
22961notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
22962@var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
22963opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
22964@var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
22965library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
22966debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
22967@var{symbols-loaded} field reports if the debug symbols for this
22968library are loaded. The @var{thread-group} field, if present,
22969specifies the id of the thread group in whose context the library was loaded.
22970If the field is absent, it means the library was loaded in the context
22971of all present thread groups.
22972
22973@item =library-unloaded,...
22974Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
22975has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
22976the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
22977The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
22978thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
22979absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
22980thread groups.
22981
22982@end table
22983
22984@node GDB/MI Frame Information
22985@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
22986
22987Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
22988frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
22989fields:
22990
22991@table @code
22992@item level
22993The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
22994zero. This field is always present.
22995
22996@item func
22997The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
22998be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
22999
23000@item addr
23001The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
23002
23003@item file
23004The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
23005address. This field may be absent.
23006
23007@item line
23008The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
23009may be absent.
23010
23011@item from
23012The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
23013corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
23014
23015@end table
23016
23017@node GDB/MI Thread Information
23018@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
23019
23020Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
23021uses a tuple with the following fields:
23022
23023@table @code
23024@item id
23025The numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
23026always present.
23027
23028@item target-id
23029Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
23030
23031@item details
23032Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
23033It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
23034frontend. This field is optional.
23035
23036@item state
23037Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
23038thread is presently running. This field is always present.
23039
23040@item core
23041The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
23042thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
23043@end table
23044
23045
23046@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23047@node GDB/MI Simple Examples
23048@section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
23049@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
23050
23051This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
23052the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
23053following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
23054the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
23055
23056Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
23057readability, they don't appear in the real output.
23058
23059@subheading Setting a Breakpoint
23060
23061Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
23062information of the breakpoint.
23063
23064@smallexample
23065-> -break-insert main
23066<- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
23067 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
23068 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",times="0"@}
23069<- (gdb)
23070@end smallexample
23071
23072@subheading Program Execution
23073
23074Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
23075reason that execution stopped.
23076
23077@smallexample
23078-> -exec-run
23079<- ^running
23080<- (gdb)
23081<- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
23082 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
23083 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
23084 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
23085<- (gdb)
23086-> -exec-continue
23087<- ^running
23088<- (gdb)
23089<- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
23090<- (gdb)
23091@end smallexample
23092
23093@subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
23094
23095Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
23096
23097@smallexample
23098-> (gdb)
23099<- -gdb-exit
23100<- ^exit
23101@end smallexample
23102
23103Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
23104take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
23105performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
23106or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
23107@value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
23108fails to exit in reasonable time.
23109
23110@subheading A Bad Command
23111
23112Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
23113
23114@smallexample
23115-> -rubbish
23116<- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
23117<- (gdb)
23118@end smallexample
23119
23120
23121@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23122@node GDB/MI Command Description Format
23123@section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
23124
23125The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
23126commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
23127
23128@subheading Motivation
23129
23130The motivation for this collection of commands.
23131
23132@subheading Introduction
23133
23134A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
23135
23136@subheading Commands
23137
23138For each command in the block, the following is described:
23139
23140@subsubheading Synopsis
23141
23142@smallexample
23143 -command @var{args}@dots{}
23144@end smallexample
23145
23146@subsubheading Result
23147
23148@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23149
23150The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
23151
23152@subsubheading Example
23153
23154Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
23155not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
23156
23157
23158@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23159@node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
23160@section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
23161
23162@cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
23163@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
23164This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
23165breakpoints.
23166
23167@subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
23168@findex -break-after
23169
23170@subsubheading Synopsis
23171
23172@smallexample
23173 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
23174@end smallexample
23175
23176The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
23177hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
23178the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
23179@samp{-break-list} command below.
23180
23181@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23182
23183The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
23184
23185@subsubheading Example
23186
23187@smallexample
23188(gdb)
23189-break-insert main
23190^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
23191enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
23192fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
23193(gdb)
23194-break-after 1 3
23195~
23196^done
23197(gdb)
23198-break-list
23199^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
23200hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
23201@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
23202@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
23203@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
23204@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
23205@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
23206body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
23207addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
23208line="5",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
23209(gdb)
23210@end smallexample
23211
23212@ignore
23213@subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
23214@findex -break-catch
23215@end ignore
23216
23217@subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
23218@findex -break-commands
23219
23220@subsubheading Synopsis
23221
23222@smallexample
23223 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
23224@end smallexample
23225
23226Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
23227@var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
23228are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
23229commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
23230functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
23231some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
23232
23233@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23234
23235The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
23236
23237@subsubheading Example
23238
23239@smallexample
23240(gdb)
23241-break-insert main
23242^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
23243enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
23244fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
23245(gdb)
23246-break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
23247^done
23248(gdb)
23249@end smallexample
23250
23251@subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
23252@findex -break-condition
23253
23254@subsubheading Synopsis
23255
23256@smallexample
23257 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
23258@end smallexample
23259
23260Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
23261@var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
23262@samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
23263command below).
23264
23265@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23266
23267The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
23268
23269@subsubheading Example
23270
23271@smallexample
23272(gdb)
23273-break-condition 1 1
23274^done
23275(gdb)
23276-break-list
23277^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
23278hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
23279@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
23280@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
23281@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
23282@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
23283@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
23284body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
23285addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
23286line="5",cond="1",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
23287(gdb)
23288@end smallexample
23289
23290@subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
23291@findex -break-delete
23292
23293@subsubheading Synopsis
23294
23295@smallexample
23296 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
23297@end smallexample
23298
23299Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
23300list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
23301
23302@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23303
23304The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
23305
23306@subsubheading Example
23307
23308@smallexample
23309(gdb)
23310-break-delete 1
23311^done
23312(gdb)
23313-break-list
23314^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
23315hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
23316@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
23317@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
23318@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
23319@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
23320@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
23321body=[]@}
23322(gdb)
23323@end smallexample
23324
23325@subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
23326@findex -break-disable
23327
23328@subsubheading Synopsis
23329
23330@smallexample
23331 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
23332@end smallexample
23333
23334Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
23335break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
23336
23337@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23338
23339The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
23340
23341@subsubheading Example
23342
23343@smallexample
23344(gdb)
23345-break-disable 2
23346^done
23347(gdb)
23348-break-list
23349^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
23350hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
23351@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
23352@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
23353@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
23354@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
23355@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
23356body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
23357addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
23358line="5",times="0"@}]@}
23359(gdb)
23360@end smallexample
23361
23362@subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
23363@findex -break-enable
23364
23365@subsubheading Synopsis
23366
23367@smallexample
23368 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
23369@end smallexample
23370
23371Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
23372
23373@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23374
23375The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
23376
23377@subsubheading Example
23378
23379@smallexample
23380(gdb)
23381-break-enable 2
23382^done
23383(gdb)
23384-break-list
23385^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
23386hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
23387@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
23388@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
23389@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
23390@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
23391@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
23392body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
23393addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
23394line="5",times="0"@}]@}
23395(gdb)
23396@end smallexample
23397
23398@subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
23399@findex -break-info
23400
23401@subsubheading Synopsis
23402
23403@smallexample
23404 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
23405@end smallexample
23406
23407@c REDUNDANT???
23408Get information about a single breakpoint.
23409
23410@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23411
23412The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
23413
23414@subsubheading Example
23415N.A.
23416
23417@subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
23418@findex -break-insert
23419
23420@subsubheading Synopsis
23421
23422@smallexample
23423 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
23424 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
23425 [ -p @var{thread} ] [ @var{location} ]
23426@end smallexample
23427
23428@noindent
23429If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
23430
23431@itemize @bullet
23432@item function
23433@c @item +offset
23434@c @item -offset
23435@c @item linenum
23436@item filename:linenum
23437@item filename:function
23438@item *address
23439@end itemize
23440
23441The possible optional parameters of this command are:
23442
23443@table @samp
23444@item -t
23445Insert a temporary breakpoint.
23446@item -h
23447Insert a hardware breakpoint.
23448@item -c @var{condition}
23449Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
23450@item -i @var{ignore-count}
23451Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
23452@item -f
23453If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
23454refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
23455breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
23456an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
23457cannot be parsed.
23458@item -d
23459Create a disabled breakpoint.
23460@item -a
23461Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
23462is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
23463@end table
23464
23465@subsubheading Result
23466
23467The result is in the form:
23468
23469@smallexample
23470^done,bkpt=@{number="@var{number}",type="@var{type}",disp="del"|"keep",
23471enabled="y"|"n",addr="@var{hex}",func="@var{funcname}",file="@var{filename}",
23472fullname="@var{full_filename}",line="@var{lineno}",[thread="@var{threadno},]
23473times="@var{times}"@}
23474@end smallexample
23475
23476@noindent
23477where @var{number} is the @value{GDBN} number for this breakpoint,
23478@var{funcname} is the name of the function where the breakpoint was
23479inserted, @var{filename} is the name of the source file which contains
23480this function, @var{lineno} is the source line number within that file
23481and @var{times} the number of times that the breakpoint has been hit
23482(always 0 for -break-insert but may be greater for -break-info or -break-list
23483which use the same output).
23484
23485Note: this format is open to change.
23486@c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
23487
23488@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23489
23490The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
23491@samp{hbreak}, @samp{thbreak}, and @samp{rbreak}.
23492
23493@subsubheading Example
23494
23495@smallexample
23496(gdb)
23497-break-insert main
23498^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
23499fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",times="0"@}
23500(gdb)
23501-break-insert -t foo
23502^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
23503fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",times="0"@}
23504(gdb)
23505-break-list
23506^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
23507hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
23508@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
23509@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
23510@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
23511@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
23512@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
23513body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
23514addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
23515fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",times="0"@},
23516bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
23517addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
23518fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}]@}
23519(gdb)
23520-break-insert -r foo.*
23521~int foo(int, int);
23522^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
23523"fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}
23524(gdb)
23525@end smallexample
23526
23527@subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
23528@findex -break-list
23529
23530@subsubheading Synopsis
23531
23532@smallexample
23533 -break-list
23534@end smallexample
23535
23536Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
23537
23538@table @samp
23539@item Number
23540number of the breakpoint
23541@item Type
23542type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
23543@item Disposition
23544should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
23545or @samp{nokeep}
23546@item Enabled
23547is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
23548@item Address
23549memory location at which the breakpoint is set
23550@item What
23551logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
23552name, line number
23553@item Times
23554number of times the breakpoint has been hit
23555@end table
23556
23557If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
23558@code{body} field is an empty list.
23559
23560@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23561
23562The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
23563
23564@subsubheading Example
23565
23566@smallexample
23567(gdb)
23568-break-list
23569^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
23570hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
23571@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
23572@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
23573@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
23574@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
23575@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
23576body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
23577addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",times="0"@},
23578bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
23579addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
23580line="13",times="0"@}]@}
23581(gdb)
23582@end smallexample
23583
23584Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
23585
23586@smallexample
23587(gdb)
23588-break-list
23589^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
23590hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
23591@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
23592@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
23593@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
23594@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
23595@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
23596body=[]@}
23597(gdb)
23598@end smallexample
23599
23600@subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
23601@findex -break-passcount
23602
23603@subsubheading Synopsis
23604
23605@smallexample
23606 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
23607@end smallexample
23608
23609Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
23610@var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
23611is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
23612command @samp{passcount}.
23613
23614@subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
23615@findex -break-watch
23616
23617@subsubheading Synopsis
23618
23619@smallexample
23620 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
23621@end smallexample
23622
23623Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
23624@dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
23625read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
23626option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
23627trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
23628either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
23629i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
23630@xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
23631
23632Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
23633breakpoints inserted.
23634
23635@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23636
23637The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
23638@samp{rwatch}.
23639
23640@subsubheading Example
23641
23642Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
23643
23644@smallexample
23645(gdb)
23646-break-watch x
23647^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
23648(gdb)
23649-exec-continue
23650^running
23651(gdb)
23652*stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
23653value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
23654frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
23655fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
23656(gdb)
23657@end smallexample
23658
23659Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
23660the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
23661for the watchpoint going out of scope.
23662
23663@smallexample
23664(gdb)
23665-break-watch C
23666^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
23667(gdb)
23668-exec-continue
23669^running
23670(gdb)
23671*stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
23672wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
23673frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
23674file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
23675fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
23676(gdb)
23677-exec-continue
23678^running
23679(gdb)
23680*stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
23681frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
23682value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
23683file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
23684fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
23685(gdb)
23686@end smallexample
23687
23688Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
23689execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
23690deleted.
23691
23692@smallexample
23693(gdb)
23694-break-watch C
23695^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
23696(gdb)
23697-break-list
23698^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
23699hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
23700@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
23701@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
23702@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
23703@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
23704@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
23705body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
23706addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
23707file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
23708fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",times="1"@},
23709bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
23710enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="0"@}]@}
23711(gdb)
23712-exec-continue
23713^running
23714(gdb)
23715*stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
23716value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
23717frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
23718file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
23719fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
23720(gdb)
23721-break-list
23722^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
23723hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
23724@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
23725@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
23726@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
23727@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
23728@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
23729body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
23730addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
23731file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
23732fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",times="1"@},
23733bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
23734enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="-5"@}]@}
23735(gdb)
23736-exec-continue
23737^running
23738^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
23739frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
23740value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
23741file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
23742fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
23743(gdb)
23744-break-list
23745^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
23746hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
23747@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
23748@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
23749@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
23750@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
23751@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
23752body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
23753addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
23754file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
23755fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
23756times="1"@}]@}
23757(gdb)
23758@end smallexample
23759
23760@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23761@node GDB/MI Program Context
23762@section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
23763
23764@subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
23765@findex -exec-arguments
23766
23767
23768@subsubheading Synopsis
23769
23770@smallexample
23771 -exec-arguments @var{args}
23772@end smallexample
23773
23774Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
23775@samp{-exec-run}.
23776
23777@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23778
23779The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
23780
23781@subsubheading Example
23782
23783@smallexample
23784(gdb)
23785-exec-arguments -v word
23786^done
23787(gdb)
23788@end smallexample
23789
23790
23791@ignore
23792@subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
23793@findex -exec-show-arguments
23794
23795@subsubheading Synopsis
23796
23797@smallexample
23798 -exec-show-arguments
23799@end smallexample
23800
23801Print the arguments of the program.
23802
23803@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23804
23805The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
23806
23807@subsubheading Example
23808N.A.
23809@end ignore
23810
23811
23812@subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
23813@findex -environment-cd
23814
23815@subsubheading Synopsis
23816
23817@smallexample
23818 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
23819@end smallexample
23820
23821Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
23822
23823@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23824
23825The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
23826
23827@subsubheading Example
23828
23829@smallexample
23830(gdb)
23831-environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
23832^done
23833(gdb)
23834@end smallexample
23835
23836
23837@subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
23838@findex -environment-directory
23839
23840@subsubheading Synopsis
23841
23842@smallexample
23843 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
23844@end smallexample
23845
23846Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
23847If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
23848search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
23849@samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
23850occurs as normal.
23851Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
23852multiple directories in a single command
23853results in the directories added to the beginning of the
23854search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
23855If blanks are needed as
23856part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
23857the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
23858by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
23859character must not be used
23860in any directory name.
23861If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
23862
23863@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23864
23865The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
23866
23867@subsubheading Example
23868
23869@smallexample
23870(gdb)
23871-environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
23872^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
23873(gdb)
23874-environment-directory ""
23875^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
23876(gdb)
23877-environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
23878^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
23879(gdb)
23880-environment-directory -r
23881^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
23882(gdb)
23883@end smallexample
23884
23885
23886@subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
23887@findex -environment-path
23888
23889@subsubheading Synopsis
23890
23891@smallexample
23892 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
23893@end smallexample
23894
23895Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
23896If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
23897search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
23898supplied in addition to the
23899@samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
23900occurs as normal.
23901Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
23902multiple directories in a single command
23903results in the directories added to the beginning of the
23904search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
23905If blanks are needed as
23906part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
23907the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
23908by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
23909character must not be used
23910in any directory name.
23911If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
23912
23913
23914@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23915
23916The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
23917
23918@subsubheading Example
23919
23920@smallexample
23921(gdb)
23922-environment-path
23923^done,path="/usr/bin"
23924(gdb)
23925-environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
23926^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
23927(gdb)
23928-environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
23929^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
23930(gdb)
23931@end smallexample
23932
23933
23934@subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
23935@findex -environment-pwd
23936
23937@subsubheading Synopsis
23938
23939@smallexample
23940 -environment-pwd
23941@end smallexample
23942
23943Show the current working directory.
23944
23945@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23946
23947The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
23948
23949@subsubheading Example
23950
23951@smallexample
23952(gdb)
23953-environment-pwd
23954^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
23955(gdb)
23956@end smallexample
23957
23958@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23959@node GDB/MI Thread Commands
23960@section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
23961
23962
23963@subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
23964@findex -thread-info
23965
23966@subsubheading Synopsis
23967
23968@smallexample
23969 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
23970@end smallexample
23971
23972Reports information about either a specific thread, if
23973the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
23974threads. When printing information about all threads,
23975also reports the current thread.
23976
23977@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23978
23979The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
23980about all threads.
23981
23982@subsubheading Example
23983
23984@smallexample
23985-thread-info
23986^done,threads=[
23987@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
23988 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
23989@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
23990 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
23991 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}],
23992current-thread-id="1"
23993(gdb)
23994@end smallexample
23995
23996The @samp{state} field may have the following values:
23997
23998@table @code
23999@item stopped
24000The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
24001threads.
24002
24003@item running
24004The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
24005threads.
24006
24007@end table
24008
24009@subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
24010@findex -thread-list-ids
24011
24012@subsubheading Synopsis
24013
24014@smallexample
24015 -thread-list-ids
24016@end smallexample
24017
24018Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
24019end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
24020
24021This command is retained for historical reasons, the
24022@code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
24023
24024@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24025
24026Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
24027
24028@subsubheading Example
24029
24030@smallexample
24031(gdb)
24032-thread-list-ids
24033^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
24034current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
24035(gdb)
24036@end smallexample
24037
24038
24039@subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
24040@findex -thread-select
24041
24042@subsubheading Synopsis
24043
24044@smallexample
24045 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
24046@end smallexample
24047
24048Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
24049current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
24050
24051This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
24052@samp{--thread} option to each command.
24053
24054@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24055
24056The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
24057
24058@subsubheading Example
24059
24060@smallexample
24061(gdb)
24062-exec-next
24063^running
24064(gdb)
24065*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
24066file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
24067(gdb)
24068-thread-list-ids
24069^done,
24070thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
24071number-of-threads="3"
24072(gdb)
24073-thread-select 3
24074^done,new-thread-id="3",
24075frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
24076args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
24077@{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
24078(gdb)
24079@end smallexample
24080
24081@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24082@node GDB/MI Program Execution
24083@section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
24084
24085These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
24086record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
24087asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
24088other cases.
24089
24090@subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
24091@findex -exec-continue
24092
24093@subsubheading Synopsis
24094
24095@smallexample
24096 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
24097@end smallexample
24098
24099Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
24100to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
24101@samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
24102it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
24103@itemize @bullet
24104@item
24105breakpoints or watchpoints
24106@item
24107signals or exceptions
24108@item
24109the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
24110@item
24111the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
24112@end itemize
24113In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
24114Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
24115value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
24116specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
24117ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
24118specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
24119
24120@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24121
24122The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
24123
24124@subsubheading Example
24125
24126@smallexample
24127-exec-continue
24128^running
24129(gdb)
24130@@Hello world
24131*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
24132func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
24133line="13"@}
24134(gdb)
24135@end smallexample
24136
24137
24138@subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
24139@findex -exec-finish
24140
24141@subsubheading Synopsis
24142
24143@smallexample
24144 -exec-finish [--reverse]
24145@end smallexample
24146
24147Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
24148function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
24149If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
24150execution of the inferior program until the point where current
24151function was called.
24152
24153@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24154
24155The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
24156
24157@subsubheading Example
24158
24159Function returning @code{void}.
24160
24161@smallexample
24162-exec-finish
24163^running
24164(gdb)
24165@@hello from foo
24166*stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
24167file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
24168(gdb)
24169@end smallexample
24170
24171Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
24172@value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
24173value itself.
24174
24175@smallexample
24176-exec-finish
24177^running
24178(gdb)
24179*stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
24180args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
24181file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
24182gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
24183(gdb)
24184@end smallexample
24185
24186
24187@subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
24188@findex -exec-interrupt
24189
24190@subsubheading Synopsis
24191
24192@smallexample
24193 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
24194@end smallexample
24195
24196Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
24197associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
24198that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
24199appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
24200interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
24201
24202Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
24203asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
24204@samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
24205reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
24206
24207In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
24208All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
24209@samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
24210option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
24211
24212@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24213
24214The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
24215
24216@subsubheading Example
24217
24218@smallexample
24219(gdb)
24220111-exec-continue
24221111^running
24222
24223(gdb)
24224222-exec-interrupt
24225222^done
24226(gdb)
24227111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
24228frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
24229fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
24230(gdb)
24231
24232(gdb)
24233-exec-interrupt
24234^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
24235(gdb)
24236@end smallexample
24237
24238@subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
24239@findex -exec-jump
24240
24241@subsubheading Synopsis
24242
24243@smallexample
24244 -exec-jump @var{location}
24245@end smallexample
24246
24247Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
24248parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
24249different forms of @var{location}.
24250
24251@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24252
24253The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
24254
24255@subsubheading Example
24256
24257@smallexample
24258-exec-jump foo.c:10
24259*running,thread-id="all"
24260^running
24261@end smallexample
24262
24263
24264@subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
24265@findex -exec-next
24266
24267@subsubheading Synopsis
24268
24269@smallexample
24270 -exec-next [--reverse]
24271@end smallexample
24272
24273Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
24274of the next source line is reached.
24275
24276If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
24277of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
24278source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
24279function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
24280source line where the function was called.
24281
24282
24283@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24284
24285The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
24286
24287@subsubheading Example
24288
24289@smallexample
24290-exec-next
24291^running
24292(gdb)
24293*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
24294(gdb)
24295@end smallexample
24296
24297
24298@subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
24299@findex -exec-next-instruction
24300
24301@subsubheading Synopsis
24302
24303@smallexample
24304 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
24305@end smallexample
24306
24307Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
24308call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
24309instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
24310printed as well.
24311
24312If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
24313of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
24314previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
24315it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
24316(from the current stack frame) is reached.
24317
24318@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24319
24320The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
24321
24322@subsubheading Example
24323
24324@smallexample
24325(gdb)
24326-exec-next-instruction
24327^running
24328
24329(gdb)
24330*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
24331addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
24332(gdb)
24333@end smallexample
24334
24335
24336@subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
24337@findex -exec-return
24338
24339@subsubheading Synopsis
24340
24341@smallexample
24342 -exec-return
24343@end smallexample
24344
24345Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
24346Displays the new current frame.
24347
24348@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24349
24350The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
24351
24352@subsubheading Example
24353
24354@smallexample
24355(gdb)
24356200-break-insert callee4
24357200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
24358file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
24359(gdb)
24360000-exec-run
24361000^running
24362(gdb)
24363000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
24364frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
24365file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24366fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
24367(gdb)
24368205-break-delete
24369205^done
24370(gdb)
24371111-exec-return
24372111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
24373args=[@{name="strarg",
24374value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
24375file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24376fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
24377(gdb)
24378@end smallexample
24379
24380
24381@subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
24382@findex -exec-run
24383
24384@subsubheading Synopsis
24385
24386@smallexample
24387 -exec-run [--all | --thread-group N]
24388@end smallexample
24389
24390Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
24391executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
24392exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
24393the program has exited exceptionally.
24394
24395When no option is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
24396@samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
24397group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
24398If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
24399
24400@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24401
24402The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
24403
24404@subsubheading Examples
24405
24406@smallexample
24407(gdb)
24408-break-insert main
24409^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
24410(gdb)
24411-exec-run
24412^running
24413(gdb)
24414*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
24415frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
24416fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
24417(gdb)
24418@end smallexample
24419
24420@noindent
24421Program exited normally:
24422
24423@smallexample
24424(gdb)
24425-exec-run
24426^running
24427(gdb)
24428x = 55
24429*stopped,reason="exited-normally"
24430(gdb)
24431@end smallexample
24432
24433@noindent
24434Program exited exceptionally:
24435
24436@smallexample
24437(gdb)
24438-exec-run
24439^running
24440(gdb)
24441x = 55
24442*stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
24443(gdb)
24444@end smallexample
24445
24446Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
24447@code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
24448
24449@smallexample
24450(gdb)
24451*stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
24452signal-meaning="Interrupt"
24453@end smallexample
24454
24455
24456@c @subheading -exec-signal
24457
24458
24459@subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
24460@findex -exec-step
24461
24462@subsubheading Synopsis
24463
24464@smallexample
24465 -exec-step [--reverse]
24466@end smallexample
24467
24468Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
24469of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
24470function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
24471function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
24472execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
24473previously executed source line.
24474
24475@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24476
24477The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
24478
24479@subsubheading Example
24480
24481Stepping into a function:
24482
24483@smallexample
24484-exec-step
24485^running
24486(gdb)
24487*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
24488frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
24489@{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
24490fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
24491(gdb)
24492@end smallexample
24493
24494Regular stepping:
24495
24496@smallexample
24497-exec-step
24498^running
24499(gdb)
24500*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
24501(gdb)
24502@end smallexample
24503
24504
24505@subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
24506@findex -exec-step-instruction
24507
24508@subsubheading Synopsis
24509
24510@smallexample
24511 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
24512@end smallexample
24513
24514Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
24515@samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
24516inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
24517The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
24518whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
24519former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
24520as well.
24521
24522@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24523
24524The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
24525
24526@subsubheading Example
24527
24528@smallexample
24529(gdb)
24530-exec-step-instruction
24531^running
24532
24533(gdb)
24534*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
24535frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
24536fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
24537(gdb)
24538-exec-step-instruction
24539^running
24540
24541(gdb)
24542*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
24543frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
24544fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
24545(gdb)
24546@end smallexample
24547
24548
24549@subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
24550@findex -exec-until
24551
24552@subsubheading Synopsis
24553
24554@smallexample
24555 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
24556@end smallexample
24557
24558Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
24559argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
24560until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
24561reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
24562
24563@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24564
24565The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
24566
24567@subsubheading Example
24568
24569@smallexample
24570(gdb)
24571-exec-until recursive2.c:6
24572^running
24573(gdb)
24574x = 55
24575*stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
24576file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
24577(gdb)
24578@end smallexample
24579
24580@ignore
24581@subheading -file-clear
24582Is this going away????
24583@end ignore
24584
24585@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24586@node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
24587@section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
24588
24589
24590@subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
24591@findex -stack-info-frame
24592
24593@subsubheading Synopsis
24594
24595@smallexample
24596 -stack-info-frame
24597@end smallexample
24598
24599Get info on the selected frame.
24600
24601@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24602
24603The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
24604(without arguments).
24605
24606@subsubheading Example
24607
24608@smallexample
24609(gdb)
24610-stack-info-frame
24611^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
24612file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24613fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
24614(gdb)
24615@end smallexample
24616
24617@subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
24618@findex -stack-info-depth
24619
24620@subsubheading Synopsis
24621
24622@smallexample
24623 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
24624@end smallexample
24625
24626Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
24627is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
24628
24629@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24630
24631There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
24632
24633@subsubheading Example
24634
24635For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
24636
24637@smallexample
24638(gdb)
24639-stack-info-depth
24640^done,depth="12"
24641(gdb)
24642-stack-info-depth 4
24643^done,depth="4"
24644(gdb)
24645-stack-info-depth 12
24646^done,depth="12"
24647(gdb)
24648-stack-info-depth 11
24649^done,depth="11"
24650(gdb)
24651-stack-info-depth 13
24652^done,depth="12"
24653(gdb)
24654@end smallexample
24655
24656@subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
24657@findex -stack-list-arguments
24658
24659@subsubheading Synopsis
24660
24661@smallexample
24662 -stack-list-arguments @var{print-values}
24663 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
24664@end smallexample
24665
24666Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
24667and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
24668@var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
24669call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
24670at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
24671larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
24672@var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
24673which case only existing frames will be returned.
24674
24675If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
24676the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
24677values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
24678type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
24679structures and unions.
24680
24681Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
24682deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
24683
24684@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24685
24686@value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
24687@samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
24688functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
24689
24690@subsubheading Example
24691
24692@smallexample
24693(gdb)
24694-stack-list-frames
24695^done,
24696stack=[
24697frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
24698file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24699fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
24700frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
24701file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24702fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
24703frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
24704file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24705fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
24706frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
24707file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24708fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
24709frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
24710file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24711fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
24712(gdb)
24713-stack-list-arguments 0
24714^done,
24715stack-args=[
24716frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
24717frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
24718frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
24719frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
24720frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
24721(gdb)
24722-stack-list-arguments 1
24723^done,
24724stack-args=[
24725frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
24726frame=@{level="1",
24727 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
24728frame=@{level="2",args=[
24729@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
24730@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
24731@{frame=@{level="3",args=[
24732@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
24733@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
24734@{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
24735frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
24736(gdb)
24737-stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
24738^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
24739(gdb)
24740-stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
24741^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
24742args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
24743@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
24744(gdb)
24745@end smallexample
24746
24747@c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
24748
24749
24750@subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
24751@findex -stack-list-frames
24752
24753@subsubheading Synopsis
24754
24755@smallexample
24756 -stack-list-frames [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
24757@end smallexample
24758
24759List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
24760following info:
24761
24762@table @samp
24763@item @var{level}
24764The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
24765@item @var{addr}
24766The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
24767@item @var{func}
24768Function name.
24769@item @var{file}
24770File name of the source file where the function lives.
24771@item @var{line}
24772Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
24773@end table
24774
24775If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
24776whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
24777levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
24778are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
24779an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
24780frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
24781actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be returned.
24782
24783@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24784
24785The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
24786
24787@subsubheading Example
24788
24789Full stack backtrace:
24790
24791@smallexample
24792(gdb)
24793-stack-list-frames
24794^done,stack=
24795[frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
24796 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
24797frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
24798 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
24799frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
24800 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
24801frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
24802 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
24803frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
24804 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
24805frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
24806 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
24807frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
24808 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
24809frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
24810 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
24811frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
24812 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
24813frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
24814 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
24815frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
24816 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
24817frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
24818 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
24819(gdb)
24820@end smallexample
24821
24822Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
24823
24824@smallexample
24825(gdb)
24826-stack-list-frames 3 5
24827^done,stack=
24828[frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
24829 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
24830frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
24831 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
24832frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
24833 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
24834(gdb)
24835@end smallexample
24836
24837Show a single frame:
24838
24839@smallexample
24840(gdb)
24841-stack-list-frames 3 3
24842^done,stack=
24843[frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
24844 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
24845(gdb)
24846@end smallexample
24847
24848
24849@subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
24850@findex -stack-list-locals
24851
24852@subsubheading Synopsis
24853
24854@smallexample
24855 -stack-list-locals @var{print-values}
24856@end smallexample
24857
24858Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
24859@var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
24860the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
24861values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
24862type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
24863structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
24864display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
24865other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
24866more detail.
24867
24868This command is deprecated in favor of the
24869@samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
24870
24871@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24872
24873@samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
24874
24875@subsubheading Example
24876
24877@smallexample
24878(gdb)
24879-stack-list-locals 0
24880^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
24881(gdb)
24882-stack-list-locals --all-values
24883^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
24884 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
24885-stack-list-locals --simple-values
24886^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
24887 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
24888(gdb)
24889@end smallexample
24890
24891@subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
24892@findex -stack-list-variables
24893
24894@subsubheading Synopsis
24895
24896@smallexample
24897 -stack-list-variables @var{print-values}
24898@end smallexample
24899
24900Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
24901@var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
24902the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
24903values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
24904type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
24905structures and unions.
24906
24907@subsubheading Example
24908
24909@smallexample
24910(gdb)
24911-stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
24912^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
24913(gdb)
24914@end smallexample
24915
24916
24917@subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
24918@findex -stack-select-frame
24919
24920@subsubheading Synopsis
24921
24922@smallexample
24923 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
24924@end smallexample
24925
24926Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
24927the stack.
24928
24929This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
24930option to every command.
24931
24932@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24933
24934The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
24935@samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
24936
24937@subsubheading Example
24938
24939@smallexample
24940(gdb)
24941-stack-select-frame 2
24942^done
24943(gdb)
24944@end smallexample
24945
24946@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24947@node GDB/MI Variable Objects
24948@section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
24949
24950@ignore
24951
24952@subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
24953
24954For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
24955expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
24956used by @code{Insight}.
24957
24958The two main reasons for that are:
24959
24960@enumerate 1
24961@item
24962It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
24963
24964@item
24965It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
24966now).
24967@end enumerate
24968
24969The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
24970slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
24971describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
24972hints about their use.
24973
24974@emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
24975expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
24976least, the following operations:
24977
24978@itemize @bullet
24979@item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
24980@item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
24981@item @code{-stack-list-locals}
24982@item @code{-stack-select-frame}
24983@end itemize
24984
24985@end ignore
24986
24987@subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
24988
24989@cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
24990
24991Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
24992changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
24993work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
24994simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
24995is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
24996frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
24997expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
24998expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
24999variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
25000operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
25001object, or to change display format.
25002
25003Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
25004that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
25005a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
25006element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
25007children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
25008leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
25009objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
25010is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
25011child will be created.
25012
25013For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
25014string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
25015obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
25016that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
25017contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
25018
25019A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
25020the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
25021variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
25022operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
25023be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
25024objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
25025real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
25026variables that frontend has created.
25027
25028The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
25029might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
25030and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
25031relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
25032to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
25033visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
25034called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
25035implicitly updated.
25036
25037Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
25038fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
25039object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
25040variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
25041variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
25042expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
25043frame. Consider this example:
25044
25045@smallexample
25046void do_work(...)
25047@{
25048 struct work_state state;
25049
25050 if (...)
25051 do_work(...);
25052@}
25053@end smallexample
25054
25055If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
25056this function, and we enter the recursive call, the the variable
25057object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
25058@code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
25059object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
25060
25061If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
25062refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
25063thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
25064variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
25065thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
25066and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
25067
25068The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
25069access this functionality:
25070
25071@multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
25072@item @strong{Operation}
25073@tab @strong{Description}
25074
25075@item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
25076@tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
25077@item @code{-var-create}
25078@tab create a variable object
25079@item @code{-var-delete}
25080@tab delete the variable object and/or its children
25081@item @code{-var-set-format}
25082@tab set the display format of this variable
25083@item @code{-var-show-format}
25084@tab show the display format of this variable
25085@item @code{-var-info-num-children}
25086@tab tells how many children this object has
25087@item @code{-var-list-children}
25088@tab return a list of the object's children
25089@item @code{-var-info-type}
25090@tab show the type of this variable object
25091@item @code{-var-info-expression}
25092@tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
25093@item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
25094@tab print full expression that this variable object represents
25095@item @code{-var-show-attributes}
25096@tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
25097@item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
25098@tab get the value of this variable
25099@item @code{-var-assign}
25100@tab set the value of this variable
25101@item @code{-var-update}
25102@tab update the variable and its children
25103@item @code{-var-set-frozen}
25104@tab set frozeness attribute
25105@item @code{-var-set-update-range}
25106@tab set range of children to display on update
25107@end multitable
25108
25109In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
25110how it can be used.
25111
25112@subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
25113
25114@subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
25115@findex -enable-pretty-printing
25116
25117@smallexample
25118-enable-pretty-printing
25119@end smallexample
25120
25121@value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
25122MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
25123implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
25124request that this functionality be enabled.
25125
25126Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
25127
25128Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
25129this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
25130
25131This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
25132may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
25133
25134@subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
25135@findex -var-create
25136
25137@subsubheading Synopsis
25138
25139@smallexample
25140 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
25141 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
25142@end smallexample
25143
25144This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
25145a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
25146register.
25147
25148The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
25149referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
25150system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
25151unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
25152The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
25153
25154The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
25155specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
25156frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
25157object must be created.
25158
25159@var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
25160begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
25161
25162@itemize @bullet
25163@item
25164@samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
25165
25166@item
25167@samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
25168
25169@item
25170@samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
25171@end itemize
25172
25173@cindex dynamic varobj
25174A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
25175case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
25176have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
25177@code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
25178will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
25179compatibility for existing clients.
25180
25181@subsubheading Result
25182
25183This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
25184are:
25185
25186@table @samp
25187@item name
25188The name of the varobj.
25189
25190@item numchild
25191The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
25192reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
25193@samp{has_more} attribute.
25194
25195@item value
25196The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
25197aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
25198will not be interesting.
25199
25200@item type
25201The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
25202would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI.
25203
25204@item thread-id
25205If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
25206thread's identifier.
25207
25208@item has_more
25209For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
25210children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
25211
25212@item dynamic
25213This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
25214varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
25215then this attribute will not be present.
25216
25217@item displayhint
25218A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
25219value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
25220@code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing}.
25221@end table
25222
25223Typical output will look like this:
25224
25225@smallexample
25226 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
25227 has_more="@var{has_more}"
25228@end smallexample
25229
25230
25231@subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
25232@findex -var-delete
25233
25234@subsubheading Synopsis
25235
25236@smallexample
25237 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
25238@end smallexample
25239
25240Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
25241With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
25242
25243Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
25244
25245
25246@subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
25247@findex -var-set-format
25248
25249@subsubheading Synopsis
25250
25251@smallexample
25252 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
25253@end smallexample
25254
25255Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
25256@var{format-spec}.
25257
25258@anchor{-var-set-format}
25259The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
25260
25261@smallexample
25262 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
25263 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
25264@end smallexample
25265
25266The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
25267based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
25268for pointers, etc.).
25269
25270For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
25271variable itself, and the children are not affected.
25272
25273@subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
25274@findex -var-show-format
25275
25276@subsubheading Synopsis
25277
25278@smallexample
25279 -var-show-format @var{name}
25280@end smallexample
25281
25282Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
25283
25284@smallexample
25285 @var{format} @expansion{}
25286 @var{format-spec}
25287@end smallexample
25288
25289
25290@subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
25291@findex -var-info-num-children
25292
25293@subsubheading Synopsis
25294
25295@smallexample
25296 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
25297@end smallexample
25298
25299Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
25300
25301@smallexample
25302 numchild=@var{n}
25303@end smallexample
25304
25305Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
25306It will return the current number of children, but more children may
25307be available.
25308
25309
25310@subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
25311@findex -var-list-children
25312
25313@subsubheading Synopsis
25314
25315@smallexample
25316 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
25317@end smallexample
25318@anchor{-var-list-children}
25319
25320Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
25321create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
25322a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value for of 0 or
25323@code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
25324@var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
25325values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
25326value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
25327and unions.
25328
25329@var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
25330to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
25331reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
25332at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
25333reported.
25334
25335If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
25336@code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
25337For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
25338intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
25339update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
25340front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
25341then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
25342different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
25343the visible items.
25344
25345For each child the following results are returned:
25346
25347@table @var
25348
25349@item name
25350Name of the variable object created for this child.
25351
25352@item exp
25353The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
25354For example this may be the name of a structure member.
25355
25356For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
25357expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
25358
25359For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
25360designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
25361@samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
25362type and value are not present.
25363
25364A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
25365pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
25366available at all with a dynamic varobj.
25367
25368@item numchild
25369Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
253700.
25371
25372@item type
25373The type of the child.
25374
25375@item value
25376If values were requested, this is the value.
25377
25378@item thread-id
25379If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
25380Otherwise this result is not present.
25381
25382@item frozen
25383If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
25384@end table
25385
25386The result may have its own attributes:
25387
25388@table @samp
25389@item displayhint
25390A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
25391value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
25392@code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing}.
25393
25394@item has_more
25395This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
25396remaining after the end of the selected range.
25397@end table
25398
25399@subsubheading Example
25400
25401@smallexample
25402(gdb)
25403 -var-list-children n
25404 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
25405 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
25406(gdb)
25407 -var-list-children --all-values n
25408 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
25409 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
25410@end smallexample
25411
25412
25413@subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
25414@findex -var-info-type
25415
25416@subsubheading Synopsis
25417
25418@smallexample
25419 -var-info-type @var{name}
25420@end smallexample
25421
25422Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
25423returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
25424@value{GDBN} CLI:
25425
25426@smallexample
25427 type=@var{typename}
25428@end smallexample
25429
25430
25431@subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
25432@findex -var-info-expression
25433
25434@subsubheading Synopsis
25435
25436@smallexample
25437 -var-info-expression @var{name}
25438@end smallexample
25439
25440Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
25441variable object in user interface. The string is generally
25442not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
25443
25444For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
25445@code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
25446
25447@smallexample
25448(gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
25449^done,lang="C",exp="1"
25450@end smallexample
25451
25452@noindent
25453Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
25454
25455Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
25456includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
25457is of limited use.
25458
25459@subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
25460@findex -var-info-path-expression
25461
25462@subsubheading Synopsis
25463
25464@smallexample
25465 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
25466@end smallexample
25467
25468Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
25469context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
25470Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
25471result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
25472the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
25473watchpoint from a variable object.
25474
25475This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
25476and will give an error when invoked on one.
25477
25478For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
25479@code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
25480@code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
25481@code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
25482@code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
25483@smallexample
25484(gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
25485^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
25486@end smallexample
25487
25488@subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
25489@findex -var-show-attributes
25490
25491@subsubheading Synopsis
25492
25493@smallexample
25494 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
25495@end smallexample
25496
25497List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
25498
25499@smallexample
25500 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
25501@end smallexample
25502
25503@noindent
25504where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
25505
25506@subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
25507@findex -var-evaluate-expression
25508
25509@subsubheading Synopsis
25510
25511@smallexample
25512 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
25513@end smallexample
25514
25515Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
25516object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
25517can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
25518this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
25519(@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
25520the current display format will be used. The current display format
25521can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
25522
25523@smallexample
25524 value=@var{value}
25525@end smallexample
25526
25527Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
25528before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
25529
25530@subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
25531@findex -var-assign
25532
25533@subsubheading Synopsis
25534
25535@smallexample
25536 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
25537@end smallexample
25538
25539Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
25540by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
25541value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
25542subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
25543
25544@subsubheading Example
25545
25546@smallexample
25547(gdb)
25548-var-assign var1 3
25549^done,value="3"
25550(gdb)
25551-var-update *
25552^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
25553(gdb)
25554@end smallexample
25555
25556@subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
25557@findex -var-update
25558
25559@subsubheading Synopsis
25560
25561@smallexample
25562 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
25563@end smallexample
25564
25565Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
25566@var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
25567list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
25568be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
25569@code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
25570@code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
25571object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
25572for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
25573@var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
25574names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
25575as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
25576recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
25577number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
25578
25579With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
25580currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
25581diagnostic.
25582
25583If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
25584only the selected range of children will be reported.
25585
25586@code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
25587@samp{changelist}.
25588
25589Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
25590
25591@table @samp
25592@item name
25593The name of the varobj.
25594
25595@item value
25596If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
25597present and will hold the value of the varobj.
25598
25599@item in_scope
25600@anchor{-var-update}
25601This field is a string which may take one of three values:
25602
25603@table @code
25604@item "true"
25605The variable object's current value is valid.
25606
25607@item "false"
25608The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
25609hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
25610scope.
25611
25612@item "invalid"
25613The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
25614This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
25615either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
25616command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
25617objects.
25618@end table
25619
25620In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
25621be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
25622
25623@item type_changed
25624This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
25625changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
25626be @samp{false}.
25627
25628@item new_type
25629If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
25630hold the new type.
25631
25632@item new_num_children
25633For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
25634type changed, this will be the new number of children.
25635
25636The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
25637valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
25638@value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
25639instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
25640children which may be available.
25641
25642The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
25643number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
25644detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
25645only happen at the end of the update range).
25646
25647@item displayhint
25648The display hint, if any.
25649
25650@item has_more
25651This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
25652available outside the varobj's update range.
25653
25654@item dynamic
25655This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
25656varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
25657then this attribute will not be present.
25658
25659@item new_children
25660If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
25661update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
25662be listed in this attribute.
25663@end table
25664
25665@subsubheading Example
25666
25667@smallexample
25668(gdb)
25669-var-assign var1 3
25670^done,value="3"
25671(gdb)
25672-var-update --all-values var1
25673^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
25674type_changed="false"@}]
25675(gdb)
25676@end smallexample
25677
25678@subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
25679@findex -var-set-frozen
25680@anchor{-var-set-frozen}
25681
25682@subsubheading Synopsis
25683
25684@smallexample
25685 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
25686@end smallexample
25687
25688Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
25689@var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
25690frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
25691frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
25692implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
25693a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
25694@code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
25695values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
25696implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
25697Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
25698@code{-var-update} does.
25699
25700@subsubheading Example
25701
25702@smallexample
25703(gdb)
25704-var-set-frozen V 1
25705^done
25706(gdb)
25707@end smallexample
25708
25709@subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
25710@findex -var-set-update-range
25711@anchor{-var-set-update-range}
25712
25713@subsubheading Synopsis
25714
25715@smallexample
25716 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
25717@end smallexample
25718
25719Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
25720@code{-var-update}.
25721
25722@var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
25723@var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
25724children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
25725(zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
25726
25727@subsubheading Example
25728
25729@smallexample
25730(gdb)
25731-var-set-update-range V 1 2
25732^done
25733@end smallexample
25734
25735@subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
25736@findex -var-set-visualizer
25737@anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
25738
25739@subsubheading Synopsis
25740
25741@smallexample
25742 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
25743@end smallexample
25744
25745Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
25746
25747@var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
25748@samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
25749
25750If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
25751This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
25752single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
25753the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
25754Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
25755When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
25756pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
25757
25758The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
25759select a visualizer by following the built-in process
25760(@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
25761a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
25762
25763This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
25764command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands})
25765can be used to check this.
25766
25767@subsubheading Example
25768
25769Resetting the visualizer:
25770
25771@smallexample
25772(gdb)
25773-var-set-visualizer V None
25774^done
25775@end smallexample
25776
25777Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
25778
25779@smallexample
25780(gdb)
25781-var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
25782^done
25783@end smallexample
25784
25785Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
25786can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
25787
25788@smallexample
25789(gdb)
25790-var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
25791^done
25792@end smallexample
25793
25794@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25795@node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
25796@section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
25797
25798@cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
25799@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
25800This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
25801examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
25802
25803@c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
25804@c @subheading -data-assign
25805@c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
25806@c @subsubheading GDB Command
25807@c set variable
25808@c @subsubheading Example
25809@c N.A.
25810
25811@subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
25812@findex -data-disassemble
25813
25814@subsubheading Synopsis
25815
25816@smallexample
25817 -data-disassemble
25818 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
25819 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
25820 -- @var{mode}
25821@end smallexample
25822
25823@noindent
25824Where:
25825
25826@table @samp
25827@item @var{start-addr}
25828is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
25829@item @var{end-addr}
25830is the end address
25831@item @var{filename}
25832is the name of the file to disassemble
25833@item @var{linenum}
25834is the line number to disassemble around
25835@item @var{lines}
25836is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
25837the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
25838specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
25839@var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
25840@var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
25841displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
25842@var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
25843are displayed.
25844@item @var{mode}
25845is either 0 (meaning only disassembly) or 1 (meaning mixed source and
25846disassembly).
25847@end table
25848
25849@subsubheading Result
25850
25851The output for each instruction is composed of four fields:
25852
25853@itemize @bullet
25854@item Address
25855@item Func-name
25856@item Offset
25857@item Instruction
25858@end itemize
25859
25860Note that whatever included in the instruction field, is not manipulated
25861directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to adjust its format.
25862
25863@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25864
25865There's no direct mapping from this command to the CLI.
25866
25867@subsubheading Example
25868
25869Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
25870
25871@smallexample
25872(gdb)
25873-data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
25874^done,
25875asm_insns=[
25876@{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
25877inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
25878@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
25879inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
25880@{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
25881inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
25882@{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
25883inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
25884@{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
25885inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
25886(gdb)
25887@end smallexample
25888
25889Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
25890@code{main}.
25891
25892@smallexample
25893-data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
25894^done,asm_insns=[
25895@{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
25896inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
25897@{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
25898inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
25899@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
25900inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
25901[@dots{}]
25902@{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
25903@{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
25904(gdb)
25905@end smallexample
25906
25907Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
25908
25909@smallexample
25910(gdb)
25911-data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
25912^done,asm_insns=[
25913@{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
25914inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
25915@{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
25916inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
25917@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
25918inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
25919(gdb)
25920@end smallexample
25921
25922Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
25923
25924@smallexample
25925(gdb)
25926-data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
25927^done,asm_insns=[
25928src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
25929file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
25930 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
25931@{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
25932inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
25933src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
25934file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
25935 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
25936@{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
25937inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
25938@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
25939inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
25940(gdb)
25941@end smallexample
25942
25943
25944@subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
25945@findex -data-evaluate-expression
25946
25947@subsubheading Synopsis
25948
25949@smallexample
25950 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
25951@end smallexample
25952
25953Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
25954inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
25955If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
25956
25957@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25958
25959The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
25960@samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
25961@samp{gdb_eval} command.
25962
25963@subsubheading Example
25964
25965In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
25966@dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
25967Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
25968output.
25969
25970@smallexample
25971211-data-evaluate-expression A
25972211^done,value="1"
25973(gdb)
25974311-data-evaluate-expression &A
25975311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
25976(gdb)
25977411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
25978411^done,value="4"
25979(gdb)
25980511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
25981511^done,value="4"
25982(gdb)
25983@end smallexample
25984
25985
25986@subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
25987@findex -data-list-changed-registers
25988
25989@subsubheading Synopsis
25990
25991@smallexample
25992 -data-list-changed-registers
25993@end smallexample
25994
25995Display a list of the registers that have changed.
25996
25997@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25998
25999@value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
26000has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
26001
26002@subsubheading Example
26003
26004On a PPC MBX board:
26005
26006@smallexample
26007(gdb)
26008-exec-continue
26009^running
26010
26011(gdb)
26012*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
26013func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
26014line="5"@}
26015(gdb)
26016-data-list-changed-registers
26017^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
26018"10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
26019"24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
26020(gdb)
26021@end smallexample
26022
26023
26024@subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
26025@findex -data-list-register-names
26026
26027@subsubheading Synopsis
26028
26029@smallexample
26030 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
26031@end smallexample
26032
26033Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
26034are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
26035integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
26036names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
26037consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
26038include empty register names.
26039
26040@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26041
26042@value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
26043@samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
26044corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
26045
26046@subsubheading Example
26047
26048For the PPC MBX board:
26049@smallexample
26050(gdb)
26051-data-list-register-names
26052^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
26053"r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
26054"r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
26055"r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
26056"f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
26057"f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
26058"", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
26059(gdb)
26060-data-list-register-names 1 2 3
26061^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
26062(gdb)
26063@end smallexample
26064
26065@subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
26066@findex -data-list-register-values
26067
26068@subsubheading Synopsis
26069
26070@smallexample
26071 -data-list-register-values @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
26072@end smallexample
26073
26074Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
26075which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
26076list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
26077numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be returned.
26078
26079Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
26080
26081@table @code
26082@item x
26083Hexadecimal
26084@item o
26085Octal
26086@item t
26087Binary
26088@item d
26089Decimal
26090@item r
26091Raw
26092@item N
26093Natural
26094@end table
26095
26096@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26097
26098The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
26099all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
26100
26101@subsubheading Example
26102
26103For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
26104don't appear in the actual output):
26105
26106@smallexample
26107(gdb)
26108-data-list-register-values r 64 65
26109^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
26110@{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
26111(gdb)
26112-data-list-register-values x
26113^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
26114@{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
26115@{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
26116@{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
26117@{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
26118@{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
26119@{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
26120@{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
26121@{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
26122@{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
26123@{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
26124@{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
26125@{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
26126@{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
26127@{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
26128@{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
26129@{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
26130@{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
26131@{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
26132@{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
26133@{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
26134@{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
26135@{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
26136@{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
26137@{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
26138@{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
26139@{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
26140@{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
26141@{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
26142@{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
26143@{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
26144@{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
26145@{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
26146@{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
26147@{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
26148@{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
26149(gdb)
26150@end smallexample
26151
26152
26153@subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
26154@findex -data-read-memory
26155
26156@subsubheading Synopsis
26157
26158@smallexample
26159 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
26160 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
26161 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
26162@end smallexample
26163
26164@noindent
26165where:
26166
26167@table @samp
26168@item @var{address}
26169An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
26170read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
26171quoted using the C convention.
26172
26173@item @var{word-format}
26174The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
26175same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
26176,Output Formats}).
26177
26178@item @var{word-size}
26179The size of each memory word in bytes.
26180
26181@item @var{nr-rows}
26182The number of rows in the output table.
26183
26184@item @var{nr-cols}
26185The number of columns in the output table.
26186
26187@item @var{aschar}
26188If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
26189value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
26190member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
26191characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
26192
26193@item @var{byte-offset}
26194An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
26195@end table
26196
26197This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
26198@var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
26199@code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
26200(returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
26201of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
26202using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
26203in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
26204@samp{addr}.
26205
26206The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
26207@samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
26208@samp{prev-page}.
26209
26210@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26211
26212The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
26213@samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
26214
26215@subsubheading Example
26216
26217Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
26218@code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
26219word. Display each word in hex.
26220
26221@smallexample
26222(gdb)
262239-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
262249^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
26225next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
26226prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
26227@{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
26228@{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
26229@{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
26230(gdb)
26231@end smallexample
26232
26233Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
26234display as a single word formatted in decimal.
26235
26236@smallexample
26237(gdb)
262385-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
262395^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
26240next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
26241next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
26242@{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
26243(gdb)
26244@end smallexample
26245
26246Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
26247as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
26248used as the non-printable character.
26249
26250@smallexample
26251(gdb)
262524-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
262534^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
26254next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
26255next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
26256@{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
26257@{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
26258@{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
26259@{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
26260@{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
26261@{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
26262@{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
26263@{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
26264(gdb)
26265@end smallexample
26266
26267@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26268@node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
26269@section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
26270
26271The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
26272tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
26273
26274@subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
26275@findex -trace-find
26276
26277@subsubheading Synopsis
26278
26279@smallexample
26280 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
26281@end smallexample
26282
26283Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
26284@var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
26285modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
26286
26287@table @samp
26288
26289@item none
26290No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
26291
26292@item frame-number
26293An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
26294that index.
26295
26296@item tracepoint-number
26297An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
26298trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
26299
26300@item pc
26301An address is required as parameter. Finds
26302next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
26303address.
26304
26305@item pc-inside-range
26306Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
26307frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
26308specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
26309
26310@item pc-outside-range
26311Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
26312next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
26313the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
26314
26315@item line
26316Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
26317Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
26318the specified location.
26319
26320@end table
26321
26322If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
26323have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
26324
26325@table @samp
26326@item found
26327This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
26328on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
26329
26330@item traceframe
26331The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
26332the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
26333
26334@item tracepoint
26335The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
26336the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
26337
26338@item frame
26339The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
26340frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
26341@xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
26342
26343@end table
26344
26345@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26346
26347The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
26348
26349@subheading -trace-define-variable
26350@findex -trace-define-variable
26351
26352@subsubheading Synopsis
26353
26354@smallexample
26355 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
26356@end smallexample
26357
26358Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
26359@var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
26360trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
26361with the @samp{$} character.
26362
26363@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26364
26365The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
26366
26367@subheading -trace-list-variables
26368@findex -trace-list-variables
26369
26370@subsubheading Synopsis
26371
26372@smallexample
26373 -trace-list-variables
26374@end smallexample
26375
26376Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
26377table has the following fields:
26378
26379@table @samp
26380@item name
26381The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
26382
26383@item initial
26384The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
26385field is always present.
26386
26387@item current
26388The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
26389signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
26390not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
26391presently running.
26392
26393@end table
26394
26395@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26396
26397The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
26398
26399@subsubheading Example
26400
26401@smallexample
26402(gdb)
26403-trace-list-variables
26404^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
26405hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
26406 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
26407 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
26408body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
26409 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
26410(gdb)
26411@end smallexample
26412
26413@subheading -trace-save
26414@findex -trace-save
26415
26416@subsubheading Synopsis
26417
26418@smallexample
26419 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
26420@end smallexample
26421
26422Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
26423@samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
26424in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
26425to perform the save.
26426
26427@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26428
26429The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
26430
26431
26432@subheading -trace-start
26433@findex -trace-start
26434
26435@subsubheading Synopsis
26436
26437@smallexample
26438 -trace-start
26439@end smallexample
26440
26441Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
26442have any fields.
26443
26444@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26445
26446The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
26447
26448@subheading -trace-status
26449@findex -trace-status
26450
26451@subsubheading Synopsis
26452
26453@smallexample
26454 -trace-status
26455@end smallexample
26456
26457Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
26458the following fields:
26459
26460@table @samp
26461
26462@item supported
26463May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
26464supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
26465@samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
26466of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
26467started. This field is always present.
26468
26469@item running
26470May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
26471tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
26472if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
26473
26474@item stop-reason
26475Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
26476may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
26477value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
26478the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
26479the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
26480tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
26481The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
26482tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
26483This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
26484
26485@item stopping-tracepoint
26486The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
26487present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
26488@samp{passcount}.
26489
26490@item frames
26491@itemx frames-created
26492The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
26493in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
26494during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
26495circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
26496
26497@item buffer-size
26498@itemx buffer-free
26499These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
26500remaining space. These fields are optional.
26501
26502@item circular
26503The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
26504trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
26505necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
26506and may fill up.
26507
26508@item disconnected
26509The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
26510tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
26511that the trace run will stop.
26512
26513@end table
26514
26515@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26516
26517The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
26518
26519@subheading -trace-stop
26520@findex -trace-stop
26521
26522@subsubheading Synopsis
26523
26524@smallexample
26525 -trace-stop
26526@end smallexample
26527
26528Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
26529fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
26530@samp{running} fields are not output.
26531
26532@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26533
26534The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
26535
26536
26537@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26538@node GDB/MI Symbol Query
26539@section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
26540
26541
26542@ignore
26543@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
26544@findex -symbol-info-address
26545
26546@subsubheading Synopsis
26547
26548@smallexample
26549 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
26550@end smallexample
26551
26552Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
26553
26554@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26555
26556The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
26557
26558@subsubheading Example
26559N.A.
26560
26561
26562@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
26563@findex -symbol-info-file
26564
26565@subsubheading Synopsis
26566
26567@smallexample
26568 -symbol-info-file
26569@end smallexample
26570
26571Show the file for the symbol.
26572
26573@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26574
26575There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
26576@samp{gdb_find_file}.
26577
26578@subsubheading Example
26579N.A.
26580
26581
26582@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
26583@findex -symbol-info-function
26584
26585@subsubheading Synopsis
26586
26587@smallexample
26588 -symbol-info-function
26589@end smallexample
26590
26591Show which function the symbol lives in.
26592
26593@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26594
26595@samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
26596
26597@subsubheading Example
26598N.A.
26599
26600
26601@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
26602@findex -symbol-info-line
26603
26604@subsubheading Synopsis
26605
26606@smallexample
26607 -symbol-info-line
26608@end smallexample
26609
26610Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
26611
26612@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26613
26614The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
26615@code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
26616
26617@subsubheading Example
26618N.A.
26619
26620
26621@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
26622@findex -symbol-info-symbol
26623
26624@subsubheading Synopsis
26625
26626@smallexample
26627 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
26628@end smallexample
26629
26630Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
26631
26632@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26633
26634The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
26635
26636@subsubheading Example
26637N.A.
26638
26639
26640@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
26641@findex -symbol-list-functions
26642
26643@subsubheading Synopsis
26644
26645@smallexample
26646 -symbol-list-functions
26647@end smallexample
26648
26649List the functions in the executable.
26650
26651@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26652
26653@samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
26654@samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
26655
26656@subsubheading Example
26657N.A.
26658@end ignore
26659
26660
26661@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
26662@findex -symbol-list-lines
26663
26664@subsubheading Synopsis
26665
26666@smallexample
26667 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
26668@end smallexample
26669
26670Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
26671addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
26672ascending PC order.
26673
26674@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26675
26676There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
26677
26678@subsubheading Example
26679@smallexample
26680(gdb)
26681-symbol-list-lines basics.c
26682^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
26683(gdb)
26684@end smallexample
26685
26686
26687@ignore
26688@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
26689@findex -symbol-list-types
26690
26691@subsubheading Synopsis
26692
26693@smallexample
26694 -symbol-list-types
26695@end smallexample
26696
26697List all the type names.
26698
26699@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26700
26701The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
26702@samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
26703
26704@subsubheading Example
26705N.A.
26706
26707
26708@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
26709@findex -symbol-list-variables
26710
26711@subsubheading Synopsis
26712
26713@smallexample
26714 -symbol-list-variables
26715@end smallexample
26716
26717List all the global and static variable names.
26718
26719@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26720
26721@samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
26722
26723@subsubheading Example
26724N.A.
26725
26726
26727@subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
26728@findex -symbol-locate
26729
26730@subsubheading Synopsis
26731
26732@smallexample
26733 -symbol-locate
26734@end smallexample
26735
26736@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26737
26738@samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
26739
26740@subsubheading Example
26741N.A.
26742
26743
26744@subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
26745@findex -symbol-type
26746
26747@subsubheading Synopsis
26748
26749@smallexample
26750 -symbol-type @var{variable}
26751@end smallexample
26752
26753Show type of @var{variable}.
26754
26755@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26756
26757The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
26758@samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
26759
26760@subsubheading Example
26761N.A.
26762@end ignore
26763
26764
26765@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26766@node GDB/MI File Commands
26767@section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
26768
26769This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
26770and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
26771
26772@subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
26773@findex -file-exec-and-symbols
26774
26775@subsubheading Synopsis
26776
26777@smallexample
26778 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
26779@end smallexample
26780
26781Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
26782which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
26783command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
26784are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
26785error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
26786notification.
26787
26788@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26789
26790The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
26791
26792@subsubheading Example
26793
26794@smallexample
26795(gdb)
26796-file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
26797^done
26798(gdb)
26799@end smallexample
26800
26801
26802@subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
26803@findex -file-exec-file
26804
26805@subsubheading Synopsis
26806
26807@smallexample
26808 -file-exec-file @var{file}
26809@end smallexample
26810
26811Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
26812@samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
26813from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
26814about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
26815notification.
26816
26817@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26818
26819The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
26820
26821@subsubheading Example
26822
26823@smallexample
26824(gdb)
26825-file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
26826^done
26827(gdb)
26828@end smallexample
26829
26830
26831@ignore
26832@subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
26833@findex -file-list-exec-sections
26834
26835@subsubheading Synopsis
26836
26837@smallexample
26838 -file-list-exec-sections
26839@end smallexample
26840
26841List the sections of the current executable file.
26842
26843@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26844
26845The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
26846information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
26847@samp{gdb_load_info}.
26848
26849@subsubheading Example
26850N.A.
26851@end ignore
26852
26853
26854@subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
26855@findex -file-list-exec-source-file
26856
26857@subsubheading Synopsis
26858
26859@smallexample
26860 -file-list-exec-source-file
26861@end smallexample
26862
26863List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
26864to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
26865information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
26866whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
26867
26868@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26869
26870The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
26871
26872@subsubheading Example
26873
26874@smallexample
26875(gdb)
26876123-file-list-exec-source-file
26877123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
26878(gdb)
26879@end smallexample
26880
26881
26882@subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
26883@findex -file-list-exec-source-files
26884
26885@subsubheading Synopsis
26886
26887@smallexample
26888 -file-list-exec-source-files
26889@end smallexample
26890
26891List the source files for the current executable.
26892
26893It will always output the filename, but only when @value{GDBN} can find
26894the absolute file name of a source file, will it output the fullname.
26895
26896@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26897
26898The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
26899@code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
26900
26901@subsubheading Example
26902@smallexample
26903(gdb)
26904-file-list-exec-source-files
26905^done,files=[
26906@{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
26907@{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
26908@{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
26909(gdb)
26910@end smallexample
26911
26912@ignore
26913@subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
26914@findex -file-list-shared-libraries
26915
26916@subsubheading Synopsis
26917
26918@smallexample
26919 -file-list-shared-libraries
26920@end smallexample
26921
26922List the shared libraries in the program.
26923
26924@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26925
26926The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
26927
26928@subsubheading Example
26929N.A.
26930
26931
26932@subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
26933@findex -file-list-symbol-files
26934
26935@subsubheading Synopsis
26936
26937@smallexample
26938 -file-list-symbol-files
26939@end smallexample
26940
26941List symbol files.
26942
26943@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26944
26945The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
26946
26947@subsubheading Example
26948N.A.
26949@end ignore
26950
26951
26952@subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
26953@findex -file-symbol-file
26954
26955@subsubheading Synopsis
26956
26957@smallexample
26958 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
26959@end smallexample
26960
26961Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
26962used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
26963produced, except for a completion notification.
26964
26965@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26966
26967The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
26968
26969@subsubheading Example
26970
26971@smallexample
26972(gdb)
26973-file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
26974^done
26975(gdb)
26976@end smallexample
26977
26978@ignore
26979@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26980@node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
26981@section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
26982
26983The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
26984
26985@c @subheading -overlay-auto
26986
26987@c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
26988
26989@c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
26990
26991@c @subheading -overlay-map
26992
26993@c @subheading -overlay-off
26994
26995@c @subheading -overlay-on
26996
26997@c @subheading -overlay-unmap
26998
26999@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27000@node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
27001@section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
27002
27003Signal handling commands are not implemented.
27004
27005@c @subheading -signal-handle
27006
27007@c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
27008
27009@c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
27010@end ignore
27011
27012
27013@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27014@node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
27015@section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
27016
27017
27018@subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
27019@findex -target-attach
27020
27021@subsubheading Synopsis
27022
27023@smallexample
27024 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
27025@end smallexample
27026
27027Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
27028@value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
27029group, the id previously returned by
27030@samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
27031
27032@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27033
27034The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
27035
27036@subsubheading Example
27037@smallexample
27038(gdb)
27039-target-attach 34
27040=thread-created,id="1"
27041*stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
27042^done
27043(gdb)
27044@end smallexample
27045
27046@ignore
27047@subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
27048@findex -target-compare-sections
27049
27050@subsubheading Synopsis
27051
27052@smallexample
27053 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
27054@end smallexample
27055
27056Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
27057Without the argument, all sections are compared.
27058
27059@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27060
27061The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
27062
27063@subsubheading Example
27064N.A.
27065@end ignore
27066
27067
27068@subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
27069@findex -target-detach
27070
27071@subsubheading Synopsis
27072
27073@smallexample
27074 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
27075@end smallexample
27076
27077Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
27078If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
27079the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
27080
27081@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27082
27083The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
27084
27085@subsubheading Example
27086
27087@smallexample
27088(gdb)
27089-target-detach
27090^done
27091(gdb)
27092@end smallexample
27093
27094
27095@subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
27096@findex -target-disconnect
27097
27098@subsubheading Synopsis
27099
27100@smallexample
27101 -target-disconnect
27102@end smallexample
27103
27104Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
27105generally not resumed.
27106
27107@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27108
27109The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
27110
27111@subsubheading Example
27112
27113@smallexample
27114(gdb)
27115-target-disconnect
27116^done
27117(gdb)
27118@end smallexample
27119
27120
27121@subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
27122@findex -target-download
27123
27124@subsubheading Synopsis
27125
27126@smallexample
27127 -target-download
27128@end smallexample
27129
27130Loads the executable onto the remote target.
27131It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
27132
27133@table @samp
27134@item section
27135The name of the section.
27136@item section-sent
27137The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
27138@item section-size
27139The size of the section.
27140@item total-sent
27141The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
27142@item total-size
27143The size of the overall executable to download.
27144@end table
27145
27146@noindent
27147Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
27148@sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
27149
27150In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
27151downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
27152
27153@table @samp
27154@item section
27155The name of the section.
27156@item section-size
27157The size of the section.
27158@item total-size
27159The size of the overall executable to download.
27160@end table
27161
27162@noindent
27163At the end, a summary is printed.
27164
27165@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27166
27167The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
27168
27169@subsubheading Example
27170
27171Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
27172have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
27173
27174@smallexample
27175(gdb)
27176-target-download
27177+download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
27178+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
27179total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
27180+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
27181total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
27182+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
27183total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
27184+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
27185total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
27186+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
27187total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
27188+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
27189total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
27190+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
27191total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
27192+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
27193total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
27194+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
27195total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
27196+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
27197total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
27198+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
27199total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
27200+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
27201total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
27202+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
27203total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
27204+download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
27205+download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
27206+download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
27207+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
27208total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
27209+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
27210total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
27211+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
27212total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
27213+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
27214total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
27215+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
27216total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
27217+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
27218total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
27219^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
27220write-rate="429"
27221(gdb)
27222@end smallexample
27223
27224
27225@ignore
27226@subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
27227@findex -target-exec-status
27228
27229@subsubheading Synopsis
27230
27231@smallexample
27232 -target-exec-status
27233@end smallexample
27234
27235Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
27236not, for instance).
27237
27238@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27239
27240There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
27241
27242@subsubheading Example
27243N.A.
27244
27245
27246@subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
27247@findex -target-list-available-targets
27248
27249@subsubheading Synopsis
27250
27251@smallexample
27252 -target-list-available-targets
27253@end smallexample
27254
27255List the possible targets to connect to.
27256
27257@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27258
27259The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
27260
27261@subsubheading Example
27262N.A.
27263
27264
27265@subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
27266@findex -target-list-current-targets
27267
27268@subsubheading Synopsis
27269
27270@smallexample
27271 -target-list-current-targets
27272@end smallexample
27273
27274Describe the current target.
27275
27276@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27277
27278The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
27279other things).
27280
27281@subsubheading Example
27282N.A.
27283
27284
27285@subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
27286@findex -target-list-parameters
27287
27288@subsubheading Synopsis
27289
27290@smallexample
27291 -target-list-parameters
27292@end smallexample
27293
27294@c ????
27295@end ignore
27296
27297@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27298
27299No equivalent.
27300
27301@subsubheading Example
27302N.A.
27303
27304
27305@subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
27306@findex -target-select
27307
27308@subsubheading Synopsis
27309
27310@smallexample
27311 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
27312@end smallexample
27313
27314Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
27315
27316@table @samp
27317@item @var{type}
27318The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
27319@item @var{parameters}
27320Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
27321Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
27322@end table
27323
27324The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
27325which the target program is, in the following form:
27326
27327@smallexample
27328^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
27329 args=[@var{arg list}]
27330@end smallexample
27331
27332@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27333
27334The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
27335
27336@subsubheading Example
27337
27338@smallexample
27339(gdb)
27340-target-select remote /dev/ttya
27341^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
27342(gdb)
27343@end smallexample
27344
27345@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27346@node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
27347@section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
27348
27349
27350@subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
27351@findex -target-file-put
27352
27353@subsubheading Synopsis
27354
27355@smallexample
27356 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
27357@end smallexample
27358
27359Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
27360@value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
27361
27362@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27363
27364The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
27365
27366@subsubheading Example
27367
27368@smallexample
27369(gdb)
27370-target-file-put localfile remotefile
27371^done
27372(gdb)
27373@end smallexample
27374
27375
27376@subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
27377@findex -target-file-get
27378
27379@subsubheading Synopsis
27380
27381@smallexample
27382 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
27383@end smallexample
27384
27385Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
27386on the host system.
27387
27388@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27389
27390The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
27391
27392@subsubheading Example
27393
27394@smallexample
27395(gdb)
27396-target-file-get remotefile localfile
27397^done
27398(gdb)
27399@end smallexample
27400
27401
27402@subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
27403@findex -target-file-delete
27404
27405@subsubheading Synopsis
27406
27407@smallexample
27408 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
27409@end smallexample
27410
27411Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
27412
27413@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27414
27415The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
27416
27417@subsubheading Example
27418
27419@smallexample
27420(gdb)
27421-target-file-delete remotefile
27422^done
27423(gdb)
27424@end smallexample
27425
27426
27427@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27428@node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
27429@section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
27430
27431@c @subheading -gdb-complete
27432
27433@subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
27434@findex -gdb-exit
27435
27436@subsubheading Synopsis
27437
27438@smallexample
27439 -gdb-exit
27440@end smallexample
27441
27442Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
27443
27444@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27445
27446Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
27447
27448@subsubheading Example
27449
27450@smallexample
27451(gdb)
27452-gdb-exit
27453^exit
27454@end smallexample
27455
27456
27457@ignore
27458@subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
27459@findex -exec-abort
27460
27461@subsubheading Synopsis
27462
27463@smallexample
27464 -exec-abort
27465@end smallexample
27466
27467Kill the inferior running program.
27468
27469@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27470
27471The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
27472
27473@subsubheading Example
27474N.A.
27475@end ignore
27476
27477
27478@subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
27479@findex -gdb-set
27480
27481@subsubheading Synopsis
27482
27483@smallexample
27484 -gdb-set
27485@end smallexample
27486
27487Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
27488@c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
27489
27490@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27491
27492The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
27493
27494@subsubheading Example
27495
27496@smallexample
27497(gdb)
27498-gdb-set $foo=3
27499^done
27500(gdb)
27501@end smallexample
27502
27503
27504@subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
27505@findex -gdb-show
27506
27507@subsubheading Synopsis
27508
27509@smallexample
27510 -gdb-show
27511@end smallexample
27512
27513Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
27514
27515@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27516
27517The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
27518
27519@subsubheading Example
27520
27521@smallexample
27522(gdb)
27523-gdb-show annotate
27524^done,value="0"
27525(gdb)
27526@end smallexample
27527
27528@c @subheading -gdb-source
27529
27530
27531@subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
27532@findex -gdb-version
27533
27534@subsubheading Synopsis
27535
27536@smallexample
27537 -gdb-version
27538@end smallexample
27539
27540Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
27541
27542@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27543
27544The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
27545default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
27546
27547@subsubheading Example
27548
27549@c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
27550@c box in TeX.
27551@smallexample
27552(gdb)
27553-gdb-version
27554~GNU gdb 5.2.1
27555~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
27556~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
27557~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
27558~ certain conditions.
27559~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
27560~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
27561~ details.
27562~This GDB was configured as
27563 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
27564^done
27565(gdb)
27566@end smallexample
27567
27568@subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
27569@findex -list-features
27570
27571Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
27572this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
27573or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
27574important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
27575of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
27576startup.
27577
27578The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
27579available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
27580have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
27581is given below.
27582
27583Example output:
27584
27585@smallexample
27586(gdb) -list-features
27587^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
27588@end smallexample
27589
27590The current list of features is:
27591
27592@table @samp
27593@item frozen-varobjs
27594Indicates presence of the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
27595as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
27596of @code{-varobj-create}.
27597@item pending-breakpoints
27598Indicates presence of the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert} command.
27599@item python
27600Indicates presence of Python scripting support, Python-based
27601pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
27602@samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
27603@item thread-info
27604Indicates presence of the @code{-thread-info} command.
27605
27606@end table
27607
27608@subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
27609@findex -list-target-features
27610
27611Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
27612target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
27613unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
27614features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
27615a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
27616@code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
27617may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
27618Example output:
27619
27620@smallexample
27621(gdb) -list-features
27622^done,result=["async"]
27623@end smallexample
27624
27625The current list of features is:
27626
27627@table @samp
27628@item async
27629Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
27630execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
27631while the target is running.
27632
27633@end table
27634
27635@subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
27636@findex -list-thread-groups
27637
27638@subheading Synopsis
27639
27640@smallexample
27641-list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
27642@end smallexample
27643
27644Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
27645group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
27646When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
27647thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
27648top-level thread groups.
27649
27650Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
27651With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
27652available on the target.
27653
27654The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
27655a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
27656as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
27657Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
27658each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
27659requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
27660are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
27661of the @samp{group} result is described below.
27662
27663To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
27664together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
27665and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
27666permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
27667will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
27668@samp{threads} field.
27669
27670In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
27671the following caveats:
27672
27673@itemize @bullet
27674@item
27675When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
27676be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
27677anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
27678
27679@item
27680When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
27681be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
27682be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
27683not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
27684The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
27685is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
27686
27687@end itemize
27688
27689The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
27690have the following fields:
27691
27692@table @code
27693@item id
27694Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
27695The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
27696convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
27697
27698@item type
27699The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
27700valid type.
27701
27702@item pid
27703The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
27704for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
27705
27706@item num_children
27707The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
27708absent for an available thread group.
27709
27710@item threads
27711This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
27712thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
27713specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
27714
27715@item cores
27716This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
27717thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
27718such information is not available.
27719
27720@item executable
27721The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
27722The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
27723and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
27724
27725@end table
27726
27727@subheading Example
27728
27729@smallexample
27730@value{GDBP}
27731-list-thread-groups
27732^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
27733-list-thread-groups 17
27734^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
27735 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
27736@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
27737 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
27738 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
27739-list-thread-groups --available
27740^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
27741-list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
27742 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
27743 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
27744 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
27745-list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
27746^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
27747 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
27748 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
27749@end smallexample
27750
27751
27752@subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
27753@findex -add-inferior
27754
27755@subheading Synopsis
27756
27757@smallexample
27758-add-inferior
27759@end smallexample
27760
27761Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
27762inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
27763be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
27764(@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
27765field, @samp{thread-group}, whose value is the identifier of the
27766thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
27767
27768@subheading Example
27769
27770@smallexample
27771@value{GDBP}
27772-add-inferior
27773^done,thread-group="i3"
27774@end smallexample
27775
27776@subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
27777@findex -interpreter-exec
27778
27779@subheading Synopsis
27780
27781@smallexample
27782-interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
27783@end smallexample
27784@anchor{-interpreter-exec}
27785
27786Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
27787
27788@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
27789
27790The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
27791
27792@subheading Example
27793
27794@smallexample
27795(gdb)
27796-interpreter-exec console "break main"
27797&"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
27798&"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
27799~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
27800^done
27801(gdb)
27802@end smallexample
27803
27804@subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
27805@findex -inferior-tty-set
27806
27807@subheading Synopsis
27808
27809@smallexample
27810-inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
27811@end smallexample
27812
27813Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
27814
27815@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
27816
27817The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
27818
27819@subheading Example
27820
27821@smallexample
27822(gdb)
27823-inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
27824^done
27825(gdb)
27826@end smallexample
27827
27828@subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
27829@findex -inferior-tty-show
27830
27831@subheading Synopsis
27832
27833@smallexample
27834-inferior-tty-show
27835@end smallexample
27836
27837Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
27838
27839@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
27840
27841The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
27842
27843@subheading Example
27844
27845@smallexample
27846(gdb)
27847-inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
27848^done
27849(gdb)
27850-inferior-tty-show
27851^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
27852(gdb)
27853@end smallexample
27854
27855@subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
27856@findex -enable-timings
27857
27858@subheading Synopsis
27859
27860@smallexample
27861-enable-timings [yes | no]
27862@end smallexample
27863
27864Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
27865command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
27866developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
27867equivalent to @samp{yes}.
27868
27869@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
27870
27871No equivalent.
27872
27873@subheading Example
27874
27875@smallexample
27876(gdb)
27877-enable-timings
27878^done
27879(gdb)
27880-break-insert main
27881^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27882addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
27883fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",times="0"@},
27884time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
27885(gdb)
27886-enable-timings no
27887^done
27888(gdb)
27889-exec-run
27890^running
27891(gdb)
27892*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
27893frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
27894@{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
27895fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
27896(gdb)
27897@end smallexample
27898
27899@node Annotations
27900@chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
27901
27902This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
27903designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
27904similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
27905relatively high level.
27906
27907The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
27908(@pxref{GDB/MI}).
27909
27910@ignore
27911This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
27912@end ignore
27913
27914@menu
27915* Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
27916* Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
27917* Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
27918* Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
27919* Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
27920* Annotations for Running::
27921 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
27922* Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
27923@end menu
27924
27925@node Annotations Overview
27926@section What is an Annotation?
27927@cindex annotations
27928
27929Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
27930characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
27931information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
27932is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
27933information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
27934additional information, and a newline. The additional information
27935cannot contain newline characters.
27936
27937Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
27938characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
27939no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
27940@samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
27941annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
27942means those three characters as output.
27943
27944The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
27945@option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
27946how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
27947values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
27948is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
27949subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
27950for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
27951been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
27952Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
27953
27954@table @code
27955@kindex set annotate
27956@item set annotate @var{level}
27957The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
27958annotations to the specified @var{level}.
27959
27960@item show annotate
27961@kindex show annotate
27962Show the current annotation level.
27963@end table
27964
27965This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
27966
27967A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
27968
27969@smallexample
27970$ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
27971GNU gdb 6.0
27972Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
27973GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
27974and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
27975under certain conditions.
27976Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
27977There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
27978for details.
27979This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
27980
27981^Z^Zpre-prompt
27982(@value{GDBP})
27983^Z^Zprompt
27984@kbd{quit}
27985
27986^Z^Zpost-prompt
27987$
27988@end smallexample
27989
27990Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
27991@value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
27992denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
27993output from @value{GDBN}.
27994
27995@node Server Prefix
27996@section The Server Prefix
27997@cindex server prefix
27998
27999If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
28000the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
28001command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
28002means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
28003a transparent manner.
28004
28005The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
28006the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
28007value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
28008@code{print} command.
28009
28010Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
28011(@pxref{confirmation requests}).
28012
28013@node Prompting
28014@section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
28015
28016@cindex annotations for prompts
28017When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
28018to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
28019over, etc.
28020
28021Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
28022input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
28023denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
28024annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
28025annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
28026associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
28027features the following annotations:
28028
28029@smallexample
28030^Z^Zpre-prompt
28031^Z^Zprompt
28032^Z^Zpost-prompt
28033@end smallexample
28034
28035The input types are
28036
28037@table @code
28038@findex pre-prompt annotation
28039@findex prompt annotation
28040@findex post-prompt annotation
28041@item prompt
28042When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
28043
28044@findex pre-commands annotation
28045@findex commands annotation
28046@findex post-commands annotation
28047@item commands
28048When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
28049command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
28050
28051@findex pre-overload-choice annotation
28052@findex overload-choice annotation
28053@findex post-overload-choice annotation
28054@item overload-choice
28055When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
28056
28057@findex pre-query annotation
28058@findex query annotation
28059@findex post-query annotation
28060@item query
28061When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
28062
28063@findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
28064@findex prompt-for-continue annotation
28065@findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
28066@item prompt-for-continue
28067When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
28068expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
28069prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
28070presence of annotations.
28071@end table
28072
28073@node Errors
28074@section Errors
28075@cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
28076
28077@findex quit annotation
28078@smallexample
28079^Z^Zquit
28080@end smallexample
28081
28082This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
28083
28084@findex error annotation
28085@smallexample
28086^Z^Zerror
28087@end smallexample
28088
28089This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
28090
28091Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
28092in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
28093@code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
28094cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
28095cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
28096does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
28097to the top level.
28098
28099@findex error-begin annotation
28100A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
28101
28102@smallexample
28103^Z^Zerror-begin
28104@end smallexample
28105
28106Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
28107message.
28108
28109Warning messages are not yet annotated.
28110@c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
28111@c range_error(), and possibly other places.
28112
28113@node Invalidation
28114@section Invalidation Notices
28115
28116@cindex annotations for invalidation messages
28117The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
28118changed.
28119
28120@table @code
28121@findex frames-invalid annotation
28122@item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
28123
28124The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
28125have changed.
28126
28127@findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
28128@item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
28129
28130The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
28131deleted a breakpoint.
28132@end table
28133
28134@node Annotations for Running
28135@section Running the Program
28136@cindex annotations for running programs
28137
28138@findex starting annotation
28139@findex stopping annotation
28140When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
28141@code{step} or @code{continue},
28142
28143@smallexample
28144^Z^Zstarting
28145@end smallexample
28146
28147is output. When the program stops,
28148
28149@smallexample
28150^Z^Zstopped
28151@end smallexample
28152
28153is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
28154annotations describe how the program stopped.
28155
28156@table @code
28157@findex exited annotation
28158@item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
28159The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
28160successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
28161
28162@findex signalled annotation
28163@findex signal-name annotation
28164@findex signal-name-end annotation
28165@findex signal-string annotation
28166@findex signal-string-end annotation
28167@item ^Z^Zsignalled
28168The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
28169annotation continues:
28170
28171@smallexample
28172@var{intro-text}
28173^Z^Zsignal-name
28174@var{name}
28175^Z^Zsignal-name-end
28176@var{middle-text}
28177^Z^Zsignal-string
28178@var{string}
28179^Z^Zsignal-string-end
28180@var{end-text}
28181@end smallexample
28182
28183@noindent
28184where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
28185@code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
28186as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
28187@var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
28188user's benefit and have no particular format.
28189
28190@findex signal annotation
28191@item ^Z^Zsignal
28192The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
28193just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
28194terminated with it.
28195
28196@findex breakpoint annotation
28197@item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
28198The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
28199
28200@findex watchpoint annotation
28201@item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
28202The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
28203@end table
28204
28205@node Source Annotations
28206@section Displaying Source
28207@cindex annotations for source display
28208
28209@findex source annotation
28210The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
28211
28212@smallexample
28213^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
28214@end smallexample
28215
28216where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
28217file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
28218first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
28219within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
28220debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
28221@var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
28222line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
28223@var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
28224source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
28225followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
28226depend on the language).
28227
28228@node JIT Interface
28229@chapter JIT Compilation Interface
28230@cindex just-in-time compilation
28231@cindex JIT compilation interface
28232
28233This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
28234interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
28235executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
28236performance while maintaining platform independence.
28237
28238Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
28239portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
28240object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
28241and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
28242@value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
28243symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
28244
28245If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
28246it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
28247you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
28248of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
28249LLVM JIT.
28250
28251Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
28252JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
28253variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
28254attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
28255find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
28256out about additional code.
28257
28258@menu
28259* Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
28260* Registering Code:: Steps to register code
28261* Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
28262@end menu
28263
28264@node Declarations
28265@section JIT Declarations
28266
28267These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
28268implement the interface:
28269
28270@smallexample
28271typedef enum
28272@{
28273 JIT_NOACTION = 0,
28274 JIT_REGISTER_FN,
28275 JIT_UNREGISTER_FN
28276@} jit_actions_t;
28277
28278struct jit_code_entry
28279@{
28280 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
28281 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
28282 const char *symfile_addr;
28283 uint64_t symfile_size;
28284@};
28285
28286struct jit_descriptor
28287@{
28288 uint32_t version;
28289 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
28290 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
28291 uint32_t action_flag;
28292 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
28293 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
28294@};
28295
28296/* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
28297void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
28298
28299/* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
28300 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
28301struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
28302@end smallexample
28303
28304If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
28305modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
28306a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
28307
28308@node Registering Code
28309@section Registering Code
28310
28311To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
28312
28313@itemize @bullet
28314@item
28315Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
28316information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
28317
28318@item
28319Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
28320file.
28321
28322@item
28323Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
28324
28325@item
28326Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
28327
28328@item
28329Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
28330@code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
28331@end itemize
28332
28333When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
28334@code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
28335new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
28336@value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
28337
28338@node Unregistering Code
28339@section Unregistering Code
28340
28341If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
28342
28343@itemize @bullet
28344@item
28345Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
28346
28347@item
28348Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
28349
28350@item
28351Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
28352@code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
28353@end itemize
28354
28355If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
28356and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
28357
28358@node GDB Bugs
28359@chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
28360@cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
28361@cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
28362
28363Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
28364
28365Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
28366may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
28367the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
28368reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
28369
28370In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
28371information that enables us to fix the bug.
28372
28373@menu
28374* Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
28375* Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
28376@end menu
28377
28378@node Bug Criteria
28379@section Have You Found a Bug?
28380@cindex bug criteria
28381
28382If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
28383
28384@itemize @bullet
28385@cindex fatal signal
28386@cindex debugger crash
28387@cindex crash of debugger
28388@item
28389If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
28390@value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
28391
28392@cindex error on valid input
28393@item
28394If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
28395bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
28396somewhere in the connection to the target.)
28397
28398@cindex invalid input
28399@item
28400If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
28401that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
28402``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
28403for traditional practice''.
28404
28405@item
28406If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
28407for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
28408@end itemize
28409
28410@node Bug Reporting
28411@section How to Report Bugs
28412@cindex bug reports
28413@cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
28414
28415A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
28416If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
28417contact that organization first.
28418
28419You can find contact information for many support companies and
28420individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
28421distribution.
28422@c should add a web page ref...
28423
28424@ifset BUGURL
28425@ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
28426In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
28427@value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
28428@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
28429page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
28430be used.
28431
28432@strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
28433@samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
28434not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
28435@samp{bug-gdb}.
28436
28437The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
28438serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
28439the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
28440newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
28441problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
28442path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
28443we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
28444bug reports to the mailing list.
28445@end ifset
28446@ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
28447In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
28448@value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
28449@end ifclear
28450@end ifset
28451
28452The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
28453@strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
28454fact or leave it out, state it!
28455
28456Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
28457problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
28458assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
28459Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
28460stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
28461name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
28462of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
28463the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
28464easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
28465
28466Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
28467bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
28468you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
28469self-contained.
28470
28471Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
28472bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
28473@emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
28474bugs properly.
28475
28476To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
28477
28478@itemize @bullet
28479@item
28480The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
28481with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
28482version}.
28483
28484Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
28485the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
28486
28487@item
28488The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
28489version number.
28490
28491@item
28492What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
28493``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
28494
28495@item
28496What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
28497debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
28498C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
28499to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
28500those compilers.
28501
28502@item
28503The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
28504observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
28505you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
28506Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
28507
28508If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
28509and then we might not encounter the bug.
28510
28511@item
28512A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
28513reproduce the bug.
28514
28515@item
28516A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
28517incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
28518
28519Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
28520will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
28521not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
28522a chance to make a mistake.
28523
28524Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
28525say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
28526copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
28527the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
28528crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
28529ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
28530us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
28531to draw any conclusion from our observations.
28532
28533@pindex script
28534@cindex recording a session script
28535To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
28536such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
28537Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
28538include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
28539
28540Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
28541inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
28542
28543@item
28544If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
28545diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
28546it by context, not by line number.
28547
28548The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
28549sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
28550
28551@end itemize
28552
28553Here are some things that are not necessary:
28554
28555@itemize @bullet
28556@item
28557A description of the envelope of the bug.
28558
28559Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
28560which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
28561changes will not affect it.
28562
28563This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
28564will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
28565with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
28566We recommend that you save your time for something else.
28567
28568Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
28569of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
28570output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
28571less time, and so on.
28572
28573However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
28574report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
28575
28576@item
28577A patch for the bug.
28578
28579A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
28580the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
28581a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
28582to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
28583
28584Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
28585construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
28586through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
28587to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
28588
28589And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
28590patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
28591help us to understand.
28592
28593@item
28594A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
28595
28596Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
28597things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
28598@end itemize
28599
28600@c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
28601@c and consists of the two following files:
28602@c rluser.texinfo
28603@c inc-hist.texinfo
28604@c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
28605@c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
28606@include rluser.texi
28607@include inc-hist.texinfo
28608
28609
28610@node Formatting Documentation
28611@appendix Formatting Documentation
28612
28613@cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
28614@cindex reference card
28615The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
28616for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
28617subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
28618@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
28619release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
28620you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
28621
28622The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
28623can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
28624
28625@smallexample
28626make refcard.dvi
28627@end smallexample
28628
28629The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
28630mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
28631that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
28632high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
28633your @sc{dvi} output program.
28634
28635@cindex documentation
28636
28637All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
28638distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
28639a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
28640on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
28641formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
28642and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
28643
28644@value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
28645version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
28646file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
28647subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
28648necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
28649but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
28650Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
28651@sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
28652
28653If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
28654Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
28655@code{makeinfo}.
28656
28657If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
28658@value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
28659version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
28660
28661@smallexample
28662cd gdb
28663make gdb.info
28664@end smallexample
28665
28666If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
28667a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
28668Texinfo definitions file.
28669
28670@TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
28671produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
28672document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
28673has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
28674command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
28675(for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
28676require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
28677
28678@TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
28679@file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
28680written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
28681typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
28682and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
28683directory.
28684
28685If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
28686typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
28687subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
28688@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
28689
28690@smallexample
28691make gdb.dvi
28692@end smallexample
28693
28694Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
28695
28696@node Installing GDB
28697@appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
28698@cindex installation
28699
28700@menu
28701* Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
28702* Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
28703* Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
28704* Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
28705* Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
28706* System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
28707@end menu
28708
28709@node Requirements
28710@section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
28711@cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
28712
28713Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
28714Other packages will be used only if they are found.
28715
28716@heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
28717@table @asis
28718@item ISO C90 compiler
28719@value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
28720working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
28721
28722@end table
28723
28724@heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
28725@table @asis
28726@item Expat
28727@anchor{Expat}
28728@value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
28729included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
28730can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
28731The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
28732standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
28733use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
28734
28735Expat is used for:
28736
28737@itemize @bullet
28738@item
28739Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
28740@item
28741Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
28742@item
28743Remote shared library lists (@pxref{Library List Format})
28744@item
28745MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
28746@end itemize
28747
28748@item zlib
28749@cindex compressed debug sections
28750@value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
28751compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
28752of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
28753is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
28754information in such binaries.
28755
28756The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
28757distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
28758@url{http://zlib.net}.
28759
28760@item iconv
28761@value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
28762Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
28763on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
28764other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
28765
28766On systems with @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
28767have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
28768@option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
28769
28770@value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
28771arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
28772in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
28773if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
28774implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
28775by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
28776Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
28777Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
28778@end table
28779
28780@node Running Configure
28781@section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
28782@cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
28783@value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
28784of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
28785build the @code{gdb} program.
28786@iftex
28787@c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
28788@footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
28789look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
28790installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
28791@end iftex
28792
28793The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
28794@value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
28795appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
28796
28797For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
28798@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
28799
28800@table @code
28801@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
28802script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
28803
28804@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
28805the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
28806
28807@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
28808source for the Binary File Descriptor library
28809
28810@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
28811@sc{gnu} include files
28812
28813@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
28814source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
28815
28816@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
28817source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
28818
28819@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
28820source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
28821
28822@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
28823source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
28824
28825@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
28826source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
28827@end table
28828
28829The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
28830from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
28831this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
28832
28833First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
28834if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
28835identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
28836argument.
28837
28838For example:
28839
28840@smallexample
28841cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
28842./configure @var{host}
28843make
28844@end smallexample
28845
28846@noindent
28847where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
28848@samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
28849(You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
28850correct value by examining your system.)
28851
28852Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
28853@file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
28854libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
28855binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
28856
28857@need 750
28858@file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
28859system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
28860shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
28861
28862@smallexample
28863sh configure @var{host}
28864@end smallexample
28865
28866If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
28867directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
28868@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
28869@file{configure}
28870creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
28871you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
28872
28873You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
28874source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
28875@file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
28876that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
28877if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
28878of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
28879configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
28880directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
28881about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
28882
28883You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
28884However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
28885the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
28886that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
28887let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
28888
28889@node Separate Objdir
28890@section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
28891
28892If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
28893you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
28894host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
28895allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
28896rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
28897handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
28898@code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
28899program specified there.
28900
28901To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
28902with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
28903(You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
28904itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
28905would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
28906the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
28907
28908For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
28909separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
28910
28911@smallexample
28912@group
28913cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
28914mkdir ../gdb-sun4
28915cd ../gdb-sun4
28916../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
28917make
28918@end group
28919@end smallexample
28920
28921When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
28922directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
28923(and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
28924the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
28925directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
28926@file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
28927
28928Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
28929instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
28930like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
28931one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
28932build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
28933
28934One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
28935directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
28936@value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
28937programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
28938You specify a cross-debugging target by
28939giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
28940
28941When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
28942it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
28943called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
28944
28945The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
28946directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
28947directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
28948directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
28949will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
28950
28951When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
28952directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
28953if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
28954with each other.
28955
28956@node Config Names
28957@section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
28958
28959The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
28960script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
28961aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
28962of information in the following pattern:
28963
28964@smallexample
28965@var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
28966@end smallexample
28967
28968For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
28969or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
28970option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
28971
28972The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
28973any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
28974aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
28975@code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
28976script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
28977abbreviations---for example:
28978
28979@smallexample
28980% sh config.sub i386-linux
28981i386-pc-linux-gnu
28982% sh config.sub alpha-linux
28983alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
28984% sh config.sub hp9k700
28985hppa1.1-hp-hpux
28986% sh config.sub sun4
28987sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
28988% sh config.sub sun3
28989m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
28990% sh config.sub i986v
28991Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
28992@end smallexample
28993
28994@noindent
28995@code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
28996directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
28997
28998@node Configure Options
28999@section @file{configure} Options
29000
29001Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
29002are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
29003several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
29004Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
29005
29006@smallexample
29007configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
29008 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
29009 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
29010 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
29011 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
29012 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
29013 @var{host}
29014@end smallexample
29015
29016@noindent
29017You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
29018@samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
29019@samp{--}.
29020
29021@table @code
29022@item --help
29023Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
29024
29025@item --prefix=@var{dir}
29026Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
29027@file{@var{dir}}.
29028
29029@item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
29030Configure the source to install programs under directory
29031@file{@var{dir}}.
29032
29033@c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
29034@need 2000
29035@item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
29036@strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
29037@code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
29038Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
29039@value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
29040build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
29041directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
29042the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
29043directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
29044the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
29045@var{dirname}.
29046
29047@item --norecursion
29048Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
29049propagate configuration to subdirectories.
29050
29051@item --target=@var{target}
29052Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
29053@var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
29054programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
29055
29056There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
29057
29058@item @var{host} @dots{}
29059Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
29060
29061There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
29062@end table
29063
29064There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
29065needed for special purposes only.
29066
29067@node System-wide configuration
29068@section System-wide configuration and settings
29069@cindex system-wide init file
29070
29071@value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
29072this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
29073@value{GDBN} does during startup}).
29074
29075Here is the corresponding configure option:
29076
29077@table @code
29078@item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
29079Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
29080@var{file}.
29081@end table
29082
29083If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
29084it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
29085
29086@itemize @bullet
29087@item
29088If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
29089it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
29090are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
29091if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
29092init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
29093@file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
29094
29095@item
29096By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
29097it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
29098@option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
29099then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
29100wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
29101@end itemize
29102
29103@node Maintenance Commands
29104@appendix Maintenance Commands
29105@cindex maintenance commands
29106@cindex internal commands
29107
29108In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
29109includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
29110that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
29111provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
29112messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
29113
29114@table @code
29115@kindex maint agent
29116@kindex maint agent-eval
29117@item maint agent @var{expression}
29118@itemx maint agent-eval @var{expression}
29119Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
29120This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
29121(@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
29122expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
29123@samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
29124to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
29125globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
29126of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
29127the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
29128addition and return the sum.
29129
29130@kindex maint info breakpoints
29131@item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
29132Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
29133breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
29134internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
29135breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
29136is shown:
29137
29138@table @code
29139@item breakpoint
29140Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
29141
29142@item watchpoint
29143Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
29144
29145@item longjmp
29146Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
29147@code{longjmp} calls.
29148
29149@item longjmp resume
29150Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
29151
29152@item until
29153Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
29154
29155@item finish
29156Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
29157
29158@item shlib events
29159Shared library events.
29160
29161@end table
29162
29163@kindex set displaced-stepping
29164@kindex show displaced-stepping
29165@cindex displaced stepping support
29166@cindex out-of-line single-stepping
29167@item set displaced-stepping
29168@itemx show displaced-stepping
29169Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
29170if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
29171over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
29172an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
29173breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
29174
29175@table @code
29176@item set displaced-stepping on
29177If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
29178displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
29179
29180@item set displaced-stepping off
29181@value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
29182even if such is supported by the target architecture.
29183
29184@cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
29185@item set displaced-stepping auto
29186This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
29187only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
29188architecture supports displaced stepping.
29189@end table
29190
29191@kindex maint check-symtabs
29192@item maint check-symtabs
29193Check the consistency of psymtabs and symtabs.
29194
29195@kindex maint cplus first_component
29196@item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
29197Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
29198
29199@kindex maint cplus namespace
29200@item maint cplus namespace
29201Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
29202
29203@kindex maint demangle
29204@item maint demangle @var{name}
29205Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
29206
29207@kindex maint deprecate
29208@kindex maint undeprecate
29209@cindex deprecated commands
29210@item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
29211@itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
29212Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
29213cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
29214argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
29215favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
29216the replacement as part of the warning.
29217
29218@kindex maint dump-me
29219@item maint dump-me
29220@cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
29221Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
29222This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
29223with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
29224
29225@kindex maint internal-error
29226@kindex maint internal-warning
29227@item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
29228@itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
29229Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
29230or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
29231or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
29232internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
29233either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
29234@value{GDBN} session.
29235
29236These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
29237used as the text of the error or warning message.
29238
29239Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
29240
29241@smallexample
29242(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
29243@dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
29244A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
29245debugging may prove unreliable.
29246Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
29247Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
29248(@value{GDBP})
29249@end smallexample
29250
29251@cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
29252@cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
29253
29254@kindex maint set internal-error
29255@kindex maint show internal-error
29256@kindex maint set internal-warning
29257@kindex maint show internal-warning
29258@item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
29259@itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
29260@itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
29261@itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
29262When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
29263gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
29264core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
29265override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
29266described in the table below.
29267
29268@table @samp
29269@item quit
29270You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
29271quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
29272
29273@item corefile
29274You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
29275create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
29276@end table
29277
29278@kindex maint packet
29279@item maint packet @var{text}
29280If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
29281then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
29282displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
29283@samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
29284checksum.
29285
29286@kindex maint print architecture
29287@item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
29288Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
29289@var{file} names the file where the output goes.
29290
29291@kindex maint print c-tdesc
29292@item maint print c-tdesc
29293Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
29294a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
29295when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
29296
29297@kindex maint print dummy-frames
29298@item maint print dummy-frames
29299Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
29300
29301@smallexample
29302(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
29303@dots{}
29304(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
29305Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
2930658 return (a + b);
29307The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
29308@dots{}
29309(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
293100x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
29311 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
29312 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
29313(@value{GDBP})
29314@end smallexample
29315
29316Takes an optional file parameter.
29317
29318@kindex maint print registers
29319@kindex maint print raw-registers
29320@kindex maint print cooked-registers
29321@kindex maint print register-groups
29322@item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
29323@itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
29324@itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
29325@itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
29326Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
29327
29328The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
29329the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print cooked-registers}
29330includes the (cooked) value of all registers, including registers which
29331aren't available on the target nor visible to user; and the
29332command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the groups that each
29333register is a member of. @xref{Registers,, Registers, gdbint,
29334@value{GDBN} Internals}.
29335
29336These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
29337write the information.
29338
29339@kindex maint print reggroups
29340@item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
29341Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
29342optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
29343information.
29344
29345The register groups info looks like this:
29346
29347@smallexample
29348(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
29349 Group Type
29350 general user
29351 float user
29352 all user
29353 vector user
29354 system user
29355 save internal
29356 restore internal
29357@end smallexample
29358
29359@kindex flushregs
29360@item flushregs
29361This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
29362
29363@kindex maint print objfiles
29364@cindex info for known object files
29365@item maint print objfiles
29366Print a dump of all known object files. For each object file, this
29367command prints its name, address in memory, and all of its psymtabs
29368and symtabs.
29369
29370@kindex maint print statistics
29371@cindex bcache statistics
29372@item maint print statistics
29373This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
29374about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
29375statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
29376of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
29377defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
29378the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
29379used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
29380sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
29381average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
29382savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
29383lengths.
29384
29385@kindex maint print target-stack
29386@cindex target stack description
29387@item maint print target-stack
29388A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
29389kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
29390so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
29391In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
29392until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
29393address.
29394
29395This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
29396the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
29397
29398@kindex maint print type
29399@cindex type chain of a data type
29400@item maint print type @var{expr}
29401Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
29402can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
29403that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
29404a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
29405data structures, including its flags and contained types.
29406
29407@kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
29408@kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
29409@item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
29410@itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
29411Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
29412
29413@cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
29414In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
29415produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
29416reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
29417This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
29418cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
29419compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
29420memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
29421slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
29422
29423@kindex maint set profile
29424@kindex maint show profile
29425@cindex profiling GDB
29426@item maint set profile
29427@itemx maint show profile
29428Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
29429
29430Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
29431command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
29432collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
29433exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
29434if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
29435(often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
29436data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
29437
29438Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
29439compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
29440
29441@kindex maint set show-debug-regs
29442@kindex maint show show-debug-regs
29443@cindex hardware debug registers
29444@item maint set show-debug-regs
29445@itemx maint show show-debug-regs
29446Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
29447registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
29448enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
29449removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
29450triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
29451
29452@kindex maint space
29453@cindex memory used by commands
29454@item maint space
29455Control whether to display memory usage for each command. If set to a
29456nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
29457took, following the command's own output. This can also be requested
29458by invoking @value{GDBN} with the @option{--statistics} command-line
29459switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
29460
29461@kindex maint time
29462@cindex time of command execution
29463@item maint time
29464Control whether to display the execution time for each command. If
29465set to a nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
29466took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
29467The time is not printed for the commands that run the target, since
29468there's no mechanism currently to compute how much time was spend
29469by @value{GDBN} and how much time was spend by the program been debugged.
29470it's not possibly currently
29471This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
29472@option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
29473
29474@kindex maint translate-address
29475@item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
29476Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
29477@var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
29478@value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
29479the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
29480the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
29481command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
29482
29483If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
29484is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
29485executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
29486
29487@end table
29488
29489The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
29490@value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
29491
29492@table @code
29493@item set watchdog @var{nsec}
29494@kindex set watchdog
29495@cindex watchdog timer
29496@cindex timeout for commands
29497Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
29498target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
29499reports and error and the command is aborted.
29500
29501@item show watchdog
29502Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
29503@end table
29504
29505@node Remote Protocol
29506@appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
29507
29508@menu
29509* Overview::
29510* Packets::
29511* Stop Reply Packets::
29512* General Query Packets::
29513* Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
29514* Tracepoint Packets::
29515* Host I/O Packets::
29516* Interrupts::
29517* Notification Packets::
29518* Remote Non-Stop::
29519* Packet Acknowledgment::
29520* Examples::
29521* File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
29522* Library List Format::
29523* Memory Map Format::
29524* Thread List Format::
29525@end menu
29526
29527@node Overview
29528@section Overview
29529
29530There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
29531protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
29532machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
29533recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
29534
29535In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
29536transmitted and received data, respectively.
29537
29538@cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
29539@cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
29540@cindex remote serial protocol
29541All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
29542and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
29543@var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
29544@samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
29545@samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
29546
29547@smallexample
29548@code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
29549@end smallexample
29550@noindent
29551
29552@cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
29553@noindent
29554The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
29555characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
29556eight bit unsigned checksum).
29557
29558Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
29559specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
29560
29561@smallexample
29562@code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
29563@end smallexample
29564
29565@cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
29566@noindent
29567That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
29568has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
29569since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
29570
29571When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
29572response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
29573the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
29574retransmission):
29575
29576@smallexample
29577-> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
29578<- @code{+}
29579@end smallexample
29580@noindent
29581
29582The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
29583once a connection is established.
29584@xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
29585
29586The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
29587debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
29588the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
29589when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
29590threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
29591behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
29592execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
29593
29594@var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
29595exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
29596exceptions).
29597
29598@cindex remote protocol, field separator
29599Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
29600@samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
29601@sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
29602
29603Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
29604@samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
29605would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
29606
29607@cindex remote protocol, binary data
29608@anchor{Binary Data}
29609Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
29610digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
29611protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
29612Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
29613connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
29614binary data.
29615
29616The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
29617as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
29618character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
29619For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
29620bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
29621@code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
29622@samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
29623must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
29624is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
29625(described next).
29626
29627Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
29628Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
29629instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
29630repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
29631binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
29632@code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
29633produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
29634code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
29635encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
29636@samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
29637after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
296383}} more times.
29639
29640The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
29641greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
29642seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
29643five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
29644@samp{0*"00}.
29645
29646The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
29647error number. That number is not well defined.
29648
29649@cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
29650For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
29651(@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
29652protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
29653on that response.
29654
29655A stub is required to support the @samp{g}, @samp{G}, @samp{m}, @samp{M},
29656@samp{c}, and @samp{s} @var{command}s. All other @var{command}s are
29657optional.
29658
29659@node Packets
29660@section Packets
29661
29662The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
29663@var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
29664@xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
29665I/O extension of the remote protocol.
29666
29667Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
29668syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
29669include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
29670part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
29671separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
29672@var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
29673bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
29674@var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
29675@samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
29676@var{baz}.
29677
29678@cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
29679@anchor{thread-id syntax}
29680Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
29681a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
29682interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
29683can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
29684pick any thread.
29685
29686In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
29687which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
29688process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
29689The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
29690format described above: a positive number with target-specific
29691interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
29692to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
29693indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
29694@samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
29695error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
29696@samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
29697for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
29698ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
29699
29700The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
29701@value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
29702feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
29703more information.
29704
29705Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
29706letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
29707
29708Here are the packet descriptions.
29709
29710@table @samp
29711
29712@item !
29713@cindex @samp{!} packet
29714@anchor{extended mode}
29715Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
29716persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
29717debugged.
29718
29719Reply:
29720@table @samp
29721@item OK
29722The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
29723@end table
29724
29725@item ?
29726@cindex @samp{?} packet
29727Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
29728step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
29729target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
29730
29731Reply:
29732@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
29733
29734@item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
29735@cindex @samp{A} packet
29736Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
29737specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
29738@var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
29739
29740Reply:
29741@table @samp
29742@item OK
29743The arguments were set.
29744@item E @var{NN}
29745An error occurred.
29746@end table
29747
29748@item b @var{baud}
29749@cindex @samp{b} packet
29750(Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
29751Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
29752
29753JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
29754received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
29755problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
29756
29757Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
29758it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
29759some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
29760switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
29761of view, nothing actually happened.}
29762
29763@item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
29764@cindex @samp{B} packet
29765Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
29766breakpoint at @var{addr}.
29767
29768Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
29769(@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
29770
29771@cindex @samp{bc} packet
29772@anchor{bc}
29773@item bc
29774Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
29775@xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
29776
29777Reply:
29778@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
29779
29780@cindex @samp{bs} packet
29781@anchor{bs}
29782@item bs
29783Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
29784@xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
29785
29786Reply:
29787@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
29788
29789@item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
29790@cindex @samp{c} packet
29791Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
29792resume at current address.
29793
29794Reply:
29795@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
29796
29797@item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
29798@cindex @samp{C} packet
29799Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
29800@samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
29801
29802Reply:
29803@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
29804
29805@item d
29806@cindex @samp{d} packet
29807Toggle debug flag.
29808
29809Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
29810(@pxref{General Query Packets}).
29811
29812@item D
29813@itemx D;@var{pid}
29814@cindex @samp{D} packet
29815The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
29816remote system. It is sent to the remote target
29817before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
29818
29819The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
29820protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
29821detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
29822big-endian hex string.
29823
29824Reply:
29825@table @samp
29826@item OK
29827for success
29828@item E @var{NN}
29829for an error
29830@end table
29831
29832@item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
29833@cindex @samp{F} packet
29834A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
29835This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
29836Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
29837
29838@item g
29839@anchor{read registers packet}
29840@cindex @samp{g} packet
29841Read general registers.
29842
29843Reply:
29844@table @samp
29845@item @var{XX@dots{}}
29846Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
29847with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
29848each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
29849determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
29850@code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
29851specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
29852@item E @var{NN}
29853for an error.
29854@end table
29855
29856@item G @var{XX@dots{}}
29857@cindex @samp{G} packet
29858Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
29859description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
29860
29861Reply:
29862@table @samp
29863@item OK
29864for success
29865@item E @var{NN}
29866for an error
29867@end table
29868
29869@item H @var{c} @var{thread-id}
29870@cindex @samp{H} packet
29871Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
29872@samp{G}, et.al.). @var{c} depends on the operation to be performed: it
29873should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations, @samp{g} for other
29874operations. The thread designator @var{thread-id} has the format and
29875interpretation described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
29876
29877Reply:
29878@table @samp
29879@item OK
29880for success
29881@item E @var{NN}
29882for an error
29883@end table
29884
29885@c FIXME: JTC:
29886@c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
29887@c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
29888@c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
29889@c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
29890@c described. For example:
29891@c
29892@c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
29893@c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
29894@c otherwise returns current registers.
29895@c
29896@c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
29897@c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
29898@c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
29899
29900@item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
29901@anchor{cycle step packet}
29902@cindex @samp{i} packet
29903Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
29904present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
29905step starting at that address.
29906
29907@item I
29908@cindex @samp{I} packet
29909Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
29910step packet}.
29911
29912@item k
29913@cindex @samp{k} packet
29914Kill request.
29915
29916FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
29917thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
29918thread?)}.
29919
29920@item m @var{addr},@var{length}
29921@cindex @samp{m} packet
29922Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
29923Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
29924
29925The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
29926data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
29927and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
29928use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
29929suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
29930@cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
29931@cindex size of remote memory accesses
29932@cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
29933
29934Reply:
29935@table @samp
29936@item @var{XX@dots{}}
29937Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
29938number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
29939server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
29940@item E @var{NN}
29941@var{NN} is errno
29942@end table
29943
29944@item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
29945@cindex @samp{M} packet
29946Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
29947@var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
29948hexadecimal number.
29949
29950Reply:
29951@table @samp
29952@item OK
29953for success
29954@item E @var{NN}
29955for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
29956written).
29957@end table
29958
29959@item p @var{n}
29960@cindex @samp{p} packet
29961Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
29962@xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
29963register value is encoded.
29964
29965Reply:
29966@table @samp
29967@item @var{XX@dots{}}
29968the register's value
29969@item E @var{NN}
29970for an error
29971@item
29972Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
29973@end table
29974
29975@item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
29976@anchor{write register packet}
29977@cindex @samp{P} packet
29978Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
29979number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
29980digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
29981
29982Reply:
29983@table @samp
29984@item OK
29985for success
29986@item E @var{NN}
29987for an error
29988@end table
29989
29990@item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
29991@itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
29992@cindex @samp{q} packet
29993@cindex @samp{Q} packet
29994General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
29995described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
29996
29997@item r
29998@cindex @samp{r} packet
29999Reset the entire system.
30000
30001Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
30002
30003@item R @var{XX}
30004@cindex @samp{R} packet
30005Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
30006This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
30007
30008The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
30009
30010@item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
30011@cindex @samp{s} packet
30012Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
30013@var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
30014
30015Reply:
30016@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30017
30018@item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
30019@anchor{step with signal packet}
30020@cindex @samp{S} packet
30021Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
30022requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
30023
30024Reply:
30025@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30026
30027@item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
30028@cindex @samp{t} packet
30029Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
30030@var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
30031@var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
30032
30033@item T @var{thread-id}
30034@cindex @samp{T} packet
30035Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
30036
30037Reply:
30038@table @samp
30039@item OK
30040thread is still alive
30041@item E @var{NN}
30042thread is dead
30043@end table
30044
30045@item v
30046Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
30047up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
30048
30049@item vAttach;@var{pid}
30050@cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
30051Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
30052The process ID is a
30053hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
30054threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
30055attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
30056
30057@c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
30058@c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
30059@c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
30060@c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
30061@c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
30062@c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
30063@c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
30064@c stopping or restarting threads.
30065
30066This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
30067
30068Reply:
30069@table @samp
30070@item E @var{nn}
30071for an error
30072@item @r{Any stop packet}
30073for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
30074@item OK
30075for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
30076@end table
30077
30078@item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
30079@cindex @samp{vCont} packet
30080Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
30081If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
30082threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
30083specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
30084in their current state in non-stop mode.
30085Specifying multiple
30086default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
30087Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
30088
30089Currently supported actions are:
30090
30091@table @samp
30092@item c
30093Continue.
30094@item C @var{sig}
30095Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
30096@item s
30097Step.
30098@item S @var{sig}
30099Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
30100@item t
30101Stop.
30102@end table
30103
30104The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
30105@samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
30106not supported in @samp{vCont}.
30107
30108The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
30109(@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
30110A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
30111When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
30112the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
30113signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
30114as an implementation detail.
30115
30116Reply:
30117@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30118
30119@item vCont?
30120@cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
30121Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
30122
30123Reply:
30124@table @samp
30125@item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
30126The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
30127command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
30128@item
30129The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
30130@end table
30131
30132@item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
30133@cindex @samp{vFile} packet
30134Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
30135see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
30136
30137@item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
30138@cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
30139Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
30140@var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
30141its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
30142flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
30143Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
30144together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
30145stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
30146packet is received.
30147
30148The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
30149multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
30150this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
30151in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
30152@var{thread-id}.
30153
30154Reply:
30155@table @samp
30156@item OK
30157for success
30158@item E @var{NN}
30159for an error
30160@end table
30161
30162@item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
30163@cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
30164Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
30165is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
30166packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
30167@samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
30168not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
30169(although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
30170have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
30171@samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
30172neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
30173target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
30174
30175
30176Reply:
30177@table @samp
30178@item OK
30179for success
30180@item E.memtype
30181for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
30182@item E @var{NN}
30183for an error
30184@end table
30185
30186@item vFlashDone
30187@cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
30188Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
30189The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
30190@samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
30191@samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
30192regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
30193request is completed.
30194
30195@item vKill;@var{pid}
30196@cindex @samp{vKill} packet
30197Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
30198hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
30199preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
30200supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
30201
30202Reply:
30203@table @samp
30204@item E @var{nn}
30205for an error
30206@item OK
30207for success
30208@end table
30209
30210@item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
30211@cindex @samp{vRun} packet
30212Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
30213command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
30214@var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
30215(e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
30216state.
30217
30218@c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
30219
30220This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
30221
30222Reply:
30223@table @samp
30224@item E @var{nn}
30225for an error
30226@item @r{Any stop packet}
30227for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
30228@end table
30229
30230@item vStopped
30231@anchor{vStopped packet}
30232@cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
30233
30234In non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}), acknowledge a previous stop
30235reply and prompt for the stub to report another one.
30236
30237Reply:
30238@table @samp
30239@item @r{Any stop packet}
30240if there is another unreported stop event (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
30241@item OK
30242if there are no unreported stop events
30243@end table
30244
30245@item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
30246@anchor{X packet}
30247@cindex @samp{X} packet
30248Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
30249@var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
30250@samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
30251
30252Reply:
30253@table @samp
30254@item OK
30255for success
30256@item E @var{NN}
30257for an error
30258@end table
30259
30260@item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
30261@itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
30262@anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
30263@cindex @samp{z} packet
30264@cindex @samp{Z} packets
30265Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
30266watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
30267
30268Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
30269separately.
30270
30271@emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
30272for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
30273remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
30274@samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
30275avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
30276be implemented in an idempotent way.}
30277
30278@item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
30279@itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
30280@cindex @samp{z0} packet
30281@cindex @samp{Z0} packet
30282Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
30283@var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
30284
30285A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
30286@var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
30287@var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
30288the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
30289and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
30290architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
30291see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
30292
30293@emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
30294code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
30295overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
30296target, is not defined.}
30297
30298Reply:
30299@table @samp
30300@item OK
30301success
30302@item
30303not supported
30304@item E @var{NN}
30305for an error
30306@end table
30307
30308@item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
30309@itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
30310@cindex @samp{z1} packet
30311@cindex @samp{Z1} packet
30312Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
30313address @var{addr}.
30314
30315A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
30316dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. @var{kind}
30317has the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
30318
30319@emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
30320movement.}
30321
30322Reply:
30323@table @samp
30324@item OK
30325success
30326@item
30327not supported
30328@item E @var{NN}
30329for an error
30330@end table
30331
30332@item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
30333@itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
30334@cindex @samp{z2} packet
30335@cindex @samp{Z2} packet
30336Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
30337@var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
30338
30339Reply:
30340@table @samp
30341@item OK
30342success
30343@item
30344not supported
30345@item E @var{NN}
30346for an error
30347@end table
30348
30349@item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
30350@itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
30351@cindex @samp{z3} packet
30352@cindex @samp{Z3} packet
30353Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
30354@var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
30355
30356Reply:
30357@table @samp
30358@item OK
30359success
30360@item
30361not supported
30362@item E @var{NN}
30363for an error
30364@end table
30365
30366@item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
30367@itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
30368@cindex @samp{z4} packet
30369@cindex @samp{Z4} packet
30370Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
30371@var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
30372
30373Reply:
30374@table @samp
30375@item OK
30376success
30377@item
30378not supported
30379@item E @var{NN}
30380for an error
30381@end table
30382
30383@end table
30384
30385@node Stop Reply Packets
30386@section Stop Reply Packets
30387@cindex stop reply packets
30388
30389The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
30390@samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
30391receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
30392and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
30393when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
30394number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
30395@value{GDBN} source code.
30396
30397As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
30398reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
30399syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
30400components.
30401
30402@table @samp
30403
30404@item S @var{AA}
30405The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
30406number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
30407@var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
30408
30409@item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
30410@cindex @samp{T} packet reply
30411The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
30412number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
30413@samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
30414and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
30415round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
30416this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
30417
30418@itemize @bullet
30419@item
30420If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
30421corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
30422series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
30423two-digit hex number.
30424
30425@item
30426If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
30427the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
30428
30429@item
30430If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
30431the core on which the stop event was detected.
30432
30433@item
30434If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
30435specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
30436reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
30437signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
30438
30439@item
30440Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
30441and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
30442future.
30443@end itemize
30444
30445The currently defined stop reasons are:
30446
30447@table @samp
30448@item watch
30449@itemx rwatch
30450@itemx awatch
30451The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
30452hex.
30453
30454@cindex shared library events, remote reply
30455@item library
30456The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
30457@value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
30458list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
30459
30460@cindex replay log events, remote reply
30461@item replaylog
30462The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
30463logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
30464beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
30465will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
30466for more information.
30467@end table
30468
30469@item W @var{AA}
30470@itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
30471The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
30472applicable to certain targets.
30473
30474The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
30475process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
30476multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
30477The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
30478
30479@item X @var{AA}
30480@itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
30481The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
30482
30483The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
30484terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
30485support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
30486extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
30487
30488@item O @var{XX}@dots{}
30489@samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
30490written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
30491while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
30492for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
30493
30494@item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
30495@var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
30496be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
30497correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
30498@xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
30499system calls.
30500
30501@samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
30502this very system call.
30503
30504The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
30505call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
30506with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
30507reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
30508or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
30509Protocol Extension}, for more details.
30510
30511@end table
30512
30513@node General Query Packets
30514@section General Query Packets
30515@cindex remote query requests
30516
30517Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
30518packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
30519query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
30520sending information to and from the stub.
30521
30522The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
30523indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
30524@value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
30525definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
30526conventions:
30527
30528@itemize @bullet
30529@item
30530The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
30531@item
30532Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
30533letter.
30534@item
30535The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
30536lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
30537the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
30538foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
30539@end itemize
30540
30541The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
30542parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
30543separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
30544full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
30545in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
30546with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
30547packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
30548for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
30549are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
30550existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
30551packet.}.
30552
30553Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
30554has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
30555explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
30556templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
30557@value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
30558
30559Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
30560
30561@table @samp
30562
30563@item qC
30564@cindex current thread, remote request
30565@cindex @samp{qC} packet
30566Return the current thread ID.
30567
30568Reply:
30569@table @samp
30570@item QC @var{thread-id}
30571Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
30572@ref{thread-id syntax}.
30573@item @r{(anything else)}
30574Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
30575@end table
30576
30577@item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
30578@cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
30579@cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
30580Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
30581IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
30582significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
30583@code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
30584
30585@emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
30586files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
30587Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
30588separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
30589significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
30590detect trailing zeros.
30591
30592Reply:
30593@table @samp
30594@item E @var{NN}
30595An error (such as memory fault)
30596@item C @var{crc32}
30597The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
30598@end table
30599
30600@item qfThreadInfo
30601@itemx qsThreadInfo
30602@cindex list active threads, remote request
30603@cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
30604@cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
30605Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
30606may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
30607works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
30608obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
30609be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
30610sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
30611
30612NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
30613
30614Reply:
30615@table @samp
30616@item m @var{thread-id}
30617A single thread ID
30618@item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
30619a comma-separated list of thread IDs
30620@item l
30621(lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
30622@end table
30623
30624In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
30625more thread IDs, separated by commas.
30626@value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
30627ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
30628with @samp{l} (lower-case el, for @dfn{last}).
30629Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
30630fields.
30631
30632@item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
30633@cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
30634@cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
30635Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
30636by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
30637
30638@var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
30639thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
30640
30641@var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
30642thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
30643information associated with the variable.)
30644
30645@var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
30646the load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
30647a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
30648object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
30649Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
30650differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
30651
30652Reply:
30653@table @samp
30654@item @var{XX}@dots{}
30655Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
30656local storage requested.
30657
30658@item E @var{nn}
30659An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
30660
30661@item
30662An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
30663@end table
30664
30665@item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
30666Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
30667digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
30668subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
30669number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
30670(eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
30671returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
30672
30673Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
30674
30675Reply:
30676@table @samp
30677@item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
30678Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
30679returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
30680and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
30681digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
30682is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
30683digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
30684@end table
30685
30686@item qOffsets
30687@cindex section offsets, remote request
30688@cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
30689Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
30690image.
30691
30692Reply:
30693@table @samp
30694@item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
30695Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
30696Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
30697If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
30698@samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
30699segments by the supplied offsets.
30700
30701@emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
30702@value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
30703to the @code{Bss} section.}
30704
30705@item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
30706Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
30707contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
30708@samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
30709conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
30710@var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
30711does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
30712as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
30713kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
30714@end table
30715
30716@item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
30717@cindex thread information, remote request
30718@cindex @samp{qP} packet
30719Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
30720encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
30721(@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
30722
30723Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
30724(see below).
30725
30726Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
30727
30728@item QNonStop:1
30729@item QNonStop:0
30730@cindex non-stop mode, remote request
30731@cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
30732@anchor{QNonStop}
30733Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
30734@xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
30735
30736Reply:
30737@table @samp
30738@item OK
30739The request succeeded.
30740
30741@item E @var{nn}
30742An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
30743
30744@item
30745An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
30746the stub.
30747@end table
30748
30749This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
30750by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
30751Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
30752@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
30753
30754@item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
30755@cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
30756@cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
30757@anchor{QPassSignals}
30758Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
30759Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
30760(@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
30761strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
30762the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
30763reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
30764combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
30765new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
30766@var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
30767
30768Reply:
30769@table @samp
30770@item OK
30771The request succeeded.
30772
30773@item E @var{nn}
30774An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
30775
30776@item
30777An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
30778the stub.
30779@end table
30780
30781Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
30782command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
30783This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
30784by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
30785
30786@item qRcmd,@var{command}
30787@cindex execute remote command, remote request
30788@cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
30789@var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
30790execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
30791string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
30792with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
30793packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
30794stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
30795
30796Reply:
30797@table @samp
30798@item OK
30799A command response with no output.
30800@item @var{OUTPUT}
30801A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
30802@item E @var{NN}
30803Indicate a badly formed request.
30804@item
30805An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
30806@end table
30807
30808(Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
30809command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
30810conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
30811packets.)
30812
30813@item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
30814@cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
30815@cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
30816@anchor{qSearch memory}
30817Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
30818@var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
30819@var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
30820
30821Reply:
30822@table @samp
30823@item 0
30824The pattern was not found.
30825@item 1,address
30826The pattern was found at @var{address}.
30827@item E @var{NN}
30828A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
30829@item
30830An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
30831@end table
30832
30833@item QStartNoAckMode
30834@cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
30835@anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
30836Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
30837protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
30838
30839Reply:
30840@table @samp
30841@item OK
30842The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
30843@value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
30844but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
30845@samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
30846@item
30847An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
30848@end table
30849
30850@item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
30851@cindex supported packets, remote query
30852@cindex features of the remote protocol
30853@cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
30854@anchor{qSupported}
30855Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
30856query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
30857@value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
30858features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
30859at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
30860packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
30861high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
30862be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
30863stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
30864automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
30865reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
30866unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
30867helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
30868versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
30869
30870Reply:
30871@table @samp
30872@item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
30873The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
30874depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
30875possible forms).
30876@item
30877An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
30878or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
30879@end table
30880
30881The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
30882@samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
30883are:
30884
30885@table @samp
30886@item @var{name}=@var{value}
30887The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
30888with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
30889on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
30890@item @var{name}+
30891The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
30892need an associated value.
30893@item @var{name}-
30894The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
30895@item @var{name}?
30896The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
30897@value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
30898needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
30899but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
30900@end table
30901
30902Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
30903supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
30904request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
30905state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
30906a different version of @value{GDBN}.
30907
30908The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
30909are defined:
30910
30911@table @samp
30912@item multiprocess
30913This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
30914extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
30915extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
30916including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
30917@xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
30918
30919@item xmlRegisters
30920This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
30921description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
30922specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
30923description.
30924@end table
30925
30926Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
30927@var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
30928packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
30929versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
30930for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
30931advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
30932improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
30933an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
30934of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
30935describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
30936all the features it supports.
30937
30938Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
30939responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
30940
30941Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
30942should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
30943require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
30944form response.
30945
30946Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
30947@samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
30948in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
30949stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
30950
30951Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
30952mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
30953architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
30954about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
30955stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
30956
30957These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
30958
30959@multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
30960@c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
30961@c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
30962@item Feature Name
30963@tab Value Required
30964@tab Default
30965@tab Probe Allowed
30966
30967@item @samp{PacketSize}
30968@tab Yes
30969@tab @samp{-}
30970@tab No
30971
30972@item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
30973@tab No
30974@tab @samp{-}
30975@tab Yes
30976
30977@item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
30978@tab No
30979@tab @samp{-}
30980@tab Yes
30981
30982@item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
30983@tab No
30984@tab @samp{-}
30985@tab Yes
30986
30987@item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
30988@tab No
30989@tab @samp{-}
30990@tab Yes
30991
30992@item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
30993@tab No
30994@tab @samp{-}
30995@tab Yes
30996
30997@item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
30998@tab No
30999@tab @samp{-}
31000@tab Yes
31001
31002@item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
31003@tab No
31004@tab @samp{-}
31005@tab Yes
31006
31007@item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
31008@tab No
31009@tab @samp{-}
31010@tab Yes
31011
31012@item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
31013@tab No
31014@tab @samp{-}
31015@tab Yes
31016
31017
31018@item @samp{QNonStop}
31019@tab No
31020@tab @samp{-}
31021@tab Yes
31022
31023@item @samp{QPassSignals}
31024@tab No
31025@tab @samp{-}
31026@tab Yes
31027
31028@item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
31029@tab No
31030@tab @samp{-}
31031@tab Yes
31032
31033@item @samp{multiprocess}
31034@tab No
31035@tab @samp{-}
31036@tab No
31037
31038@item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
31039@tab No
31040@tab @samp{-}
31041@tab No
31042
31043@item @samp{ReverseContinue}
31044@tab No
31045@tab @samp{-}
31046@tab No
31047
31048@item @samp{ReverseStep}
31049@tab No
31050@tab @samp{-}
31051@tab No
31052
31053@item @samp{TracepointSource}
31054@tab No
31055@tab @samp{-}
31056@tab No
31057
31058@end multitable
31059
31060These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
31061
31062@table @samp
31063@cindex packet size, remote protocol
31064@item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
31065The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
31066length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
31067transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
31068data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
31069There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
31070stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
31071byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
31072@value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
31073
31074@item qXfer:auxv:read
31075The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
31076(@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
31077
31078@item qXfer:features:read
31079The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
31080(@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
31081
31082@item qXfer:libraries:read
31083The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
31084(@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
31085
31086@item qXfer:memory-map:read
31087The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
31088(@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
31089
31090@item qXfer:spu:read
31091The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
31092(@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
31093
31094@item qXfer:spu:write
31095The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
31096(@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
31097
31098@item qXfer:siginfo:read
31099The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
31100(@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
31101
31102@item qXfer:siginfo:write
31103The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
31104(@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
31105
31106@item qXfer:threads:read
31107The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
31108(@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
31109
31110@item QNonStop
31111The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
31112(@pxref{QNonStop}).
31113
31114@item QPassSignals
31115The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
31116(@pxref{QPassSignals}).
31117
31118@item QStartNoAckMode
31119The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
31120prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
31121
31122@item multiprocess
31123@anchor{multiprocess extensions}
31124@cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
31125The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
31126protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
31127thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
31128add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
31129replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
31130syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
31131debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
31132multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
31133indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
31134
31135@item qXfer:osdata:read
31136The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
31137((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
31138
31139@item ConditionalTracepoints
31140The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
31141for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
31142
31143@item ReverseContinue
31144The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
31145(@pxref{bc}).
31146
31147@item ReverseStep
31148The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
31149(@pxref{bs}).
31150
31151@item TracepointSource
31152The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
31153the source form of tracepoint definitions.
31154
31155@end table
31156
31157@item qSymbol::
31158@cindex symbol lookup, remote request
31159@cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
31160Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
31161requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
31162
31163Reply:
31164@table @samp
31165@item OK
31166The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
31167@item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
31168The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
31169@value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
31170@samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
31171below.
31172@end table
31173
31174@item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
31175Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
31176
31177@var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
31178target has previously requested.
31179
31180@var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
31181@value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
31182will be empty.
31183
31184Reply:
31185@table @samp
31186@item OK
31187The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
31188@item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
31189The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
31190encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
31191(if available), until the target ceases to request them.
31192@end table
31193
31194@item qTBuffer
31195@item QTBuffer
31196@item QTDisconnected
31197@itemx QTDP
31198@itemx QTDPsrc
31199@itemx QTDV
31200@itemx qTfP
31201@itemx qTfV
31202@itemx QTFrame
31203@xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
31204
31205@item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
31206@cindex thread attributes info, remote request
31207@cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
31208Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
31209the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
31210see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
31211string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
31212for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
31213displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
31214examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
31215@samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
31216
31217Reply:
31218@table @samp
31219@item @var{XX}@dots{}
31220Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
31221comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
31222the thread's attributes.
31223@end table
31224
31225(Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
31226the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
31227conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
31228packets.)
31229
31230@item QTSave
31231@item qTsP
31232@item qTsV
31233@itemx QTStart
31234@itemx QTStop
31235@itemx QTinit
31236@itemx QTro
31237@itemx qTStatus
31238@itemx qTV
31239@xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
31240
31241@item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
31242@cindex read special object, remote request
31243@cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
31244@anchor{qXfer read}
31245Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
31246identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
31247starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
31248encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
31249additional details about what data to access.
31250
31251Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
31252@samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
31253formats, listed below.
31254
31255@table @samp
31256@item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
31257@anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
31258Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
31259auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
31260
31261This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
31262by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
31263
31264@item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
31265@anchor{qXfer target description read}
31266Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
31267annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
31268always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
31269
31270This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
31271by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
31272
31273@item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
31274@anchor{qXfer library list read}
31275Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
31276The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
31277(@pxref{qXfer read}).
31278
31279Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
31280not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
31281the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
31282
31283This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
31284by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
31285
31286@item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
31287@anchor{qXfer memory map read}
31288Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
31289annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
31290(@pxref{qXfer read}).
31291
31292This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
31293by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
31294
31295@item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
31296@anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
31297Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
31298system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
31299empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
31300
31301This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
31302by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
31303(@pxref{qSupported}).
31304
31305@item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
31306@anchor{qXfer spu read}
31307Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
31308annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
31309@file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
31310in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
31311in that context to be accessed.
31312
31313This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
31314by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
31315(@pxref{qSupported}).
31316
31317@item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
31318@anchor{qXfer threads read}
31319Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
31320annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
31321(@pxref{qXfer read}).
31322
31323This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
31324by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
31325
31326@item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
31327@anchor{qXfer osdata read}
31328Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
31329@xref{Operating System Information}.
31330
31331@end table
31332
31333Reply:
31334@table @samp
31335@item m @var{data}
31336Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
31337target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
31338it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
31339block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
31340@var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
31341request.
31342
31343@item l @var{data}
31344Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
31345There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
31346than the @var{length} in the request.
31347
31348@item l
31349The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
31350There is no more data to be read.
31351
31352@item E00
31353The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
31354
31355@item E @var{nn}
31356The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
31357@var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
31358
31359@item
31360An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
31361the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
31362@end table
31363
31364@item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
31365@cindex write data into object, remote request
31366@anchor{qXfer write}
31367Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
31368identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
31369into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
31370(@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
31371is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
31372to access.
31373
31374Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
31375@samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
31376formats, listed below.
31377
31378@table @samp
31379@item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
31380@anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
31381Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
31382The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
31383empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
31384
31385This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
31386by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
31387(@pxref{qSupported}).
31388
31389@item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
31390@anchor{qXfer spu write}
31391Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
31392annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
31393@file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
31394in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
31395in that context to be accessed.
31396
31397This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
31398by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
31399@end table
31400
31401Reply:
31402@table @samp
31403@item @var{nn}
31404@var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
31405This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
31406
31407@item E00
31408The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
31409
31410@item E @var{nn}
31411The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
31412@var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
31413
31414@item
31415An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
31416recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
31417@end table
31418
31419@item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
31420Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
31421not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
31422@var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
31423must respond with an empty packet.
31424
31425@item qAttached:@var{pid}
31426@cindex query attached, remote request
31427@cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
31428Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
31429existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
31430protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
31431@var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
31432process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
31433the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
31434
31435This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
31436should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
31437the @code{quit} command.
31438
31439Reply:
31440@table @samp
31441@item 1
31442The remote server attached to an existing process.
31443@item 0
31444The remote server created a new process.
31445@item E @var{NN}
31446A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
31447@end table
31448
31449@end table
31450
31451@node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
31452@section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
31453
31454This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
31455target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
31456details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
31457
31458@subsection ARM
31459
31460@subsubsection Breakpoint Kinds
31461
31462These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
31463
31464@table @r
31465
31466@item 2
3146716-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
31468
31469@item 3
3147032-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
31471
31472@item 4
3147332-bit ARM mode breakpoint.
31474
31475@end table
31476
31477@subsection MIPS
31478
31479@subsubsection Register Packet Format
31480
31481The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
31482In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
31483sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
31484to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
31485byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
31486most-significant - least-significant.
31487
31488@table @r
31489
31490@item MIPS32
31491
31492All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
3149332 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
31494registers; fsr; fir; fp.
31495
31496@item MIPS64
31497
31498All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
31499thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
31500as @code{MIPS32}.
31501
31502@end table
31503
31504@node Tracepoint Packets
31505@section Tracepoint Packets
31506@cindex tracepoint packets
31507@cindex packets, tracepoint
31508
31509Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
31510tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
31511
31512@table @samp
31513
31514@item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
31515Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
31516is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
31517the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
31518count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
31519then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
31520the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
31521for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
31522tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
31523by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
31524encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
31525further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
31526actions.
31527
31528Replies:
31529@table @samp
31530@item OK
31531The packet was understood and carried out.
31532@item
31533The packet was not recognized.
31534@end table
31535
31536@item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
31537Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
31538@var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
31539this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
31540another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
31541trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
31542specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
31543
31544In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
31545can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
31546is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
31547actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
31548taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
31549@samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
31550tracepoint actions.
31551
31552The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
31553actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
31554following forms:
31555
31556@table @samp
31557
31558@item R @var{mask}
31559Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
31560a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
31561@var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
31562zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
31563not fit in a 32-bit word.
31564
31565@item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
31566Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
31567number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
31568@samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
31569address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
31570@var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
31571values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
31572
31573@item X @var{len},@var{expr}
31574Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
31575it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
31576@ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
31577two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
31578in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
31579packet).
31580
31581@end table
31582
31583Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
31584packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
31585length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
31586action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
31587actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
31588must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
31589``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
31590separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
31591
31592Replies:
31593@table @samp
31594@item OK
31595The packet was understood and carried out.
31596@item
31597The packet was not recognized.
31598@end table
31599
31600@item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
31601@cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
31602Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
31603This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
31604originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. @var{type}
31605is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
31606tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
31607@var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
31608
31609@var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
31610string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
31611This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
31612fit in a single packet.
31613@c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
31614@c tracepoint descriptions section.
31615
31616The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
31617@samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
31618@value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
31619list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
31620
31621The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
31622report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
31623query packets.
31624
31625Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
31626if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
31627Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
31628much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
31629tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
31630the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
31631could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
31632be found.
31633
31634@item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}
31635@cindex define trace state variable, remote request
31636@cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
31637Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
31638value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
31639and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
31640the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
31641target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
31642mentioned in expressions.
31643
31644@item QTFrame:@var{n}
31645Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
31646register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
31647request packets from @value{GDBN}.
31648
31649A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
31650requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
31651without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
31652one of the following forms:
31653
31654@table @samp
31655@item F @var{f}
31656The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
31657@var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
31658was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
31659
31660@item T @var{t}
31661The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
31662@var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
31663
31664@end table
31665
31666@item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
31667Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
31668currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
31669@var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
31670
31671@item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
31672Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
31673currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
31674is a hexadecimal number.
31675
31676@item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
31677Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
31678currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
31679and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
31680numbers.
31681
31682@item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
31683Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
31684frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
31685
31686@item QTStart
31687Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from tracepoint
31688hits in the trace frame buffer.
31689
31690@item QTStop
31691End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
31692
31693@item QTinit
31694Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
31695
31696@item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
31697Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
31698will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
31699if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
31700
31701@value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
31702containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
31703still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
31704there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
31705
31706@item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
31707Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
31708disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
31709continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
31710@value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
31711
31712@item qTStatus
31713Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
31714
31715The reply has the form:
31716
31717@table @samp
31718
31719@item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
31720@var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
31721running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
31722optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
31723
31724@end table
31725
31726If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
31727explanations as one of the optional fields:
31728
31729@table @samp
31730
31731@item tnotrun:0
31732No trace has been run yet.
31733
31734@item tstop:0
31735The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command.
31736
31737@item tfull:0
31738The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
31739
31740@item tdisconnected:0
31741The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
31742
31743@item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
31744The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
31745
31746@item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
31747The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
31748string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
31749(for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression).
31750@var{text} is hex encoded.
31751
31752@item tunknown:0
31753The trace stopped for some other reason.
31754
31755@end table
31756
31757Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
31758Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
31759the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
31760numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
31761trace.
31762
31763@table @samp
31764
31765@item tframes:@var{n}
31766The number of trace frames in the buffer.
31767
31768@item tcreated:@var{n}
31769The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
31770be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
31771
31772@item tsize:@var{n}
31773The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
31774
31775@item tfree:@var{n}
31776The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
31777
31778@item circular:@var{n}
31779The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
31780trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
31781necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
31782and may fill up.
31783
31784@item disconn:@var{n}
31785The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
31786tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
31787that the trace run will stop.
31788
31789@end table
31790
31791@item qTV:@var{var}
31792@cindex trace state variable value, remote request
31793@cindex @samp{qTV} packet
31794Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
31795
31796Replies:
31797@table @samp
31798@item V@var{value}
31799The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
31800value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
31801saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
31802user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
31803different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
31804program is running.
31805
31806@item U
31807The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
31808if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
31809was not collected.
31810@end table
31811
31812@item qTfP
31813@itemx qTsP
31814These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
31815the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
31816of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
31817to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
31818that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
31819
31820@item qTfV
31821@itemx qTsV
31822These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
31823target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
31824and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
31825these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
31826trace state variables.
31827
31828@item QTSave:@var{filename}
31829This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
31830@var{filename} in the target's filesystem. @var{filename} is encoded
31831as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
31832absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
31833
31834@item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
31835Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
31836starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
31837a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
31838The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
31839in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
31840A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
31841available.
31842
31843@item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
31844This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
31845@var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
31846
31847@end table
31848
31849@node Host I/O Packets
31850@section Host I/O Packets
31851@cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
31852@cindex file transfer, remote protocol
31853
31854The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
31855operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
31856used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
31857filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
31858layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
31859Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
31860protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
31861Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
31862target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
31863Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
31864
31865The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
31866its arguments. They have this format:
31867
31868@table @samp
31869
31870@item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
31871@var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
31872should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
31873for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
31874the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
31875numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
31876used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
31877hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
31878buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
31879
31880@end table
31881
31882The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
31883
31884@table @samp
31885
31886@item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
31887@var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
31888non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
31889@var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
31890value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
31891operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
31892binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
31893normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
31894documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
31895@var{attachment}.
31896
31897@item
31898An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
31899
31900@end table
31901
31902These are the supported Host I/O operations:
31903
31904@table @samp
31905@item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
31906Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
31907return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
31908@var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
31909(@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
31910of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
31911@xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
31912
31913@item vFile:close: @var{fd}
31914Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
31915-1 if an error occurs.
31916
31917@item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
31918Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
31919@var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
31920relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
31921common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
31922condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
31923returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
31924@var{count} was zero.
31925
31926The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
31927If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
31928attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
31929number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
31930some characters were escaped.
31931
31932@item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
31933Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
31934to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
31935file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
31936separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
31937packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
31938which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
31939error occurred.
31940
31941@item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
31942Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
31943or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
31944
31945@end table
31946
31947@node Interrupts
31948@section Interrupts
31949@cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
31950
31951When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
31952attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or
31953a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g},
31954control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
31955
31956The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
31957mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
31958currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
31959interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
31960@code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
31961
31962@samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
31963transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
31964@code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
31965the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
31966transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
31967and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
31968(@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
31969@code{0x03} as part of its packet.
31970
31971@code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
31972When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
31973it stops execution and connects to gdb.
31974
31975Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
31976precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
31977implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
31978threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
31979currently-executing threads and processes.
31980If the stub is successful at interrupting the
31981running program, it should send one of the stop
31982reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
31983of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
31984for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
31985Interrupts received while the
31986program is stopped are discarded.
31987
31988@node Notification Packets
31989@section Notification Packets
31990@cindex notification packets
31991@cindex packets, notification
31992
31993The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
31994packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
31995may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
31996present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
31997without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
31998are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
31999is not a problem.
32000
32001A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
32002@var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
32003and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
32004as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
32005never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
32006receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
32007to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
32008
32009Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
32010colon characters, followed by a colon character.
32011
32012Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
32013notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
32014timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
32015not they understand it.
32016
32017Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
32018protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
32019future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
32020new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
32021recipients.
32022
32023(Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
32024the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
32025transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
32026are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
32027assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
32028
32029The following notification packets from the stub to @value{GDBN} are
32030defined:
32031
32032@table @samp
32033@item Stop: @var{reply}
32034Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
32035The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
32036described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
32037for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
32038@value{GDBN}.
32039@end table
32040
32041@node Remote Non-Stop
32042@section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
32043
32044@value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
32045multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
32046supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
32047@samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32048
32049@value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
32050establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
32051does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
32052must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
32053all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
32054probe the target state after a mode change.
32055
32056In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
32057would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
32058asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
32059inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
32060in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
32061mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
32062when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
32063of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
32064affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
32065to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
32066threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
32067
32068Only one stop reply notification at a time may be pending; if
32069additional stop events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
32070previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
32071synchronous transmission in response to @samp{vStopped} packets from
32072@value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
32073the stub is permitted to resend a stop reply notification
32074if it believes @value{GDBN} may not have received it. @value{GDBN}
32075ignores additional stop reply notifications received before it has
32076finished processing a previous notification and the stub has completed
32077sending any queued stop events.
32078
32079Otherwise, @value{GDBN} must be prepared to receive a stop reply
32080notification at any time. Specifically, they may appear when
32081@value{GDBN} is not otherwise reading input from the stub, or when
32082@value{GDBN} is expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
32083@samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
32084Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
32085the stub so there is no ambiguity.
32086
32087After receiving a stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall
32088acknowledge it by sending a @samp{vStopped} packet (@pxref{vStopped packet})
32089as a regular, synchronous request to the stub. Such acknowledgment
32090is not required to happen immediately, as @value{GDBN} is permitted to
32091send other, unrelated packets to the stub first, which the stub should
32092process normally.
32093
32094Upon receiving a @samp{vStopped} packet, if the stub has other queued
32095stop events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
32096normal stop reply response. @value{GDBN} shall then send another
32097@samp{vStopped} packet to solicit further responses; again, it is
32098permitted to send other, unrelated packets as well which the stub
32099should process normally.
32100
32101If the stub receives a @samp{vStopped} packet and there are no
32102additional stop events to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK}
32103response. At this point, if further stop events occur, the stub shall
32104send a new stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the
32105notification, and the process shall be repeated.
32106
32107In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
32108follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
32109sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
32110sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
32111it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
32112stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
32113subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
32114using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
32115asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
32116If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
32117or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
32118@samp{OK}.
32119
32120@node Packet Acknowledgment
32121@section Packet Acknowledgment
32122
32123@cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
32124@cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
32125By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
32126the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
32127the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
32128This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
32129unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
32130
32131In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
32132TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
32133It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
32134overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
32135@samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
32136
32137When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
32138expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
32139and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
32140@ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
32141
32142If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
32143no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
32144by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
32145@pxref{qSupported}.
32146If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
32147disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
32148(@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
32149@value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
32150Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
32151@value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
32152response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
32153
32154Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
32155between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
32156it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
32157connection.
32158Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
32159new connection is established,
32160there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
32161for the current connection, once disabled.
32162
32163@node Examples
32164@section Examples
32165
32166Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
32167does not get any direct output:
32168
32169@smallexample
32170-> @code{R00}
32171<- @code{+}
32172@emph{target restarts}
32173-> @code{?}
32174<- @code{+}
32175<- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
32176-> @code{+}
32177@end smallexample
32178
32179Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
32180
32181@smallexample
32182-> @code{G1445@dots{}}
32183<- @code{+}
32184-> @code{s}
32185<- @code{+}
32186@emph{time passes}
32187<- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
32188-> @code{+}
32189-> @code{g}
32190<- @code{+}
32191<- @code{1455@dots{}}
32192-> @code{+}
32193@end smallexample
32194
32195@node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
32196@section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
32197@cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
32198
32199@menu
32200* File-I/O Overview::
32201* Protocol Basics::
32202* The F Request Packet::
32203* The F Reply Packet::
32204* The Ctrl-C Message::
32205* Console I/O::
32206* List of Supported Calls::
32207* Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
32208* Constants::
32209* File-I/O Examples::
32210@end menu
32211
32212@node File-I/O Overview
32213@subsection File-I/O Overview
32214@cindex file-i/o overview
32215
32216The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
32217target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
32218system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
32219remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
32220actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
32221This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
32222
32223The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
32224It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
32225@value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
32226translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
32227protocol representations when data is transmitted.
32228
32229The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
32230@value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
32231or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
32232the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
32233memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
32234the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
32235(@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
32236
32237The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
32238the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
32239after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
32240previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
32241request from @value{GDBN} is required.
32242
32243@smallexample
32244(@value{GDBP}) continue
32245 <- target requests 'system call X'
32246 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
32247 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
32248 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
32249 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
32250@end smallexample
32251
32252The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
32253the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
32254named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
32255system are not supported by this protocol.
32256
32257File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
32258
32259@node Protocol Basics
32260@subsection Protocol Basics
32261@cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
32262
32263The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
32264as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
32265@value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
32266the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
32267of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
32268This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
32269to call the appropriate host system call:
32270
32271@itemize @bullet
32272@item
32273A unique identifier for the requested system call.
32274
32275@item
32276All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
32277in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
32278pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
32279Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
32280
32281@end itemize
32282
32283At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
32284
32285@itemize @bullet
32286@item
32287If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
32288system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
32289standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
32290expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
32291packet.
32292
32293@item
32294@value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
32295representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
32296
32297@item
32298@value{GDBN} calls the system call.
32299
32300@item
32301It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
32302
32303@item
32304If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
32305by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
32306target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
32307by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
32308packet.
32309
32310@end itemize
32311
32312Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
32313necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
32314
32315@itemize @bullet
32316@item
32317Return value.
32318
32319@item
32320@code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
32321
32322@item
32323``Ctrl-C'' flag.
32324
32325@end itemize
32326
32327After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
32328the latest continue or step action.
32329
32330@node The F Request Packet
32331@subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
32332@cindex file-i/o request packet
32333@cindex @code{F} request packet
32334
32335The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
32336
32337@table @samp
32338@item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
32339
32340@var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
32341This is just the name of the function.
32342
32343@var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
32344Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
32345of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
32346datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
32347of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
32348comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
32349string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
32350
32351@end table
32352
32353
32354
32355@node The F Reply Packet
32356@subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
32357@cindex file-i/o reply packet
32358@cindex @code{F} reply packet
32359
32360The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
32361
32362@table @samp
32363
32364@item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
32365
32366@var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
32367
32368@var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
32369representation.
32370This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
32371
32372@var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
32373case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
32374The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
32375
32376@smallexample
32377F0,0,C
32378@end smallexample
32379
32380@noindent
32381or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
32382
32383@smallexample
32384F-1,4,C
32385@end smallexample
32386
32387@noindent
32388assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
32389
32390@end table
32391
32392
32393@node The Ctrl-C Message
32394@subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
32395@cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
32396
32397If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
32398reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
32399the target should behave as if it had
32400gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
32401interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
32402(as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
32403packet.
32404
32405It's important for the target to know in which
32406state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
32407
32408@itemize @bullet
32409@item
32410The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
32411
32412@item
32413The system call on the host has been finished.
32414
32415@end itemize
32416
32417These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
32418returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
32419call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
32420on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
32421system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
32422as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
32423
32424@value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
32425yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
32426@code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
32427before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
32428@value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
32429The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
32430or the full action has been completed.
32431
32432@node Console I/O
32433@subsection Console I/O
32434@cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
32435
32436By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
32437descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
32438on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
32439(@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
32440by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
324410 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
32442conditions is met:
32443
32444@itemize @bullet
32445@item
32446The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
32447@code{read}
32448system call is treated as finished.
32449
32450@item
32451The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
32452newline.
32453
32454@item
32455The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
32456character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
32457
32458@end itemize
32459
32460If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
32461the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
32462either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
32463is stopped at the user's request.
32464
32465
32466@node List of Supported Calls
32467@subsection List of Supported Calls
32468@cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
32469
32470@menu
32471* open::
32472* close::
32473* read::
32474* write::
32475* lseek::
32476* rename::
32477* unlink::
32478* stat/fstat::
32479* gettimeofday::
32480* isatty::
32481* system::
32482@end menu
32483
32484@node open
32485@unnumberedsubsubsec open
32486@cindex open, file-i/o system call
32487
32488@table @asis
32489@item Synopsis:
32490@smallexample
32491int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
32492int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
32493@end smallexample
32494
32495@item Request:
32496@samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
32497
32498@noindent
32499@var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
32500
32501@table @code
32502@item O_CREAT
32503If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
32504rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
32505are concerned.
32506
32507@item O_EXCL
32508When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
32509an error and open() fails.
32510
32511@item O_TRUNC
32512If the file already exists and the open mode allows
32513writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
32514truncated to zero length.
32515
32516@item O_APPEND
32517The file is opened in append mode.
32518
32519@item O_RDONLY
32520The file is opened for reading only.
32521
32522@item O_WRONLY
32523The file is opened for writing only.
32524
32525@item O_RDWR
32526The file is opened for reading and writing.
32527@end table
32528
32529@noindent
32530Other bits are silently ignored.
32531
32532
32533@noindent
32534@var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
32535
32536@table @code
32537@item S_IRUSR
32538User has read permission.
32539
32540@item S_IWUSR
32541User has write permission.
32542
32543@item S_IRGRP
32544Group has read permission.
32545
32546@item S_IWGRP
32547Group has write permission.
32548
32549@item S_IROTH
32550Others have read permission.
32551
32552@item S_IWOTH
32553Others have write permission.
32554@end table
32555
32556@noindent
32557Other bits are silently ignored.
32558
32559
32560@item Return value:
32561@code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
32562occurred.
32563
32564@item Errors:
32565
32566@table @code
32567@item EEXIST
32568@var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
32569
32570@item EISDIR
32571@var{pathname} refers to a directory.
32572
32573@item EACCES
32574The requested access is not allowed.
32575
32576@item ENAMETOOLONG
32577@var{pathname} was too long.
32578
32579@item ENOENT
32580A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
32581
32582@item ENODEV
32583@var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
32584
32585@item EROFS
32586@var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
32587write access was requested.
32588
32589@item EFAULT
32590@var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
32591
32592@item ENOSPC
32593No space on device to create the file.
32594
32595@item EMFILE
32596The process already has the maximum number of files open.
32597
32598@item ENFILE
32599The limit on the total number of files open on the system
32600has been reached.
32601
32602@item EINTR
32603The call was interrupted by the user.
32604@end table
32605
32606@end table
32607
32608@node close
32609@unnumberedsubsubsec close
32610@cindex close, file-i/o system call
32611
32612@table @asis
32613@item Synopsis:
32614@smallexample
32615int close(int fd);
32616@end smallexample
32617
32618@item Request:
32619@samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
32620
32621@item Return value:
32622@code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
32623
32624@item Errors:
32625
32626@table @code
32627@item EBADF
32628@var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
32629
32630@item EINTR
32631The call was interrupted by the user.
32632@end table
32633
32634@end table
32635
32636@node read
32637@unnumberedsubsubsec read
32638@cindex read, file-i/o system call
32639
32640@table @asis
32641@item Synopsis:
32642@smallexample
32643int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
32644@end smallexample
32645
32646@item Request:
32647@samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
32648
32649@item Return value:
32650On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
32651Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
32652returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
32653
32654@item Errors:
32655
32656@table @code
32657@item EBADF
32658@var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
32659reading.
32660
32661@item EFAULT
32662@var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
32663
32664@item EINTR
32665The call was interrupted by the user.
32666@end table
32667
32668@end table
32669
32670@node write
32671@unnumberedsubsubsec write
32672@cindex write, file-i/o system call
32673
32674@table @asis
32675@item Synopsis:
32676@smallexample
32677int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
32678@end smallexample
32679
32680@item Request:
32681@samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
32682
32683@item Return value:
32684On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
32685Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
32686is returned.
32687
32688@item Errors:
32689
32690@table @code
32691@item EBADF
32692@var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
32693writing.
32694
32695@item EFAULT
32696@var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
32697
32698@item EFBIG
32699An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
32700host-specific maximum file size allowed.
32701
32702@item ENOSPC
32703No space on device to write the data.
32704
32705@item EINTR
32706The call was interrupted by the user.
32707@end table
32708
32709@end table
32710
32711@node lseek
32712@unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
32713@cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
32714
32715@table @asis
32716@item Synopsis:
32717@smallexample
32718long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
32719@end smallexample
32720
32721@item Request:
32722@samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
32723
32724@var{flag} is one of:
32725
32726@table @code
32727@item SEEK_SET
32728The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
32729
32730@item SEEK_CUR
32731The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
32732bytes.
32733
32734@item SEEK_END
32735The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
32736bytes.
32737@end table
32738
32739@item Return value:
32740On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
32741the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
32742value of -1 is returned.
32743
32744@item Errors:
32745
32746@table @code
32747@item EBADF
32748@var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
32749
32750@item ESPIPE
32751@var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
32752
32753@item EINVAL
32754@var{flag} is not a proper value.
32755
32756@item EINTR
32757The call was interrupted by the user.
32758@end table
32759
32760@end table
32761
32762@node rename
32763@unnumberedsubsubsec rename
32764@cindex rename, file-i/o system call
32765
32766@table @asis
32767@item Synopsis:
32768@smallexample
32769int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
32770@end smallexample
32771
32772@item Request:
32773@samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
32774
32775@item Return value:
32776On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
32777
32778@item Errors:
32779
32780@table @code
32781@item EISDIR
32782@var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
32783directory.
32784
32785@item EEXIST
32786@var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
32787
32788@item EBUSY
32789@var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
32790process.
32791
32792@item EINVAL
32793An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
32794of itself.
32795
32796@item ENOTDIR
32797A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
32798path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
32799and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
32800
32801@item EFAULT
32802@var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
32803
32804@item EACCES
32805No access to the file or the path of the file.
32806
32807@item ENAMETOOLONG
32808
32809@var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
32810
32811@item ENOENT
32812A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
32813
32814@item EROFS
32815The file is on a read-only filesystem.
32816
32817@item ENOSPC
32818The device containing the file has no room for the new
32819directory entry.
32820
32821@item EINTR
32822The call was interrupted by the user.
32823@end table
32824
32825@end table
32826
32827@node unlink
32828@unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
32829@cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
32830
32831@table @asis
32832@item Synopsis:
32833@smallexample
32834int unlink(const char *pathname);
32835@end smallexample
32836
32837@item Request:
32838@samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
32839
32840@item Return value:
32841On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
32842
32843@item Errors:
32844
32845@table @code
32846@item EACCES
32847No access to the file or the path of the file.
32848
32849@item EPERM
32850The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
32851
32852@item EBUSY
32853The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
32854being used by another process.
32855
32856@item EFAULT
32857@var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
32858
32859@item ENAMETOOLONG
32860@var{pathname} was too long.
32861
32862@item ENOENT
32863A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
32864
32865@item ENOTDIR
32866A component of the path is not a directory.
32867
32868@item EROFS
32869The file is on a read-only filesystem.
32870
32871@item EINTR
32872The call was interrupted by the user.
32873@end table
32874
32875@end table
32876
32877@node stat/fstat
32878@unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
32879@cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
32880@cindex stat, file-i/o system call
32881
32882@table @asis
32883@item Synopsis:
32884@smallexample
32885int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
32886int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
32887@end smallexample
32888
32889@item Request:
32890@samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
32891@samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
32892
32893@item Return value:
32894On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
32895
32896@item Errors:
32897
32898@table @code
32899@item EBADF
32900@var{fd} is not a valid open file.
32901
32902@item ENOENT
32903A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
32904path is an empty string.
32905
32906@item ENOTDIR
32907A component of the path is not a directory.
32908
32909@item EFAULT
32910@var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
32911
32912@item EACCES
32913No access to the file or the path of the file.
32914
32915@item ENAMETOOLONG
32916@var{pathname} was too long.
32917
32918@item EINTR
32919The call was interrupted by the user.
32920@end table
32921
32922@end table
32923
32924@node gettimeofday
32925@unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
32926@cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
32927
32928@table @asis
32929@item Synopsis:
32930@smallexample
32931int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
32932@end smallexample
32933
32934@item Request:
32935@samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
32936
32937@item Return value:
32938On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
32939
32940@item Errors:
32941
32942@table @code
32943@item EINVAL
32944@var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
32945
32946@item EFAULT
32947@var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
32948@end table
32949
32950@end table
32951
32952@node isatty
32953@unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
32954@cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
32955
32956@table @asis
32957@item Synopsis:
32958@smallexample
32959int isatty(int fd);
32960@end smallexample
32961
32962@item Request:
32963@samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
32964
32965@item Return value:
32966Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
32967
32968@item Errors:
32969
32970@table @code
32971@item EINTR
32972The call was interrupted by the user.
32973@end table
32974
32975@end table
32976
32977Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
329781 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
32979to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
32980would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
32981needed.
32982
32983
32984@node system
32985@unnumberedsubsubsec system
32986@cindex system, file-i/o system call
32987
32988@table @asis
32989@item Synopsis:
32990@smallexample
32991int system(const char *command);
32992@end smallexample
32993
32994@item Request:
32995@samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
32996
32997@item Return value:
32998If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
32999available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
33000For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
33001return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
33002command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
33003return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
33004@file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
33005
33006@item Errors:
33007
33008@table @code
33009@item EINTR
33010The call was interrupted by the user.
33011@end table
33012
33013@end table
33014
33015@value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
33016to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
33017the host is simplified before it's returned
33018to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
33019is discarded, and the return value consists
33020entirely of the exit status of the called command.
33021
33022Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
33023by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
33024@code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
33025
33026@table @code
33027@item set remote system-call-allowed
33028@kindex set remote system-call-allowed
33029Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
33030protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
33031
33032@item show remote system-call-allowed
33033@kindex show remote system-call-allowed
33034Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
33035protocol.
33036@end table
33037
33038@node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
33039@subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
33040@cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
33041
33042@menu
33043* Integral Datatypes::
33044* Pointer Values::
33045* Memory Transfer::
33046* struct stat::
33047* struct timeval::
33048@end menu
33049
33050@node Integral Datatypes
33051@unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
33052@cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
33053
33054The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
33055@code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
33056@code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
33057
33058@code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
33059implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
33060
33061@code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
33062
33063@xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
33064in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
33065
33066@code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
33067
33068All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
33069structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
33070byte order.
33071
33072@node Pointer Values
33073@unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
33074@cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
33075
33076Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
33077is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
33078transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
33079are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
33080
33081@smallexample
33082@code{1aaf/12}
33083@end smallexample
33084
33085@noindent
33086which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
33087The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
33088the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
33089at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
33090
33091@smallexample
33092@code{123456/d}
33093@end smallexample
33094
33095@node Memory Transfer
33096@unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
33097@cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
33098
33099Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
33100example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
33101with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
33102this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
33103packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
33104it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
33105data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
33106
33107
33108@node struct stat
33109@unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
33110@cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
33111
33112The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
33113is defined as follows:
33114
33115@smallexample
33116struct stat @{
33117 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
33118 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
33119 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
33120 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
33121 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
33122 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
33123 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
33124 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
33125 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
33126 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
33127 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
33128 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
33129 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
33130@};
33131@end smallexample
33132
33133The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
33134appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
33135structure is of size 64 bytes.
33136
33137The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
33138range of values.
33139
33140@table @code
33141
33142@item st_dev
33143A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
33144
33145@item st_ino
33146No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
33147
33148@item st_mode
33149Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
33150bits have currently no meaning for the target.
33151
33152@item st_uid
33153@itemx st_gid
33154@itemx st_rdev
33155No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
33156
33157@item st_atime
33158@itemx st_mtime
33159@itemx st_ctime
33160These values have a host and file system dependent
33161accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
33162support exact timing values.
33163@end table
33164
33165The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
33166responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
33167continuing.
33168
33169Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
33170representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
33171get truncated on the target.
33172
33173@node struct timeval
33174@unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
33175@cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
33176
33177The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
33178is defined as follows:
33179
33180@smallexample
33181struct timeval @{
33182 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
33183 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
33184@};
33185@end smallexample
33186
33187The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
33188appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
33189structure is of size 8 bytes.
33190
33191@node Constants
33192@subsection Constants
33193@cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
33194
33195The following values are used for the constants inside of the
33196protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
33197values before and after the call as needed.
33198
33199@menu
33200* Open Flags::
33201* mode_t Values::
33202* Errno Values::
33203* Lseek Flags::
33204* Limits::
33205@end menu
33206
33207@node Open Flags
33208@unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
33209@cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
33210
33211All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
33212
33213@smallexample
33214 O_RDONLY 0x0
33215 O_WRONLY 0x1
33216 O_RDWR 0x2
33217 O_APPEND 0x8
33218 O_CREAT 0x200
33219 O_TRUNC 0x400
33220 O_EXCL 0x800
33221@end smallexample
33222
33223@node mode_t Values
33224@unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
33225@cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
33226
33227All values are given in octal representation.
33228
33229@smallexample
33230 S_IFREG 0100000
33231 S_IFDIR 040000
33232 S_IRUSR 0400
33233 S_IWUSR 0200
33234 S_IXUSR 0100
33235 S_IRGRP 040
33236 S_IWGRP 020
33237 S_IXGRP 010
33238 S_IROTH 04
33239 S_IWOTH 02
33240 S_IXOTH 01
33241@end smallexample
33242
33243@node Errno Values
33244@unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
33245@cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
33246
33247All values are given in decimal representation.
33248
33249@smallexample
33250 EPERM 1
33251 ENOENT 2
33252 EINTR 4
33253 EBADF 9
33254 EACCES 13
33255 EFAULT 14
33256 EBUSY 16
33257 EEXIST 17
33258 ENODEV 19
33259 ENOTDIR 20
33260 EISDIR 21
33261 EINVAL 22
33262 ENFILE 23
33263 EMFILE 24
33264 EFBIG 27
33265 ENOSPC 28
33266 ESPIPE 29
33267 EROFS 30
33268 ENAMETOOLONG 91
33269 EUNKNOWN 9999
33270@end smallexample
33271
33272 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
33273 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
33274
33275@node Lseek Flags
33276@unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
33277@cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
33278
33279@smallexample
33280 SEEK_SET 0
33281 SEEK_CUR 1
33282 SEEK_END 2
33283@end smallexample
33284
33285@node Limits
33286@unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
33287@cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
33288
33289All values are given in decimal representation.
33290
33291@smallexample
33292 INT_MIN -2147483648
33293 INT_MAX 2147483647
33294 UINT_MAX 4294967295
33295 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
33296 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
33297 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
33298@end smallexample
33299
33300@node File-I/O Examples
33301@subsection File-I/O Examples
33302@cindex file-i/o examples
33303
33304Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
33305address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
33306
33307@smallexample
33308<- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
33309@emph{request memory read from target}
33310-> @code{m1234,6}
33311<- XXXXXX
33312@emph{return "6 bytes written"}
33313-> @code{F6}
33314@end smallexample
33315
33316Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
33317address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
33318
33319@smallexample
33320<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
33321@emph{request memory write to target}
33322-> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
33323@emph{return "6 bytes read"}
33324-> @code{F6}
33325@end smallexample
33326
33327Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
33328file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
33329
33330@smallexample
33331<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
33332-> @code{F-1,9}
33333@end smallexample
33334
33335Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
33336host is called:
33337
33338@smallexample
33339<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
33340-> @code{F-1,4,C}
33341<- @code{T02}
33342@end smallexample
33343
33344Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
33345host is called:
33346
33347@smallexample
33348<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
33349-> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
33350<- @code{T02}
33351@end smallexample
33352
33353@node Library List Format
33354@section Library List Format
33355@cindex library list format, remote protocol
33356
33357On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
33358same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
33359@value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
33360operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
33361platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
33362@value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
33363through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
33364packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
33365queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
33366are loaded.
33367
33368The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
33369lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
33370associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
33371which report where the library was loaded in memory.
33372
33373For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
33374library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
33375dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
33376should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
33377section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
33378depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
33379
33380@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
33381library lists. @xref{Expat}.
33382
33383A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
33384offset, looks like this:
33385
33386@smallexample
33387<library-list>
33388 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
33389 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
33390 </library>
33391</library-list>
33392@end smallexample
33393
33394Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
33395allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
33396
33397@smallexample
33398<library-list>
33399 <library name="sharedlib.o">
33400 <section address="0x10000000"/>
33401 <section address="0x20000000"/>
33402 <section address="0x30000000"/>
33403 </library>
33404</library-list>
33405@end smallexample
33406
33407The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
33408
33409@smallexample
33410<!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
33411<!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
33412<!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
33413<!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
33414<!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
33415<!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
33416<!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
33417<!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
33418<!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
33419@end smallexample
33420
33421In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
33422single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
33423section for each library.
33424
33425@node Memory Map Format
33426@section Memory Map Format
33427@cindex memory map format
33428
33429To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
33430memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
33431memory map.
33432
33433The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
33434(@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
33435lists memory regions.
33436
33437@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
33438memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
33439
33440The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
33441
33442@smallexample
33443<?xml version="1.0"?>
33444<!DOCTYPE memory-map
33445 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
33446 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
33447<memory-map>
33448 region...
33449</memory-map>
33450@end smallexample
33451
33452Each region can be either:
33453
33454@itemize
33455
33456@item
33457A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
33458bytes from there:
33459
33460@smallexample
33461<memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
33462@end smallexample
33463
33464
33465@item
33466A region of read-only memory:
33467
33468@smallexample
33469<memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
33470@end smallexample
33471
33472
33473@item
33474A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
33475bytes in length:
33476
33477@smallexample
33478<memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
33479 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
33480</memory>
33481@end smallexample
33482
33483@end itemize
33484
33485Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
33486by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
33487packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
33488
33489The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
33490
33491@smallexample
33492<!-- ................................................... -->
33493<!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
33494<!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
33495<!-- .................................... .............. -->
33496<!-- memory-map.dtd -->
33497<!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
33498<!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
33499<!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
33500<!ELEMENT memory (property)>
33501<!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
33502 and its type, or device. -->
33503<!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
33504 start CDATA #REQUIRED
33505 length CDATA #REQUIRED
33506 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
33507<!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
33508<!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
33509<!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
33510@end smallexample
33511
33512@node Thread List Format
33513@section Thread List Format
33514@cindex thread list format
33515
33516To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
33517@value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
33518(@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
33519the following structure:
33520
33521@smallexample
33522<?xml version="1.0"?>
33523<threads>
33524 <thread id="id" core="0">
33525 ... description ...
33526 </thread>
33527</threads>
33528@end smallexample
33529
33530Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
33531identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
33532@samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
33533the thread was last executing on. The content of the of @samp{thread}
33534element is interpreted as human-readable auxilliary information.
33535
33536@include agentexpr.texi
33537
33538@node Trace File Format
33539@appendix Trace File Format
33540@cindex trace file format
33541
33542The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
33543section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
33544
33545The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
33546@code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
33547while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
33548in the future.
33549
33550The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
33551separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
33552variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
33553as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
33554ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
33555of this section.
33556
33557@c FIXME add some specific types of data
33558
33559The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
33560Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
33561four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
33562the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
33563character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
33564state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
33565hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
33566endianness.
33567
33568@c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
33569
33570@table @code
33571@item R @var{bytes}
33572Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
33573@code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
33574actual bytes, in target order and @value{GDBN} register order, not a
33575hexadecimal encoding.
33576
33577@item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
33578Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
33579address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
33580@var{length} bytes.
33581
33582@item V @var{number} @var{value}
33583Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
33584@var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
33585
33586@end table
33587
33588Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
33589of blocks.
33590
33591@node Target Descriptions
33592@appendix Target Descriptions
33593@cindex target descriptions
33594
33595@strong{Warning:} target descriptions are still under active development,
33596and the contents and format may change between @value{GDBN} releases.
33597The format is expected to stabilize in the future.
33598
33599One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
33600is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
33601architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
33602a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or MIPS, for example ---
33603and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
33604architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
33605vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
33606
33607@itemize @bullet
33608@item
33609With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
33610the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
33611@item
33612Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
33613audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
33614variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
33615@item
33616When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
33617at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
33618@command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
33619@end itemize
33620
33621To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
33622target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
33623actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
33624processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
33625descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
33626
33627@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
33628target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
33629
33630@menu
33631* Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
33632* Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
33633* Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
33634 descriptions.
33635* Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
33636@end menu
33637
33638@node Retrieving Descriptions
33639@section Retrieving Descriptions
33640
33641Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
33642specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
33643description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
33644protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
33645qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
33646@samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
33647XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
33648Format}.
33649
33650Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
33651If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
33652specify a file are:
33653
33654@table @code
33655@cindex set tdesc filename
33656@item set tdesc filename @var{path}
33657Read the target description from @var{path}.
33658
33659@cindex unset tdesc filename
33660@item unset tdesc filename
33661Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
33662will use the description supplied by the current target.
33663
33664@cindex show tdesc filename
33665@item show tdesc filename
33666Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
33667@end table
33668
33669
33670@node Target Description Format
33671@section Target Description Format
33672@cindex target descriptions, XML format
33673
33674A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
33675document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
33676the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
33677means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
33678check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
33679However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
33680their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
33681
33682Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
33683and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
33684sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
33685@value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
33686target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
33687
33688Here is a simple target description:
33689
33690@smallexample
33691<target version="1.0">
33692 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
33693</target>
33694@end smallexample
33695
33696@noindent
33697This minimal description only says that the target uses
33698the x86-64 architecture.
33699
33700A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
33701optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
33702are explained further below.
33703
33704@smallexample
33705<?xml version="1.0"?>
33706<!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
33707<target version="1.0">
33708 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
33709 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
33710 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
33711 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
33712</target>
33713@end smallexample
33714
33715@noindent
33716The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
33717breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
33718declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
33719(@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
33720useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
33721@samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
33722including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
33723revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
33724the version mismatch.
33725
33726@subsection Inclusion
33727@cindex target descriptions, inclusion
33728@cindex XInclude
33729@ifnotinfo
33730@cindex <xi:include>
33731@end ifnotinfo
33732
33733It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
33734several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
33735share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
33736divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
33737the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
33738
33739@smallexample
33740<xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
33741@end smallexample
33742
33743@noindent
33744When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
33745the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
33746the contents of that document. If the current description was read
33747using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
33748@var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
33749current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
33750@var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
33751original description.
33752
33753@subsection Architecture
33754@cindex <architecture>
33755
33756An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
33757
33758@smallexample
33759 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
33760@end smallexample
33761
33762@var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
33763@code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
33764
33765@subsection OS ABI
33766@cindex @code{<osabi>}
33767
33768This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
33769Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
33770
33771An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
33772
33773@smallexample
33774 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
33775@end smallexample
33776
33777@var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
33778@w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
33779
33780@subsection Compatible Architecture
33781@cindex @code{<compatible>}
33782
33783This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
33784Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
33785
33786A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
33787
33788@smallexample
33789 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
33790@end smallexample
33791
33792@var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
33793@code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
33794
33795A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
33796is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
33797given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
33798Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
33799or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
33800in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
33801capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
33802
33803@smallexample
33804 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
33805 <compatible>spu</compatible>
33806@end smallexample
33807
33808@subsection Features
33809@cindex <feature>
33810
33811Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
33812system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
33813registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
33814has this form:
33815
33816@smallexample
33817<feature name="@var{name}">
33818 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
33819 @var{reg}@dots{}
33820</feature>
33821@end smallexample
33822
33823@noindent
33824Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
33825of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
33826knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
33827should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
33828
33829@subsection Types
33830
33831Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
33832interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
33833but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
33834Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
33835Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
33836
33837Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
33838a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
33839Types must be defined before they are used.
33840
33841@cindex <vector>
33842Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
33843of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
33844specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
33845@var{count}:
33846
33847@smallexample
33848<vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
33849@end smallexample
33850
33851@cindex <union>
33852If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
33853with a union type containing the useful representations. The
33854@samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
33855each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
33856
33857@smallexample
33858<union id="@var{id}">
33859 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
33860 @dots{}
33861</union>
33862@end smallexample
33863
33864@cindex <struct>
33865If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
33866it with a structure type. There are two forms of the @samp{<struct>}
33867element; a @samp{<struct>} element must either contain only bitfields
33868or contain no bitfields. If the structure contains only bitfields,
33869its total size in bytes must be specified, each bitfield must have an
33870explicit start and end, and bitfields are automatically assigned an
33871integer type. The field's @var{start} should be less than or
33872equal to its @var{end}, and zero represents the least significant bit.
33873
33874@smallexample
33875<struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
33876 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
33877 @dots{}
33878</struct>
33879@end smallexample
33880
33881If the structure contains no bitfields, then each field has an
33882explicit type, and no implicit padding is added.
33883
33884@smallexample
33885<struct id="@var{id}">
33886 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
33887 @dots{}
33888</struct>
33889@end smallexample
33890
33891@cindex <flags>
33892If a register's value is a series of single-bit flags, define it with
33893a flags type. The @samp{<flags>} element has an explicit @var{size}
33894and contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements. Each field has a
33895@var{name}, a @var{start}, and an @var{end}. Only single-bit flags
33896are supported.
33897
33898@smallexample
33899<flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
33900 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
33901 @dots{}
33902</flags>
33903@end smallexample
33904
33905@subsection Registers
33906@cindex <reg>
33907
33908Each register is represented as an element with this form:
33909
33910@smallexample
33911<reg name="@var{name}"
33912 bitsize="@var{size}"
33913 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
33914 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
33915 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
33916 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
33917@end smallexample
33918
33919@noindent
33920The components are as follows:
33921
33922@table @var
33923
33924@item name
33925The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
33926
33927@item bitsize
33928The register's size, in bits.
33929
33930@item regnum
33931The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
33932than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
33933a preceeding feature); the first register in the target description
33934defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
33935the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
33936packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
33937in order of increasing register number.
33938
33939@item save-restore
33940Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
33941calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
33942@code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
33943some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
33944ABI.
33945
33946@item type
33947The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
33948defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
33949and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
33950for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
33951architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
33952@var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
33953
33954@item group
33955The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
33956be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
33957@var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
33958in @code{info registers}.
33959
33960@end table
33961
33962@node Predefined Target Types
33963@section Predefined Target Types
33964@cindex target descriptions, predefined types
33965
33966Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
33967from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
33968standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
33969types. The currently supported types are:
33970
33971@table @code
33972
33973@item int8
33974@itemx int16
33975@itemx int32
33976@itemx int64
33977@itemx int128
33978Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
33979
33980@item uint8
33981@itemx uint16
33982@itemx uint32
33983@itemx uint64
33984@itemx uint128
33985Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
33986
33987@item code_ptr
33988@itemx data_ptr
33989Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
33990any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
33991pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
33992address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
33993may be marked as data pointers.
33994
33995@item ieee_single
33996Single precision IEEE floating point.
33997
33998@item ieee_double
33999Double precision IEEE floating point.
34000
34001@item arm_fpa_ext
34002The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
34003
34004@item i387_ext
34005The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
34006
34007@item i386_eflags
3400832bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
34009
34010@item i386_mxcsr
3401132bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
34012
34013@end table
34014
34015@node Standard Target Features
34016@section Standard Target Features
34017@cindex target descriptions, standard features
34018
34019A target description must contain either no registers or all the
34020target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
34021@value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
34022the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
34023default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
34024described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
34025can recognize them.
34026
34027This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
34028which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
34029with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
34030if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
34031feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
34032description. You can add additional registers to any of the
34033standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
34034they were added to an unrecognized feature.
34035
34036This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
34037Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
34038@value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
34039
34040Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
34041company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
34042architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
34043containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
34044
34045The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
34046of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
34047registers using the capitalization used in the description.
34048
34049@menu
34050* ARM Features::
34051* i386 Features::
34052* MIPS Features::
34053* M68K Features::
34054* PowerPC Features::
34055@end menu
34056
34057
34058@node ARM Features
34059@subsection ARM Features
34060@cindex target descriptions, ARM features
34061
34062The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for ARM targets.
34063It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
34064@samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
34065
34066The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
34067should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
34068
34069The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
34070it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
34071@samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
34072@samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
34073
34074The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
34075should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
34076they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
34077@value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
34078halves of the double-precision registers.
34079
34080The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
34081need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
34082VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
34083quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
34084If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
34085be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
34086
34087@node i386 Features
34088@subsection i386 Features
34089@cindex target descriptions, i386 features
34090
34091The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
34092targets. It should describe the following registers:
34093
34094@itemize @minus
34095@item
34096@samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
34097@item
34098@samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
34099@item
34100@samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
34101@samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
34102@item
34103@samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
34104@item
34105@samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
34106@samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
34107@end itemize
34108
34109The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
34110
34111The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
34112describe registers:
34113
34114@itemize @minus
34115@item
34116@samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
34117@item
34118@samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
34119@item
34120@samp{mxcsr}
34121@end itemize
34122
34123The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
34124@samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
34125describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
34126
34127@itemize @minus
34128@item
34129@samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
34130@item
34131@samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
34132@item
34133@end itemize
34134
34135The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
34136describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
34137
34138@node MIPS Features
34139@subsection MIPS Features
34140@cindex target descriptions, MIPS features
34141
34142The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for MIPS targets.
34143It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
34144@samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
34145on the target.
34146
34147The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
34148contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
34149registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
34150
34151The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
34152it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
34153contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
34154@samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
34155
34156The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
34157contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
34158Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
34159
34160@node M68K Features
34161@subsection M68K Features
34162@cindex target descriptions, M68K features
34163
34164@table @code
34165@item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
34166@itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
34167@itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
34168One of those features must be always present.
34169The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
34170used. The feature that is present should contain registers
34171@samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
34172@samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
34173
34174@item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
34175This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
34176@samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
34177@samp{fpiaddr}.
34178@end table
34179
34180@node PowerPC Features
34181@subsection PowerPC Features
34182@cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
34183
34184The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
34185targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
34186@samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
34187@samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
34188
34189The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
34190contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
34191
34192The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
34193contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
34194and @samp{vrsave}.
34195
34196The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
34197contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
34198will combine these registers with the floating point registers
34199(@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
34200through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
34201through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
34202
34203The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
34204contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
34205@samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
34206@samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
34207@samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
34208these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
34209user.
34210
34211@node Operating System Information
34212@appendix Operating System Information
34213@cindex operating system information
34214
34215@menu
34216* Process list::
34217@end menu
34218
34219Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
34220the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
34221processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
34222mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
34223target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
34224on a different aspect of target.
34225
34226Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
34227remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
34228read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
34229the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
34230
34231@node Process list
34232@appendixsection Process list
34233@cindex operating system information, process list
34234
34235When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
34236@samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
34237an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
34238@file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
34239
34240An example document is:
34241
34242@smallexample
34243<?xml version="1.0"?>
34244<!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
34245<osdata type="processes">
34246 <item>
34247 <column name="pid">1</column>
34248 <column name="user">root</column>
34249 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
34250 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
34251 </item>
34252</osdata>
34253@end smallexample
34254
34255Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
34256of that column should identify the process on the target. The
34257@samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
34258displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
34259should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
34260is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
34261which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
34262
34263@include gpl.texi
34264
34265@raisesections
34266@include fdl.texi
34267@lowersections
34268
34269@node Index
34270@unnumbered Index
34271
34272@printindex cp
34273
34274@tex
34275% I think something like @colophon should be in texinfo. In the
34276% meantime:
34277\long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
34278\centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
34279\centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
34280\centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
34281\centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
34282\centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
34283\centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
34284\centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
34285\centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
34286\page\colophon
34287% Blame: doc@cygnus.com, 1991.
34288@end tex
34289
34290@bye
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